Fiat 500 US Market | Page 43 | FerrariChat

Fiat 500 US Market

Discussion in 'Other Italian' started by Pav, Sep 14, 2010.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. desmomini

    desmomini F1 Rookie Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2003
    Messages:
    4,111
    Location:
    Upstate SC
    Full Name:
    Jeff
    L.A. car show is November 18th-27th. The Abarth will be introduced at the show to the U.S. market, according to the announcement made by FIAT U.S. at this July's Fiat Freakout.
     
  2. sjmst

    sjmst F1 Veteran Lifetime Rossa

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2003
    Messages:
    9,854
    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    Full Name:
    Sam
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=mJPCAEkcyqg

    I give it high marks.
    Why?
    1) J Lo. Hot/hit
    2) Excellent quality filming
    3) Juxtaposition of the gritty Bronx with the cutesy car. Like a payday candy bar...a little salt cuts the sweetness.

    So we have the car getting instant recognition and being associated with a star those who might buy it can associate with.

    As for guys who now won't buy it because it is now branded a "chick" car, they can use the money they save and buy a set of balls. ;)
     
  3. rhart

    rhart Rookie

    Joined:
    Apr 2, 2008
    Messages:
    3
    Best post I've read in 6 months!

    Since when are chicks adv cars so disdained? This has been going on for decades...
     
  4. oss117

    oss117 F1 Rookie

    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2006
    Messages:
    4,185
    Location:
    Plantation, Florida
    Full Name:
    Alfredo
    Yes I have a down payment on one, but no details available yet down here.
     
  5. classic308

    classic308 F1 Veteran

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2004
    Messages:
    6,820
    Location:
    Westchester, NY
    Full Name:
    Paul
    Just came back from Italy. I want the abarth and the alfa giulietta.
     
  6. TheMayor

    TheMayor Ten Time F1 World Champ Rossa Subscribed

    Joined:
    Feb 11, 2008
    Messages:
    106,146
    Location:
    Vegas baby
    Mini branded itself as "cool, hip, and youthful". Fiat seems to be going after "girls".

    In the long run, this is a losing strategy as it cuts off half the market. By not having the Abarth at the same time as the car's launch, it's just sealing into people's minds that this is another VW bug.

    Maybe Alfa Romeo will be targeted at alpha males.
     
    Last edited: Oct 16, 2011
  7. sjmst

    sjmst F1 Veteran Lifetime Rossa

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2003
    Messages:
    9,854
    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    Full Name:
    Sam
    Yesterday, a very generous friend allowed me to drive his two Ferraris. A 355 and 550, back to back. Prior to this, the only f car I spent real time in was my old Mondial. Of course, the 355 and 550 were awesome. BUT, I must say getting back in my Fiat 500, I still enjoyed it. Sure the F cars are hoary and powerful and fun, but the 500 is fun in a different way. Light and tossable and comfortable. Also, people stare at the f cars the way they might if a lion was on parade. They look at the 500 like they would a cute puppy. That's what the people who say "Oh the 500 is not that fast, that big, not the best MPG, etc" don't get. A car is not what the numbers say, it's what you feel when you drive it.

    Oh and BTW, the friend with the f cars wants to add a 500 to his stable
     
  8. dave_fonz_164

    dave_fonz_164 Formula 3

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2004
    Messages:
    1,658
    Location:
    Montreal, Canada
    Full Name:
    Davide Giuseppe F.
    The 500 is a true classic. People think modern Fiat's are still made like they were in the 70's. How times have changed!

    On my part, I've convinced three friends to buy one. Fiat should be giving me one for free!
     
  9. F1tommy

    F1tommy F1 World Champ Silver Subscribed

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2007
    Messages:
    11,515
    Location:
    Sugar Grove USA
    Full Name:
    Tom Tanner
    These are cute cars, and as most agree they should have brought in the Abarth at the U.S. launch right away. I hope it does not hurt the alpha male market by marketing to women for the first year. FIAT also needs to bring the Alfa Giulietta to N.A. as it is right now. I don't think the "new" revised Giulietta that they seem to want to wait for will set the world on fire. FIAT needs to bring on the Alfa's already(bring in the hottest versions of the Giulietta and Mito now). Then in 2 years bring in the ugly looks Japanese Alfa 4C sportscar.

    Tom Tanner/Ferrari Expo 2012-Chicago March 2012
     
  10. jeffdavison

    jeffdavison F1 Rookie

    Joined:
    Jul 29, 2002
    Messages:
    2,544
    Location:
    Suwanee Georgia
    Full Name:
    Jeffrey Davison
    Fiat will most likely get Marc Anthony to market the Abarth.

    ...... just as Kohls did for clothing fashion lines.

    JD
     
  11. TheMayor

    TheMayor Ten Time F1 World Champ Rossa Subscribed

    Joined:
    Feb 11, 2008
    Messages:
    106,146
    Location:
    Vegas baby
    I just saw an Alfa Guilietta on the streets of Hong Kong yesterday in dark silver and I can say: This car is BEAUTIFUL. It's way more attractive than the pics.

