Fiat Australia

[kevino]

The wifes 2012 Fiesta is getting up in kms -time for replacement.

Looking at cars 20/24k segment.

Wife liked the Fiat 500.
Test drove one yesterday drove great with the five speed manual.

But!

Theres only one dealer in Queensland in Brisbane.
Dealer had total Fiat stock of 2 sandwiched amongst Skoda Isuzu Ute and Ram.
No Fiat branding -no brochures-salesperson knew little about the car..

Fiat dropped the 124 sport model, dropped the 500SUV so I suppose a standalone Fiat dealership is impossible.

But gee I worry about support and back up for warranty issues and its only a 3 year warranty.

Are Fiat serious about being in Australia?

In the mean time we will slide the 500 option into a box.

Now we will look at the Suzuki Ignis CVT high hip point car.

[Citroënbender]

Much as I am a Frog/wog car Europhile, I think you did right to park that idea.

[Franco Cozzo]

Kia Picanto GT?

https://www.caradvice.com.au/936114/...nto-gt-review/

[kevino]

Yes Damo. You are on the money.
But.
She prefers auto and is a bit no on Picanto styling.
We went manual in the 500 as the autos in these are garbage.
It’s nice the way it holds torque 1500 to 4500 rpm think I would enjoy this.

[hayseed]

Originally Posted by kevino

Are Fiat serious about being in Australia?

.

Aren't Fiat, Dodge, Chrysler, & Ram all Brothers from a Different Mother..??

[Dr Terry]

Originally Posted by hayseed

Aren't Fiat, Dodge, Chrysler, & Ram all Brothers from a Different Mother..??

Yes, along with Jeep, Peugeot, Citroen, Vauxhall, Opel, DS, Maserati, Abarth, Lancia etc. etc.

They are all part of a multinational group named Stellantis.

Dr Terry

[Vesper Martini]

Originally Posted by hayseed

Aren't Fiat, Dodge, Chrysler, & Ram all Brothers from a Different Mother..??

I thought they were selling Fiats in Jeep dealerships, seems that has changed

[Bossxr8]

Fiat? Yuck.

Not sure how long they will even stay here. The sales figures you can count with fingers. Not sure why they even bother.

[Vesper Martini]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Fiat? Yuck.

Not sure how long they will even stay here. The sales figures you can count with fingers. Not sure why they even bother.

I did like the 124 Spider - an MR2 with a turbo and better looks.

but people still preferred the MR2

[XR Davo]

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

I did like the 124 Spider - an MR2 with a turbo and better looks.

but people still preferred the MR2

You mean Mazda MX5? But yeah agree I like the 12 Spider better

[Vesper Martini]

yes sorry MX5

[kevino]

Just an update.

So if we buy a Fiat 500 in Brisbane 170 kms away from our home we cannot get warranty repairs done at the FCA (jeep) Mopar service centre on the Gold Coast where we live. we have to drive it 170km return to a service centre in Brisbane.
Deal breaker as well as the old FIAT Fix it again Tony concerns about Fiat reliability nagging away at me.

So Wife now wants to test drive Skoda Fabia and Suzuki Swift. Auto/auto.

I already have a (manual) Fabia 2020 which I,m more than happy with and the Suzuki is a great car as well both with dealers on the Gold Coast.

Our first choice of course would be a new standard Fiesta. Oh thats right FOMOCO dont sell em anymore.
Second choice a reasonably priced Focus.
Oh thats right the Focus price is 32k plus now and also no stock anyway.

2 more Ford owners g o n e.

[Citroënbender]

I don’t think there is any great worry with actual reliability of something new made by Fiat, it’s the slim volume of sales that impacts holding of spares and dealer attitudes to customers thereafter. I have had several Alfas, dealer service when near new (3 years old) was disappointing, they shirked responsibility on timing belt failures by cutting the recommended service interval right down - not complimentary fitting of the revised parts. I buy non-critical items overseas or from grey importers. Only more urgent things go through a dealer with parts counter. Fiat would be in exactly the same boat due to same origins…

[kevino]

Yeah Citroen Bender it’s also the ****ty 3 year warranty as well.

Most are 5 some 7 years.

The only Alfa dealer in the whole of Queensland is at Noosaville in the Sunshine Coast.

