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The 500 is small but it is built like tank, includes an advanced engine, has all the safety features wrapped in a package of smart design inside and out. This is a small efficient car that has form and function. It should be a winner like it is around the world but American taste -90% of them can't even operate a clutch pedal- is suspect.
The problem every manufacturer has faced trying to sell a cheap, small new car in the States is that it competes (poorly) with used cars that are bigger (I know its stupid, but most Americans still think bigger is better) and more familiar used cars. This is what doomed Crosley back in the 50's, and it will hurt the Fiat 500's sales as well.
Compared to Europe, the roads and parking lots here are big, gas is (still, relatively) cheap, so bigger cars remain popular.
For a guy like me who turns his own wrenches, a new car is just not worth the money. The few real car guys who will buy new will want something like the new Corvette, a WRX, something like that with more punch and exitement.
Maybe they can bring us this FIAT Strada instead. But at $27k would it sell?
It's good enough looking, but I wouldn't pay that. If I need a small pickup I would find a good old VW Caddie - they are still common around here. It would share a lot of technology with my Scirocco so service and repair would be familiar. $3000 will buy a very good one that needs nothing short term, $5000 will buy probably the best one in the region. Mid 30's for MPG (American, not Imperial gallon) with a 5-speed they are lively enough to not be boring, not an SVT Lightning by any means but does not feature the Lightning's thirst or initial expense, and won't make my insurance agent pass out when I inquire about insuring it either.
For that matter $27K would put me in a decent used Lightning if flash is what I want.
The problem every manufacturer has faced trying to sell a cheap, small new car in the States is that it competes (poorly) with used cars that are bigger (I know its stupid, but most Americans still think bigger is better) and more familiar used cars. This is what doomed Crosley back in the 50's, and it will hurt the Fiat 500's sales as well.
Compared to Europe, the roads and parking lots here are big, gas is (still, relatively) cheap, so bigger cars remain popular.
For a guy like me who turns his own wrenches, a new car is just not worth the money. The few real car guys who will buy new will want something like the new Corvette, a WRX, something like that with more punch and exitement.
Then how do you explain Mini Cooper success?
1) Gas isn't cheap anymore and America was badly hit with rising prices in last years. There is a whole green car industry which didn't exist 10 years ago. Things changed.
2) Not everyone "turns his own wrenches" or has the place/room for that.
3) Fiat 500 isn't corvette or wrx, and doesn't cost $30-50K. It will compete with the like of mini cooper, prius, honda fit, mazda2. That's where it may fail with less then stellar reliability, gas milage or ride quality.
Saw these at the chicago auto show. They are very small, could not actually get in one because there were hordes of crowds around them. Very good interest in them for sure. I would say they would be a great city car like the bmw mini. The back seats are next to useless though. Very nice looking little car.
The problem every manufacturer has faced trying to sell a cheap, small new car in the States is that it competes (poorly) with used cars that are bigger (I know its stupid, but most Americans still think bigger is better) and more familiar used cars. This is what doomed Crosley back in the 50's, and it will hurt the Fiat 500's sales as well.
It doesn't seem like late 20's-to-late-30's, middle class couples are passing on Mini Coopers because they can get a 3-year old 325i for the same price.
The other thing to keep in mind is that the cars that killed Alfa and Fiat's reputation in the US were ugly. The Alfa Milano? Fiat X19? No love lost! Ugh. You had the Alfa Graduate, and that that sold pretty well - because it was a stylish accessory as much as it was a car. The Fiat 500 is the same thing: it's cute. It's stylish. It's going to appeal to the same subset of people who bought New Beetles for ten years and now buy Minis.
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Compared to Europe, the roads and parking lots here are big, gas is (still, relatively) cheap, so bigger cars remain popular.
I've lived in cities since '02, and have seen the boom and bust of SUV's. Minis are everywhere in San Francisco, and there were even more in LA. Saw a lot in Boston and NY, too.
Small cars like this don't appeal as much to families who live out in the 'burbs. They're city cars, and "premium" city cars at that.
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For a guy like me who turns his own wrenches, a new car is just not worth the money. The few real car guys who will buy new will want something like the new Corvette, a WRX, something like that with more punch and exitement.
I turn my own wrenches, too, and drive a newer car. There are plenty of car guys who buy new or at least late-model. Most of them probably aren't looking at a compact economy car like a Mini or a 500... their wives and girlfriends probably are, though. That's where cars like this come in.
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