    If they sold this in the USA, I'd buy one immediately. This car is ALL MALE! They have one 1.7 turbo version with 235 HP. Now we are talking.

    http://www.alfagiulietta.com/giulietta/com/index.html

    http://www.alfaromeo.com/com/#/models/giulietta
     
    Last edited: Oct 16, 2011
  12. Luque

    Luque Formula Junior

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2009
    Messages:
    485
    Location:
    Italy
    Unfortunately, it seems the Giulietta will be never imported in USA.
    The cars had to receive same minor updates to be sellable so I don’t understand why Fiat management did not decide yet to move on this direction.
    Probably they are a bit scared.
    While the 500 Europe is a very reliable car (based mainly on Panda platform, also Ford asked to Fiat to produce the ‘Ka’ on the same platform and in the same Polish plant) and the step forward to a 500 USA version was very natural, the Giulietta still has to show its potential above all in strategic market as the German is.
    I actually own a 2011 Giulietta with the 170 hp 1.4 Turbo Multiair version that In 2010 won the prestigious Engine of the Year award in the Best New Engine of the Year category

    http://www.ukipme.com/engineoftheyear/winners_10/bestnew.html

    The 1750 version of the green cloverleaf have 235 HP and has Multiair technology too.
    Enjoy Autozine website car description, including the D.N.A. manettino device controlling car’s electronic (from Front Electronic differential to pre-filled brake as in the 458 italia)

    http://www.autozine.org/Archive/Alfa/new/Giulietta.html
     
    Last edited: Oct 16, 2011
  13. Tifosi15

    Tifosi15 Formula 3

    Joined:
    Jul 15, 2009
    Messages:
    2,125
    Location:
    Austin
    Full Name:
    Bryan
    Bob, yes the Giulietta is a great looking car, I would love to have one. I'm actually considering starting to save up now before Alfa gets here in 2013.

    From what I've seen this car might make it here, and that 1750 tbi motor sounds pretty great. The Giulietta QV is a handsome and refined hatch, perfect if you don't plan on slinging it around like Loeb does with his hatches, but otherwise a great performance hatch with luxury, style, and speed
     
    Last edited: Oct 17, 2011
  14. Tifosi15

    Tifosi15 Formula 3

    Joined:
    Jul 15, 2009
    Messages:
    2,125
    Location:
    Austin
    Full Name:
    Bryan
  15. Luque

    Luque Formula Junior

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2009
    Messages:
    485
    Location:
    Italy
  16. Tifosi15

    Tifosi15 Formula 3

    Joined:
    Jul 15, 2009
    Messages:
    2,125
    Location:
    Austin
    Full Name:
    Bryan
    Is that yours Luque? Is it the Multi Air? Looks great in red
     
  17. 4re Nut

    4re Nut F1 World Champ

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2004
    Messages:
    16,343
    Location:
    N of NOLA
    Full Name:
    Steve
    http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/18/tiny-fiat-500-earns-iihs-top-safety-pick-w-video/

    It will be interesting to see if insurance companies price the premium differently for pre-August 500s.

    Question: How do the early buyers feel?

    If I was one, I think I'd want Fiat to issue a recall and update the "seat structure" on all of the sold units. That, a recall for a safety issue isn't exactly great PR for a brand that needs all the help it can get...but more reason to keep the early adopters happy!

    [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaxdJjW-v1o[/ame]
    ^
    [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rxgxY9awWY[/ame]
    ^
     
    Last edited: Oct 18, 2011
  18. velocetwo

    velocetwo F1 World Champ

    Joined:
    Dec 11, 2006
    Messages:
    12,545
    Location:
    Left Coast
    Wish Alfa would start selling in the USA LOL looks like some of the Video's were shot in the southwest.
     
  19. 4re Nut

    4re Nut F1 World Champ

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2004
    Messages:
    16,343
    Location:
    N of NOLA
    Full Name:
    Steve
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  20. Tifosi15

    Tifosi15 Formula 3

    Joined:
    Jul 15, 2009
    Messages:
    2,125
    Location:
    Austin
    Full Name:
    Bryan
  21. sjmst

    sjmst F1 Veteran Lifetime Rossa

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2003
    Messages:
    9,854
    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    Full Name:
    Sam
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  22. Luque

    Luque Formula Junior

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2009
    Messages:
    485
    Location:
    Italy
    Yes it is.
    Should we have to open a specific thread about Alfa Romeo ?

    Luque
     
  23. Paul Vincent

    Paul Vincent Formula Junior

    Joined:
    Apr 3, 2004
    Messages:
    478
    Last edited: Oct 18, 2011
  24. 4re Nut

    4re Nut F1 World Champ

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2004
    Messages:
    16,343
    Location:
    N of NOLA
    Full Name:
    Steve
    Last edited: Oct 18, 2011
  25. BubblesQuah

    BubblesQuah F1 World Champ Silver Subscribed

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2003
    Messages:
    13,232
    Location:
    Charlotte
    Hmmm.

    Mine doesn't match my car...anymore.. :D
     

Share This Page