Fiat 500 US Market

Latest press indicates only 20 percent of the dealers will be operational at product launch...

 

Geez, any idea when the others will be up and running? Still, I'd think that a selected dealer would at least have a website up or link on a main group site for potential buyers to get on spam list like you mentioned.

I'm surprised we got a dealership b/c New Orleans is still in recovery mode from Katrina. We lost Porsche for awhile and the closest Mini dealer is in Baton Rouge. Light bulb just illuminated...I wonder if New Orleans got the Fiat dealer over Baton Rouge (I assume a dealer applied) to avoid the direct competition with Mini but yet still close enough to draw buyers from BR as Mini draws buyers from NO.

 

Let's be clear. Fiat has not marketed the car yet.
They are not ready to release it.
True sales drive and marketing will come about in the second quarter. Before that, there will be a few (489) Prima Ediziones sold to enthusiasts who snapped them up in hours.
Those should be released in as soon as 4-6 weeks, with latest projected for late March.
Starting around April, the real marketing will begin.

What we have seen so far is some pre production teases. Those who are really hot for the car are frustrated, but that is only because we can't wait.
The general public will see a car suddenly appear.
In Europe, they sell like hotcakes.

No, they are not everyone's taste. They are not Minis.

Most reviews I have read are glowing.

A member of the Fiat Lancia Unlimited Club shipped his over from Northern Island.
People here went nuts. Young, old, male, female.
It was a true crowd pleaser.

My daily driver is a BMW 330ci, yet when I drove this Eurospec on NY highways I found it to be a blast.

Again, not everyone will love it. That is true of every car.
The only thing I can think of that will sink this car is reliability issues.
That remains to be seen, but Fiat knows that and seems to be acting accordingly.

 

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaOF4GoCowg&feature=player_embedded[/ame]

 

Compared to what? Steering is pretty crap (all magazines agree about that even on the Abarth version) and it's simply no Mini.

500 makes sense if you live in the center of some medieval European town, not in California where you can parallel park a bus on the street.

 

Well as in secure. Quiet at speed etc. However it's nowhere near as fun as it could have been.

 

Hey, like I said, there will be some people, like you, who will hate the car. I have actually heard some people say the 308 is ugly. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, no question.

But, "all magazines" agree that steering is crap? I have not seen these reviews. All the reviews I have read are mostly positive. Can you post up some links or tell me where I can find those articles trashing the car, and specifically the steering?

.

 

From what I read the steering is a weak point, not necessarily "crap".

http://www.perrys.co.uk/car-news/buyers-guide/top-ten-sexiest-cars-1422.php

No Mini on that list. I do like the Mini, but I'd take an Abarth over all.....

 

Among top ten sexiest cars. Again, typical of what I have read. Those who don't like it are in the minority. It's up to Fiat to make sure they stay that way.


"The Fiat 500, the revived city car from the 50s, has been an unconditional success for the Italian manufacturer since its re-release.

The reasons are simple; it’s simple, retro and fun. It’s also an iconic, stylish, highly customisable and has the orders and awards to back this up.

Probably the most relevant however, is the Sexiest Car of All Time award from BBC television programme Top Gear. The Fiat finished ahead of Lamborghinis, Ferraris and Aston Martins to claim the award and according to presenter James May: “It advertises nothing about its owner, except that it's someone who doesn't need to try. So you look, and you know. You would, wouldn't you?"

 

Sorry but that is NOT true.

1) There's a website up and running (one that isn't completely functional)

2) There's an advertising campaign going on (there's a giant poster with the car over the busiest section of the 405 freeway in LA -- bigger than the Cadillac SV one next to it. I'm assuming there are other billboards in other large cities if they spent that much in LA.

3) They unveiled it at the LA Auto show.

4) There's been a strong internet campaign going on to direct people to their facebook page. Unfortunately, there's no link from the facebook page to the actual website so getting useful information (like where to purchase one and how much they cost) is impossible to find once you get there.

I think you're confusing "not marketed" with "poorly marketed". It's so poorly marketed we can't even believe it's marketing.

Look, I want this car to be a success. I just think they're doing a lousy job of it so far. The sooner they get the message, the sooner they will get this thing straighted out.

 

I agree, the sooner the better. These are teases. Point taken, maybe they should have done nothing until they were ready with a full fledged campiagn. I can't say, I'm not a marketing expert.
Anyone recall how others, eg Mini did it?


Let's see what happens in two months.

