111 Built Last Week!

[Vlad92]

Good news...   I received my weekly issue of Automotive News today.  In the back they have a production table listing cars built which they update weekly.  For last week (12/20 to 12/25) they show 111 Fiat 500s built at the Mexico plant.  Could these be the first batch of pre-production demos we have been hearing about?  It also shows plant closings and notes most plants are down this week for the holiday break so I guess none will be built this week.

[Fiat500USA]

Vlad92 wrote

Good news...   I received my weekly issue of Automotive News today.  In the back they have a production table listing cars built which they update weekly.  For last week (12/20 to 12/25) they show 111 Fiat 500s built at the Mexico plant.  Could these be the first batch of pre-production demos we have been hearing about?  It also shows plant closings and notes most plants are down this week for the holiday break so I guess none will be built this week.

I would say yes. These are some of the final pre-production cars just before serial production (our cars!).  

[Gavin]

Cool...now maybe an email to set up final options and such is in order?

Gavin

[JustWilliam]

 This is fantastic news!

 I wonder when US spec 500's will be made available to the press for testing? Based on reviews of the European spec car, I think the improved structure, suspension, and engines will improve an already premium
sub compact.

 Exciting indeed!

Peace,
William


 

[Fiat500USA]

Today I talked with someone who has driven the cars extensively, and here's what I've taken away from our conversation: The key word is refinement.

While we all love the European car, time has moved on since its 2007 debut. Even with the revised suspension last year, there are areas that needed to be addressed for the very competitive US market. Specifically, NVH has been improved. Hitting washboard roads and potholes in the US are a reality, so the US 500 can handle that better than the Euro car.

Also road/wind noise was frequently mentioned with the Euro 500. This had to be addressed, no questions about it. New sound deadening and door seals along with a new motor mount take care of that.

Handling is the big question, and my source who has many miles in the Euro car says the US 500 handles as well as the Euro car with the Sport being a particularly good handling car.


Something else I took away from the conversation was; this car is seen as being purchased as a want to buy and not a need to buy item. It isn't an econo box, it's more like a treat, so a certain level of expectations had to be met.  It just makes good sense to adapt to the market requirements.

[sjmst]

This is awesome.

[ciddyguy]

This sounds promising, I've read up on the Euro car and while it was a good car, it had some areas of question, like the overly bouncy ride in the 2008 model sedans and the steering is perhaps a tad too light, that kind of thing but I, in the end, don't mind a little noise, especially the engine at higher revs but road noise can be droning if too much though if constantly at it like on a long distance journey.

That said, sounds like they did improve things without softening the suspension much, if at all, just improved damping qualities and gave the suspension a bit more travel to help soften things like washboard roads and such.

I can't wait to actually see one in person soon.

[Fiat500USA]

ciddyguy wrote

This sounds promising, I've read up on the Euro car and while it was a good car, it had some areas of question, like the overly bouncy ride in the 2008 model sedans and the steering is perhaps a tad too light, that kind of thing but I, in the end, don't mind a little noise, especially the engine at higher revs but road noise can be droning if too much though if constantly at it like on a long distance journey.

That said, sounds like they did improve things without softening the suspension much, if at all, just improved damping qualities and gave the suspension a bit more travel to help soften things like washboard roads and such.

I can't wait to actually see one in person soon.

He also said something about the steering.... it's been re-calibrated and has better directional stability.

The funny thing is some Euro forums are knocking the US car....they might wind up seeing a similar vehicle!

[ciddyguy]

Fiat500USA wrote

ciddyguy wrote

This sounds promising, I've read up on the Euro car and while it was a good car, it had some areas of question, like the overly bouncy ride in the 2008 model sedans and the steering is perhaps a tad too light, that kind of thing but I, in the end, don't mind a little noise, especially the engine at higher revs but road noise can be droning if too much though if constantly at it like on a long distance journey.

That said, sounds like they did improve things without softening the suspension much, if at all, just improved damping qualities and gave the suspension a bit more travel to help soften things like washboard roads and such.

