Most liked posts in thread: Fiat 500 Sales Behind Expectations?

  1. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
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    The old pedal car you had as a kid.....:D
     
  2. Angib

    Angib New Member

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    Some years ago, a study to find the car with the highest British content found it was a Volvo, built in Sweden! Plenty of cars were built in Britain, but they contained more parts from other countries.

    I think it's important to look at where a car is built and really ignore the badge on the front - a Honda built in America is much more American than a Chevrolet built in South Korea.
     
  3. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
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    Well... A good Bulldog will lift it's leg first.....:D
     
  4. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    To much hate in this world. Embrace your Mexican/Italian brother. :smilewinkgrin:
     
  5. Number Six

    Number Six New Member

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    Good find Nathan. :Thumbsup:

    It's too bad really. The FIAT was, to me at least, an attempt to move to more interesting and fun cars.

    Not that it could hold a candle to the MINI in terms of design and performance, but it was at least a move in the right direction.

    :frown2:
     
  6. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
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    I'd actually like to see Fiat turn their problems around and be successful here in the US. I think it's good to have a little more competition in the small car market. As the gas prices continue to raise, we'll see more small cars enter the market. Yeah, they stumbled, but they need to keep at it until they get it right.
    Just my $0.02.....
     
  7. KittyMini

    KittyMini Club Coordinator

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    I didn't mean it in a bad way :lol:
     
  8. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
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    I'd be asking for a hand check.... He has a pretty sneaky smile on his face.....:eek:
     
  9. minimark

    minimark Well-Known Member

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    The more I see it the more it looks like a polished turd; take that and Fiat's poor heritage here in the US and it is going to be a harder sell than folks might have first thought...

    Remember when Mini came here, it had nothing to live down.. ;)
     
  10. rkw

    rkw Well-Known Member

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    No one said they were thinking that. They are probably hoping to match the relative success they've had in Europe.
     
  11. naucrx

    naucrx New Member

    Jul 27, 2011
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    Was thinking this exact thing. I really don't see a car like the Fiat 500 doing as well here because in general Americans have different preference in cars.
     
  12. Number Six

    Number Six New Member

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    I haven't seen the 500 in person, but it looks like it has potential to do well, but they do have some hurdles to overcome:

    1. Fix It Again Tony is a well know acronym in the U.S.

    2. The J-Lo commercial IMO is a major FAIL. They have now clearly defined it as a chick's car, and I don't know too many people, even women, who view J-Lo as anyone to emulate or look up to.

    3. On top of that, the car's look and design, while cute, are not a clear winner like the MINI.

    If the MINI didn't exist, it would be a cuter car, but it really can't hold a candle to the MINI.

    Probably most everyone knows this already, but the man who designed the new MINI Cooper was Frank Stephenson, and he was quickly snatched up by FIAT after the great success of the Cooper.

    However, they didn't ask him to design the 500 - it had already been designed. Instead, they offered him gobs of money to help them make it just as desirable as the MINI, meaning marketing.

    He may be a great designer, but clearly marketing is not his strong suit.
     
  13. Number Six

    Number Six New Member

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    #41 Number Six, Sep 30, 2011
    Last edited: Sep 30, 2011
    That's too bad - hope FIAT get its together.
     
  14. Redbeard

    Redbeard JCW: because fast is fun!
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    I was told today that quote," have no right not to like the Fiat 500. drive a MINI. Owning a MINI and not liking the Fiat 500 makes no sense. They are the same kind of car."

    I wasn't sure where to go with that. I just nodded and walked away. :eek:
     
  15. KittyMini

    KittyMini Club Coordinator

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    Their current commercial with Jo Lo makes me dislike them even more :prrr:
     
  16. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    This old fart thinks it was a stupid commercial to sell a car with. Wonder how many pesos they spent on that? :eek:ut:
     
  17. Rixter

    Rixter Well-Known Member

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    That was redonkulous
     
  18. KittyMini

    KittyMini Club Coordinator

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    It's just more auto-tuned crap :prrr:
     
  19. Jafar

    Jafar New Member

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    I had to opportunity to see one up close the other day. No thanks, I'll stick with MINI.
     
  20. Justa Jim

    Justa Jim Well-Known Member
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    I agree with you completely, but is there no room for another small retro car in the US of A. We are starting to sound like brand snobs, IMHO, MINI or nothing. I won't give up my MINI, but come on, there is room for others. I think we should be supportive, even if they are falling short right now.

    Jim