Is there anything wrong with Fiats?

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Semidevil

Diamond Member
Apr 26, 2002
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I'm planning to buy a used 2012 Fiat for under 10k, but I'm wondering, is there anything glaringly wrong with the vehicle that I'm missing?

Looking online, there are quite a bit of used inventory for sale, and most of them are 2012 or newer models, with fairly low miles. It almost seems like people buy them, don't like them for whatever reason, and decide to trade it in after only 2 years.

Reading reviews, I don't see anything that sticks out. Is it the size that most people don't like, or are there mechanical and electrical issues to be aware of?

If it's the size, I probably won't mind too much. I'm 5'4 and the backseat will rarely be used, so there's no issues there.
 
MiataNC

MiataNC

Platinum Member
Dec 5, 2007
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I don't think there is a lot of confidence in the brand (past history, and they have only been back for a couple of years in the US). The size is also a factor. The Cooper Mini is another car that people buy on impulse but don't keep very long.

At the price you are looking to pay, you really can't go wrong. Worse case scenario you will lose @$2-3K if you decide to unload it after a year or two. Value doesn't have far to fall when you start @$10K.
 
KentState

KentState

Diamond Member
Oct 19, 2001
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It's not an expensive car so probably a lot of people jumped on them knowing it was low risk. Nothing too exciting about them so maybe the love affair wears off quickly.
 
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unokitty

Diamond Member
Jan 5, 2012
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Semidevil said:
I'm planning to buy a used 2012 Fiat for under 10k, but I'm wondering, is there anything glaringly wrong with the vehicle that I'm missing?
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1970_fiat_124_spider-pic-7163705596337059980.jpeg

Loved the last Fiat that I had. Though, it was so long ago, I'm not sure how relevant that is...

Haven't heard anything bad about the new ones. And Fiat seems to be doing well in the US.

Normal caveats would apply. If you don't do your own work, make sure that the dealership is convenient and their maintenance prices are reasonable.

Most of the new Fiats I see are on the small side. Look like excellent urban transportation...

Best of luck,
Uno
 
monkeydelmagico

monkeydelmagico

Diamond Member
Nov 16, 2011
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Semidevil said:
Looking online, there are quite a bit of used inventory for sale, and most of them are 2012 or newer models, with fairly low miles. It almost seems like people buy them, don't like them for whatever reason, and decide to trade it in after only 2 years.

.
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Lease deals. See if you can get one CPO with extended warranty. Otherwise I wouldn't touch it. Past history was terrible and there is no longer term data yet on the current gen.
 
Mermaidman

Mermaidman

Diamond Member
Sep 4, 2003
7,987
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Fiat 500 is fun to drive. Not fast, but very nimble. My biggest concern would be the cheap plastic interior. The car should come with a 3-D printer. :p
 
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Sheep221

Golden Member
Oct 28, 2012
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it's all hit and miss I guess, but if you need extra reliability, german or japanese car would be an option, they are much more reliable than italian, french or some american brands, if you are the one who changes cars every 2 years or so, than you have not much to worry about tho
 
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Wreckem

Diamond Member
Sep 23, 2006
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Sheep221 said:
it's all hit and miss I guess, but if you need extra reliability, german or japanese car would be an option, they are much more reliable than italian, french or some american brands, if you are the one who changes cars every 2 years or so, than you have not much to worry about tho
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This is what has me worried about the Fiat built Jeep. Jeeps are notoriously unreliable. Now making them in Italy(atleast the Renegade). Fiat/Italian built reliability + Jeep reliability = not sure I'd buy one until longer term reliability data is available.
 
TridenT

TridenT

Lifer
Sep 4, 2006
16,800
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91
I doubt there's anything too wrong with them if you treat them right.

I'd think that people buy them, realize they're really fucking tiny and impractical for a lot of folks who want to ever get groceries or take more than one person somewhere, and sell them because of it.

Also, gas mileage on those things is horrendous for the size of the car...
 
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Sheep221

Golden Member
Oct 28, 2012
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Wreckem said:
This is what has me worried about the Fiat built Jeep. Jeeps are notoriously unreliable. Now making them in Italy(atleast the Renegade). Fiat/Italian built reliability + Jeep reliability = not sure I'd buy one until longer term reliability data is available.
Click to expand...
It's more about how cars are designed rather than built, jeeps made in europe are same, and built same way as those in america(or even, maybe jeeps driven in US are from europe)
TridenT said:
I doubt there's anything too wrong with them if you treat them right.

I'd think that people buy them, realize they're really fucking tiny and impractical for a lot of folks who want to ever get groceries or take more than one person somewhere, and sell them because of it.

Also, gas mileage on those things is horrendous for the size of the car...
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I think most cars should be like this, if you ever look at the traffic jam you will easily figure out that only in every 10th car is more than a driver
 
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unokitty

Diamond Member
Jan 5, 2012
3,346
1
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Sheep221 said:
It's more about how cars are designed rather than built, jeeps made in europe are same, and built same way as those in america(or even, maybe jeeps driven in US are from europe)
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comp_fiat11__02__315inline.jpg




Jeep Renegade "will be made in Italy and share underpinnings with the 500X, a four-door crossover version of the trendy Fiat 500 city car. “The Renegade and 500X are perfect examples of something Fiat and Chrysler couldn’t have done alone,” says Roberto Verganti, a management professor at Polytechnic University of Milan."

Jeep Renegade is built on a Fiat 500 platform.

My perception is that Jeep's US popularity is based on the Wrangler and Grand Cherokee with which the Renegade shares nothing other than the Jeep Brand.

If the Renegade sells well it will solve Fiat's under utilization problem with their Italian factory.

Whether or not a Fiat sold as a Jeep will lead to brand dilution isn't clear.

Either way, I wish them well. Ever since Suzuki stopped selling the Samurai, I think that there has been market space for an economical off road vehicle.

Uno
 
TridenT

TridenT

Lifer
Sep 4, 2006
16,800
45
91
Sheep221 said:
I think most cars should be like this, if you ever look at the traffic jam you will easily figure out that only in every 10th car is more than a driver
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Yeah, but it doesn't matter what you do daily that always rules your decisions. Frequently, it's things that you do infrequently that make up a large part of the decision.

I don't think people with pickup trucks are ALWAYS hauling something. Do you understand?
 
mmntech

mmntech

Lifer
Sep 20, 2007
17,501
12
0
MongGrel

MongGrel

Lifer
Dec 3, 2013
38,466
3,067
121
Wreckem said:
This is what has me worried about the Fiat built Jeep. Jeeps are notoriously unreliable. Now making them in Italy(atleast the Renegade). Fiat/Italian built reliability + Jeep reliability = not sure I'd buy one until longer term reliability data is available.
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Have had two Jeeps Cherokees 1996, one had over 250K on it and sold it.

The wife still driving the Sport that has less than 100 on it.

The new ones don't look as reliable, but got me.

The old Cherokees they stopped making as they were too reliable, I half think :p

The gas mileage on em sucked but for reliability........

Yeah still gets about 15-18 like it always did.
 
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