Fiat 500 Sales Behind Expectations?

Discussion in 'Other Vehicles' started by Gil-galad, Aug 18, 2011.

  1. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
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    Welp..... There is always the Smart car.....ugh....
     
  2. Justa Jim

    Justa Jim Well-Known Member
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    That's because you're to young to remember the originals. :lol::lol:

    Jim
     
  3. Justa Jim

    Justa Jim Well-Known Member
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    And that is a retro remake of what exactly? :D

    Jim
     
  4. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
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    The old pedal car you had as a kid.....:D
     
  5. Justa Jim

    Justa Jim Well-Known Member
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    Good point. :lol::lol:

    Jim
     
  6. KittyMini

    KittyMini Club Coordinator

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    Thanks Jim :Thumbsup:
     
  7. Norm03s

    Norm03s New Member

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    Or that could be because;

    You can't even find any remnants of the original Fiat 500’s in the oldest of junk/scrap yards because they evaporated into rust before they could be crushed. They’re more of an urban legend here than the car that once held up traffic and stranded their owners along side the road in the USA.
     
  8. Justa Jim

    Justa Jim Well-Known Member
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    Actually, I saw one this summer over in Hunt Valley. My wife saw it and asked what it was, so we walked over to take a look. Minor work done to it and it still looked very serviceable.

    Jim
     
  9. Johngo

    Johngo New Member
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    From the sounds of it, serviceable is a key phrase with the old and new alike...
     
  10. Norm03s

    Norm03s New Member

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    You have to admit they were not much of a car then and I can't remember when I last saw one on the street. They are as rare as SIMCA's (Société Industrielle de Mécanique et de Carrosserie Automobile). Been to the historic car races at Zandvoort, Holland, watched the Fiat Abarth’s race, now that was a scene.
    A friend has a 124 sitting inside a garage actively rusting away, they had rust in their genes.
    Came close to owning a Fiat X1/9 but never gave the 500 a thought.
     
  11. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    The 500 has been nominated for 2012 North American Car Of The Year
     
  12. Justa Jim

    Justa Jim Well-Known Member
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    As has been said here before, the 500 was just an "everyday car". When I was stationed in Italy (1976'ish) they were every where you looked. Lots of GI's had them, including me. I believe the original Mini had its share of rust and service problems as well, but back then, all cars did. I'm not saying it was a "hot car" by any means, because it was not, but the US of A has always been in love with "big power". I read some articles about the MINI, when it first came out and the first thing they all as said was "under powered". Just food for thought, had John Cooper not built the "S" and the new Justa (no JCW, no S) was all there is, would you own a MINI now?

    Jim:D
     
  13. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    Variety is the spice of life....

    I agree, if you listen carefully you can hear a Mini rusting away.:wink: Thankfully some have been saved by owners who consider them classics today. Same goes for old Fiats. I salute those folks. :beer

    Without those old cars & their heritage we wouldn't have our New MINIs or the New 500. That would be a sad thing & life would be just a bit more boring.

    New retro cars, bring em on! :Thumbsup:
     
  14. KittyMini

    KittyMini Club Coordinator

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    Probably not....
    But then I'd own another car still saying I didn't like the new Fiat :lol::lol::lol:
     
  15. minimark

    minimark Well-Known Member

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    To each his own, but....what idiot did the nominating and how much did he get paid?
     
  16. Justa Jim

    Justa Jim Well-Known Member
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    I understand Monica and you are being honest. Now, let me toss this on the table. Say in two years Fiat came out with a 500 that had sport suspension, twin scroll turbo, put out 300hp, top end at 175mph and MINI remained with their current numbers. :D

    Jim
     
  17. Norm03s

    Norm03s New Member

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    One word..........


    Rigged
     
  18. Number Six

    Number Six New Member

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    To my way of thinking, it's should be up for nomination only in that it's an interesting, fun looking car that's also garnering a lot of interest (the J-Lo fiasco notwithstanding).

    I only can hope the car is made better than the previous FIATs of another generation.
     
  19. minimark

    minimark Well-Known Member

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    Even if all you say is true; how does that earn it North American Car of the Year?
     
  20. Number Six

    Number Six New Member

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    Well, I can only presume it is for all cars sold and driven in N. American, rather than "North American" made.

    (on that note, are there any Canadian cars these days? )
     

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