Re: What a situation!

[Bernie & Diana Bennett <bennetts@domain.elided>]

Leornardo:
Thanks, I find your perspective interesting and appreciate the passionate
way you write.
Best wishes,
Bernie Bennett
Brenham, TX USA
'91 164 L
'94 164 LS (both automatic transmission)

L O wrote:

> 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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