Fiat 500 or Hyundai I10?

CarMadMoneySaver

I know it sounds like a completely different car. Fair point. What I meant was that under the bits you can see, the two cars are virtually identical, in a similar way to how Skodas and VWs are the same underneath, even though they look different. Skoda drivers are probably very pleased about this.

Car makers regularly do this, but change the bits the customers can see as they walk up to the car and/or drive along in it. This is so that they can still charge what they would have done had they encountered all their development costs on their own, when in reality they've actually saved a bundle by collaborating with another manufacturer.

What I meant was that there is a car (Ka) out there which is virtually identical to drive as the FIAT, which will be far easier to sell on when you're done with it. You'll be able to sell a small Ford on anywhere in future. The 500 looks like it is going to remain a cool car, and so also easy to sell on, but there is a slight risk it might go the way of the Chrysler PT Cruiser (remember those?) - fashionable for a while and now largely forgotten (and thus difficult to sell on). Doubt it, but you'd never struggle to sell a Ford in a sensible colour.

But, the upshot is that the FIAT has Ford DNA in it (sort of), which given FIAT's slightly iffy (and probably thoroughly undeserved really) reputation reliability wise can only help, particularly if it gets widely known about.

hethmar

Actually carmad, you made a good point re Skoda/VW. I had owned VWs (albeit old ones) for 20 odd years. I then go to buy a newer one, all those about £5k are old and with over 120k on their clocks. The salesman tells me, well, what if I could sell you a 4 year old VW with only 25k for the same price. Yep, he sold me a Fabia. And it was a very good little car BUT, oh every time I saw someone coming towards me in a Fabia Id pray they didnt have grey hair or be wearing a flat cap but sadly most times they were.

Roll forward 4 years, time to get a newer car, yep, the skoda has wonderful reviews, yes, its reliable, yes its cheaper than the VW Golf, but nope, it doesnt make me smile when I see it on the driveway. Ive bought the Golf and no doubt it will cost me more in repairs, MOT etc. but it lifts my spirits to see it and sit in it.

emmell

People still seem to talk about vw and audi when talking about skoda's, if they thought enough of their choice the skoda would stand up as a brand alone. But skoda's lack charisma they have no imaginitive styling, the fabia is ugly, the octavia and superb are so boring to look at. When they first started remaking them they used old vw and audi designs and parts bin, Has this changed? I'd rather have a seat at least they have more up to date designs. But if they are still selling skoda's on the back of vw/audi then the brand image has not improved.
ML.

Inactive

Personally, I would sooner have a Skoda than any VW/Audi/Seat, they are just simply better made.

flyingscotno1

IMHO Skodas now are pretty much accepted and don't have an real image problem. It is often forgotten that Seat had a terrible image too making rebadged Fiats for a long time! I don't think Skodas are that bad looking they are fairly conservative, but I prefer them to Seat- I thought the Leon and Altea were horribly ugly fronts!

The problem Skoda have is the UK is a terribly badge and fashion concious market. Hence we along with the States were the first to get big Toyotas rebadged 'Lexus' and indeed look in the traffic jams now and try to spot a Laguna, Mondeo or Vectra- all 3 series, C Class and A4s now. That is what Skoda is up against and it will take more than a few good years to turn it around.

In the end people talk about Fiat reliability, but then it is the GM has had a hand in a bit of Fiat design work until GM couldn't buy them and they split a few years ago. Similarly is the Panda not related to the 500/Ka?

rinkydinkpanther

I've had my 500 for six months and it brings a huge smile to my face every day.

LandyAndy

Hmmm. Doesn't make me want one.

LandyAndy

What you really want is one of these.



:rotfl::rotfl:

Can't imagine why I think that.

Inactive

At least you get door strips on the i10....

goose

From an owner's point of view, my wife's had her 500 1.2 lounge since March '08 and still loves it. It's covered about 25,000 miles faultlessly, returns 50+ mpg (mixed driving, plenty of stop-start around town, and commuting), and is fun to drive.