Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
The Car Thread ... !
- Thread starter D.T.
- Start date
-
- Tags
- car
- Sort by reaction score
Fiat 500X-
Today I picked up my 2012 Fiat 500 from the dealer after a section by the Sunroof needed painting. Fortunately it was covered by warranty. In the show room, they had a new 500x the new Fiat 500 crossover designed for the U.S. Market. It looked real nice. Depending on the model, the price runs $20-28k.
It's bigger than my 500, the original 500 introduced in the States back in 2011 (I think), it has 4 doors and a much bigger back seat. This is not to be confused with the 500L introduced a couple of years ago, which looks boxy, with a white roof regardless of the body color, and IMO did not drive so well from a sporty, zippy standpoint. Anyhow, anyone have one of these? I may go in and take a test drive.
Today I picked up my 2012 Fiat 500 from the dealer after a section by the Sunroof needed painting. Fortunately it was covered by warranty. In the show room, they had a new 500x the new Fiat 500 crossover designed for the U.S. Market. It looked real nice. Depending on the model, the price runs $20-28k.
It's bigger than my 500, the original 500 introduced in the States back in 2011 (I think), it has 4 doors and a much bigger back seat. This is not to be confused with the 500L introduced a couple of years ago, which looks boxy, with a white roof regardless of the body color, and IMO did not drive so well from a sporty, zippy standpoint. Anyhow, anyone have one of these? I may go in and take a test drive.
Last edited:
^ It's the platform mate of the Jeep Renegade. I think it looks decent, but I can't get FCA's terrible build quality and reliability. I haven't been in one FCA ever where I'm like "wow this is actually a decent car." They're always underwhelming.
Fiat is pretty desperate to sell their cars it seems. They were trying to pull off the sidewalk and show off the 500x yesterday.
Fiat is pretty desperate to sell their cars it seems. They were trying to pull off the sidewalk and show off the 500x yesterday.
My original 500 was made in Mexico
, however the build quality seems fine to me and I've had no issues with reliability other than a dead battery that can effect any new car with a sealed battery. On a regular basis, I'm told what a good looking car the 500 is. The salesperson said the Xs are made in Italy. Yeah, they are good looking cars. Especially the Abarth.My original 500 was made in Mexico
Not sure Italian made is a positive here though
While my family hasn't had the greatest experience with Chrysler products, I feel bad for Chrysler in a way. They never had a real chance to improve themselves over the past 20 years or so like Ford and GM has had. They "merged" with Daimler that just raped their finances to help fix Mercedes and they were left to rot on the vine. Sold off to Cerberus who again couldn't give a crap about cars period, then finally to Fiat which did see their initial quality improve a lot, but is known to have long term quality issues.
Thats a rather funny way of looking at it.....
The Benz bought Chyrsler because they were cheap and they hoped building more cars would lead to lower cost (pretty much the same reason why Fiat bought them).
Quality of Chrysler badged cars sucked donkey-a## and as such were sales plunged right to the point when Benz had to cut their looses (and believe me they were massive). Pretty much the same story as with BMW and Rover, only that BMW kept some brands after the split up.
Oh man, while that deal with Rover failed that was a critical moment for BMW. Mercedes was first to market with the ML (one or two years?) but BMW took everything they had learned from the Rover acquisition and pretty much leapfrogged the ML with the X5. To this day, the X5 is arguably the best premium SUV and to know it all came from a failed transaction. The Germans just don't play around...
The BMW X5 is near the top, but I'd argue that there is really no BAD German luxury SUV these days. X5, ML, Cayenne, and Q7.
Germans don't screw around
That's really good looking. Congrats. High Revs all around.
(Don't put VTEC on your car. Seriously. This is coming from a Honda fan)
That may be true, but it is a terrible platform. They're not really good at anything.The BMW X5 is near the top, but I'd argue that there is really no BAD German luxury SUV these days. X5, ML, Cayenne, and Q7.
Germans don't screw around
Last edited by a moderator:
The actual segment is a little silly, IMHO. The concept of a luxury SUV doesn't make a lot of sense. Luxury SUVs are not great Sport Utility Vehicles, aren't fast, and aren't particularly fun. That's just me.
Meh, yours points are valid, but they make perfect sense to the luxury customer who wants a little more space and ground clearance over the typical sedan.
The X5 and Cayenne both nullify your premise that they aren't fast or fun. A Turbo or X5M does sub 4 0-60. Even a base X5 or Cayenne can out handle most cars these days.
What these 4500+ lb beasts can do is nothing short of spectacular
Last edited:
How long did they make the V10 TDI T2? Just 2008 correct (in the T2 form)? The V10 really isn't impressively fast, though the low end torque must be fun. 0-60 is 6.5, whereas the X5 is 6.9. I suppose in 2004 when the v10 came out, that was an impressive time. My 03 Grand Cherokee was 6.7 sec to 60, which is very good for an SUV back then.
I agree that the value of the Touareg is not where it used to be. There's too much competition with a similar price tag, more offerings, better residual value, and a nicer badge. I like it though because it's not another BMW or Audi cruising around.
