Originally Posted by Dylan H
Sure, the worst cars today are infinitely more reliable than even the best thirty years ago but perceptions haven't changed and perception sells cars.
Ask yourself Daniel not why people buy the 500 which harks back to the very best of what FIAT stands for, but why people don't buy too many other FIATs, why they have difficulty standing up to the Golf or Passat? I'd argue that in most ways FIATs are not so different from VWs yet the German company can't seem to help making a profit whereas FIAT has only just turned things round. Not every car can be a 500 or Mini, and not every Mini subtype can address the needs of every customer.
BTW the days of cars being configured to European tastes and needs are largely over, increasingly we're going to find cars designed specifically with the US and China in mind and Hyundai/Kia are in a far better position in those markets than companies like FIAT.