Fiat 500 looks like a thimble on wheels...
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There are also plenty of people that remember the bad old days when Fiat meant "fix it again Tony"..... The people that are young enough not to remember that might not be looking for a premium priced roller skate - it is all about image to those folks. I agree another model should have been first, but I have never liked the quality of ChryCo, I still think Fiat has issues, but have never owned one.
I find the FIAT 500 kinda retro-cool looking...the front end reminds me of the old Renault Dauphine. Of course, I also like the Smart car, and those wrinkly dogs, so what do I know?
Originally Posted By: RF Overlord
I find the FIAT 500 kinda retro-cool looking...the front end reminds me of the old Renault Dauphine. Of course, I also like the Smart car, and those wrinkly dogs, so what do I know?
So you actually like goofy looking....
I find the FIAT 500 kinda retro-cool looking...the front end reminds me of the old Renault Dauphine. Of course, I also like the Smart car, and those wrinkly dogs, so what do I know?
So you actually like goofy looking....
Originally Posted By: DutchBrad
There are also plenty of people that remember the bad old days when Fiat meant "fix it again Tony"..... The people that are young enough not to remember that might not be looking for a premium priced roller skate - it is all about image to those folks. I agree another model should have been first, but I have never liked the quality of ChryCo, I still think Fiat has issues, but have never owned one.
I guess I just don't understand the notion of marketing these powered roller skates as a premium package....I say produce a vehicle that's about the same size and offers about the same amount of utility as say a hatchback Yaris or Versa that gets 100 MPG, price it the same as a Yaris or Versa, and they wouldn't be able to produce them fast enough to keep up with demand...
There are also plenty of people that remember the bad old days when Fiat meant "fix it again Tony"..... The people that are young enough not to remember that might not be looking for a premium priced roller skate - it is all about image to those folks. I agree another model should have been first, but I have never liked the quality of ChryCo, I still think Fiat has issues, but have never owned one.
I guess I just don't understand the notion of marketing these powered roller skates as a premium package....I say produce a vehicle that's about the same size and offers about the same amount of utility as say a hatchback Yaris or Versa that gets 100 MPG, price it the same as a Yaris or Versa, and they wouldn't be able to produce them fast enough to keep up with demand...
They sorta look like the Fiat 600 from the late 50's and early 60's. My Dad bought a 1960 Fiat 600 new for a dollar a pound. Car weighed 1250 pounds, $1250.00 new. Drove it for several years until he got remarried and needed a bigger car. Then, he got a Fiat station wagon.
You get it.
The 500 is meant to emulate the look of the old two cylinder rear-engined 500, although on a much larger scale.
It is a pretty sucessful piece of retro design.
Chrysler's current Italian masters, who may turn out to be no more sucessful than the German ones were, apparently think that the underlying trend in our market is toward smaller vehicles, given that the underlying trend in fuel prices is not going to change.
Fiat may figure that retro worked for the PT Cruiser, the Mini, the New Beetle and more broadly with the Mustang, the Challenger, the Charger and the Camaro, so they apparently feel that this retro car is a good first effort in the US market.
I personally like the look, although Fiat was not known for reliability during its last run at this market.
Fiat was known for style and driving dynamics, though.
Certainly the 500 matches the charm of the Mini or Beetle, and is a stylish alternative for those looking at small Japanese or American brand cars.
Fiat better hope that it doesn't turn out to be a chick car, though.
The 500 is meant to emulate the look of the old two cylinder rear-engined 500, although on a much larger scale.
It is a pretty sucessful piece of retro design.
Chrysler's current Italian masters, who may turn out to be no more sucessful than the German ones were, apparently think that the underlying trend in our market is toward smaller vehicles, given that the underlying trend in fuel prices is not going to change.
Fiat may figure that retro worked for the PT Cruiser, the Mini, the New Beetle and more broadly with the Mustang, the Challenger, the Charger and the Camaro, so they apparently feel that this retro car is a good first effort in the US market.
I personally like the look, although Fiat was not known for reliability during its last run at this market.
Fiat was known for style and driving dynamics, though.
Certainly the 500 matches the charm of the Mini or Beetle, and is a stylish alternative for those looking at small Japanese or American brand cars.
Fiat better hope that it doesn't turn out to be a chick car, though.
You'd think it would get better mpg...
They're getting the buzz out for the folks who never heard about Fiat's last American adventure. It's a "cute" little car meant to spend time in cities. It's not a highway car by any means. Also, by putting their time/effort into a niche car, they're putting themselves as a "fun" alternative to other car makers before they introduce more mainstream cars.
I wouldn't own one myself, but I think its a nice design WITHIN its category.
I think the 500 is a better design than the Yaris or versa cheapness
I think the 500 is a better design than the Yaris or versa cheapness
Hello, WARNING: RANT and VENT to follow. I agree with grampi in that auto makers should offer real cars which deliver real value using new technologies. I think these retro cars are cool as far as art class assignments go, but nothing more. I think it's a bad commentary on the market when silly design resurrections are made to drum up interest in a product-especially a product as "big and important" as an automobile. The demographic targeting used to sell the retro Thunderbird (a huge failure) was embarrassing. I was kind of pleased when Ford curtailed production of that one. I feel styling a sheet metal skin for such a purpose underscores how weak the product is in the first place. A Pontiac or Oldsmobile biting the dust doesn't bother me that much. That the confusion created in part by all those brands took a Saturn and Saab out with them is a shame. Tailoring overpowered versions of mussel cars from the '60's (Mustang, Camaro and Challenger) is sad. A Buick salesman in Hackensack, NJ told me the Riata was built to get people into the showrooms. Remember, we pay for their stupid marketing. Kira
Originally Posted By: Kira
Tailoring overpowered versions of mussel cars from the '60's is sad.
