In Palm Beach

We made it to West Palm Beach!  I can positively confirm that the 500 is a wonderful car to drive cross country - 1400 mile trip in two days.  No back aches or stiffness.  It was a comfortable and economical drive.  The trip computer did register 40 to 42 mpg on the trip.  The first half of the trip was 42 mpg but the Smoky Mountains dropped it to 40 mpg.  The higher speeds driving through Florida assured that the fuel economy would not return to 42 mpg.  One thing I noticed on the whole trip - the wind from passing semi-trucks did not disturb the composure of the little Fiat 500c.  I have driven much larger cars that were often pushed by the drafts from the trucks.  Crosswinds did not disturb the car either.  The impression of driving was that of a much larger, very solid and stable automobile.

Which is Bigger, the Jaguar or the Fiat 500

On my way to Florida I stopped at gas station in Kentucky.  I parked my car and when I turned back to look I noticed something that seemed to be an optical illusion.  The Fiat looked like it had a bigger interior than the Jaguar I parked next to.  So the question in my mind is which is bigger?  The Jaguar is the "X" Type which is the small four door Jaguar but we usually don't think of them being smaller than a Fiat 500.  The "X" type is based on the Ford Mondeo (Contour in the U.S.) so it shouldn't be smaller than a Ford Focus.  Truth ids the Fiat is tall and is mostly interior volume.  I have been in a Jaguar "X" type and they sit low and are not known for being spacious.  But the Fiat is a bit narrower and definately shorter.  So if you are not the driver or the front seat passenger, the Fiat is smaller.  I have also noticed this wierd size phenomena with the Toyota Yaris which is about the same size as the Fiat 500.  The size prioty on the Yaris is for interior volume and when parked next to mid-size cars the Yaris appears to have an interior that may be larger also.

FINALLY!

Lorelei's First Top Down Convertible Ride

Our new 2013 Fiat Cinquecento Cabrio Pop

The Little 500c looks huge next to 82 Fiat X1/9




"Eye Candy" with Avorio (Ivory) and Rosso Corso d'Italia (Italian Racing Red)



I've Been Chalked!

We have taught our daughter not to draw on walls, furniture and many other things.  We have never told her not to draw on the cars!  Fortunately chalk washes off very easy.

2012 Milwaukee Masterpiece - Club Day



My 1982 FIAT X1/9 in the FIAT-Ferrari-DeTomaso Corral



Lorelei admiring and commenting on Ferrari Dino

She found the one with the biggest smile and eyes!  Ran straight to it and was telling me all about how happy it was.

Black Forest Auto Repair sponsored the children's art car - a c.1975 Mercedes Benz 450 SEL painted to look like a cow.

Beautiful Alfas and Lancias there.

Gorgeous Mercedes Benz 300 SE Coupe

Beautiful Oldsmobile Rocket 88 in White over Salmon Pink

FIAT X1/9 more Lorelei's height.

Ford would have shut without GM, Chrysler aid, Rattner says

I find this article very interesting.  Ford, at the time of GM and Chrysler's bailouts, did not request help but supported the federal government in the bailouts of their competitors.  The reason being that if GM and Ford were to disappear they would also lose some of their suppliers.  I assume the result of losing suppliers would be a loss of competitive bidding and higher production costs for Ford.

An update to the bailouts is that Chrysler has repaid all of its debt to the federal government with all the interest due.  They did not renegotiate any of the debt.  I believe GM has repaid most or all of their debt.  Today the big three are doing strong business with great profits and are the leading industry in the recovery from the recession.  Article below is from Automotive News:

Ford would have shut without GM, Chrysler aid, Rattner says Angela Greiling Keane  October 9, 2012 - 11:20 am ET

DETROIT (Bloomberg) -- Ford Motor Co., the only large U.S. automaker that didn’t receive a U.S. government bailout, would’ve failed along with General Motors and Chrysler if President Barack Obama’s administration hadn’t rescued the industry, said Steven Rattner, who headed Obama’s auto task force.

“Ford would have closed because it wouldn’t have been able to get parts, because the parts industry in this country was in arguably worse shape than the assemblers,” Rattner said today at the Center for American Progress in Washington.

