Fiat In Ireland?

road_high · 11-01-2013 04:56PM #1

What's their future in Ireland? Not long ago they were top sellers but since the early 2000s have thrown thatn away. Similiar story in much of Europe.

Really like the 500 and thought it would be the start of something big. Good reviews and reliable I believe, Panda as well is solid.
But the company has taken an age to replace cars...in the days of everyone wanting something new and fresh, their approach has been ridiculous. The Koreans have had a field day with their market share. The current Punto is basically the same now as it was in 05/06. Ditto the Bravo from 07. And still no replacement.

The 500l looks very dissapointing to me, total style failure for me anyhow.

goochy · 11-01-2013 05:09PM

Use to work for hb dennis in late 90s loads of alfas and fiats sold.but too many electric faults so people wont touch them now

advertsfox · 11-01-2013 05:13PM

I wish my Grande Punto's interior looked like the 2012 version. Regarding the exterior, why make vast changes to something that looks good (like the newest Golf).

2006:

2012:

NobodyImportant · 11-01-2013 05:26PM

I cant see them being anything but a small player for much time to come. It'll just be the 500 as the main seller and thats it.

JohnBoy26 · 11-01-2013 05:29PM

goochy wrote: »

Use to work for hb dennis in late 90s loads of alfas and fiats sold.but too many electric faults so people wont touch them now

This. Once the unreliability stigma is attatched it is very hard to change peoples perception of a brand.

dgt · 11-01-2013 05:59PM

It's very hard to undo the damage caused in the 70s and 80s. A lot of car manufacturers use Fiat electrical components (carello, magneti marelli, texid etc) but the brand is shunned by the backwards sheep nation we live in.

No point raising valid points, waste of time, their loss

L1011 · 11-01-2013 06:59PM

Think they're on a last lash at it now. The distributor is owned by the group so no franchise risk. New hq, distie owned dealers, taken on the Chrysler and jeep distribution. If this doesn't work I'd see them leaving

spiggotpaddy · 11-01-2013 07:14PM

OE part prices are up there with the best of them.

CianRyan · 11-01-2013 07:17PM

Seeing as they own half of Italy I don't think the company as a whole has much to worry about, they can tick over here with the Punto and 500.

They need a saloon I think.

Terrontress · 11-01-2013 07:22PM

MYOB wrote: »

Think they're on a last lash at it now. The distributor is owned by the group so no franchise risk. New hq, distie owned dealers, taken on the Chrysler and jeep distribution. If this doesn't work I'd see them leaving

Fiat OWNS Chrysler and Jeep. The smaller Chryslers are rebadged Lancia. Not sure about Fiat's future in Ireland but globally it looks very good.

L1011 · 11-01-2013 08:06PM

Terrontress wrote: »

Fiat OWNS Chrysler and Jeep. The smaller Chryslers are rebadged Lancia. Not sure about Fiat's future in Ireland but globally it looks very good.

I know they own them, but Fiat Ireland have only recently taken over distribution here.

Its not guaranteed that a brand owner is its distributor - VW didn't have Seat for a number of years after coming in to do distribution here.

CianRyan wrote: »

They need a saloon I think.

As as I can remember they don't have a mass market saloon at all. Croma was the nearest but it was estate only. And we all know Ireland's obsession with saloon versions of small cars...

There's the Linea which is intended as a world/developing markets car. That said, if the Tiida (similar arrangement) can sell here, the Linea might.

ba_barabus · 11-01-2013 09:01PM

Bravo replacement has been canned as has the Punto.

All future models in the passenger line up are to be built on the 500 platform including a Punto replacement and Juke rival.

Lancia/Chrysler is being moved into a premium rival.

Maserati is being realigned as a Jag rival.

