Comments on: Fiat 500 coming to America?

By: Rerio

Rerio — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:12:26 +0000

The days of “Fix It Again Tony” (FIAT) are long gone. The Fiat 500 will go over big in the U.S.; especially if they put the diesal engine in it (55 MPG). I am currently living in Germany (Army) and the 500 is loved by many Europeans. My only concern is that they are making it in Mexico for the USA. It’s like the New Beetle being made in Mexico; bad juju. The Wolfsburg plant is so much better. If I can buy a Fiat 500 for less than a new Harley, guess what…New Harley and a Fiat 500. Those of you who haven’t lived in Europe (this is our 5th time for a total of 14 years with two to go), then perhaps you should see Europe. You’d understand why our auto industry is on its’ knees. Of course, Harley is yesterday’s technology at tomorrow’s prices. Buell found out the hard way. Choices man, choices. Keep the dollar low so others can buy our goods cheaply. It’s good for America. Of course, Americans won’t work in the meat packing plants so the Hmongs and Mexicans have developed a work ethic like my Italian forefathers had. Railroads made them healthy, wealthy, and wise. Yep, I’m a 9th grade dropout. My lack of education hasn’t hurt me none. I’m a Doctor today. Life is like a crap sandwich, the more bread you have the less crap you have to taste! You’ll figure it out. Who would have ever thought; Mopar owned by FIAT! Good Luck Fiat!

By: montegorx7

montegorx7 — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 02:12:07 +0000

Fiats will be back in the US-finally. In resnse to PrimeGTP’s comment about America doing fine without Fiat, well, Fiat has done just dandy without the US, too. Better than any of the big 3 have done at home OR abroad. Fiats got a terrible rap about quality in the US; when they were sold here in the late 60’s and 70’s, they were the first cars to be inported using a toothed-belt cam drive; unfortunately for us, they built the cars with interference potential in the valve-piston arena if the belt broke, and mistakenly expected US owners to be conscientious about maintenance-a BIG, BIG mistake. Having owned four Fiats over the years, I can say that quality wasn’t an issue. My 124’s, both coupes and spyders, would easily outrun any MG’s or Triumphs of their time, both in a straight line, through the twisties, and with superior braking; so much so that they were either outlawed or outclassed by the British and German dominated SCCA. The X1/9, a Bertone styled gem, was outright outlawed after it won 51 of its first 53 national races. They were easy to work on for the home mechanic, and parts were cheap. The 128, though underpowered in US trim, was among the most space efficient cars of its time. And Italian styling is beyond reproach. The Italians can make a box look great, and the 128, 124 Berlina, and the 131 proved it.

So we should be counting ourselves lucky that Fiat had the bass to take on Mopar when NOBODY ELSE could make a go of it, and that they-HOPEFULLY-will deem us worthy of importing a line of their cars with the Fiat marque. And maybe Alfa, too! Let’s keep our fingers crossed, and you idiots who know nothing of automotive design or history, sharpen up, or shut the @#%$ up!!!

By: seabert

seabert — Fri, 01 May 2009 18:27:27 +0000

I lived in Italy for 2 years and Fiat makes EXCELLENT cars. We have some real garbage car makers in the US and many low quality imports (Suzuki, Kia etc).

Fiat Panda, Punto, 500, and others are great rides for the money.

Would also be great to have Alfa Romeo dealers in the US!

By: ihateusernames

ihateusernames — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 22:18:51 +0000

It is really funny to read all this years later. Now we know that it will be the Dodge 500. Can’t wait to get my hands on one!

By: undata

undata — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 03:38:32 +0000

Interesting Yankee vs. Euro debate. I think probably the best cars available in the U.S. SHOULD BE Mazdas (almost 100% Japanese parts/assembly). But they cram 2.3 Liter engines in their small cars to satisfy the U.S. market. It is really sad.

I own a “Chevy” Aveo with a 1.6 L engine. Thanks to the pedal-stomping goons that help foolproof and bullet-proof modern cars, I drive it sensibly for next to nothing. I have had it for three years and have done nothing but change the oil. I wish it got better than 33 MPG, but what do you expect for less than 10k?

By: Benthor

Benthor — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 15:22:58 +0000

I may trade my MINI Cooper for this car given the great fuel economy, unless Alfa Romeo chooses to deny America the diesel version which I see most likely. It will be interesting to see if this is a well built Italian small car or an eco-box, we don’t need another Kia for the U.S.

By: TornadoRed

TornadoRed — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 05:51:23 +0000

Rebadge it as an Alfa Romeo.

And only offer the turbodiesel engine. Forget about weak gas-engine models.