 

Yeah, I was there at the MINI start, and placed my pre-delivery deposit.

The HUGE difference was that the BMW dealers who were building their MINI dealerships were conversant with the car, and understood that this would be an informed niche audience.

I don't think Fiat's marketing strategy has any specific faults in and of itself, it's just not in tune with their dealership strategy. You don't create buzz and then fail to deliver - many will just walk away if they can't find answers to their questions or dealers willing to accept deposits. This isn't just adding a car to an existing brand lineup (i.e. the New Beetle in '98, the Miata in '90,) it's creating a new brand.

The biggest hurdle the parent companies will have to cross is reconciling their "La Dolce Vida" marketing with the "what will it take to get you in a car TODAY" Chrysler dealerships.

 

I agree 100% can't have cheesy snake oil salesman selling Fiats. That's what Fiat is trying to avoid that by having only dealers committed to having "studios" from which to sell the car. I think those selected dealers can't tell us more because they are too early in the process.

No matter how good the dealers are, they are still car dealers in the end. With all that means, for better or worse.

And again, I know this won't sway the people who have already made up their minds, but for everyone else, consider:

*Fiat 500 MultiAir technology was recognized as the “single most innovative engine technology” of the year by the International Engine of the Year Awards panel

*2009 World Car Design of the Year

*European Car of the Year 2008

*One of the most awarded cars — with 60 major awards

*The 500,000th Fiat 500 was produced in March 2010

 

The dealer here in Fort Worth is remodeling a dedicated showroom just for Fiat. No one even the GM doesn't know anything about the car. Before this it was the new truck / SUV dept sold with the "good ol' boy" salesman mentality. (possibly the worst you could deal with in Texas)

The dealership isn't in the best of locations but they are the only franchise to be awarded Fiat, the second closest will be somewhere in north Dallas. I really thought Chrysler would approach the marketing like Mini but I don't see that happening, they will sold like Kia or some other entry level vehicle. It's going to be interesting on how this all plays out.

 

That's not what I have read. Laura Soave, chief of Fiat USA, says dealers need to set up a "studio" and set a distinct corporate directed atmosphere and tone for the sales process.

 

the dealership locations for this car could not be more important. The dealerships need to be closer to its target mkt, say near design districts, etc. The FW and N Dal doesnt seem right to me.

 

I suspect the results will be comparable to what has happened with Toyota and Scion. Yes, you find dedicated boutiques for Scion within Toyota dealerships, and all the salons comply with the Scion style guide from a construction and decor standpoint. However, you don't see anyone actually manning the stations - instead, you have to flag down a Toyota salesperson husting Highlanders to get them to give you info on the 100+ customizing options for the Scion xB.

Bottom line, I think Fiat 500s will be tons of fun, once you get past the buying experience.

Personally, i think this styling exercise is tremendously cool:
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Anyone see these stories? There are two parts that detail the updates that were made to the North American spec version. Looks promising.

http://fiat500usa.blogspot.com/2010/12/2012-fiat-500-improved-and-refined-part.html

http://fiat500usa.blogspot.com/2010/12/2012-fiat-500-improved-and-refined-part_06.html

 

Yep!

 

Well, I'm glad they made the US cup holders bigger for those super sized meals!

Actually, I like the changes. Looks like they are trying to do it right and not just toss anything into the US market.

This is "make or break" for Fiat. If this fails, they can forget the US market forever. I'm sure they know the stakes are that high.

 

These Studios should be selling 5 cars here in the U.S.A.:

the 500
the X 1/9 replacement/lotus elise fighter
the Alfa Giulietta
the Alfa 159 replacement
the Alfa Spider replacement.

Additionally, a new Delta Integrale should be done ASAP with a return to rallying.

 

Add to that the new Stratos and you've got an all star lineup.

 

Fiat 500 speeding to market
Delivery of small cars to begin before most dealerships are ready
Alisa Priddle / The Detroit News


Soave said the first owners will be notified when their Prima Edizione is ready. "We will match them with their dealer and deliver to their home or a Chrysler location if they don't want to wait until their Fiat studio is ready," she said.

Chrysler will make special arrangements to ensure dealers have the necessary paperwork. "We will look at each dealer on a case-by-case basis," said spokesman Ralph Kisiel.



From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20110125/AUTO01/101250374/Fiat-500-speeding-to-market#ixzz1C4jE2ZX0

 

Maybe they need the money?

 

Fine with me, I need the car. Ready to trade!