Fiat screwing up their chances in the US

[kmac33]

I know this topic has been discussed previously, and there have been a number of recent articles in different automotive publications that have detailed the numerous ways Fiat has "bungled" their return to the US: Lack of Fiat "Studios", slow construction of same, complete lack of brand knowledge by studio staff, lack luster (at best) marketing campaign - at least until the Abarth ad, misguided marketing direction, one model line up, etc. From the experience I had today, things aren't improving to lure someone to the brand.
With some news reports hinting that we may be dealing with $5/gallon gas in the near future, I have been mulling over swapping my 400+hp, gas guzzling (15 mpg average), extremely fast and fun, V8 powered daily driver for something that will still be entertaining to drive, but gets better mileage. Thought I would at least throw the Abarth into the possibilities. Happened to be close to the local Fiat "Studio" getting new wiper blades for my daily driver, so I dropped in to inquire about the Abarth.
Me: "When do you guys expect to start getting in the Abarth? I'm interested in seeing how it drives".
Saleswoman: "We aren't getting any Abarths in as demo's. The only Abarths that will come in are customer's cars that have been ordered".
Me:"So Fiat expects me to purchase a car I've never driven?"
Saleswoman: "You can drive the 500, they are the exact same size, the Abarth will just be a lot peppier".
Me:"I've already driven a 500, I wouldn't buy an Abarth having to guess the difference in driving dynamics between the 2."
Saleswoman: "When we get in the first customer cars, I can probably arrange for you to drive one of those."
Me:"Do you know when the first shipments are due to arrive?"
Saleswoman: "No."

Is Fiat really expecting to treat a $22,000 car like a high end super car and expect people to buy without a chance to drive the car. Good strategy to drastically narrow your customer base! Geez, when I bought my E36 M3 in 94, they let me take that for a test drive and there was a 2 month waiting list for the car.
It pains me to see the brand going down the same path that doomed them in the US the first time.
Okay, rant over.

[Kent124]

Is Fiat really expecting to treat a $22,000 car like a high end super car and expect people to buy without a chance to drive the car.

Yes

[wachuko]

That sucks... I want to drive it before taking the plunge... I hope something changes and they have at least a demo for test driving.

Anyone here knows when are the first cars supposed to arrived?

[sptcoupe]

Really strange. I have an Abarth on order, and the dealer called me to let me know their demo will be in about two weeks, and asked if I wanted to take a test drive. His only complaint was that thew only color the "promotional" cars (FIAT speak for a demo) will come in is black.

[ga.spyder]

There you go Kevin.Just fly to Texas and you can test drive a car!! When we visited that studio in Atl.,I was struck by how little the salespeople there knew about the cars! The cappuchino wasnt too bad,though

[kmac33]

Hopefully the saleswoman I talked to is just clueless (she was a blonde afterall....no offense Denise ......I kid, I kid.....my wife is a blonde, so I can get away with a blonde joke here and there), and the Atlanta dealerships will get demo's. If not, Jeff you could just take a "break in" drive back to Georgia so I can test yours

[AndyS]

the Fiat dealer here told me he would have a sample car for people to test drive as well.

[sptcoupe]

My son was also told by his dealer that they were getting a demo soon. Maybe just a clueless dealer.

[124JOE]

our chrysler dealer as no fiats on the lot and no fiat signs that i could see after hours
however i have seen two 500s running around

[vandor]

our chrysler dealer as no fiats on the lot and no fiat signs

Fiat dealers sell Fiats

It's like expecting to see a Buick in a Chevy dealership. Just because they are the same corporation, they are still separate brands with separate dealers.

IMO it would have been a lot better to let Chrysler dealers sell 500s, they would have sold twice as many...

[grittracing]

I will let you know how Michigan fares. going Monday

[ga.spyder]

I agree 100% with Csaba,They would have sold many more cars if they would have put them in the existing dealerships.We are a club of Fiat fans,there is still a majority of people in this country who dont know they are back in the U.S. market !

[So Cal Mark]

the real problem is that Fiat execs have their heads in the sand. They don't understand the market or competition at all. They took too many Chrys execs (remember that company had failed) and incorporated them into Fiat USA. I've never talked to a more clueless group than the people I talked to at SEMA this year

[AndyS]

one thing I noticed when I went to the two local Fiat dealers, is I knew more about the cars than the sales people from just what I had read on the internet. This may be the case with other makes of cars as well though.

[wachuko]

our chrysler dealer as no fiats on the lot and no fiat signs

Fiat dealers sell Fiats

It's like expecting to see a Buick in a Chevy dealership. Just because they are the same corporation, they are still separate brands with separate dealers.

IMO it would have been a lot better to let Chrysler dealers sell 500s, they would have sold twice as many...

Not entirely correct... Local Chrysler dealer is also the Jeep and FIAT dealer... there is also a Fields (they own the BMW and Mini dealers) FIAT Studio....

Anyway..

Folks,

FIAT is giving away a 500 Abarth! Sign up! Or don't

http://www.fiatusa.com/en/

Bottom banner has the link