I now live in Italy, I'm italian and I can tell you something I found myself thinking as late as yesterday evening.
I was just gettin back from my usual soccer match (I told you I'm italian ) and I caught a glimpse of the 500 Abarth http://www.fiat.co.uk/500abarth/
They are selling it just like fries, here. I found myself thinking: "Would I buy it?"
The answer was: "As soon as I have another car: yes, absolutely."

FIAT in the eyes of many italian skepticals (as I was), grew from being a tax payers nightmare to a great back-from-the-dead car maker. It produces excellent cars, and its image is now much more like a "STYLE and PERFORMANCE" brand. The fact is: 'til 5-6 years ago FIAT cars were good in mechanics and style, but you had that sense of... cheap that wasn't comparable with similar offers from foreign carmakers. To be clear: the doors closing were more "CACLANK!" than "CACHUNK!".

Marchionne arrived to FIAT from beeing GM at SGS. What is SGS? Is a Swiss-based quality inspection company! What do you need more?

Then: ALFA Romeo. In fact, the comeback of ALFA cars begun sooner than 5 years ago. Alfa started it with great-looking cars like the 156 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfa_Romeo_156 and its quality is increasing since then. ALFA cars are now a well established landmark around here, and the MiTo http://www.alfaromeo.co.uk/cmsen/homepage/...onse=WebCrawler is a great looking car.

Technology: FIAT has a GREAT R&D dept. They invented the modern common rail Diesel engine http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_rail which maybe doesn't interests US drivers, but in Europe is a best-selling. All European diesel cars are common rail. FIAT now announced a new engine type, the Multiair. This looks like a major improvement in fuel efficiency and power delivery of gasoline engines. FIAT claims +10% hp, +15% low rpm torque, -10% in co2 emission and +10% in fuel efficiency.
Just imagine our loved V-Tec activated not mechanically at 6000 rpm but when you need it.

All in all: until some years ago I would NEVER considered buying a FIAT Group car. Now I'm a fan.

And Europe is too.


Ciao
Ale

 

cool, thanks for the perspective

hopefully it will end up being beneficial for both of them

 

Scariest thing i've read on this board.


True capitalism would let these car companies fail for their sins... problem solved. And out of their ashes would emerge other car companies.

 

I think it is a very gray situation, and that there is a little truth in both perspectives- I support capitalism with just a hint of government

I say this- because having an economy without rules is like having a community with no laws- who is going to stop monopolies from gouging consumers and ...everything the antitrust stuff keeps from happening

at the same time- I think too much gov't is shitty too-They should serve the people- not control them- not to mention all this intervention essentially ruins the idea of a free market- it's almost like stopping evolution of the market- If you keep the dinosaurs alive, you will never get humans?

 

[QUOTE=Ubetit,May 1 2009, 06:28 AM] Scariest thing i've read on this board.


True capitalism would let these car companies fail for their sins... problem solved.

 

There are simply too many good choices for me to forgive and forget. Over the years I owned one Fiat and one VW and that is all I can stand. I doubt Chrysler and GM will last as major choices but I promise neither will sell me a new vehicle.