Rattner, now chairman of the Willett Advisors LLC investment firm, led the $63.4 billion bailout in 2009 of GM and Chrysler, which he said would have fired all their workers and ceased to exist without the bailout.

President George W. Bush, who preceded Obama, “did the right thing” by beginning the bailout process, giving $17.5 billion to GM and Chrysler in 2008, Rattner said.

The auto bailout has been a point of contention in the presidential race between Obama and Republican Mitt Romney as they compete for votes in swing states including Ohio, home to U.S. automaker and parts-supplier plants. Romney opposed the government bailout.

Ford's view

Ford CEO Alan Mulally last month concurred with Rattner’s view, saying he testified before Congress in support of taxpayer support for his competitors because it also saved Ford.

“We think about that a lot, should we have gone back and testified on behalf of our competitors who were bankrupt,” Mulally told reporters Sept. 18 in New York. “I would do the same thing again today.”

Mulally said he agreed with the assessment of “the economic advisers of the Bush administration and the Obama administration that if GM and Chrysler had gone into free fall, they could have taken the United States from a recession into a depression.”

The U.S. government was the only entity that could save the domestic automakers because no one, including banks that were dealing with their own financial crises, was willing to put private capital into GM and Chrysler at the beginning of 2009, Rattner said.

“If you can’t pay your workers, if you can’t pay your suppliers, if you can’t pay your electric bills, then you have to liquidate,” he said. “This is what government is set up to do.”

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/article/20121009/OEM/121009878#ixzz28rgEbSVR

Its Car Show Season Again!

Its Jume and the car shows are off and running.  This Saturday, June 9th, is the 19th Annual Volksfest at Concours Motors and the BMW Clubs Show at Concours BMW on North Green Bay Road.

19th Annual VolksFest This Saturday!

Presented by Concours Motors & The Milwaukee-Area Volkswagen Club!
Saturday, June 9th, 2012; 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
at Concours Motors (back parking lot), 1400 West Silver Spring Drive; Glendale, WI 53209
(414) 290-1400 http://www.concoursmotors.com/
SHOW IS FREE TO ALL SPECTATORS & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Car Show * Swap Meet * Auction * Music * Food * VW Toys * Merchandise * MKE Mustangs
Car Show Entries: Must drive on to lot to qualify for trophy. Day of show registration ONLY. $10 per vehicle.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Call MAVWC Hotline: (414) 290-1525
http://www.mavwc.com/

The South Shore Water Frolics Sunday, July 15th at South Shore Park in Milwaukee 10 am to 3 pm.  Also a great Art Show that day 9 am to 5 pm.





My Fiat X1/9 at the 2008 Frolics Show



 And the Milwaukee Masterpiece Concours d'Elegance August 25th & 26th with Fiat and Mercedes Benz as featured Marques. Milwaukee Masterpiece Link

Who Makes Fiats?

Its the question I get a lot when driving a Fiat.  "Who makes Fiats?"  Usually asked innocently by someone, and occasionally asked with snickering undertone by rednecks.  I think the rednecks thought Fiat was bought out by somebody a long time ago and put to death.  Kinda like AMC, MG, NSU, DAF, Packard, Studebaker, Rover or Triumph.

My is response always: "Fiat makes Fiats!"  The innocent usually look a little confused.  The rednecks start to realize this might become a conversation and try to avoid it.  I explain that Fiat Group is one of the largest producers of cars in the world like Ford, Nissan, Honda or VW.  In fact they make more cars than Honda.

Now it is 2012 and Fiat Group owns Chrysler Group.  They have nearly 60% ownership in Chrysler Group and the shares are growing.  The first totally new Dodge under Fiat Group is the Dart, just unveiled at the Detroit Autoshow.

So I will rephrase the question: "Who does Fiat make?" Fiat, Lancia, Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Maserati, Chrysler, Dodge, Ram and Jeep.  They also make Vespa/Piaggio, Aprillia, Case International Harvestor, New Holland and more.

2013 Dodge Dart

The Super Bowl Car Ads

In case you missed them, here are the best auto ads form the 2012 Super Bowl.  I watched most of the game but for some reason missed many of the ads.

