[Spridgets] Le Macchine d'Italia (No LBC)

[Jim Johnson]

There's a huge difference between "inexpensive" and "cheap".  Fiat does so
well in Europe because it makes a vehicle which Europeans can afford to buy.
Europeans that need a quality vehicle buy an Audi, BMW or Mercedes.
Europeans generally take far better car of their vehicles than Americans do
and put far fewer miles on them as well. They can get by with poor Fiat
quality. To many Europeans, a car has almost always been a luxury item. Even
a small cheaply made one.

Stop and think about it. Why did Fiat cars never really do well in the US
like VW has? When was the last time you saw a traveling salesman or farmer
driving a Fiat? The quality of the vehicle is the reason. They can't stand
up to the abuse they get in this country and they can't pass the crash tests
because they are too cheaply made.

The Volkswagon Beetle is inexpensive. The Fiat is CHEAP.

But, never fear, the agreement with Chrysler is being touted as Fiat
providing Chrysler with their "small car technology and experience (read:
cheap crap)." A company that was near bankruptcy two years ago because it
sells crap and has no experience with the American car market is now helping
one that is in bankruptcy today due to collapse of the credit system and the
banks. Chrysler knows how to make quality cars and trucks for the American
market. Fiat doesn't. We are being sold a joke by do-gooders who wouldn't
know a quality car from a potted plant.

Cheers!!
Jim

On Sun, May 3, 2009 at 5:47 AM, David Booker <tncarnut1 at yahoo.com> wrote:

>
> --- On *Sat, 5/2/09, Duncan Sinclair <duncan at pondhop.com>* wrote: "Well
> Jim I drove a Fiat Panda in the UK in the late 80's and it definitely was
> still a POC.
>
> I've rented a few Fiats (Pandas among them) over recent years in England
> and they've all been great little cars. Fuel efficient, fast enough to
merge
> and cruise without problems, and fun to drive.  I obviously have no
> experience with how they hold up over time, but Fiat is one of the biggest
> manufacturers anywhere so they must be doing something right.  Keep in mind
> that inexpensive cars are built inexpensively.
>
> David Booker
> '71 Midget
> Long Island
>
>


--
Cheers!!
Jim
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I am
not
sure about the former. - Albert Einstein