My biggest worry is Alfa Romeo. Rumours of it's sale to VAG aren't helping, or the fact the range has lost it's core values and replacement launch dates keep getting put back

L1011 · 11-01-2013 09:03PM

"The 500 platform" is the Panda platform - stop making it sound classier

500 - and the Ford Ka - are clearly Panda-based when you look at even something as minor as where things are on the dashboards.

ba_barabus · 11-01-2013 09:04PM

MYOB wrote: »

"The 500 platform" is the Panda platform - stop making it sound classier

This is true.

I'm trying to give them some help.

They are trying to angle the Fiat brand into a market position with Mini.

ba_barabus · 11-01-2013 09:04PM

MYOB wrote: »

"The 500 platform" is the Panda platform - stop making it sound classier

500 - and the Ford Ka - are clearly Panda-based when you look at even something as minor as where things are on the dashboards.

Interesting you mention the Ka.

It's also been **** canned by Ford for replacement

road_high · 11-01-2013 09:36PM

ba_barabus wrote: »

Bravo replacement has been canned as has the Punto.

All future models in the passenger line up are to be built on the 500 platform including a Punto replacement and Juke rival.

Lancia/Chrysler is being moved into a premium rival.

Maserati is being realigned as a Jag rival.

My biggest worry is Alfa Romeo. Rumours of it's sale to VAG aren't helping, or the fact the range has lost it's core values and replacement launch dates keep getting put back

The Punto badly needs to be replaced....the 06 model looks better than the current facelifted imo.

Marchionne (Fiat CEO)has said Alfa is not up for sale to VW and has been very firm on this. There has been war in Europe between Fiat and VW with Fiat accusing VW of under pricing cars to gain market share i.e. they can afford to loose money in EU as they are making such profit in Asia and S America.
Looking forward to the new Alfas coming down the line myself. Really hope they put their reliability woes to bed once and for all.

ba_barabus · 11-01-2013 09:40PM

mfitzy wrote: »

The Punto badly needs to be replaced....the 06 model looks better than the current facelifted imo.

Marchionne (Fiat CEO)has said Alfa is not up for sale to VW and has been very firm on this. There has been war in Europe between Fiat and VW with Fiat accusing VW of under pricing cars to gain market share i.e. they can afford to loose money in EU as they are making such profit in Asia and S America.
Looking forward to the new Alfas coming down the line myself. Really hope they put their reliability woes to bed once and for all.

New Alfa's keep getting put back as does the North American launch date so you better be prepared to wait for them. I'd be amazed if they were sold. The Italians would rather just use them as a badge to stick on sporty models of cars than sell the brand as a going concern.

Funny you mention the old Punto looking better. I was looking at a 2010 old Punto (1.4 sporting with a glass roof) parked beside a 2011 model and just thought it looked so less fussy looking. It's aged well

road_high · 11-01-2013 09:44PM

ba_barabus wrote: »

New Alfa's keep getting put back as does the North American launch date so you better be prepared to wait for them. I'd be amazed if they were sold. The Italians would rather just use them as a badge to stick on sporty models of cars than sell the brand as a going concern.

Funny you mention the old Punto looking better. I was looking at a 2010 old Punto (1.4 sporting with a glass roof) parked beside a 2011 model and just thought it looked so less fussy looking. It's aged well

2014 for the Guilia it seems. Gorgeous looking car to be fair.
http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/alfa-readies-3-series-rival-2014

The older Grande Punto had a classy clean look to it, I love its' styling. The revised model looks so frumpy in comparison. They did the same with the previous model Punto in 2003, it was awful looking.

ba_barabus · 11-01-2013 09:46PM

mfitzy wrote: »

2014 for the Guilia it seems. Gorgeous looking car to be fair.
http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/alfa-readies-3-series-rival-2014

It was due in 2013 originally

EDIT: It was originally due in 2012

road_high · 11-01-2013 09:48PM

ba_barabus wrote: »

It was due in 2013 originally

Pity, they sorely need it. Only the Mito and Guillietta. I love the Mito cannot figure out why it didn't take off, must be overpriced.

ba_barabus · 11-01-2013 09:51PM

mfitzy wrote: »

Pity, they sorely need it. Only the Mito and Guillietta. I love the Mito cannot figure out why it didn't take off, must be overpriced.

