I'm back! And I have some free advice for Fiat.

Fiat, you CAN compete in this crowded field, but only if you can
stand out.

This does not mean stand out with styling gimmicks. It means
building cars correctly which GM especially does not. I will
state a few problems with my grandpa's Buick that if you address
you will sell a lot of cars:

1 The steering is too fast. It does S turns down the
straightaway because the slightest deflection of the steering
wheel sends the car off course. Make the steering slow for
straight driving and fast for turns, i.e. variable.
2 The accelerator pedal is too sensitive. To take the car to 70
mph only a slight depression is required. This results in poor
control with speed oscillating up and down and tending to creep
up. Moderate speeds like 30 mph call for inperceptible pedal
movement. Make the pedal linear for level roads - 30% travel for
30 mph, 70% for 70 mph then progressive to top speed/maximum
power. Better yet, make the pedal driver-programmable so he can
map his own characteristic curve.
3 Rethink the pedal geometry. Make the brake pedal higher and
more to the left of the gas pedal. Too many people depress both
simultaneously by accident and crash.
4 Start putting emergency brake handles back in cars. The foot
brake is no good for emergency stops - it is good only for
parking. Emergency brakes are lifesaving when the brakes fail
and they still do despite dual hydraulics as for example, when
the power booster quits when the vacuum line pops off or cracks
open.
5 Add a backup fuel pump with a warning light to signal failure.
In my training, a lot of road stopages occur when the electric
in-tank pump suddenly quits.
6 Install screw-on fuel and transmission fluid filters with a
warning light for clogging. Clogged filters, the prime cause of
pump failures, overload the fuel pump burning it out.
7 Watch the road clearance. The '54 Chevy I had the pleasure of
test driving after boiling out the one-barrel Rochester was
about right. Today's $35,000 Buicks drag and scrape on everyday
dips. They start at a measly 4" and drop down rediculously lower
with fuel, cargo and passengers. Low is great for low cg and
stability on turns but must be compromised for sufficient road
clearance.

There are more suggestions to follow if a Company Man takes
notice and carries on a two-way discourse with me. Together we
might build specifications for an automobile of superior design
for we who appreciate it and are willing to try a new make
providing such.

Student Mechanic, age 17

 

Plonk.

BTW, did the OP mean "Fiat", or "First" ?

Also - still have the original 11 year-old battery in my 300m. 11 years
and 3 weeks old. Struggles a little when starting a cold car.

 

FIAT - Fix It Again, Tony.

 

How's this for "competing?"

FIAT

F**king Idiot Assembled This!
F**king Italian Attempt (at) Transportation.
F**king Italians Ain't Trustworthy
Failure in Automotive Technology
Failure in Italian Automotive Technology
Fart in a Tin
Feeble Italian Attempt at Transportation
Fix it again Tony!
Fix It All the Time

 

Old hat. Considerable improvements have been made. Not such a rust bucket
any more, either.

DAS
--
To reply directly replace 'nospam' with 'schmetterling'
--

How's this for "competing?"

FIAT

F**king Idiot Assembled This!
F**king Italian Attempt (at) Transportation.
F**king Italians Ain't Trustworthy
Failure in Automotive Technology
Failure in Italian Automotive Technology
Fart in a Tin
Feeble Italian Attempt at Transportation
Fix it again Tony!
Fix It All the Time

 

reads like a repost of a web site article