Large Scale Central

FIAT buys Chrysler, no..this isnt a joke, I'm serious

General Discussion
#1

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090120/ts_nm/us_chrysler_fiat

FIAT buys 35% share in Chyrsler.

The Good: FIAT knows how to build small fuel effecient cars, something Chyrsler couldnt hit a bull in the butt with a bass fiddle with.

The Bad: it’s FIAT, which never did well in the US market, buying a bloated and sick Chrysler, which is two steps away from the grave.

The UGLY: US import platform quality from FIAT in the past has never been reliable nor desirable, FIAT:

F-ailed
I-talian
A-utomotive
T-echnology

or

F-ix
I-t
A-gain
T-ony

Considering FIAT also owns Ferrari, lets hope they have improved since the 1980’s when they bailed on the US market.

#2

Roger on the poor quality of FIAT, had a Spider 850 years ago and the thing just wouldn’t run in any type of wet conditions, kept it 1 year and unloaded it.

#3

More accurate would be “Chrysler gives Fiat 35% ownership”.
Ralph

#4

Ralph, I think you might be more correct than they’d care to admit. :wink:

#5

I had a FLAT 850 Spider in my yout, and it was more a hobby than reliable transportation.

I bought a Dodge Pickup, woke up one day to find that I owned a Mercedes Pickup. Now I find that I own a Flat Pickup. Look on the bright side. It coulda been a Chebby. :lol:

#6

One could also look at it as the investment group just spread 35% of the dept they were holding with Chrysler over to Fiat.
Ralph

#7

Oddly, one of the most reliable cars I ever owned (used) was a Fiat spider 124. Friend of mine had one too and it was a piece o’ junk!

I don’t know what to think about this, I guess I should be happy someone is taking an interest in shoring up one of the “big 3” but Fiat? I wonder if Yugo’s going after the remaining 65%?

#8

A Jeep is still a Jeep. They’ve been made by many different companies, but it is still a jeep. Wonder if should be called a jeeppa, now?

#9
Mark Verbrugge said:
I don't know what to think about this, I guess I should be happy someone is taking an interest in shoring up one of the "big 3" but Fiat? I wonder if Yugo's going after the remaining 65%?
No money involved. All of the "Big Three" have had similar marketing agreements with various foreign auto makers in the past. Why Fiat was given a 35% equity in Chrysler for what amounts to a "I'll sell your cars, you sell my cars" deal is the big question. Ralph
#10

This may have something to do with an import law loophole. I dunno?

#11

Yep, the 124 was my first car. Bought brand new in 1973.

(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/FunStuff/Fiat124new.jpg)

I put 50K miles on it in 2 years. Sold it when my mechanic said I was spending way too much money on it. Lots of odd things, like dashboard lights going out, oil between the valve covers, seats fading, top fading, and who can remember what else.

#12

Hmmm! Guess Fiat must of made my old '56 Caddy. Biggest lemon I ever owned.

#13

Well they bought stock but they are not putting any money into the company to bail them out. Don’t care what folks say about Chrysler I bought a 2006 Charger and love it. They are better cars now than years ago. I buy all Chevys most of the time but bought the Charger for the wife. Later RJD

#14

I have always been a fan of the FIAT 500

(http://www.italiancar.net/site/news/06/1106/fiat_500_Motorfest/1k_Fiat_500_03b.jpg)

Hope they can bring the new one over here

(http://manublogs.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/fiat-500-photo.jpg)

BTW I once got trapped in the X1-9 at a car show, got my 6’ tall Irish frame pinned under the seat and steering wheel of a car designed around a 5’ tall Italian. Rather funny site trying to wiggle out from under that situation :lol: Never had that trouble with the 500 surprisingly :open_mouth:

#15

A marriage made in heaven.

Chrysler gets a big range of small (very) fuel efficient cars to sell in the USA.

FIAT gets a ready made sales network to sell those cars in the USA.

#16

Ah, a Topolino.
The owner’s manual tells you every week or so to open everything (boot, bonnet, doors) and tighten everything you can see or feel.

Friend had one of those POS’s, driving down the freeway at WOT 45 MPH, big crash, car jerked, but it kept running, so he kept going.
Week later he found out the heater had fallen out from under the car.

They can’t sell FIATscos in the US anymore (nobody will buy them), so they get entangled with Walter P. thinking I suppose if they drag one of their new POS’s over and stick a Walter P. badge on it, stupid Americans will buy it.

PT Barnum, where are you?

#17

Dave,
Desperate times require desperate measures.

#18

I wonder if Fiat had anything to do with the design of the Bachmann K27 gearing ratio?

Big John

#19

Ahh the Topolino, or Little Mouse!

(http://www.maltaaviationmuseum.com/images/topolino.jpg)

Even cooler choice there, Dave :wink:

#20
John Spehar said:
I wonder if Fiat had anything to do with the design of the Bachmann K27 gearing ratio?

Big John


I doubt it.

FIAT would probably got the ratios correct.

But then gone ahead and designed some other stupid faults into it.

Like too much capacitance on the Super socket for DCC systems to cope with.