Autonews article and Videos click here
Fiat Abarth Video click here

Acura's "Transactions" with Jerry Seinfeld is great.  Close runner up is Fiat (not considered a Super Bowl ad because it was run before on other shows).  The Audi and BMW are good - yes, I agree a heated steering wheel must be a good thing.  Cars.com ad is disturbing. Chevy "Joy" gets the cute award but VW gets runner up cute.  At the beginning I thought Chrysler's was a political commercial but it wasn't - or was it?  Chrysler did pay back all of its bail-out money last year (with interest paid to the US) and made a profit for the first time in several years.

Rental Car Surprise!

After my plane landed in West Palm Beach I had to go to the Budget counter to pick up my “economy” class car.  Unfortunately it was a late flight; but fortunately the shuttle bus drove me directly to the near site airport office.  I saw Budget’s inventory as the bus was pulling in the lot and noticed a few Fiat 500 Sports.  When I got to the counter we started the paperwork and I thought: could it be that the 500 is an economy car and I may possibly get one?  I asked him what they had assigned me – it was a Chevy Sonica.  Now, not bad for the least expensive rental car, but it is no Fiat.  I asked him what it would take to get a Fiat 500.  After some sweet talking and a trip to his manager he came back and asked me which color I wanted.  He did inform me that the 500 was not classified as an economy car, but in the same class as a Camaro or Mustang – and at this location a Mini.

For future reference I asked how I could guarantee I get a Fiat 500 when I come back.  He mentioned that I must call the store location where I am going to rent.  Going through Budget corporate will not work.  Their website does not even say they have Fiat 500’s or Mini Coopers.  He also mentioned that the 500’s and Mini’s are very desirable and can be hard to reserve.

The car was great to drive and absolutely loved it!  When I test drove the Fiat 500 for the first time I was at the Milwaukee location (on the northwest side) and the roads there are in terrible condition, frost heaved.  The scenery was also depressing – it detracted from the test drive.  I had a couple days driving the car on nice roads with beautiful scenery – I really love the car.  It has extremely tight, direct steering with a comfortable ride and of course great handling.  All the controls were excellent and the interior quality was first rate – even better than current VW’s.  The car felt like a short solid brick as nothing flexed or creaked.  The car had almost 10, 000 miles on it so if there were going to be creaking, rattles or anything being loose they would be there by now.

What I like about the 500:

1. Short, nimble with extremely tight turning circle.

2. Instrument layout with everything directly above the steering wheel including clock and trip computer.  The radio station and the name of the song even read out in the same location.

3. High seating position, comfortable seating.  Controls all easy to reach.

4. Fiatisms: All the lights including the headlamps turn off with the ignition key.  There is an idiot light telling you that you have your headlamps on (helpful reminder during daylight).  I assume there is a low fuel warning light.  Great fuel economy.  May not have highest horsepower in class but definitely has acceleration even on the highway.  That great Italian steering with immediate response.

5. High tech everything – USB connectivity, Bluetooth, satellite radio, all the safety gizmos and computer/electric assists.

6. The wiper-washers – Fiat figured it out!  The washers spray with misting the whole window first (completely covered) than the wiper moves, same for both front and back.  It works excellent and fast.

7. Steering wheel controls for trip computer, radio and Bluetooth – the tactile buttons for the radio channel and volume are hidden on the backside of the steering wheel.

What I didn’t like:

1.      The manual shifter part of the six speed automatic is backwards intuition – shifting it down is actually up shifting and vice versa.

2.      The power windows don’t have auto up.

Like the Milwaukee Metro area, there were other Fiat 500’s driving around the West Pam Beach area and I noticed most of them were not rental cars.  Many people, like spectators, looking with curiosity giving thumbs ups and OK signs.  Sometimes I forgot what I was driving and than reminded when I see people looking at the car and smiling.  Just like a collector car, curious people will speed up on the road to look and than hang out in your blind spot for a while watching the car.  I expect that in one of my vintage Fiats but didn’t expect it to happen while driving a newer car.  The reactions were not as extensive as driving an vintage Fiat 500 or 600.  When I used to drive my 1964 Fiat 600 people would try to follow me more and it is not possible to stop at a gas station without answering a bunch questions.  I was able to put gas in the rental Fiat without anyone asking me.

