Now that the deed is done, can we now buy these?
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=new+fiat+500&um=1&ie=UTF-8&...
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June 11, 2009 6:04 a.m. 914Driver SuperDork
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June 11, 2009 6:07 a.m. 4cylndrfury HalfDork
a man can dream cant he?
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June 11, 2009 6:13 a.m. problemaddict Reader
Say "HI" to the new NEON. hehehehe
prolly not, though. Someone on here previously mentioned that Fiat won't want to dilute the 500's pedigree or something like that.
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June 11, 2009 7:02 a.m. Strizzo Dork
I'm guessing that it wasn't you, but it's interesting to hear people say they'll never buy a Chrysler or GM product again, and then hear people get all wobbly thinking about a fiat 500.
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June 11, 2009 7:04 a.m. RossD Reader
I thought that was the point of them getting into bed with chrysler; to get a hold of US dealerships to start selling stuff like the 500. If thats shows up around the same time as the 2011 Fiesta, I might have to make a choice...
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June 11, 2009 7:10 a.m. Luke Dork
All the magazine reviews I've read of the new 500, say that it's rather unremarkable to drive. Retro-cool, but outclassed by cheaper competitors, apparently. 'Course the Abarth (and possibly the TD, too) are a different kettle of fish.
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June 11, 2009 7:55 a.m. gamby SuperDork
As gas prices continue to rise, they'll become much more "remarkable" to drive.
I just hope the quality control will be up to snuff.
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June 11, 2009 8:02 a.m. rob_lewis Dork
I thought I read somewhere that Fiat announced they would bring it to the US in 2010.
All I could find was: http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/08/new-york-chryslers-jim-press-arrives-in-fiat-500/
http://www.detnews.com/article/20090611/OPINION03/906110334/
And several old ones where Fiat said (back before the Chrysler merger was announced) that it could see bringing the 500 to the US by 2010.
I'm hoping, but I think I'd prefer the Abarth.
-Rob
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June 11, 2009 8:27 a.m. jcanracer New Reader
I hope they bring a Fiat 500 over here same time as the Fiesta; I would love to test drive those back to back. Probably might even buy one for commuter duty.
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June 11, 2009 10:34 a.m. kreb Dork
It is unholy in the sense that Daimler and Fiat represent opposite ends of the car spectrum in terms of their focus and product range. The best thing that could be said for Daimler is that the product focus was largely on high-margin cars, whereas shifting to little euro-buggies may be fun for enthusiasts and eco-weenies, but that's a hard segment to make any money in when you've got the asians knocking at your door.
I fear that this will be a star-crossed marriage.
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June 11, 2009 11:02 a.m. Kramer Reader
The Ford Ka is based on the Fiat 500 platform (and they're built in the same factory, I think). Ford doesn't see much of a market for the Ka here, so I wonder if a Chrysler "500" makes sense (the name doesn't--this car can't be 200 better than a Chrysler 300).
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June 11, 2009 11:12 a.m. aircooled SuperDork
I know for a fact the the Fiat 500 has been evaluated for use in the states. A friend of mine was part of a test drive evaluation that had the 500, the Smart, and the Echo. The 500 he drove was a manual. A car like that really needs to be a manual, I suspect they will want an automatic for the US market though.
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June 11, 2009 11:13 a.m. amg_rx7 Reader
I want a new RWD Alfa. They look really nice.
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June 11, 2009 11:20 a.m. maroon92 SuperDork
I heard that the 500 wont be sold here as a Chrysler or a Fiat...simply "The 500" with no manufacturer badges...
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June 11, 2009 1:05 p.m. Raze Reader
Abarth would be cool, but once Fiat has to spend a whole bunch of money redesigning their euro cars to meet zaney US standards (like headlight and tail light height, bumper height, side impact airbags, tire pressure monitoring sensors, no gascaps, etc, I wish them luck finding profit.
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June 11, 2009 6:18 p.m. Mental SuperDork
Mental wants Abarth...bad
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June 11, 2009 7:16 p.m. ddavidv SuperDork
My insiders at Fiat tell me the 500 will be sold here and built in Mexico. Beyond that, no insight that is reliable.
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June 11, 2009 8:33 p.m. Feedyurhed Reader
gamby wrote:
As gas prices continue to rise, they'll become much more "remarkable" to drive.
Amen brother. Things sure do have a way of changing depending upon your point of view.
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June 11, 2009 10:43 p.m. ReverendDexter HalfDork
This is curiousity, not contradiction, but what's so great about the Fiat 500 and 500 Abarth?
They just look like another hopped up FWD subcompact to me...
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June 11, 2009 10:50 p.m. Luke Dork
Apparently the Abarth is a genuinely good 'hot hatch', of the likes of the old Fiat Abarths and mk1 Golf GTi. That's according to Top Gear, anyway. I get all my info from Top Gear.
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June 11, 2009 11:16 p.m. wherethefmi HalfDork
Yeah but they also say great things about the fiesta on Top Gear. I'm buying a fiesta, and they have this site now for them where you get to pick three favorite accessories. One is a turbo kit
, another is a sport tuned suspension, and the other is performance related but I can't view that site on my iPod and the wife has the laptop :(
Now if the fiesta wasn't coming to these shores I think I'd have to hold out for the 500 abarth ess ess!!!
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June 11, 2009 11:35 p.m. ReverendDexter HalfDork
On your mention, I went to the Fiesta site.
I'm thinking they may be polling to see what options are worth offering, and I'm stoked to see that something like 48% of people picked the turbo and sport suspension.
