FiatCares, CommunityCares

**Robert Nixon** · 06-02-2016, 10:17 AM

Amacento,

thanks for posting this, I made it a sticky thread.

I think we all care about FIAT and want them to be successful in the US and Canada, and that's why we're here--to share the passion of Italian designed cars, and to work together.

We are all adults and know that any mass produced product will have some issues, and this forum is one place to work together to vent or seek solutions.

We all know people (or have experienced) that one clunker car in life and reacted with "I'll never buy a _____ brand again." As a 57 year old myself, I know that this is normal, so it doesn't surprise me when people say it about FIAT, because I also know I've said it myself about other brands.

This forum tries to be positive and honest, we're not avoiding conflict or issues with FIAT. Just one example of that is the monthly threads on FIAT sales. The more discussion and disagreement the better, we may not change anyone's mind, so I think the challenge on the internet is to be respectful and listen to all sides of a discussion.

My personal issue with my Abarth has only been the dead battery at 3.5 years, and it got replaced under warranty, so I have no complaint with my FIAT dealer where I live. I understand every dealer is different, and feel the frustration of dealing with hard to diagnose car issues too.

Thanks again, and thanks to everyone that participates in this forum!

**Amacento** · 06-03-2016, 06:19 AM

Thank you, sir.

One of the biggest issues facing FIAT USA these days is the number of stand alone studios that car afford to hold onto the brand and the post-purchase experience a/k/a "Where to service our FIATs". I posted this message in another thread and I think it's a good idea to repost it here.

The theme of this post is an "elephant in the room" conversation for most enthusiasts. We want to see FIAT success in North America, but we also want FIAT to be seen as 100% Italian. The same enthusiasts are bothered when someone foolishly assumes Chrysler bought FIAT and not the other way around.

FCA ABSOLUTELY MUST create an environment of market education. They can do it in an entertaining way... I believe KRS-One calls that Edutainment... but they must take educating the public to task. The webisodes aren't enough. FIAT USA should create a miniature [FIAT & ABARTH] version of their stand alone studio setup for existing larger CDJR showrooms. It would be a large ornate kiosk on the showroom floor loaded with all the webisodes and clips created by FIAT S.p.A. and FCA. Visiting consumers would, of course, ask whether the studio now sells FIAT & ABARTH. That would be the time dealers join in on the educating process. Relearn... and get serious about it. There are already Penstars logos all over the nooks'n'crannies of NA FIATs and ABARTHs. Larger CDJR dealers are making enough money to easily afford that setup and they need to give back to the marque that saved their asse(t)s. That leaves smaller kiosks for the smaller CDJR dealers. Again... this is a must situation (for FIAT USA and these CDJR dealers). The stand alone stage has been evolving into a small studio on the same grounds as CDJR showrooms for those dealers and that's what Tim Kuniskis' "new fix-it" plan most focused on. But it's more incentive based. CDJR dealers are locked into the system and an incentive deal isn't going to force them do anything. FCA must mandate FIAT support from those outfits. Sergio Marchionne had zero issue doing this within the origanization the Agnellis trust him to run. There should be zero issue extending that attitude to dealers. The CDJR techs are aware this should happen... I've heard it firsthand from a MoPar tech.

Forza FIAT!

**Amacento** · 06-03-2016, 02:33 PM

Well... I received from word from FCA Corporate. It's nothing that'll rock your world, but it appears there may be some light at the end of the tunnel. The key thing I read is they are actively certifying Chrysler dealers to service/maintain FIATs. That MUST happen and happen FAST.

Thank you for contacting the FIAT Information Center.

We do apologize for the recent closures of any of your local FIAT Studios and for any related inconveniences. We are actively working with Chrysler dealerships across the country to certify technicians to service and maintain FIAT vehicles. While we do not have an specific update for any dealerships in your area, we have certified multiple Chrysler dealers in the United States and are working on certifying others.

Thank you again for your email. Should you require additional assistance, or have any new information to provide, please reply to this email message or call 1-888-CIAO-FIAT (1-888-242-6342).

Sincerely,

Jake
Customer Service Representative
FIAT Information Center

**Trunkout** · 06-03-2016, 06:12 PM

Originally posted by Amacento

Well... I received from word from FCA Corporate. It's nothing that'll rock your world, but it appears there may be some light at the end of the tunnel. The key thing I read is they are actively certifying Chrysler dealers to service/maintain FIATs. That MUST happen and happen FAST.