Italian Car Show, Milwaukee 7aug2011

Italian Car Show located at Reina International in Milwaukee (Brookfield) on Sunday, August 7th.

Italian Style and Italian Colors:

Even the famous Italian Family Car "The Small Car for the Big Italian Family" was there:

Ferraris to the Left...

and to the Right:

Not Everything that is Red is a Ferrari (nor are all Ferraris "Rosso"):



Bill Hall's Beautiful Maserati Ghibli in Foreground

 

Lamborghini Row:

 

My Favorites of the Show:

Lancia Flaminia Sport Zagato "Double Bubble" GT Coupe 

 This is not a customized car, it is an original.

 Beautiful Italian dash is all business, note the original wood steering wheel

 The car's design is so well executed its door handle is even a piece of art

1971 Fiat 500L imported from Holland - a Dante Giacosa designed masterpiece.

 1974 Fiat X1/9 in excellent condition.  This car is Bertone design and built and is one of the world's first mid-engine production cars.  The 1974 model year (shown below) is the first year imported to the U.S. and the only year of the small bumperettes in the U.S.



A "built" Fiat twin cam motor in a c, 1974 Fiat 124 Spider.  This motor has most of the modifications including the twin Weber carbs - s/b good for 200 bhp.

 The business end of this Ferrari, love how he stores his spare oil cans!

How to have fun with a 2.5 year old girl  at a car show, you go hunting for...

Horses:

Bulls:

 and Neptune's Trident;

New Fiat 500 looks huge next old 500 - the old one did arrive with a full family in it!

"Daddy! Baby Fiat Car like Luigi!"

"Now that's enough, no more telling me to stand in front of a car and taking my picture!"

The Fiat 500 Factory Production Line

Awesome video of the New Fiat 500 being assembled in Toluca, Mexico.  Incredible display of robotics especially beginning at 3 minutes.

It's Offical - Fiat is Back!

Yes, those are U.S. flags and the Fiat logo and yes it is a Fiat Dealership Studio.  This is Bergstrom Fiat in Milwaukee one of three dealerships open in the U.S.  The other two are in Los Angeles and Washington D.C.  In addition to these there will be 180 more dealerships opening this year.  There is a bit of irony here because that is a former Hummer Dealership that closed due to lack of sales and the pending GM bankruptcy.  Now the building will be selling cars that have fuel economy of up to 40 m.p.g. and amongst the lowest polluting cars sold in the U.S.  Fiat stopped importing cars in 1982.  In 1992 VW almost stopped but instead gave it one more try and succeded - VW is now the world's second largest producer of automobiles and is narrowing in on Toyota.  Hopefully the re-entry into the U.S. will help Fiat in world wide sales.  Fiat now owns 20% of Chrysler and will own 35% by the end of 2011.  Fiat, without Chrysler and not selling cars in the U.S., ranks sixth largest and if Chrysler is counted in the next two years it should be fourth behind Ford.

It is wonderful being in Milwaukee and being one of the first open.  Fiat had mentioned that the Midwest was the last region of the U.S. to get the cars (we buy more domestics than the other areas of the country).  But the new Fiat 500 is not entirely an "import".  It is built in North America and technically a Chrysler Group car.  I could explain why but to do so would need much more time with an all new blog post that would be longer than this one.  The engine and transmission are assembled in Michigan and final assembly is in the Chrysler plant in Toluca, Mexico.

Look Daddy!  Its baby Fiat car!!! (She is frozen there and too
excited to get close to it)

Baby Fiat Car! Baby Fiat Car! Baby Fiat Car!

This is baby Fiat car eye...

this is baby Fiat car nose...

and what's this daddy?



Beep! Beep!

Baby Fiat Car goes Vroom! Vroom!

Baby Fiat car is happy daddy.

She was speachless about the rear end - just screamed
for joy.



All cuteness aside, this is a serious car.  While I didn't drive it I can tell you its interior is much higher quality than a 2011 VW Jetta S and the fit and finish is up to BMW quality.  The seat position was excellent and comfortable.  At almost six feet tall I fit in the backseat comfortable but tight with just enough headroom - the same headroom as in a 2011 Dodge Charger (4 door) I just sat in at the car show.