Fiat 500 10000-20000
Fiat 500 Abarth 18000-25000
Alfa MiTo 14000-25000
Cooper 17000-29000
Cooper S 21000-35000

Those cars are not the cheapest way to drive, but they have “IT”

Toyota Yaris for example is the more sensible transport option, but not much fun.
Toyota Yaris 9500-18000

Sending newly badged Puntos and Palios and Stilos from Brazil to the US shores is no big deal

“The problem here is that Chrysler is using my tax money. If they weren’t, I wouldn’t care what they built.”

46 “Suicide Watches” (and counting) tells me you do.

That said, I’d disagree with Justin’s insistence that the deal is DOA. There is a potential to milk out modest enough successes to keep the wolves from the door for a few years. I’d disagree with Katie’s punchline but think she makes some useful points.

Just wait…with Chrysler and Ford announcing Employee Plus pricing, GM will follow suit and maybe a nice Astra can be had for even less!

As for Fiat’s chances here in the States, I see the same problem everyone else has…Fiat doesn’t exactly bring with it a sterling reputation, and we know first-hand what perceived quality does for sales! I’ve travelled Europe and have driven Fiats…heck, I actually do like the Grande Punto. That said, I’m more than likely a small, small percentage of the buying public that would step into a Fiat, regardless of who it is badged by. And given the depressed market right now, I doubt large volumes of buyers would be lining up outside any dealership, much less a Fiat/Chrysler lot to buy much of anything.

Is Chrysler so ugly we have to tie a pork chop around its neck to get the dog to play with it?

If you had to pick two manufacturers with ying and yang to fit together these would be the two.

The target customers for this kind of car are mostly under 45 … and thus have pretty much no memory of the last time Fiats were sold in the US in quantity. By the by, Maserati and Ferrari are doing just fine in the upscale market.

Unfortunately we don’t live in a perfect world, so we must endure random press releases about wonder drugs that will bring it back to life….

The Fiat/Chryco deal is nothing more or less than a random bit of spin to see what happens.

Turns out that nobody outside of the car culture really cared.. That says everything you need to know…

The 500 competes with the Ka. And the Ka is buit by Fiat employees, in a Fiat plant, uses Fiat’s platform, has Fiat internals and mechanicals (don’t be fooled by the Zetec-labelled engine cover, it’s a good ole Fiat Fire engine), shares parts bin galore (when I saw the picture I swear I thought – hey who stole my Fiat Palio’s instrument cluster?). The only Ford thing on it is the sheetmetal. So is it a Ford or a Fiat? And both are not that great to drive (the previous Ka was). According to Euro-standards. But to Americans, driving them will be a novel and worthwhile experience. You will enjoy.

The Fiesta competes with the Punto or Grand Punto (depending on the market). Don’t get me wrong Fiestas of yore were fun to drive (the current generation down here, the last one in Europe, isn’t so hot to drive) and the new one looks lovely and from what I’ve heard is fun to drive. But so is the Punto. And it has more flair. It’s like a mini Maserati. Very good in my book!

So it comes down to a question of which you think is nicer to look at. ‘Cause driving them is very close. I usually choose the Fiat. I trust the company, have been well-served. But any of the two are better than the Polos and Yarises of this world.

1) Chrysler is worthless under proper accounting.

2) Chrysler is not even close to “too big to fail.” It has no R&D, and the fewest employees by far of the Detroit automakers.

3) A company like Fiat will not even take Chrysler for free without further US taxpayer money down the drain.

This is the answer:

1) Let Chrysler go Chapter 11.

2) Let the chips fall where they may.

If Fiat really values Chrysler’s distribution then they can be the highest bidder.

If Fiat is not willing to be the highest bidder then they can go away. By all accounts the 500 is a crappier Ford Fiesta, which is coming here, so no loss. (link via dgduris)

Ding, Ding, Ding. We have the answer. I’ll bet the people who come up with this wild and crazy shit are having a blast. After years of trying to figure out a system for getting through heavy rush hour metro traffic, I developed a system that amounted to “just get through the next light” and then deal with what happens next. Chrysler is operating on this. Just get the damn money and then…

Consider, VW is considered resonably reliable in Europe. As a company, they can’t crack the top 10 cars list here. Two reasons, dealers and reliability (heck Berkowitz bought one, and he won’t drive it past the waranty), national origin doesn’t do much for car preference (otherwise VW would be doing a lot better). A powertrain waranty is basically a promise it won’t blow up, it’s the niggling things that drive you crazy (and to other makers).

Would Fiat have badge cachet in the U.S.? Not at all. Are there people here who like Fiats? Sure, but fans alone do not produce snob appeal.

Would there be a market for the Fiat 500 in the U.S.? Probably — average the sales volume of the New Beetle, Mini, and smart fortwo, and subtract about 25%, and you likely have the ballpark. I don’t have 2008 sales numbers handy, but I would imagine the resulting number would be in the five-figure range.

Would Fiats or Alfas badged as Dodges or Chryslers have any badge cachet here? No, none at all. They might not even appeal to the allpar, “Make Mine Mopar” crowd, because they wouldn’t be “real” Mopars. Even those who might ante up for an actual Alfa are probably going to be put off by the stench of death from the Chrysler brand.

I agree that it’s hot air to justify more federal money. I’m not biting.

Factor the exchange rate… then subtract the european taxes… and remember that the 500s bound for the US will be made in Mexico… and you can reasonably argue that Fiat will be able to sell the car at profit for roughly $11,000-14,000 US.

Add in the styling cues… and it’s pretty good bet that this should sell well, as long as bank financing doesn’t dry up.

As long as Fiat-Chrysler intends to produce US specific vehicles in the US, I see some potential. More realistically however, the Fiat connection is probably meant to generate the perception that there may be a future for Chrysler and to provide an alibi for asking for more government aid.

The Fiat group is all about design.
Maserati GranTurismo is many peoples dreamcar.
Not because its the fastest, most reliable, cheapest etc, but because of its looks.
It´s good in most areas, but worldclass in design.
Nothing wrong with that.
You always want too look your best, don´t you? :)

The Alfas and newer Fiat models are much the same.

I borrowed a 1995 Ford Mondeo once, and let me tell you, if i had to drive that car every day i would get a depression.
That´s how ugly it was.
So looks is important.