Thank you for contacting the FIAT Information Center.

We do apologize for the recent closures of any of your local FIAT Studios and for any related inconveniences. We are actively working with Chrysler dealerships across the country to certify technicians to service and maintain FIAT vehicles. While we do not have an specific update for any dealerships in your area, we have certified multiple Chrysler dealers in the United States and are working on certifying others.

Thank you again for your email. Should you require additional assistance, or have any new information to provide, please reply to this email message or call 1-888-CIAO-FIAT (1-888-242-6342).

Sincerely,

Jake
Customer Service Representative
FIAT Information Center

Promising! That's one of the MAIN reasons I can't recommend Fiat, hopefully that happens.
Fiat needs dealers, many, that actually care about customers!

**Amacento** · 06-03-2016, 06:50 PM

Yeah, but those dealers are semi-independent businesses. You can't un-teach "I don't give a $#!+". You can't teach caring. USAmerican auto companies were able to get really comfortable for a long time. It's gonna take some serious time to weed those who still adhere to the dogma of old. That's why it's encouraging to read FIAT USA is at least certifying Chrysler techs. That means they're taking onus for what they can exact. After time CDJR dealers will eventually see they may as well take on the sales side too. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

**Rocco Reviews...** · 05-28-2020, 11:32 PM

There WERE 3 dealers within a 25 mi radius from me, one of them was FIAT of South Bay that my mom went to to test drive one in 2013, now its closed. The one at Motor Village LA is closed. Only Champion FIAT is open (in our acceptable driving range), how disappointing. I'm in California where FIAT sold the most cars in North America.

**tvmaster** · 05-29-2020, 12:08 AM

RIP, Sergio Marchionne, and thanks for briefly bringing that stylish, funky style back to the auto world one last time. I’m worried that with your demise, so did FIAT’s ability to move forward in North America. Fingers crossed....

**smark** · 05-29-2020, 11:05 AM

Originally posted by Rocco Reviews...

There WERE 3 dealers within a 25 mi radius from me, one of them was FIAT of South Bay that my mom went to to test drive one in 2013, now its closed. The one at Motor Village LA is closed. Only Champion FIAT is open (in our acceptable driving range), how disappointing. I'm in California where FIAT sold the most cars in North America.

9 years ago, we had 2 studios. The one I bought my car at. Was 2 blocks away. A large FCA dealership.

We have one left. With discontinuing the sale of the small 500. Not a new model on the horizon. Not sure how much longer it will be around.

**tvmaster** · 05-29-2020, 04:50 PM

Yeah, it sucks. I have no doubt Sergio would have at least delivered a few different things if he were not dead. I see lots of 500’s in SoCal, just not many Abarth’s. Go figure. That really seems to be FCA’s failure fact: why couldn’t they impress the same people who think Mini’s are sporty and fun, that Abarth’s were as well. And at $10k less, a much better deal. If you made a list of super-fun, performance oriented cars between $20k - $30k, it’s a short list.

**HalfPint** · 05-29-2020, 08:30 PM

Originally posted by tvmaster

Yeah, it sucks. I have no doubt Sergio would have at least delivered a few different things if he were not dead. I see lots of 500’s in SoCal, just not many Abarth’s. Go figure. That really seems to be FCA’s failure fact: why couldn’t they impress the same people who think Mini’s are sporty and fun, that Abarth’s were as well. And at $10k less, a much better deal. If you made a list of super-fun, performance oriented cars between $20k - $30k, it’s a short list.

Perhaps you haven't noticed that Minis are not mini anymore? Apparently once the initial charm wore off they couldn't sell small cars either.

**tvmaster** · 05-30-2020, 10:21 AM

Where are you, PA.? Still some shorties on the road out here. Even convertibles

**HalfPint** · 05-30-2020, 11:44 AM

Originally posted by tvmaster

Where are you, PA.? Still some shorties on the road out here. Even convertibles

I was talking about what they sell. The smallest thing they make is 3000lb, about the same as my truck. The rest are big cars. Americans don’t buy small cars, Fiat’s failure was in thinking Mini’s initial success was more than a short term exception based on style and fuel prices.

**tvmaster** · 05-30-2020, 10:24 PM

Got it. Yeah, we pulled up next to one in our KIA Niro - same size

Tire shake at 45mph...

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