On 17 Oct 2013 at 3:43, rustybkts wrote: > I think Fiat are missing out on a lot of sales over here in Europe with this > car.
Intriguing to see European automakers making the same mistake that US automakers did in the 1970s. When the Middle East oil boycott hit and fuel prices went through the roof here in the states, Nissan (then Datsun) and Toyota already had years of experience building small, fuel-efficient cars. Their dealers were blatantly tacking on hundreds or thousands of extra profit right on the window stickers, and still couldn't keep the cars in stock. Used Asian small cars never went on the lot; they came in for trades and went right out to the next buyer on the waiting list, with again thousands in profit for the dealers. Cha-ching! And what did US automakers have? Chevy Vegas and Ford Pintos. The dealers hated selling them (less profit), which was fine, because buyers weren't very interested in such thrown-together subcompacts. Pintos would later acquire infamy for their collision-vulnerable gas tanks. Vegas already were known for their spectacular front-fender rust (around here many of them rusted through in 2-3 winters!), and cylinder liners that sank into the aluminum engine blocks. Chrysler had their Mitsubishi-made captive imports, Dodge Colt and Plymouth Champ, but didn't market them very aggressively. Other than that, all they had were compact Dodge Darts and Plymouth Dusters. On a good day with careful granny driving, one of those might get you 20-22mpg. AMC had Gremlins. Look 'em up. 'Nuff said. All because the automakers assumed that what they were selling would continue to sell forever. I guess Fiat thinks the same way today. As the saying goes, "History repeats itself. That's one thing wrong with history." David Roden - Akron, Ohio, USA EVDL Administrator = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = EVDL Information: http://www.evdl.org/help/ = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Note: mail sent to "evpost" and "etpost" addresses will not reach me. To send a private message, please obtain my email address from the webpage http://www.evdl.org/help/ . = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
