Fiat 500 US Market

and wait, and wait, and...

 

again!

 

"Stay tuned for more product overviews while your vehicle is being created. By the time it arrives, you'll know it inside and out."

I hope we are not going to get 3 months of "product overviews"

 

If it takes too much longer Alfa Romeo will be back in the US.

 

With something like this, just as in the Mini, they want the public to know everything so the car can sell even faster, let Mini get fatter and VW make the Beetle into a mid-sized so it will become the new niche car. Although, Smart is bringing two new models to production soon.

 

Recent review of New 500, also local area car guy radio show host drove new 500 in LA and gave it a good review also.

http://www.windingroad.com/articles/reviews/driven-2012-fiat-500-sport/?src=Nextscreen#

 

I have read nothing but good reviews.

 

Check your email guys; that was one topic I was not expecting, but will be more than happy to do!

 

Yeah didn't expect that.

 

Yep I have read nothing but very positive reviews as well. Check out some of the Laura Soave interviews with the automotive press in San Diego, the press all had opportunities to drive the cars and from what I saw it has all been very positive, really nice to see.

I'm with sjmst here, I dont think Fiat has truly begun the marketing of the car yet as they realize that alot of the dealers are not yet setup with their studios. I have been very impressed with Laura and Sergio just gets it. I think we have a new Fiat in town and I for one could not be happier. I actually took a ride to Alfredo's of Larchmont this am to see if there was any activity. Anyway, he has built a beautiful new Chrysler dealership and his old Chrysler dealership will become the new Fiat studio.

Reliability I believe is a non issue. These are not the days of flooding and untuned carbs. I went out today to start my Alfa which has been sitting outside under 2ft of snow since early Jan, started up immediately...ahhh the wonders of Bosch management systems.

Q1 2012 cannot get here soon enough, put me down for a Brilliante Rosso Abarth.

 

Nice, can I quote you?

I also spoke to Alfredo as Larchmont. He may deliver my Prima.

 

Looks like you may be getting your anwswer soon.

Check your email!

 

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Dealer list has been added to the Fiatusa web site. I still am unsure what my local dealer is, but it would be either in Utah, Oregon, or Washington. I'm guessing Salt Lake City.

 

Once again, basically USELESS information. It just says stuff like "Fiat of Las Vegas" or "Fiat or Torrance" with no telephone number or name of the actual dealer or in many cases, no address.

So, if you have the address, you have to copy it, go on google, and look up who it is. In the case of Las Vegas, it comes up after a lot of searching "Truck World".

I really don't understand what these guys are thinking. Do they really want to sell cars? Because, if they do, they sure make people work for the information.

Fiat: If you're listening, get your act together!

 

Well not completely useless; I now know the dealer near me is "opening in June"...with of course the "subject to change" asterisk applied...and doesn't say June of what year.

The local dealer group that got the franchise still doesn't list anything about Fiat on their webpage. I wonder if this is by the dealer's choice or by directive from Fiat.

 

Can't really argue with that. There is not link to Fiat of Salt Lake City, and it's opening in February. I know it's part of the Ken Garff dealership chain so going to kengarff.com and going to "Brands" shows Fiat and a link for www.fiatsaltlake.com which takes me to a placeholder page.

Go ahead, try it out! :/

 

The info is out there - first entry.

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&sugexp=ldymls&xhr=t&q=Fiat+USA+dealer+list

Anyway, Fiat may want to have a coordinated effort and not inundate the dealers before their showrooms are ready.

 

Obviouly, you don't get it. Why should I, as a perspective customer, have to search on google for information when their own "official" website doesn't have any useful dealer information?

It's just marketing 101. So far, Fiat USA is failing miserably.

 

I've been talking to Fiat of Salt Lake City, and they seem to have their act together pretty well. They received their demo car and they're taking orders. If you give them a call, you'll find they're a lot further along than their website would indicate. My personal experience with web developers would suggest that such a situation is almost a universal truth.

 

the lack of concrete dealer network could also work against the 500 in north america, that is one area the new min had/has, the bmw network and no-nonsense warranty

LOL it recalls to me the last alfa dealer we had here, which was decent enough, depending upon which day of the week you showed up! LOL

 

It is true that there is weak marketing at this point. Dealers too, are weak. I spoke to one who, while otherwise enthusiastic, says he is not returning phone calls about the 500 until he as one to show. Make sense? No, not to me either.

 

LOL wow, so no car to show, TV advertising too expensive apparently, and dealer not returning phone calls.....

....i agree with you, not a great marketing strategy!

 

At the end of the day when the majority of dealers have their studios setup and built and can actually take delivery of cars is when you will see the marketing push. Right now there is not much that can be done as the dealer network for the most part is not ready. Why would you go into this big advertising push now and no one has any cars? Lets face it, the cars that do get delivered now are being purchased by someone who know and loves anything Italian and has owned Fiats, Alfas, etc etc.

I have enough confidence in Sergio Marchione to believe that they will get this right.

 

In the end, I think (and hope) this is correct.