Both models have the same problem.

Neither drive like an Alfa. That and other manufactures have caught up.

Go back to the 80's and each manufacturer had their own individual quality.

Now you can buy a well built, sporty, discreet, well priced classy car from most manufacturers.

Fiat and a lot of the Fiat group have lost their positions. Lancia was a great sporty brand who were very successful. then Fiat tried to make them a luxury marque and Alfa the sole sporty one. Both have ended up worse off.

Nissan doctor · 11-01-2013 10:05PM

Fiat may not be doing great in Ireland but we are a microscopic market for them.

People think they are only a European based company but they are massive around the world, especially south america. The 500 went on sale in north America last year and they are everywhere over there now. They can also barely get enough Ferrari's to China and the middle east either.

I'd say they are simply re organising their target markets and making boggo spec hatches for us probably doesn't figure very highly on their list.

ba_barabus · 11-01-2013 10:09PM

Nissan doctor wrote: »

I'd say they are simply re organising their target markets and making boggo spec hatches for us probably doesn't figure very highly on their list.

For us?

For rental companies I think you mean

RedorDead · 11-01-2013 10:47PM

dgt wrote: »

It's very hard to undo the damage caused in the 70s and 80s. A lot of car manufacturers use Fiat electrical components (carello, magneti marelli, texid etc) but the brand is shunned by the backwards sheep nation we live in.

No point raising valid points, waste of time, their loss

Fiat were strong in Ireland as recent as the year 2000 when the Punto was incredibly popular due to scrappage scheme. Although the pre regging they did years after this probably did for them.

8 cars registered in first ten days of January tells its own sad story. Alfa Romeo as bad.

ba_barabus · 11-01-2013 10:49PM

RedorDead wrote: »

8 cars registered in first ten days of January tells its own sad story. Alfa Romeo as bad.

I'm surprised it's THAT GOOD.

Pity as Alfa are great to look at

JohnBoy26 · 11-01-2013 10:50PM

mfitzy wrote: »

2014 for the Guilia it seems. Gorgeous looking car to be fair.
http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/alfa-readies-3-series-rival-2014

Imo that car looks a bit generic. The front is a bit like a Mazda or a Hyundai.

road_high · 11-01-2013 10:52PM

RedorDead wrote: »

Fiat were strong in Ireland as recent as the year 2000 when the Punto was incredibly popular due to scrappage scheme. Although the pre regging they did years after this probably did for them.

8 cars registered in first ten days of January tells its own sad story. Alfa Romeo as bad.

That model Punto had a lot of reliability issues and I think that buried them in Ireland. The model in 2006 was/is a lovely car and regained some last ground but they ruined that again imo.

road_high · 11-01-2013 10:54PM

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

Imo that car looks a bit generic. The front is a bit like a Mazda or a Hyundai.

Think those pics don't do it justice. There's better pics online that I've seen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u26Hnc8Jeoo

I like it anyhow

L1011 · 11-01-2013 10:57PM

ba_barabus wrote: »

Interesting you mention the Ka.

It's also been **** canned by Ford for replacement

Ka is due a replacement soon in most companies normal replacement cycles, its an 08 introduction. Although they held on to the previous one for a very long time...

ba_barabus · 11-01-2013 10:58PM

MYOB wrote: »

Ka is due a replacement soon in most companies normal replacement cycles, its an 08 introduction. Although they held on to the previous one for a very long time...

The replacement was cancelled only about 2 weeks ago

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/ford-ka-unlikely-be-replaced

Part of Ford one car one world policy

L1011 · 11-01-2013 11:01PM

ba_barabus wrote: »

The replacement was cancelled only about 2 weeks ago

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/ford-ka-unlikely-be-replaced

Part of Ford one car one world policy

Oh right, read your post as suggesting they were replacing it soon (as in dumping the Fiat built one for a Ford one)

Fiat In Ireland?

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