more Fiat/Chrysler stuff, good and bad

[So Cal Mark]

The J.D. Power 2008 Customer Satisfaction Index Study in Europe has come out, and Fiat finished 20th out of 25 brands in France, UK and Germany. These results were from owners that had owned their cars for at least 2 years.

The good-the 500 will be sold at Chrysler dealerships as a Fiat and will arrive in 18-24 months.

The bad-no other Fiat models will come as Fiats, nor will Chrysler simply rebadge any Fiat models. The Fiat VP stated that
"they will be Chrysler products, they will be specific to Chrysler. The vehicle architectures will be based on our stuff and there will be some powertrains. The vehicles will be US vehicles, designed for US customers by a US company. The vehicles will not share sheet metal with Fiat vehicles. The 500 will be the only model badged as a Fiat in the US".

[narfire]

This is a wee bit distressing. Wonder how fiat is going to manage with a consumer report like that,especially after past history if the masses can remember the bad rap Fiat had in the early 80's. I'm sure there are folks that love their Chryslers, but up here(my friends that have chrysler) most seem to have them for a couple of years then get fed up and move on. I was hoping that we might see the punto or other models here. Perhaps the crash tests are different than Eruope and too expensive to certify.

[So Cal Mark]

it is distressing. Obviously consumers don't like Chryslers much these days, so why let them keep designing the new products? Maybe the new BoD fears the foreign mfg backlash. Maybe the Fiat group doesn't think Americans will like their cars?

[ga.spyder]

I think it is a real concern that Americans may not like the Fiat line.However,Americans dont seem to like the Chrysler vehicles much! So....?

[mdrburchette]

I've been taking notice of what people around my area drive. I'm actually amazed at how many Chryslers are running around out here. Of course, all of them are either mini vans, big trucks or fuel guzzling Chargers or 300's...wait a minute, do they make any thing else?

[ga.spyder]

Yes.......Jeeps !!! Which,according to reports I have read,is what Fiat really wants to be able to market in Europe.

[Gunsmith]

We have two Jeep Liberties in our house and they have been great cars. Fiat will have to be very careful about what they open up with to make the right impression. There are so many different types of cars down here nothing looks out of place or stands out.