Fiat 500 US Market

Maybe you have to build the car yourself?

 

But it's not Christmas yet!


I'll open it tonight and post pictures if someone doesn't beat me to it.

 

Perhaps that's what their "World Class Manufacturing" process is.


Maybe this is the carpet kit!!

 

My Silver Tube was a little worse for wear..... I have # 275 Bianco , Keep driving by the local chrysler dealer row ( they have be named a dealer) , waiting for the empty building to show some sign of becoming Fiat. If my car is coming in Feb. then they don't have much time to get set up. Tube contained a Nice artsy print numbered 275/500 and a little christmas greeting from Laura....

 

We don't know how Fiat will deliver the cars. Whether they will allow a local dealer close to Prima buyers to deliver, or whether we Prima buyers will have to endure the privilege of having to make a road trip to get the car.

 

Mine made it intact, #308/500 here. Spicy liked it, will likely get it framed to go next to all the Enzo Naso prints that seem to breed like rabbits over here...

 

Now it gets interesting, looks like Mopar is going to make accessory bits for the 500 now.

http://picasaweb.google.com/fiat500usa.com/Mopar#

Wonder when we'll be able to get the Abarth bits here?

 

2012, I think.

 

Why wouldn't Mopar just sell the Abarth parts?

 

Great question Johnei. I had 3 sit down meetings with Chrysler at the SEMA show and asked that very question. Lots of blank looks. Like the right hand doesn't know what the left is doing or even if it is attached to the body.

I'm trying to source aftermarket parts for my online stores Hot Fiat and FiatSpeed. They wanted to help but it was like dealing with the Govt.

There was not long ago an orig 500 posted on www.BarnfindsAndDeals.com
Cool site if your a gear head. Free email blasts of classic cars.

 

I agree. But in fairness they really weren't ready to introduce Fiat at sema and had a almost zero Fiat presence there. I think some of us are jumping the gun a bit.

Even today it's difficult to get something as basic as dealer information.

 

My wife is fully on board and excited to get the Fiat, but she has a great sense of humor. When I told her Fiat is delaying the delivery of our Prima Edizione because they want to make sure we get a a "quality" delivery, she emailed me this:

"Oh yeah puhlease ... real quality. They put on a special ugly stripe just for the loyal first 500 fans and made sure you guys would have no options, and when the car is finally available you will have to drive miles and miles to a different state ... everyone is salivating over their special treatment Don't they understand you could care less about quality treatment and would be just as happy to pick the car up as it comes off the factory line in pueblo Mexico, as you would at the dealer if you could get the car now?"

 

Your wife has a point. I'm wondering if I should offer my #373 Blanco out for sale and buy a Pop and build it into a hot Sport. Prob more appropriate for my Hot Fiat and FiatSpeed online store. Still, do I have the patience to not take the quickie score?

 

Yes, it doesn't look like there are any Abarth parts on this car. Not very promising but maybe you can import the right stuff.

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/10/fiat-500-mopar-detroit-2011/

 

I'm considering buying 1 just cus its cool, gets 40mpg, & is great for parking in city

Maybe I'll turn it into a Ferrari edition clone or what about Luigi from CARS ?

 

I think the 500 will be a flop in the US.

For one... it's REALLY small. Second, it's not very fun to drive. It's not even close to a Mini. I drove the 500 Ferrari edition (loaner special for dealers) and it had none of the verve and joy of the Mini. Very cheap inside too. Wheezy engine. Not a problem on slow twisty roads... but on US roads the engine will have to be worked hard... killing economy, the ONLY reason to buy it really.

Chick car par excellence...

 

Just get the Mini.

 

You must have gotten a lemon. I drove a European version (in the USA) for many miles and all my conclusions are the exact opposite of yours.
Lots of people so far agree with me and less so with you. But, who knows maybe it will flop..anything is possible. Time will tell.

 

If the Abarth comes over, as it should, that will be even better.

 

I just worry it will be perceived as too "girly". It is rather "cute" where the Mini looks a bit more "tough". I think they should have introduced the Abarth at the same time and given male drivers something with teeth to drive right out of the box.

By the time the Abarth comes out a year later, the reputation may be hard to change. VW tried it to Macho-ize the new Bug and it crashed and burned.

 

i concur. mkting will have to be spot on. Then again, $4-5 gas can change peoples behavior.
having driven the FIat in Europe I thought it handled pretty well.

 

So far, I think the marketing has been the weak spot. I've seen the car in Europe and I love it. I'm not convinced that the marketing of the car so far will woo over your typical American econo box buyer.

When I bought my Mini (before they were available in the states), I thought BMW had done one of the best marketing jobs for a new car introduction of all time. When I signed up, they sent me all kinds of cool brochures and literature -- a lot of it hip and humorous. They continued that after I bought the car. The website was functional and informative months before the car was on display in the US. By asking all the BMW dealers to build a separate showroom for the car with a different sales force showed just how seriously they knew that Mini owners didn't want to be seen as "poor BMW" owners walking into a showroom filled with $60K+ machines and guys in suits and ties. Mini salesman had T shirts.

When people complained about the cup holders being basically worthless, Mini sent every owner a custom stainless steel coffee mug with a Mini logo on it with a note that they apoligize for the error and wish that it helps get people their morning java. I didn't ask for it. It just arrived in the mail. But boy, did that make an impression on me that they want my repeat business and word of mouth recommendations.

Mini also played up the car's nostalgia, history, and the macho-ness of the car (showing the original winning rallies). They also played up what they called the "bull dog" looks, which made it seem tough, loyal, and British. Even the color pallet and decoration was nostalgic.

To date, I really haven't seen much in the way of Fiat even getting close to what Mini did in it's first couple of years. Without brand loyalty, all you're selling is a car. And, any car will have flaws or issues. Brands which are highly respected can get over them.

 

The dealer network is going to be their biggest problem.

I contacted Fiat of South Charlotte in December, and was told (incorrectly) that they'd have a tester sometime the week of Dec. 27th-30th.

"Great, I've been reading all about this car, and I'm home from work that week! Call me, I'll take a spin, and if I like it, you've got a deposit! MSRP plus tax + tags is fine with me!" I delivered that message by phone, by email, and in person, when I stopped by to introduce myself to the internet manager and the GM, and I gave both my business card. I was determined to be one of their first customers.

I wound up on their spam email list, the same way I would've if I'd been a clueless general car purchaser who'd test driven a Dodge Caliber on a whim. Every few days, I'd get an email asking if I'd purchased a car yet, and if I was interested in the current deals on Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep products. Fed up, I sent an email reminding them I was a potential FIAT customer, and was only interested in the Fiat 500. More high-pressure contact to buy a new Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep.

Since I was in a car-buying frame of mind, and with $20K burning a hole in my pocket from the sale of my Porsche, I bought a BMW.

I'm still open to test driving a Fiat 500 when they finally get one...

 

I can find nothing online about the my local dealer, FIAT of New Orleans, other than the fact that they are on the list of dealers. The dealer group carries several makes from Kia to Porsche (and Chrysler of course) and I don't see a single mention of Fiat on their primary website.

 

Speaking of excellence, how does it compare to the GT3 RS?