I prefer my mussels steamed in garlic and white wine.
Tailoring overpowered versions of mussel cars from the '60's is sad.
I prefer my mussels steamed in garlic and white wine.
How is the 500 not a real car offering real value?
Pricing is certainly reasonable, and fuel economy is good,
at least for those who drive a stick.
The shape may not appeal to you or Grampi, but that's
a matter of personal taste.
If the reliability is decent, the 500 is as useful a small car as any other.
It just comes in a retro-chic wrapper.
Pricing is certainly reasonable, and fuel economy is good,
at least for those who drive a stick.
The shape may not appeal to you or Grampi, but that's
a matter of personal taste.
If the reliability is decent, the 500 is as useful a small car as any other.
It just comes in a retro-chic wrapper.
Originally Posted By: grampi
So you actually like goofy looking....
It seems pretty silly to have a response like that to someone's opinion in a thread opens with an opinion. Also, with a name like "grampi," I assume you're on the more aged end of the spectrum. If that's the case, a doubt people of your generation are even the target market for the car.
Also, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Plus, this car was originally designed for the European market. It's been on sale for years in Europe and has sold a lot there.
But, Fiat really did a huge disservice to themselves with the ad campaign. Stupid Jennifer Lopez ads probably turned off a lot of people.
So you actually like goofy looking....
It seems pretty silly to have a response like that to someone's opinion in a thread opens with an opinion. Also, with a name like "grampi," I assume you're on the more aged end of the spectrum. If that's the case, a doubt people of your generation are even the target market for the car.
Also, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Plus, this car was originally designed for the European market. It's been on sale for years in Europe and has sold a lot there.
But, Fiat really did a huge disservice to themselves with the ad campaign. Stupid Jennifer Lopez ads probably turned off a lot of people.
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I agree that FIATs are far better than those of the 70s.
I also agree that they should have brought in one of their more mainstream cars first. I think the problem might be cost----if this mini-thimble is 18K+ what would a regular FIAT cost?
I also agree that they should have brought in one of their more mainstream cars first. I think the problem might be cost----if this mini-thimble is 18K+ what would a regular FIAT cost?
Originally Posted By: fdcg27
You get it.
The 500 is meant to emulate the look of the old two cylinder rear-engined 500, although on a much larger scale.
It is a pretty sucessful piece of retro design.
Chrysler's current Italian masters, who may turn out to be no more sucessful than the German ones were, apparently think that the underlying trend in our market is toward smaller vehicles, given that the underlying trend in fuel prices is not going to change.
Fiat may figure that retro worked for the PT Cruiser, the Mini, the New Beetle and more broadly with the Mustang, the Challenger, the Charger and the Camaro, so they apparently feel that this retro car is a good first effort in the US market.
I personally like the look, although Fiat was not known for reliability during its last run at this market.
Fiat was known for style and driving dynamics, though.
Certainly the 500 matches the charm of the Mini or Beetle, and is a stylish alternative for those looking at small Japanese or American brand cars.
Fiat better hope that it doesn't turn out to be a chick car, though.
The sole purpose of going to a smaller vehicle is to get better fuel economy. Many of these small models these days (the Mini Cooper and Smart Car come to mind) get terrible fuel economy for their size. A small car that gets bad gas mileage defeats the entire purpose of a small vehicle....
You get it.
The 500 is meant to emulate the look of the old two cylinder rear-engined 500, although on a much larger scale.
It is a pretty sucessful piece of retro design.
Chrysler's current Italian masters, who may turn out to be no more sucessful than the German ones were, apparently think that the underlying trend in our market is toward smaller vehicles, given that the underlying trend in fuel prices is not going to change.
Fiat may figure that retro worked for the PT Cruiser, the Mini, the New Beetle and more broadly with the Mustang, the Challenger, the Charger and the Camaro, so they apparently feel that this retro car is a good first effort in the US market.
I personally like the look, although Fiat was not known for reliability during its last run at this market.
Fiat was known for style and driving dynamics, though.
Certainly the 500 matches the charm of the Mini or Beetle, and is a stylish alternative for those looking at small Japanese or American brand cars.
Fiat better hope that it doesn't turn out to be a chick car, though.
The sole purpose of going to a smaller vehicle is to get better fuel economy. Many of these small models these days (the Mini Cooper and Smart Car come to mind) get terrible fuel economy for their size. A small car that gets bad gas mileage defeats the entire purpose of a small vehicle....
Originally Posted By: needsducktape
I wouldn't own one myself, but I think its a nice design WITHIN its category.
I think the 500 is a better design than the Yaris or versa cheapness
Maybe if being cool is your only criteria, but if you need any function at all, the Yaris and Versa are much better designs...
I wouldn't own one myself, but I think its a nice design WITHIN its category.
I think the 500 is a better design than the Yaris or versa cheapness
Maybe if being cool is your only criteria, but if you need any function at all, the Yaris and Versa are much better designs...
A 5 spd Pop is only 16K, and is well equipped.
18K gets you a 5 spd Sport, which doesn't seem to
offer a whole lot more for the extra 2K.
A more mainstream Fiat built on the same platform would cost the same, although we have no idea how much margin this pricing is
intended to give Fiat and the selling dealer.
18K gets you a 5 spd Sport, which doesn't seem to
offer a whole lot more for the extra 2K.
A more mainstream Fiat built on the same platform would cost the same, although we have no idea how much margin this pricing is
intended to give Fiat and the selling dealer.
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