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

The old pedal car you had as a kid.....

 

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.

 

Well... A good Bulldog will lift it's leg first.....

 

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

 

Good find Nathan.

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:

 

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.....

 

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

 

I'd be asking for a hand check.... He has a pretty sneaky smile on his face.....

 

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..

 

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

 

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.

 

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.

 

That's too bad - hope FIAT get its together.

 

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.

 

Their current commercial with Jo Lo makes me dislike them even more rrr:

 

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

 

That was redonkulous

 

It's just more auto-tuned crap rrr:

 

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

 

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