I can't wait to actually see one in person soon.

He also said something about the steering.... it's been re-calibrated and has better directional stability.

The funny thing is some Euro forums are knocking the US car....they might wind up seeing a similar vehicle!

Heh, I'm not surprised, people HERE in the US are knocking the new Fiat even before it goes on the market!

That said, some may be jealous that we get an improved car before they do, but I think the perceptions of the car ruined for this market is rampant, no matter where it originates, based on what they think they know.

[einy]

Regarding the question of when cars will be available for press testing ... apparently, they now are.  See Road & Track's website, where you can read Peter Egan's "First Drive" of the 500!  It also is in the Feb. 2011 print issue of R&T.  I looked at the other popular U.S. car mag sites, but I don't see a similar article posted anywhere else yet.

Regarding the comment of some folks from the U.S. already knocking the 500, I guess I have to chalk that up to ignorance.  Hard to knock something you haven't seen / driven yet, but that hasn't stopped many from making the prediction that the latest Fiats will fail this time around.  I truly hope the cynics are wrong, wrong, wrong!  Personally, I'm happy to see another compelling choice out there for my next vehicle, even if that purchase is a ways down the road.  

[Vlad92]

Not sure why it took me so long to get my Automotive News for this week, but it looks like Fiat production last week (1/10 to 1/15) was 363 units.  This is also the year to date number so the assembly line must have still been down the first week in January.

[sjmst]

Some of them MUST have been Primas!

[JustWilliam]

 "Not sure why it took me so long to get my Automotive News for this week, but it looks like Fiat production last week (1/10 to 1/15) was 363 units. This is also the year to date number so the assembly line must have still been down the first week in January."

  Thanks again man! You are watching production numbers like no-one else, and I can't thank you enough for doing so. Amidst all the emotional discussions, it's good to KNOW that Toluca is actively building the FIAT 500, just as it did the Chrysler PT Cruiser from start to finish.

  REAL cars from a REAL factory should not only encourage 500 fans with a reservation, they should be enough to convince skeptics that the FIAT 500 is a real product and not "vaporware" that we can only dream about.

  Keep up the great work Vlad!

 Peace,
William

   

[Vlad92]

Thank you!  I'm glad I can bring some value to the discussion!

[Jim McKenzie]

thanks Vlad!   You numbers are indeed keeping my spirits up :)  Keep posting

[Fiat500USA]

Thanks Vlad for sharing this, it is much appreciated and I'm glad you're here.

[ciddyguy]

Indeed and good work Vlad! With the major concerns over on another thread here, this should help allay any frustrations/fears of those who might decide to jump ship.

While I didn't go for the PE, simply due to lack of down payment funds and really, I would rather have a normal production run car and get it with what I want on it but even so, being apart of the early knowledge of this car, it frustrates me to see a lack of coherent communication from Fiat about the progress. Then again, getting to this point in the process has taken LESS time than most companies give themselves (Nissan Leaf) much more lead in time before ramping up production so on that note, we HAVE to give Fiat kudos for doing this on LESS time, difficulties, setbacks not withstanding.

In the end, I think they'd have done better if they'd have given themselves more time to roll things out, but it seems getting this car to market ASAP is imperative if they are to do this at all, given the flux the market is in currently if they are to succeed on any level.

So now it looks like production has started and now we just have to wait and hope dealers can get themselves up and running in time to begin selling the car.

Remember also, Fiat is starting literally from scratch here, whereas Nissan was already established and has been for quite some time so they didn't have to also build dealers while launching the Leaf.

I think that in the end, it'll all work out, one way or the other.

[Vlad92]

Numbers from last week (1/17 to 1/22):  453

[spindoc]

Thanks for these updates.   It's exciting the cars are almost here!  I decided to pass on the PE but plan on getting a Sport when they show up at the dealers.

[sjmst]

Vlad92 wrote

Numbers from last week (1/17 to 1/22):  453

Thanks!