By: bepsf

bepsf — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 00:13:01 +0000

Funny – lots of folks didn’t think that Mini would be successful here in the US being sold next to 7-Series and the like…

Some of you guys need to grow up – and the moderators of this website (Are there any???) need to delete some posts.

By: edwin

edwin — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 11:39:24 +0000

sorry but my impression is in U.S.A. you have a very different idea to concept a car. in my country (italy) fiat 500 will be a great car because gas price is very expensive and in the cities there ins’t enought space to park everybody,cars are growing up too much for the space we have.
Very sorry for my english….goodbye

By: floridaray

floridaray — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 22:45:21 +0000

Homeboy,

I have driven small cars here in america like the subaru justy and geo metro for years. They are just as small and I love then. Altough it is a waste to say it you are an ignorant little turd. What your saying is like saying that all people from the uk are in shape, non violent, and have at least a primary education. You like a person from any other country, if they have to wave a flag so much must be the ones that are little turds.

Oh yeah the fiat is really cool and I would buy one in a second but it will never make its way here.

By: Eurolion

Eurolion — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 10:58:38 +0000

Well, the 59hp(ECE, take out a couple of hp to convert it to SAE) is a 1,2l gas engine, and it has 69 and not 59hp, the diesel engine is FIAT’s 1.3 SDE with 75hp, ironically the 500/Panda platform will have a FORD KA built on it iin FIAT’s polish factory and it will have the same 1.3SDE which is also used by GM on Opel/Vauxhall Corsa and Astra. As for 2 cylinder engines, FIAT is developing one, which will replace the 1.2 and 1.4 in the smaller cars, it will have a 60ho N/A and turbcherged varinats with 90/110hp, the Abarth model will probably have a 1.4 turbo with 150hp.

By: Hyperion

Hyperion — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 23:07:46 +0000

The 1957-1975 Fiat 500 was a rear engined, rear drive striaght-2 cylinder, with some more powerful motorsports versions. The successor was the Fiat 126, built from 1972 until 2000, also with a straight-2.

I like the old formula better than this front-drive 500 nonsense. Fiat couldn’t do another 2-cyl or even a 3-cylinder turbo in the rear compartment?

They could do it but they won’t, right? Even more laughable is that this is supposed to be their entry *flagship* car?

Please. Certain characteristics make some cars more desirable than others, even if the horsepower isn’t king.

By: mlynch001

mlynch001 — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 21:01:49 +0000

Unfortunately, most of you are correct. The car is too small! If a vehicle is not over 6000 lbs, with 14 air bags, a 50-gallon tank, feeding a 400 horsepower v-8 and delivering 10 MPG Americans will not buy it.

A4, if you do not have 2 or 3 tons of excess mass to move 59 horses can be fun, and that 59 horse engine is probably a 60 MPG diesel engine. Some of the most fun I have had in a car was in a 120 horse HONDA CRX! I have an 82 Fiat Spider 2000 at 107 horses, 30 mpg and 2100 lbs it is a blast.

My 82 Fiat may be crap, but I will put it up against a 1982 domestic car any day of the week! Calling a car crap is only relevant if everything around it is a proverbial diamond, there were not many domestics from 1982 in that class. The problem with FIAT was not so much reliability; it was INCOMPETENT mechanics and poor dealer network! I keep my FIAT on the road with 82,000 miles, very few problems, shop manuals and exceptional mechanical ability. Most mechanics do not take the time to understand how FIATS work, mechanics do not understand FIATs so they cannot fix them; that is their downfall.

Sadly, most so-called “mechanics” are not mechanics at all; they are “parts changers”. There few “mechanics” who can diagnose and repair a problem, a true mechanic is not an easy thing to find in today’s market.

By: A4

A4 — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 19:47:24 +0000

59 hp? i can run faster than that

By: lotusfire

lotusfire — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 17:04:36 +0000

Euro, wtf did gtv6 do to you?

Homeboy = Jeremy Clarkson

Clarkson, you’re jokes are funny in person but you need to work on your internet skills.

By: europerspective

europerspective — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 06:38:03 +0000

GTV6 get back to the seminary, there’s a few more choirboys who need you to show them gods love through their back passage.

By: maddawg0

maddawg0 — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 06:36:20 +0000

(EDITED FOR CONTENT)

By: maddawg0

maddawg0 — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 06:26:52 +0000

ITS A CUTE LITTLE CAR!!! omg that interior is interesting… Im not sure i could ever get used to that, every day i’d say to myself “my god thats funky looking!”

By: meekin111

meekin111 — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 03:59:40 +0000

150 horses will be a very fast car

By: angelo

angelo — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 02:56:38 +0000

sadly, because it looks damn good.

