FIAT to up ownership of the Chrysler group to 57%

[I Rosputnik]

I wonder if they might go for complete ownership?

[Amaroo Park]

Hmm one mediocre manufacturer ups ownership of another mediocre manufacturer

[JHamilton]

Even though I own a Chrysler product, I would call them subpar not mediocre. I'm interested to see how the 500 sells here too. Who will be the first to jump in? Not me.

[mountainstar]

Originally Posted by JHamilton

Even though I own a Chrysler product, I would call them subpar not mediocre. I'm interested to see how the 500 sells here too. Who will be the first to jump in? Not me.

I guess they are bringing the Abarth 500 over next year and that might be a cool little car.

[JHamilton]

Originally Posted by mountainstar

I guess they are bringing the Abarth 500 over next year and that might be a cool little car.

Yes, it appears to be a neat car. I'm reviving this thread because i saw a 500 yesterday on I-85. In the fast lane too... didn't look out of place at all. I like it!

[ujoint]

Originally Posted by JHamilton

Yes, it appears to be a neat car. I'm reviving this thread because i saw a 500 yesterday on I-85. In the fast lane too... didn't look out of place at all. I like it!

What? That would look cute on the front bumper of a W900 80,000 pound fully loaded Kenworth cruisin down I-75 downtown at rush hour.

[mountainstar]

They were disappointed with the sales of the Fiat 500 for the first year, only 20,000 and they wanted to sell 50,000.

However, with Fiat being a new brand in the USA(not counting their previous efforts decades ago) and only having one model to sell so far, I think 20,000 is a respectable number for such a new brand and small car.

[garcon]

I feel sorry for the continental European market, who later this year will see the new 300C badged as a Lancia Thema.

At least in the UK we're getting it as a Chrysler ... which is what it is. And by all accounts it's billed by the motoring press as a huge improvement on the old one.

[mountainstar]

Originally Posted by garcon

I feel sorry for the continental European market, who later this year will see the new 300C badged as a Lancia Thema.

At least in the UK we're getting it as a Chrysler ... which is what it is. And by all accounts it's billed by the motoring press as a huge improvement on the old one.

That's what they say, but I haven't driven one yet and I am dubious as to whether it's really that good.

The last model didn't do anything for me. For as big as it was, interior room wasn't that great, interior trim was cheap, it had the engine of a canal boat in it and didn't handle all that great.

[garcon]

They say the trim is a big improvement - it'll have to be to compete in Europe. We also get the advantage of European diesel engines instead of the canal barge unit. For us, I believe the choice will be V6 diesel or SRT8.

[I Rosputnik]

To be honest I think Fiat should of used the Punto to enter the US market rather then the 500 to go against the Ford Fiesta. Plus I still think they need to flesh out Chrysler's range of cars by merging it with Lancia's range. I think they would complement each other.

I just hope Fiat isn't going to turn around and leave because one car is not selling as much as they wanted it to.

Meanwhile here's Abarth's US website for the 500.

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by garcon

They say the trim is a big improvement - it'll have to be to compete in Europe. We also get the advantage of European diesel engines instead of the canal barge unit. For us, I believe the choice will be V6 diesel or SRT8.

I've had a few 300c. Everything written here is true. Cheap interior, but big. I liked them, in the UK market, they were different. A good towing car too! Not a patch on the E-Class on which it was based. This was exaggerated by being the older generation, smaller inside and the general cheapness. Still it often made me smile for being different.

[JHamilton]

Originally Posted by mountainstar

They were disappointed with the sales of the Fiat 500 for the first year, only 20,000 and they wanted to sell 50,000.

However, with Fiat being a new brand in the USA(not counting their previous efforts decades ago) and only having one model to sell so far, I think 20,000 is a respectable number for such a new brand and small car.

Hopefully sales increase some... That's a lot of money for very little car though. Dealers will have to struggle through next year before Alfa returns in 2013.

Originally Posted by garcon

They say the trim is a big improvement - it'll have to be to compete in Europe. We also get the advantage of European diesel engines instead of the canal barge unit. For us, I believe the choice will be V6 diesel or SRT8.

