Anybody own a Fiat?

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   pgrundyposted 16 years ago

   I was just wondering how you like them and what you think about the proposed merger of Fiat and Chrysler. Can it work? Or is this a bigger version of KMart & Sears? Can you tie two drunks together and get a sober person?

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   LondonGirlposted 16 years ago

   I've got one - an 11 year old Fiat Brava. It's great, does about 45 mpg, and nippy to drive.

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   Mishaposted 16 years ago

   My father still drives a Russian knock-off of Fiat-124 bought new in 1974

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   pgrundyposted 16 years ago

   Cool! I looked them up online. They've got some pretty cute cars.
   
   We're looking for a hybrid right now to get us to old age.
   
   I think it'll be an Insight, but not sure yet.

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   earnestshubposted 16 years ago

   "Can you tie Two drunks together and get a sober person" is a real question in the case of Fiat and Chrysler pgrundy! Fiat have made a lot of cars with good engines and drive trains. Mostly their models have had poor interiors, plenty of rust and design faults laid on. Chrysler have gone back to making cars that look like mouth organs and love of petrol.
   Neither deserves to survive and my guess is they won't.
   I would not buy a hybrid, better overall cost saving can be achieved with one of the new small Honda or Toyota  that seat 5 adults and return terrific fuel mileage. They are better for many reasons. The purchase price is much cheaper, they are not heavy like hybrids, and so use less of everything. tires, brakes, wheel bearings, steering and suspension components, drive joints all last longer, and you won't be up for 5k to replace batteries.The bloody things pollute the environment at a primary level, (manufacturing batteries then disposing of them) They have to drag all that weight around as well.
   A five year comparison would show this up clearly, but as usual common sense has been left out of the car business.

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   pgrundyposted 16 years ago

   Hi earnestshub,
   
   You make a good point about hybrids. I've read good things about some of the clean-diesel cars too--high mileage, low emissions. The problem is that for a variety of reasons now is when we need to replace the car, but the car we really want isn't being made now--it's always a ways off. I'm guessing the test drive will make the final decision, but it's Bill's money, so I'm a spectator, even though 'we' sounds good. I mean we will drive it, but he will buy it! So I give him first vote.
   
   My last car was a 2003 Mitsubishi Galant. He's been driving it since his work shut down and he got moved to a job 70 miles away. I'm driving the 84 Honda. Runs great, still, after 25 years!

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      earnestshubposted 16 years agoin reply to this

      My 1984 Honda which I have always serviced myself refuses to die, or even wear out. I gave it to my University student son two years ago and it is still going strong.

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         pgrundyposted 16 years agoin reply to this

         Holy moley! They do have that reputation.
         
         Teresa--I love this one too. It's fun to drive.

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            Sufidreamerposted 16 years agoin reply to this

            Don't know about Honda cars, but the Honda 50 is the finest motorbike ever made - a feat of engineering genius. Hoping to buy another one soon

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   Mishaposted 16 years ago

   LOL Pam my first own car was 84 honda too

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      pgrundyposted 16 years agoin reply to this

      I actually found this one on Ebay for $1100 three years ago and it's still running great. It's starting to leak oil into one of the cylinders at 166,000 miles, but as little as I drive it could go another year or even two like that. I got an estimate on new rings but it was over $1000 and the mechanic said don't do it.
      
      My first car ever was a 1967 Pontiac Tempest.

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   LondonGirlposted 16 years ago

   Are you getting a new-new car, or a new-to-you second-hand one?

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   Teresa McGurkposted 16 years ago

   I had a Honda Civic Wagon -- it was either a '76 or a '79 (can't remember which) that I bought in 1985 -- I loved that car; it was the happiest car I've ever driven. Had to sell it when I moved to Japan.

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    Mishaposted 16 years ago

    LOL should we rename Hubpages into Hondapages? or Civicpages?

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       earnestshubposted 16 years agoin reply to this

       Very funny Misha, and probably fair enough! You must admit they are a far better means of transport than a Fiat 124!

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    pgrundyposted 16 years ago

    Sufi is that the one they call a Honda 'Cub'? I had a this horrible blog writing gig for a couple of months (19 a day, every day, day in and out) and one of them was a scooter blog--I learned that bike is the best selling one in the world, like, ever, for all time. Weirdly (or not) they aren't available in the U.S. (Government is probably afraid people would buy them.)

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       Sufidreamerposted 16 years agoin reply to this

       Might be - It is the one that you see people in Thailand driving around on, with six kids and a pig on the back! Pretty indestructible - on the rare occasion that they break down, you just hit them with a hammer until they work again.
       
       Looking at buying a Honda 100 - great for pootling into town and back
       
       Never knew that they were not available in the US - they are uber-economical, so the oil companies do not like them

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