Chrysler to build Fiat 500 in Mexico

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_CHRYSLER_FIAT_500?SITE=MIDTN&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Not sure if this is good, or bad. LOL

good: it means they are definitely coming to the states.

bad: they are coming through Mexico.

case study: Ford's Fusion is assembled in Mexico, and they are quality.

discuss.

I would feel better if they were coming though Mexico via a Ford plant.

One of my NYG Neons was built in the Toluca plant. 175k on the clock, and runs like a top. Of course that was in 1995; not sure if the same crew is working there.

Imagine the commercial:

NYG DOHC Neon Coupe rolls up to a shuddered plant garage door...

BEEP BEEP "HI!"

Door opens up with the new Abarth 500.

Flash to the 500 burning up the track, street and passing gas stations...

Announcer: "The 2011 "500". Bringing back what you missed most."

I don't think the neon is a car that the general public "misses"

NYG95GA wrote: One of my NYG Neons was built in the Toluca plant. 175k on the clock, and runs like a top. Of course that was in 1995; not sure if the same crew is working there.

I hear ya. I got nothing against Chrysler or Mexico, but with all the changes and reorganizations, I have to wonder if they have their s__t together enough to execute a start-up like this. A failed introduction would really wreck an already tarnished reputation of both Fiat and Chrysler.

maroon92 wrote: I don't think the neon is a car that the general public "misses"

The initial ad campaign was an award winner. They built inexpensive little cars that were fast and could handle for the masses and the cars had personality. Personally that last little bit is the most important.

maroon92 wrote: I don't think the neon is a car that the general public "misses"

Them's fightin' words, boy! Bite your tounge. Twice.

Mikey the Sports Coupe will run a quarter in the mid-14s @100 mph, and get 34 mpg on the hiway. Sure, it might not be a luxury car, and the ashtray falls out just from revving the engine at a stop light, and the roll bar has made the backseat almost useless, and the exhaust tone means I can't hear the stereo, and the color attracts cops like flies, and the trunk has a chronic water leak...

Uh, where was I going with this?

Oh yeah. I'm not the "general public". I'll let you go on this one.

Just wondering what a "shuddered plant" looks like.

"Flash to the 500 burning up the track, street and passing gas stations..."

I did a double take on that, thinking that "up" was "on" at first, that this was advertising the past FIAT electrical issues.

John Brown said: maroon92 wrote: I don't think the neon is a car that the general public "misses" The initial ad campaign was an award winner. They built inexpensive little cars that were fast and could handle for the masses and the cars had personality. Personally that last little bit is the most important.

sorry, but the neon started production in 1994...I was only 7 at the time...didn't pay much attention to cars then...

iceracer wrote: Just wondering what a "shuddered plant" looks like.

it's the plant the paint is mixed in stoopid ;)

If the spell check catches it i fix it.

The supercharged Cooper engines were built on contract by Chrysler in Mexico.....they seem okay....

Of course, they were spec'd by BMW, not Fiat....

ultraclyde wrote: The supercharged Cooper engines were built on contract by Chrysler in Mexico.....they seem okay.... Of course, they were spec'd by BMW, not Fiat....

The blocks didn't have journals, but bedplates. Nearly as bulletproof as a slant six. Just pray the timing belt doesn't snap. Don't ask me how I know..

Oops.did I say that out loud?

Hmm, I wonder how a fiat 500 would look painted NYG? It might look good next to the NYG 95 Plymouth ACR 4 door (one of like 15 or something) sitting in my driveway.

Travis_K wrote: Hmm, I wonder how a fiat 500 would look painted NYG? It might look good next to the NYG 95 Plymouth ACR 4 door (one of like 15 or something) sitting in my driveway.

Ahh.. the elusive NYG ACR. The only component missing from my, uh.. collection. Throw us a pic, Travis!

It looks terrible. lol Switch the wheels on the cars in your pic, and imagine the 4 door one with half the paint fallen off, and thats about what it looks like. I will see if I can get a pic later though.

That's an earlier image. The coupe has come further since..

And remember, clearcoat peeling from an NYG is what "Antiques Roadshow" calls..patina.

Assembled in Mexico:

Cadillac Escalade EXT, 2010 Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Avalanche, Chevrolet HHR, Chevrolet Silverado, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Dodge Journey, Dodge Ram (heavy-duty versions), Ford Fusion and Fusion Hybrid, GMC Sierra Crew Cab, Honda CR-V, Lincoln MKZ, Mercury Milan and Milan Hybrid, Nissan Sentra, Nissan Versa, Saturn Vue, Toyota Tacoma , Volkswagen New Beetle, Volkswagen Jetta and Jetta SportWagen ,

Vehicle quality has far more to do with quality of management at a plant not where its located in the world. Here is perfect example of Mexican plant turning out higher quality car than US .

http://www.drtomorrow.com/lessons/lessons3/31.html

I have a 2009 Chevy Silverado from Mexico. Overall quality, fit and finish are muy bueno!

maroon92 wrote: I don't think the neon is a car that the general public "misses"

I will not take offence as I am far from being part of the "general public".

OTOH, both my neons are American made, and I am a little iffy about picking up a mexican made model. And for some odd reason, to me the PT's biggest turn off is that it made in mexico...

That reminds me, I need to pick up another neon on the cheap for a rallyX build

You guys are forgetting - the Fiat 500 is currently built in Italy. And you're worried the quality of the Mexican ones might be worse?

Every time I think of the original Neon, I remember going to a dealership to check one out. I sat in the back seat of a base model, which I believe were made of flat sheets of plywood. The most uncomfortable rear seats I've ever been in. Do I remember that wrong?

John Brown wrote:

maroon92 wrote: I don't think the neon is a car that the general public "misses"

The initial ad campaign was an award winner. They built inexpensive little cars that were fast and could handle for the masses and the cars had personality. Personally that last little bit is the most important.

I agree. At the time, the neon was a hell of a fun little rental to get. Lots of them were 130 hp or something and they were bug eyed hellions. A little cheap-o on the inside and definite NVH issues but a competitive and fun econobox. That was right around the time of the "cab forward" fwd sedans, which were pretty good too. Hubris, bloat, and death spiral ensued.

For an 11y.o. compact car, I find the rear rather comfortable. I'm 6'-6'1"ish and I can and have gone over 2 hours in the back of both 2 and 4 door models with out any discomfort. That is also with both front seats moved as far back as possible. Then again for some odd reason the 2 door felt more roomy in back than a 4 door does, maybe because the doors and door panels go in farther than the big plastic trim peice.

Back to the topic of the 500, I wonder if we will get the arbath?

I've always heard that the blocks cast in Mexico, specifically Saltillo are slightly stronger than the American or Canadian cast ones. Something to do with the type of sand they use in the casting process.