By: angelo

angelo — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 02:56:20 +0000

it’ll leak oil in your garage.

By: LamborghiniZ

LamborghiniZ — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 01:17:09 +0000

This isn’t something I’d be interested in purchasing, but I’m sure if it was brought in limited numbers it could find buyers, so long as they don’t set their sights too high over here. Really it’d be an interesting car to have over here, not my cup of tea though, even in the micro compact class.

By: 400horseSS

400horseSS — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 00:40:55 +0000

A Fiat That Looks Like Shiat That Thing Is Gross

By: autonutt

autonutt — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 00:28:22 +0000

I don’t see this as the vehicle that Fiat would try to break back into the US market with.. mainly because its retro styling looks nothing like other Fiat models, which doesn’t help when trying to expand the brand past one model. Another problem would be pricing.. no way they could make a profit without pricing it above the Japanese and VW, and Fiat doesn’t have the performance or reliability credentials to be premium priced against the Mini.

By: Hyperion

Hyperion — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 00:23:24 +0000

Fiat 500’s used to be rear engined, much like the old VW Beetles until the 80’s. One would hope this same small car formula bought be brought back.

It LOOKS similar to the original 1960’s 500. I wonder what a 500 Abarth model would be like today?

By: gtv6

gtv6 — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 23:49:30 +0000

/\ That last sentence kinda ruins your credibility.

By: gtv6

gtv6 — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 22:11:48 +0000

Also, they could bring the Alfa Junior or 149 over as a mini-competitor.

I like the interior on the 500 though.

By: gtv6

gtv6 — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 22:08:38 +0000

I agree about an ignore feature, or a mediator. I’m less likely to visit the site with this kind of commentary, as I’m sure a lot of people are. Less traffic = less advertising dollars.

I can’t see the 500 coming to the US before Alfa is well re-established. They’ve done a lot of work with the 8c to build Alfa’s image, and fiat still has a terrible reputation in the US. If the 500 comes here, people are going to associate Alfa with Fiat rather than Maserati and Ferrari. At least there’s a possibility that it will effect the brand image, and I don’t think it’s worth messing with, especially to sell a few 500’s in the US. I could see Fiat coming back here someday with a limited number of models. Maybe after Alfa is well established, and has expanded their dealer network.

By: swamprat

swamprat — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 22:06:52 +0000

This is about as likely to come to the United States as Kim Jong Ill. It’s too bad, too. I like the look of it. If it got like 60 mpg, it might be kind of cool.

By: Adrio

Adrio — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 21:57:14 +0000

Cute car. But it wont sell many units in the US.

By: dre

dre — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 21:27:09 +0000

500 is sick, i’ll sell my 335i for it, it represents so much… and those of you that need to prove your a man by having hp and a nice car, go for it…
but in the end u still won’t be happy unless u look good……. so save the money and get some plastic surgery for the haters on here,=……….

By: europerspective

europerspective — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 20:45:25 +0000

I actually think that these little FIATs would look great in a Ferrari dealership. Fully specced with all the personalised touches they would bring an authentic touch of Italy and could be sold at a high price. Keep the numbers low and the prices high and it could be a really exclusive it car. I suppose that the new money wouldn’t get it (especially given the USA’s inability to understand irony), but that wouldn’t keep them away from their flashy new red car.

By: hanlond

hanlond — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 20:20:44 +0000

I’ve never really liked small cars, and this is probably one of the smallest cars out there. The interior is nice though.

Stridder, I completely agree with you and love the ignore button idea. LLN also seriously needs someone monitoring these forums to get people like homeboy off this site.

homeboy – thank you for uselessly repeating over and over again that you hate America, Americans, and everything that has anything to do with America. We get it. Now, take your hatred and put it on some other site, or at least try and make it entertaining and/or funny. Your childish behavior is just annoying, unwanted and unneeded. Stop posting comments unless they are actually useful and related to the news story.

By: RSPINAJR

RSPINAJR — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 20:19:20 +0000

pretty good commentary AdamT you made me laugh. From now on I’ll use ALL CAPS!

By: global_lightning

global_lightning — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 19:51:51 +0000

My Grandfather owned a Fiat 600, which was basically a stretched 500. It was in the the family for 35+ years and I learned to drive stick in it. As a rear engine/RWD car @ 1300 lbs it was insanely fun in corners, and you had to shift and rev the heck out of the 30 HP engine but it seemed to love it. Cheap, easy to work on, loads of personality not crap, it’s what a car should be.
Now I know with current safety and emission controls are good for everyone, and the new version will invariably gain size and weight. However, If they keep it close to the original, they will have at least one buyer here…