[Dave Z]

That's really good compared with the Mazda. They're claiming something like 24 city, I think. The Dart does me OK but the Fiat's more fun. I'm going to still consider a 124...

 

[Dave Z]

Resale value is high. I'm thinking about it. The Mazda's gas mileage is lousy.

 

[Dave Z]

BMW brings a reassurance of quality, just like Fiat does not.

Whether it is in fact true or not, is open for debate.

Agreed on both counts!

Same way I wouldn’t be surprised if Audi and MB will learn that most who wanted an electric car already got one. A Tesla.

Jaguar E-Pace sold out almost immediately.

 

[Dave Z]

Sad, indeed.
I bought the Spider under the assumption that (a) it would depreciate like a rock, and (b) Fiat may pack and leave while I still own it. I like the car so much that I am willing to live with those two things hanging over my head. And (c)...there’s the reassurance of Japanese manufacturing...

Yup, I am hoping to get a used 124... though the Honda del Sol and Odyssey have de-magicked Japanese manufacturing for me. (The Odyssey used Japanese transmissions, didn't it?)

 

[Dave Z]

1. We now have data that despite making Fiat available through CDJR dealers, not even 500X, which is arguably a well designed product in a dynamic segment, can overcome poor brand perceptions

Fiat has written the book for Peugeot on how not to make a comeback to N.A.

Wow. that's hard to believe... FCA dealers consistently rank at the bottom in the US, don't they?

Their model was clearly BMW/Mini, but our popular culture made the Mini far more familiar to people than the Fiat, and the Mini did benefit from the link to BMW.