New Fiat/ Miata 124 spider ---- what the?

yeah, not sure if you saw earlier in the thread...I bought one of these last year. Drove it home the first night and by the time I got home I knew I had to return it. Short test drive was "okay", but 30 minutes proved to be painfully small for me (6'3" 240lb). (They took it back because they have a 24-hour return policy, I had to pay a $250 fee. Fair to me!)

It was so perfect for what I wanted in Scottsdale for winter (just a small, cheap, simply convertible to run around in). This year I just got a Maserati Grandturismo Cabrio to fill that role. More car, but at >3X the cost.)

 

The funny thing is I fit fine in the NB and NC Miatas once you drop the seat down, go figure.

 

Not my words:

https://www-bloomberg-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.bloomberg.com/amp/news/articles/2018-05-30/marchionne-s-grand-finale-entails-expanding-jeep-shrinking-fiat?amp_js_v=0.1#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bloomberg.com%2Fnews%2Farticles%2F2018-05-30%2Fmarchionne-s-grand-finale-entails-expanding-jeep-shrinking-fiat&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bloomberg.com%2Fnews%2Farticles%2F2018-05-30%2Fmarchionne-s-grand-finale-entails-expanding-jeep-shrinking-fiat

Marchionne's Finale Entails Expanding Jeep, Shrinking Fiat

 

Picture worth 1,000 words from article… Fiat never got off the ground in USA! Fiat sales performance almost parallels the X-axis for seven years.

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ZERO chance now of Fiat making any more substantial investment in the 124. Anyone want to adopt an orphan at a big discount?

 

Shocked, shocked. I had no idea they weren't selling Fiat's in there. (or something like that).

While mgmt may not admit it, they did not make much/any effort in the USA. The support around marketing/product launch, dealer launch was pathetic. It was a combination of "who's on first" and "what game are we playing". Even a base level of effort would have resulted in some traction. But, for whatever reasons ($ I'm sure), they didn't do a bad job, they did no job.

 

And what makes the launch/dealer lameness stick out so much, is how cool (to me of course) this little car is! I so wanted to fit in this car. I had to spend 3x the amount to get the car I had to go with instead. If one fits in this little 124, its a screaming deal for a little drop top.

Check out the short video with the new-for-2019 exhaust:

https://jalopnik.com/the-2019-fiat-124-spider-abarth-finally-sounds-as-god-i-1828825942

 

Maybe they could just keep the Abarth cars a boutique brand with some kind of performance upgrades added to what they already have. Forget about FIAT in North America. It was a bad idea from day one. Like several have said the Alfa 4C motor would be a good start. The 4C also needs an upgrade of some sort before it's replacement the 8C comes out(it will be delayed several years I am sure).

 

What model year will be last for the 124? Don't think it will continue outside US.
I'm sure they have long term contracts with dealers and Mazda. It's going to be messy and expensive for FCA.

 

2018 USA Fiat 124 Spider sales:-

January - 183
February - 223
March - 325
April - 337
May - 425
June - 401
July - 392
August - 343
Total: 2629

 

2018 Europe FIAT 124 Spider sales:-

January - 408
February - 335
March - 1351
April - 442
May - 786
June - 1047
July - 747
Total: 5116

 

2018 USA Fiat 124 Spider sales:-

January - 183
February - 223
March - 325
April - 337
May - 425
June - 401
July - 392
August - 343
September - 286
Total: 2915

 

2018 Europe FIAT 124 Spider sales:-

January - 408
February - 335
March - 1351
April - 442
May - 786
June - 1047
July - 747
August - 608
Total: 5724

 

2018 USA Fiat 124 Spider sales:-

January - 183
February - 223
March - 325
April - 337
May - 425
June - 401
July - 392
August - 343
September - 286
October - 219
Total: 3134