I drove a rental one a few weeks ago. The interior on most new Chrysler products is a huge improvement... the biggest reason I bought my Ram. The new Pentastar V6 felt strong and has been highly touted in the press. All of the Gen II Hemis are fantastic. I just wish they had something smaller to put them in.

[I Rosputnik]

Looks like Fiat are raising their stake to 61.8%.

Half way there.

[JHamilton]

I read an article in R&T this morning that Alfa are to produce a convertible sports car built off the new MX-5 chassis. It is said to be mostly Mazda architecture with Alfa engines and styling. That sounds pretty damn appealing to me.

[I Rosputnik]

If you consider that Mazda could have access to both the Fiat and Chrysler part bins then I think Mazda could be in an interesting position right now.

And if the new company that comes out the merger decides to buy Mazda like Ford did a few years ago, then VW will have a rival to look out for.

[FIRE]

Lancia and Chrysler, it's like beauty and the beast (altough I admit I don't know who's the beauty of these two in recent years )

[Adam43]

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carrevi...300c_srt8.html
The current one, albeit the hemi, makes people smile too. I had the diesel BTW.

[Dave Brand]

Originally Posted by Adam43

The current one, albeit the hemi, makes people smile too. I had the diesel BTW.

Ah, Hemi . . . the magic word!

2,700 miles in a Hemi Challenger certainly made me smile! (See avatar!)

[Adam43]

I presume you weren't buying the fuel in the UK then!

Sounds fun, where and when? Or are you still adding to the 2,700?

[Dave Brand]

Originally Posted by Adam43

I presume you weren't buying the fuel in the UK then!

Sounds fun, where and when? Or are you still adding to the 2,700?

No, we weren't buying fuel in the UK! It was in Texas at the end of October/early November last year.

It was surprising how big a variation there was in fuel prices from one part of the state to another, from $3.15/gal in El Paso to $3.95 in Fort Davis - still cheaper in cost/mile than our DS3 in the UK, though.

[Peter Mallett]

I think it only fair to say that I am still impressed with my Grand Cherokee, even though it is five years old now. Comparing it to the competition, I need to pay at least another £20k just to get what I get as standard on my car.

Agreed they are built to a price but I can't complain. I also drive a Wrangler Sport out here in Doha. Again, it's five years old, 40k kms on the clock and all I've done is replace the tyres! Like the car in the UK it does exactly what it says on the tin.

So if it becomes Fiat, I hope they maintain the ethos of providing value for money.

[mountainstar]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

I think it only fair to say that I am still impressed with my Grand Cherokee, even though it is five years old now. Comparing it to the competition, I need to pay at least another £20k just to get what I get as standard on my car.

Agreed they are built to a price but I can't complain. I also drive a Wrangler Sport out here in Doha. Again, it's five years old, 40k kms on the clock and all I've done is replace the tyres! Like the car in the UK it does exactly what it says on the tin.

So if it becomes Fiat, I hope they maintain the ethos of providing value for money.

I never thought much of Jeep, but I have used them off road a lot in recent years and they have impressed me with their abilities. Some of the interiors and other bits, especially in the last decade have not been very impressive, but certainly they have their upside and usually the price is competitive.

[The Shrew]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

So if it becomes Fiat, I hope they maintain the ethos of providing value for money.

I work inside the Fiat group (not the car side of things). I would be supprised if you get the same value for money in the future.

As sad as it is the one thing the Fiat group are interested in is saving money. Quality never enters into it i have this running batttle with these crazy Italians every single day.

Here is how it works

Build a product.
Product is fairly good.
Product gets a good name.
Try to cut cost.
Get a cheaper parts supplier.
Cheap part is rubbish and fails.
The problem builds pretend nothing is wrong.
Leave it a few more years.
Actually listern to staff in the UK recognise but never admit they have a problem.
Make up a rubbish story along the lines of were sorting it out.
Leave a few more years.
Problem product is now out of warranty not Fiat problem.

[Dave Brand]

Originally Posted by The Shrew

Quality never enters into it

After three Alfas I can vouch for that! "Customer service" is another concept which doesn't appear to be translatable into Italian.