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Surprise, Surprise: Fiat 500 Not Selling As Well As Chrysler Had Hoped
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Posted On: 9/27/2011 1:54PM
66Mope

Chrysler was hoping to sell about 6,000 Fiat 500s a month. They sold about 3,000 in August and a little over 11,000 total so far. Chrysler thinks that they have a marketing problem and they have been blaming the failure on their ad agency. I think they were crazy to think the Fiat 500 would be anything but a niche car in the first place. Americans don't really like small cars. The 500 is only going to appeal to a few hipsters in urban areas who want to be different than their Mini-driving friends. But the Fiat isn't as good a car as the Mini, and the novelty is going to wear off fast. I think Chrysler should stop worrying about marketing tiny hipster cars and focus on getting solid compact and mid-size sedans to market rapidamente. Ad Age via Autoblog

Comments (12)
Avatar By: timpalass
9/27/2011 2:35 PM

Cuz they're fucking ugly.

 
Avatar By: cknarf
9/27/2011 2:50 PM

And for yuppies. Two door chargers please, with manual transmissions.

 
Avatar By: trill77monte
9/27/2011 3:11 PM

Fix It Again Tony...

 
Avatar By: SuzyBruisy
9/27/2011 3:52 PM

Hey, the Fiat 500 is awesome! My mom is gonna get one and she's totally not a hipster. I think everyone's just waiting out the first-model-year jitters. The auto trans on the Euro version had that bad reputation...

 
Avatar By: racertci
9/27/2011 5:03 PM

Ok lets say it's not for hipsters" it's still very gay and is not going to appeal to most gear heads. I say most because there are plenty of gay gear heads but even among the gay gear heads only the very effeminate ones would look twice at this car. It should be perfect for one of my daughters or Suzy's Mom. Nuff said.

 
Avatar By: BIG_CIVIC
9/27/2011 5:23 PM

Definitely a girly car. Even the Abarth version will get you laughed at if you're a guy and pull up next to a muscle car or even a Golf GTI for that matter.

 
Avatar By: fallenkeep
9/27/2011 5:43 PM

I just mentioned to my S.I. sitting behind me that it was kind of cute, in that small car way, and that I liked the peel back cloth top. I then looked back at her and mentioned that it looked like a thief had used a can opener on the roof to gain access.

 
Avatar By: fortyfordsedan
9/27/2011 5:52 PM

I think its an alright car but the milage isn't as good as it seems like a car that small should have. I can get 40mpg highway out of my pos neon and its a bigger car with better acceleration and ten years old. They look cool but I would rather have a mini. Now if they put the a turbo world engine like the srt4 Caliber had in it, then it might be a fun car

 
Avatar By: ___nes___
9/27/2011 8:42 PM

I think most are waiting for the esseesse, and if you but a 500 I'm sure you don't care what the muscle car crowd thinks.

 
Avatar By: krush454
9/28/2011 10:27 AM

Okay, you know what, I love a Challenger a Charger a Camaro and a Chevelle as much as any other man who loves red meat, but im open minded enough to admit this thing looks kinda cool. Its a market for people who want high efficency and comfort, but no need for room for kids, just enough for some random pieces like luggage. And you know what, I bet you its fun as all hell to drive. Screw you automotive-homophobes, Id drive that thing!

 
Avatar By: robpurifoy
9/28/2011 7:46 PM

Maybe it's not ready for prime time, it's a chick car so that cuts out 50% of the marketable audience already. And it's a drop-sunroof, not a convertible so it just looks strange. The only market is a Daddy's girl that wants it for college, but how many other cars fit that segment-alot..

 
Avatar By: QwikTSi
9/29/2011 9:29 PM

My g/f really wants one of these. And unlike a Mini she can actually afford the Fiat. I thought it would do good with its lower price point.

 

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