All the Stellantis brands in Aus are just dropping sales volume.
Dodge -gone
fiat - 1 model soon gone?
Alfa- Giulietta gone
Jeep- reputation trashed
Citroen - laughable volumes
Peugeot - 308 208 gone. Saw an suv yesterday Pug 3008 !powered by a 1.6 turbo $60000!!!
Ram yes a sales success until ?

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by kevino

Yeah Citroen Bender it’s also the ****ty 3 year warranty as well.

Most are 5 some 7 years.

The only Alfa dealer in the whole of Queensland is at Noosaville in the Sunshine Coast.

All the Stellantis brands in Aus are just dropping sales volume.
Dodge -gone
fiat - 1 model soon gone?
Alfa- Giulietta gone
Jeep- reputation trashed
Citroen - laughable volumes
Peugeot - 308 208 gone. Saw an suv yesterday Pug 3008 !powered by a 1.6 turbo $60000!!!
Ram yes a sales success until ?

Citroen sold 3 cars last month. Makes me wonder why they even bother selling them here anymore. Would be losing money on every one they sell.

[Vesper Martini]

Originally Posted by kevino

Just an update.

So if we buy a Fiat 500 in Brisbane 170 kms away from our home we cannot get warranty repairs done at the FCA (jeep) Mopar service centre on the Gold Coast where we live. we have to drive it 170km return to a service centre in Brisbane.
Deal breaker as well as the old FIAT Fix it again Tony concerns about Fiat reliability nagging away at me.

So Wife now wants to test drive Skoda Fabia and Suzuki Swift. Auto/auto.

I already have a (manual) Fabia 2020 which I,m more than happy with and the Suzuki is a great car as well both with dealers on the Gold Coast.

Our first choice of course would be a new standard Fiesta. Oh thats right FOMOCO dont sell em anymore.
Second choice a reasonably priced Focus.
Oh thats right the Focus price is 32k plus now and also no stock anyway.

2 more Ford owners g o n e.

if you like the fiesta, test drive the Kia. put some tape over the badge if it helps you

[kevino]

Yes Kia is an option but wife doesnt like the styling.

That Picanto Gt is a unit! But only in a manual with the sparkling turbo 3.

Fabia and Swift are the pick of the 20-24 k price range as autos.

Polos probably the best driver but price is over 25 now.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by kevino

Just an update.

So if we buy a Fiat 500 in Brisbane 170 kms away from our home we cannot get warranty repairs done at the FCA (jeep) Mopar service centre on the Gold Coast where we live. we have to drive it 170km return to a service centre in Brisbane.
Deal breaker as well as the old FIAT Fix it again Tony concerns about Fiat reliability nagging away at me.

So Wife now wants to test drive Skoda Fabia and Suzuki Swift. Auto/auto.

I already have a (manual) Fabia 2020 which I,m more than happy with and the Suzuki is a great car as well both with dealers on the Gold Coast.

Our first choice of course would be a new standard Fiesta. Oh thats right FOMOCO dont sell em anymore.
Second choice a reasonably priced Focus.
Oh thats right the Focus price is 32k plus now and also no stock anyway.

2 more Ford owners g o n e.

There's nothing for me in the 'working class' aisle of Ford's new car range either aside from a 4x2 cab chassis Ranger which is around Franco level 'budget'

[kevino]

Yes brands going ''premium''.
I see launch of new Hyundai Tucson Hyundai announced they are moving to premium.
Here come the Chinese.
My prediction within 4 years the Chinese will have 30 per cent market share of passenger vehicles. And some existing manufacturers elsewhere will go out of business.

[FTE217]

I have quite a number of my Italian friends with Abarths, they luv em obviously and I haven't heard in discussions any probs, obvioulsy there must be but what a sexy little run around.
Bit of a pain regards for you and servicing far from home.
Swift is a good option.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by FTE217

I have quite a number of my Italian friends with Abarths, they luv em obviously and I haven't heard in discussions any probs, obvioulsy there must be but what a sexy little run around.
Bit of a pain regards for you and servicing far from home.
Swift is a good option.

