What a situation!

[L O <alfetta82@domain.elided>]

Reading what Bob Little wrote (hey, Bob, I'm Italian
non Hungarian!) I really thinks it's too late to do
anything. I apologize because I don't know english so
well to explain all my feelings I would transmit, I
think I have a complete idea of the actual Fiat Auto
world, surely more than you foreigners and more than
several other Italians.

Knowing the Fiat employess (every grade, from sellers
to managers and consultants) I can only have a big
fear. It seems now Fiat group understood what we and
other friends say since 1987: every "brand" must be
independent and free to do as the name requires. 

The example of Lancia is clear as a Svarowsky: they
are actually selling two models (the city car "Y" and
the "Lybra"). 10 years ago Lancia had a complete
successful range, starting from the city car Y10 and
arriving to the Lancia Thema as flagship (surely
successful, surely more than the "Lancia k") and with
the Lancia Delta Evoluzione as real flag. Then, year
after year, Lancia simply disappeared from the market.
The sold only many "Y" (offered with an high
discount).

If we actually see the Fiat Auto situation, we can see
the Alfa Romeo as "privileged" brand, with a
successful range, recently renewed (the oldest models
are the GTV and Spider, launched in 1995). Lancia is
"as is", Fiat don't sell new Punto as much as they
sold the old (less original but pretty) model. The new
Stilo sells few pieces, compared to the Fiat Tipo.
Yes, surely during the Tipo life the economic
situation was a bit better but anyway the Stilo will
not repeat the success of the Tipo and the Ritmo (in
US known as Strada).

Why this? In Italy none is actually buying cars? No,
the reason is different. In the past the percentual of
the italian brands on the market was about the 60%
(against the 40% of foreigners makers).

Actually the situation is the opposite: in Italy most
people buy foreign cars. And if Fiat doesn't sell over
50% inside Italy how can do better outside here?

Why this? Because Fiat was sleeping. And now continue
sleeping or do, do, do but in wrong directions.

When Fiat was the king of the domestic market, they
thought (guilty) all will be gone always so. And it
doesn't happen. I remember very well the 1987, but I
remember better the last 10 years (I'm actually 28
y.o.). I remember the fear when IRI (Italian State, in
the person of Romano Prodi, actually president of the
UE) sold, ehm....., not sold but made a gift to Fiat
and gave "her" the Alfa Romeo. In that time the fear
was about the employees. Only about this, because the
products was good: the existing line (33, 75) was
refreshed with class, the Fiat money could resolve
some problems, and I affirm the best modern Alfas are
the Alfas produced in 1988 - 1989 - 1990. This because
Fiat could only make better the existing range. The
problems started when Fiat started to take off from
Alfa the know how, when they began considering Alfa
Romeo's factories as "factories" and began producing
the Lancia/Autobianchi Y10 in Arese, when they decided
to produce the 155 (a scandal, could be a good Peugeot
or Ford but not a good Alfa) in Pomigliano d'Arco
(Alfasud). The model which show very well the
declining. A car built on the FIat Tipo base, with a
line not vey nice, with Tipo's suspension, front wheel
drive - and it had to replace the 75!!!!!!!!!! - and
Lancia Dedra heater controls, with Fiat Tipo switches
on the column. The 1800 engine wasn't fast and had an
high fuel consumption. They sold the 155 only because
the 155 GTA and the V6 TI (DTM) won the races. If not,
the 155 was another Alfa 90 (but the 90 is an Alfa,
the 155 no!).

They searched to connect the range to the past, with
citations on brochures, with showrooms showing the new
products (I can't name them as Alfas) near Giulias and
so on. It was never necessary in the past, noone could
mistake an Alfa!. The 75 can be only an Alfa, and if
you drive it you can't be wrong, it's an Alfa. The
same for the Alfetta and the Giulietta. 

Here we say: the fish smells from the head. And infact
it's real also about the Fiat "head". In the 1987
there was Vittorio Ghidella, a great cars' lover
before being a very good manager. Then he also left
Fiat, as actually is for Testore. Here we also say
another thing: when Fiat begin producing a good model,
then Fiat stop producing and replace it with a worst
product. Beh, perhaps it's real also for the managers.

I loose the hope to see again a true Alfa. But I would
like, at least, facts in direction of a true Alfa. I
would like not to see Arese, in 2010, as the actual
Portello (it's a typical italian shame, typical, shame
for Comune of Milano and for Fiat).

I hope I dodn't annoy you all with my feelings, but
notice these feelings start from the heart of an
Alfalover, son of an Alfalover. In this family, since
30 years, didn't arrive other cars than Alfas (the
newest, a 33 1990). 

Leonardo
'89 Alfa 75 Turbo America
'82 Alfetta 2.o (sedan)

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