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

I saw a white one today & to my twisted mind it looked very nice. Maybe if they badge the 500 as a Dodge Dart it will sell in better numbers.

 

My husband informed me one wouldn't get out of the left lane.... then when it was open, he pulled into the right lane to pass it and it sped up.

Yeah, our Dodge 2500 smoked it :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

 

I have a friend who is an account executive at an advertising/marketing agency. He was asked to investigate the Fiat campaign because his firm was among a list (a long one from what I understand) that was asked to bid to take over the entire North American campaign for Fiat.

He is as much of a car guy as I am and we had a long discussion about how viable it would be to try to take on. I actually pointed him towards our thread to see how a competing enthusiast group sees the brand. He had some interesting thoughts about how they can turn the brand around in the public perception but it wasn't going to be easy or cheap. The partners at his firm are disscussing the viability of bidding this week.

It would be really interesting if the did bid and got the contract.

 

I saw one going West bound toward Frederic on Rt. 70 sticking to the center lane. Running up on it from behind, not impressed, passed it on his left, not impressed. That thing needs a BIG key stuck on the back like they used to put on VW bugs, then it would be interesting.

 

I would rather see Chevy recover, just my 2 cents.

 

Ditto

 

But they won't make small, fuel efficient cars. :nonod:

Jim

 

I think they tried to follow MINI's marketing methods and models, and didn't appreciate the part the product played in MINI's success!

I think you'll find these things for sale for 1/2 price or less after one year on the road, like most Chrysler products....

 

....it ain't a Mini Cooper.

 

I might risk buying one at half price:wink:

 

I remember when Daewoo went under, the local dealership was selling them, "Buy one, get one" :cornut:

 

And even at that price they were too expensive. :biggrin5:

 

I kinda feel bad for Fiat. They left the market on a sour note way back when. It seems like nothing is going right for them now that they are trying to re-enter the US market. Everything that can go wrong seems to be going wrong. The poor dealers are taking a hit I'm afraid. That has to trickle down to how the customers get treated when they come in for service.....

 

Hang on just a sec... Feeling sorry for them would be OK if something were happening that was beyond their control. Their president lied, fabricated, and mislead. Now they are getting their arses handed to them.

I don't feel sorry for them any more than I feel sorry for Chrysler and GM. They suck. They have proven it for decades by shoveling massive loads of crap out their factory doors. FIAT keeps getting their butts kicked here because they decided to do things stupid... AGAIN. :frown2:

 

Just can't believe that without a solid brand like BMW to piggyback into the market on as Mini did, they didn't release the Abarth along with the 500....and made their dealers build Fiat only stores....

 

I think if they could have combined Alfa with the Fiat at the dealership they would have appealed to a broader base.

 

That was the plan.

Year 1 was to get the 500's out there. They were late, poorly marketed leading to slow sales. In November the combined 131 Fiat dealers in the US sold 100 Fiats. That's a whole of steaming not good.

Alfa's were to start rolling in as 2012's. Now it will be 2013's at best. Lancia was discussed for 2014, who knows now.

All this and Dodge is reviving the Dodge Dart based on an Alfa Romeo Giulietta. The Alfa is a pretty car too.



Now if I'm a Fiat dealer that looking over my very trendy looking expensive yet deserted showroom this is not good news to me at all. Gonna piss off these guys.

There are four teaser shots Dodge has released.









The Dart will be at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show.

 

Those teaser shots are great... Unfortunately, when it comes out, it is still facing one horrible reality; It's still a Dodge. Unreliable. Crappily built. Or in the words of Nathan, a whole lot of steaming not good.

 

I have to give defense here.....

My husband has an '03 Jeep Rubicon. He has completely abused this thing.
It is the only vehicle that has always started and been consistent for him... even after he parked it on it's roof at his last competition.

I rate it way over my MINI and any other vehicle any day in terms of reliability.

 

Even a monkey can play Beethoven... :biggrin5:

That is great. Glad you had a winner. Most do not. And the Jeep is a bit of an enigma anyhow. Jeeps tend to be better than the rest of the Chrysler brands for reasons unknown to me.