For some reason I feel we have been down this path about 500 before and it just seems like it going the same way. Just a lot of 500 bashing. Hmmm I am checking out.

 

Fiats are not sold at all Dodge/Chrysler dealers.

 

I think that, judging by the comments and the fact that this thread exists many here really want to like the FIAT. We can all agree on some of the fundamental characteristics. Size, foreign, lack of rice. Heck, we also can appreciate the designer, we share him. Nope, a Fiat isn't a mini. It is however like picking on your little brother. Lets see what the Abarth can do, we might have to give it a few years, let them build some quality in, let them keep their distance from their American subsidaries. Then we have justification for going out in our little Coopers and shredding them at every chance we get.

 

Anyone here remember the Renault 5 Turbo? All the old Mini owners hated those too! But that was because they were French, so, understandable.

Still that Renault could scare the poop out of you in a good way! Would love to see that pocket rocket return too!!

As for the Fiat 500 et al, I think there is plenty of room on the roads and
marketplace for many interpretations of a sporty sub-compact. Don't hate them till you try them.
So bring 'em on as many as possible!!!!

p.s. still awaiting the return of the Panhard! Now that was something to hate!

 

I see your point, but from the commercial, I gathered not that the car is "feminine" but that they try to brand the car as sexy, alluring, lust-worthy... BUT it has bite and can sting. If anything, to me this Fiat (not FIAT) Abarth is the more masculine version of the 500. It has ***** just like the S has ***** compared to the Justa.

 

I agree that the commercial is clever and it is making the statement that the car is SEXY with attitude. So props go out for cleverness.

But selling the sexiness of the car like they do in this commercial only feminizes the car—plus the male character is wimpy - further feminizing the brand.

It's as if FIAT is saying "to hell with the male market - we'll never win it - so lets go full force after women only"

Nothing wrong with that if that's your strategy - but I doubt that that is what they're aiming for. Why purposely alienate 50% of the market when the Abarth can appeal to men as well, if not more, than women?

 

That's kind of an interesting viewpoint, and totally the opposite of what I saw in the commercial. Seems targeting men to me, because they stick a sexy woman in the commercial and go after the "Sex sells" attitude. This doesn't usually work to attract women to the brand. In fact, after watching the commercial I showed it to my wife, who gave me "That" look, and then rolled her eyes and went back to farmville or something.

 

It worked for Dodge. How many Neons have they sold?

 

I think men will watch the commercial for the sexy lady—so in that way it may appeal to men, but they're not likely to buy the product—and that's ultimately why a commercial is created—to sell.

Maybe the commercial appeals to no one? Men won't buy and women won't watch. It's a FAIL-FAIL!

 

One other thing if no one minds a small RANT...

... I work in the ad-industry and I am a designer by trade.

It irks me to no end when an advertising company forgets their main task, which is sell more [fill-in-the-blank].

Instead, they go for "clever" or "pretty" with no regard to the task at hand:increasing sales. And equally at fault is the company suits who go along with the ad campaign just because it's clever or looks nice.



-END RANT-

 

Sorry guys, All I ever see anymore when I think fast FIAT is an egg race.

 

Of course we all won't agree on this, but I also think the commercial shows the lady as a representation of the car calling a guy toward it... to start a long relationship with it. Everyone has a "relationship" with their car, and everyone's relationship is different. In this case, I think Fiat is trying to say "come explore the potential long-term relationship you can have with this sexy/spicy car"... embodied by a faux Italian sexy woman. :-)

 

I do get a kick out of seeing them on the road, due to their "cuteness" factor. Do you think Jennifer Lopez REALLY drives one?? Would her twin carseats fit in it???!!!

 

Hmm, never heard J-Lo's butt cheeks referred to as "carseats" before. I'm not sure they'd really fit in a FIAT, either!

 

bwwaahahahahahaha

 

If we're going to comment on ads, maybe someone can clarify MINI's "Awesomeness of Small" campaign and the existence of a MINI SUV. (rhetorical)

Anyone remember these? LOL @ the Viper GTS silhouette.




At least the 500 isn't commenting on the significance of a series of Monte Carlo wins 40 years ago achieved by a completely different car designed and built by a different company.

 

I notice that you didn't mention the timing chain "death rattle" at all.

Or the carbon buildups on valves caused by direct injection in the turbo Prince engine.

I'll take my 121 horsepower in the Justacooper over those problems. If all I cared about was going fast, I would have gotten a Mustang.

 

True that. Those on this thread should bear in mind that there's no disputing taste.
Of course, everyone loves disputing taste anyway!

 

Saw the Audi A1 was officially announced now, could be a proper competitor for MINI as well.

 

I get all of that—that's why I say its a clever commercial.

It's a sophisticated commercial in many ways, but as I said, I think it misses its main objective: increasing sales.

A truly successful commercial will be both clever and increase sales, the FIAT commercial does only one of these things.

 

Anyone who buys a MINI, even a justa, does not miss out on the fun. It may not have the speedy take off, but it's a blast in every other respect, especially on curves.

And warranty or not, who wants to deal with the inherent problems of the "S"?

 

I will say this again the FIAT 500 you can buy here in the US of A....

http://consumerguideauto.howstuffwor...-fiat-5001.htm

"Where is the American-market Fiat 500 built? Since the alliance with Chrysler went through, the car is being built in one of Chrysler's existing assembly plants in Toluca, Mexico.

The 500 has undergone several revisions to meet the expectations of the American market. Most importantly, the 500 gets a "real" automatic transmission for its American adventure. The 6-speed unit is similar to the Aisin-built gearbox used in, you guessed it, the Mini Cooper. Also, the suspension has been retuned for a more comfortable ride, sound deadening materials have been added, and the body structure has been beefed up in key areas to improve passenger protection in the event of a collision. "

http://www.fiat500usa.com/2011/03/ma...-fiat-500.html

"Sergio Marchionne was in Mexico Monday celebrating the start of Fiat 500 production at Chrysler’s Toluca, Mexico, assembly plant. The occasion brought together Mexican President Calderon, Chrysler de Mexico President and CEO Joe ChamaSrour and Laura Soave, Head of Fiat Brand North America, along with other local officials and employees from the Toluca Assembly Plant."

YOUTUBE - US-spec Fiat 500 production in Toluca, Mexico - FiatScene.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFen44Qw5Aw

So despite what you want to say, the fact is the FIAT 500 is made by Chrysler, in Mexico.

 

Since Fiat owns the majority share of Chrysler, we can in fact say Chrysler is made by Fiat regardless of who built the factory in Toluca.

Fiat Acquires Majority Share of Chrysler

 

So you're privy to Fiat's internal sales data and market research? And know that an ad isn't increasing sales that has been aired for.... has it even been aired yet?

- Mark

 

My bad, I didn't know that they revised the 500 for the US.