That's because the Abarth 124 is built by Mazda in Japan and based on the MX5 platform with the wog-spec Fiat engine

I like the Abarth 124 - I'd consider a career change to hairdressing

[FTE217]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

That's because the Abarth 124 is built by Mazda in Japan and based on the MX5 platform with the wog-spec Fiat engine

I like the Abarth 124 - I'd consider a career change to hairdressing

yep I know and when a partnership works all for the better for as we know a "full wog spec" built car is for the diehards only

[Burnout]

Saw one of those Fiat 500's in Dalby a few years ago. It was just parked rear to kerb in the street. The interesting bit was the huge 5post bull bar hanging of the front of it.

[sgt_doofey]

If you're keen on the Fiat, then I would recommend looking for a independent mechanic that specialises in that brand.
I own a Peugoet 307 and we only have one dealership here in Adelaide. It's been sold and changed hands a couple of times over the years of our ownership so it hasn't been terribly stable, although it's still running and now part of the Jarvis group.

I've been taking our Pug to a Peugeot/Citreon specialist mechanic now for over 10 years. He takes care of the car and has a wealth of knowledge about it and it's quirks. If you can find such a mechanic, then don't let the single dealer or a lack of dealer put you off. If the car is sold here in Australia, then they have to support it for a number of years parts wise. I've never had any issues with parts availablilty for the Pug.

You can always buy parts from overseas on eBay. An example I had to do was to actually buy some turbo charge pipes for my mates Ford Transit vans for his business. He could get it from here, but they were prohibitively expensive as it was an older van. I ended up buying 2 from eBay UK (shipped from Poland!) for less than the cost of one bought from the Ford dealers.
There are big markets for these cars overseas, so parts availability shouldn't be an issue.

I would recommend joining any Italian car forums (Australian based ones) and seeing which mechanics they might advise to use. That's how I found our mechanic.

A lack of stock in the dealer could just point to a supply issue due to Covid, so it might mean that you might have to wait a number of month to take delivery too.

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by kevino

The wifes 2012 Fiesta is getting up in kms -time for replacement.

Looking at cars 20/24k segment.

Wife liked the Fiat 500.
Test drove one yesterday drove great with the five speed manual.

But!

Theres only one dealer in Queensland in Brisbane.
Dealer had total Fiat stock of 2 sandwiched amongst Skoda Isuzu Ute and Ram.
No Fiat branding -no brochures-salesperson knew little about the car..

Fiat dropped the 124 sport model, dropped the 500SUV so I suppose a standalone Fiat dealership is impossible.

But gee I worry about support and back up for warranty issues and its only a 3 year warranty.

Are Fiat serious about being in Australia?

In the mean time we will slide the 500 option into a box.

Now we will look at the Suzuki Ignis CVT high hip point car.

They are serious but I would wait to see the impact from the Stellantis changes.
I am not sure what issues you'd have with warranty, it would be like any other make, covered by consumer law.
Based on what you mentioned, I wouldn't bother with it, dealer is too far for you and from the tone, you're too unsure.
Play it safe, Suzuki.

[Smoke Pursuit]

Buying an MG would be a safer bet atm.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Smoke Pursuit

Buying an MG would be a safer bet atm.

Yep I back this especially with the budget were talking if we can't go the Kia Picanto GT cause ugly.

[Stubbie]

Looked at those Fiats some years ago at an Italian car day. Looked under the hood, there was nothing in it but this tiny little east west engine not much bigger than my wife's sowing machine. Couldn't see how much could go wrong it was pretty basic in there. There is Mg 3 and Mitsubishi Mirage.

[kevino]

Originally Posted by Stubbie

Looked at those Fiats some years ago at an Italian car day. Looked under the hood, there was nothing in it but this tiny little east west engine not much bigger than my wife's sowing machine. Couldn't see how much could go wrong it was pretty basic in there. There is Mg 3 and Mitsubishi Mirage.

Yeah they are 51 kw and 102 nm but drive ok.
I would take a punt on one if there was a dealer on the Gold Coast but it closed down.

Now down to between Vw Polo and Mazda 2 Sedan.
I know the dsg auto can be an issue but if Polo come in cheaper than Mazda it would swing to Vw. However if the Mazda I’d not dearer I d just go Mazda for perceived reliability.
Swift and a Fabia no stock and Swift maybe a bit small.

[kevino]

... if the Mazda is not too much dearer...