I think it's an 08 or 09. Don't remember. But I've always loved the look of them with these wheels
It was one of the last diesel motors in the US without the AdBlue system, so it wasn't allowed to be sold in CARB states (Cali, MA, Maine, etc.) Buddy's father had to buy it "used" from a NH dealer with 100 miles on it.
Yeah, I'm a fan of the Touareg, but these exact reasons were why I passed on the T3 TDI back in 2011 and went with the BMW for $2k more.
The price has gotten even worse. My dad's been looking for a new DD and picked a Highlander Platinum because the mid-level Touareg was almost $60k. The competition offers far more equipment at the same price point.
That's so true! It is nice to see them around though. I always see white T3s on my side of town.
The best part about the T3 is that it comes with a 10 yr/100k mile warranty now.
It's definitely the wrong car for their lineup. They need to be making a Pilot/Highlander competitor, not some "budget" luxury SUV that costs as much as a BMW/Audi/Benz. People don't look at VW like a budget Audi anymore. Those days are gone... especially with how terrible the Jetta/Passat are
Last edited:
It looks like they stopped the V10 in 2008.
I absolutely agree here. VW has watered down all of their other models. The Touareg competing in the wrong arena. You're right, I think would sell much better as a competitor against the Grand Cherokee, Pilot, Explorer, Highlander, etc if priced appropriately. The minimum model I would ideally want- TDI with Lux package (LEATHER + pano-roof) we're up to $56,000. Switching the the VR6 saves less than $3000. The $45,000 base VR6 model doesn't come with Nav, a sunroof, and backup camera. Seriously? If they threw all the features people expect for $40,000, you'd probably see many more on the road. You can get an essentially loaded AWD V6 Grand Cherokee (Limited) or Pilot (EX-L) for <40,000.
+1. They're fun in a way that a 4500 pound car shouldn't. I dare the average consumer to get into a X5/X6 or Cayenne and really drive it and see if you don't walk away with a grin. I was extremely skeptical of the X6 when BMW announced it but when I finally got a chance to drive one, I couldn't not smile. Would something in this segment be my first choice? Probably not but if I had the opportunity to get a second car, a X5 would be my choice for all around utility and fun factor.
Yeah, the way they break up the options list is nuts. Why aren't NAV and Sunroof standard on a "luxury" SUV?
If VW really wants to stand-out, the three-row Highlander/Pilot competitor needs to come out ASAP. They're been teasing a 3 liter VR6 Turbo, which would really set them apart because the Highlander and Pilot's V6s are pretty run-of-the-mill these days. Or even a TDI. Loaded shouldn't cross $50k.
Bingo. My father got a $47k MSRP Highlander Platinum with every option for $40,XXX 2 weeks ago. Has everything under the sun. Pano roof, heated steering wheel, cooled front seats, ACC, FCW, auto high beams...
When you get the chance, check out the Porsche Macan. Even in base form without PASM, PTV, or air suspension, it absolutely dances on the backroads. Something that heavy shouldn't drive that well!
The twin-turbo V6 with PDK put a huge grin on my face
+1. The only brands that are making money for FCA are Jeep, Ram, and Ferrari. Their interiors have really improved in the last few years. I'd say they're probably better than the equivalent Ford/GM product, but, as you said, their long-term quality issues are just unbelievable.
Last edited by a moderator:
And their short term too
Dodge and Chrysler could fall off the face of the earth and no one would notice. No one wants a 300 or a Dart or a Caravan. I think it's time to reinvent themselves.
And their short term too
Dodge and Chrysler could fall off the face of the earth and no one would notice. No one wants a 300 or a Dart or a Caravan. I think it's time to reinvent themselves.
My mom does(finally) have her Buick back, but went through two rental cars in the time it was in the shop. The first was a Pathfinder, which she loved.
When the CEL came on and she had to take it back, she fussed for two days about how they'd given her a "damed Chrysler 200." She didn't stop complaining about the thing until well after she'd taken it back
. Probably most disconcerting to her was the gear shift knob-she managed to put the car into neutral one day while trying to turn down the volume on the radio. I think the police market is probably what's keeping the 300/Charger in production. I used to see 300s all the times, but don't seem to see them that often anymore.
I don't know, I think Ford is putting out the best domestic product by far, Focus/Fiesta DCT issues aside.
And their short term too
Dodge and Chrysler could fall off the face of the earth and no one would notice. No one wants a 300 or a Dart or a Caravan. I think it's time to reinvent themselves.
This is so true. I walked a Dodge lot one day for the hell of it to look at Challengers, they have got to have the most boring lineup of junk nobody wants. How often do you see Durangos now?
The 300 is a nice car, but way back in 2005/2006 when they were first coming out, I called it that they would become the hoodrat drug dealer car of choice right behind the Escalade due to the Bentley-esque front end - and I was right (sorry but the truth hurts). With Chrysler's crap resale it only took 2-3 years before you saw them beat up and blinged out. The SRT 300 is great, but it's a really, really, really hard sell against the German competition for a fast sedan.
With the upcoming spinoff of Ferrari, I would hope Alfa gets more exposure, but I still somehow doubt it.