Quote:
Originally Posted by Embraer
that's not true. The Alfas have had software issues, but the FIATs have been largely reliable. Multiple data sources back that up. Japanese reliability? No. I'd still buy a Fiat over anything made in the US.
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The three guys I know who bought the new Fiats when they first came in several years ago all managed to get the dealer to take them back under Washington state's "lemon law".
From what I remember, first year sales were pretty strong on the little Fiat. By the third year, sales had dropped dramatically. I don't have the numbers offhand, but they fell to probably less than 20% of first year sales. Word had gotten out. Everybody knew someone who had bought one. Maybe it was in a large part perception, or some level of "aha! I knew it...", but the buying public very quickly came to see them in the same light as the last time Fiat sold cars here. "Fix it again, Tony", or "failed Italian attempt at transportation"... Such reputations die hard. The Fiats simply were not enough of an improvement to win people over, to entice them to take a chance. Just look at resale on them...