111 Built Last Week!

[sjmst]

Mike S wrote

Smart dealer. He responded to one of the comments (fix it again) with a sales pitch and an invitation for a test drive.

Class.

Here is what I have posted in a couple of places when there are comments on Fiat articles.


"To those who are reading this trying to decide if the Fiat 500 is worth a look consider this:

No car or car company is perfect but,


- Almost EVERY reviewer raves about it.

(Overwhelmingly positive, very few negatives)


- Price is great

- Mileage is great

- Fun to drive

- Very well equipped

- These have been sold for years in Europe. They sell all they can make, and proved themselves reliable


Now consider the ‘critics”

“Yeah fix it again Tony, yuk, yuk, what a POS, they were junk 25 years ago.”


What makes more sense?


Following the many positive reviews and thousands of satisfied owners?

Or some random "critics", 95% of whom have never driven the car, and think that what happened 25 years ago in the car industry is somehow relevant today?


As or me, I already put down a deposit and can’t wait to get one."

[prima 109]

I agree.

craig

[Jim McKenzie]

ah, now THAT makes sense.  Thank you!

Hey anyone know if they are actually selling the 500 in Mexico, have heard Canada and US f course, but nothing about the country they are actually being built in :)o

[Mike S]

I don't think they sell them in Mexico. I checked a couple of years ago in an effort to smuggle one in.

[sketch]

Well, if they were to start selling them in Mexico, it'd be now.  The Toluca plant serves at least all North American production.

[MrJones]

I know Wikipedia is not always the most reliable source, but according to them, "The [Fiat] Nuova 500 was introduced in Mexico in September 2008, powered the 1.4 L 16V 100 PS (74 kW; 99 hp) engine, transmissions are dualogic for the 500 Classic, 500 Lounge and 500 Vintage trims or six-speed manual gearbox for the 500 Sport Trim. The 500 Abarth variant has been introduced during 2009. Mexico became the first country in the Americas in which the Nuova 500 is sold."

Plus the worldwide Fiat site lists Mexico as a country option (the site is down right now--viewing the cached page).

[sketch]

Ah, touché.  I stand corrected.

Can't say I'm surprised, though.  I've seen a couple Renaults and SEATs tooling around with Mexican plates!

[RacerRon]

I'm pretty sure the 500 is sold in Mexico. I live on the Texas border and have seen several 500s driving around in the U.S. with Mexican plates, along with scores of Renaults.

[Fiat500USA]

The 500 is sold in Mexico. Though, I think they are changing importers. There is another Chrysler built in the Toluca plant. Are we sure the figures are specific for just the 500?

The rough figures I've seen are (and these are old estimates) between 5,000 - 6,000 units made between February - April. I've also been told that the first production cars for sale will be ours. These marketing units are not for sale and belong to Chrysler. Exactly how our cars come down the line, I was told in passing, but I'm not exactly clear on. They may be in order but intersperced between other cars (?). I'll try to find out.

[CaliberSRT4]

That's true, the 2011 Dodge Journey is also built there. The PT Cruiser is no longer manufactured.

[Mike S]

I went to the Fiat Mexico website and they are selling the 500 but they were not available two years ago when when I tried to get one. It looks like the one they sell now is the European version. I think that will of course change.

[MrJones]

So let's apply a little simple logic here.
IF the report from Austin Fiat that they will receive 60-70 cars in the next two weeks is true ("Fiat of Austin will accept delivery of 60 to 70 Fiats in the next two weeks" according to statesman.com),
AND not all of these vehicles are marketing units (I would be shocked if the dealer needed 60-70 vehicles for testers),
AND, as Chris points out, "I've also been told that the first production cars for sale will be ours."
THEN our cars will arrive in the next two weeks.

Logically, that makes sense, but we've seen how things haven't necessarily gone according to logic.

[sjmst]

MrJones wrote

So let's apply a little simple logic here.
IF the report from Austin Fiat that they will receive 60-70 cars in the next two weeks is true ("Fiat of Austin will accept delivery of 60 to 70 Fiats in the next two weeks" according to statesman.com),
AND not all of these vehicles are marketing units (I would be shocked if the dealer needed 60-70 vehicles for testers),
AND, as Chris points out, "I've also been told that the first production cars for sale will be ours."
THEN our cars will arrive in the next two weeks.

Logically, that makes sense, but we've seen how things haven't necessarily gone according to logic.

We are like shipwreck victims trying to figure out when we will be rescued.  

[prima 109]

Who's Gilliigan?  lol.

Craig

[sjmst]

prima 109 wrote

Who's Gilliigan?  lol.

Craig

Not sure, but I think Chris is the Professor.

[Jim McKenzie]

"I know Wikipedia is not always the most reliable source, but according to them, "The [Fiat] Nuova 500 was introduced in Mexico in September 2008, powered the 1.4 L 16V 100 PS (74 kW; 99 hp) engine, transmissions are dualogic for the 500 Classic, 500 Lounge and 500 Vintage trims or six-speed manual gearbox for the 500 Sport Trim. The 500 Abarth variant has been introduced during 2009. Mexico became the first country in the Americas in which the Nuova 500 is sold."

Plus the worldwide Fiat site lists Mexico as a country option (the site is down right now--viewing the cached page). "

Mexico sells the Abarth version already?  If I lived in Texas or other border states I'd be sorely tempted to buy one there and attempt to re-register in the States.  Probably not strictly legal, but it would get you the Abarth version a year early :)

 

 

[MrJones]

If you want to do it legally, check out http://www.foreignborn.com/visas_imm/entering_us/7importingyourcar.htm

Doesn't seem worth it.

[MrJones]

Sorry to keep hijacking the thread, but...
Checking out the Fiat Mexico website, I can't see an Abarth listed there as a model option. Additionally, the Sport (6-speed!) version is selling for about 271,900 (about $23,700). Wow!

[Fiat500USA]

sjmst wrote

prima 109 wrote

Who's Gilliigan?  lol.

Craig

Not sure, but I think Chris is the Professor.

Forget the Professor, I want to know who Mary Ann is!

[Giallo Edizione]

Oh no. We're all the way back to Ginger vs Mary Anne.  

On Feb 6, 2011, at 5:31 PM, "Fiat500USA [via Fiat 500 USA Forum]" <[hidden email]> wrote:

sjmst wrote:

prima 109 wrote:

Who's Gilliigan?  lol.

Craig

Not sure, but I think Chris is the Professor.

Forget the Professor, I want to know who Mary Ann is!

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