jakeflyer

Darwin may have had it right but this seems a strange evolution. Speaking of change, there appears to be a flood of water-pumper P cars on the West Coast for sale. Out of context with World economics, It seems to me that the SC and Carrera are holding price rather well. Looks like the few good priced/lo mile cars are quick to sell. Good information(if accurate) but an anomaly.

A qt of oil looks like the same price now at $45 a barrel as it did at $140 a barrel. Gas down 50% with crude down 70%. Tire sales up in SoCAl as folks do not trade in the car and keep it. I was looking for lower tire prices but demand may be working in favor of the oil/tire company man.

ked

actually, Chrysler & Fiat/Alfa had a distribution & service partnership in the early '90s when Alfa was making its (then current) last stand w/ the 164. despite their prestige brands & the Ferrari piece notwithstanding, Fiat has always seemed a bottom-fisher in the USA. dancing w/ doom, like the Roman Empire, I suppose.

jakeflyer

[QUOTE]actually, Chrysler & Fiat/Alfa had a distribution & service partnership in the early '90s when Alfa was making its (then current) last stand w/ the 164. despite their prestige brands & the Ferrari piece notwithstanding, Fiat has always seemed a bottom-fisher in the USA. dancing w/ doom, like the Roman Empire, I suppose.[/QUOTE

Speaking of Alfa what became of the Maser/Alfa dealerships that was discussed maybe a year ago. heard anything================= nice 356, what year

FlatSix911

Does anyone really want to remember the last time the Italians and Americas got together ... the devils spawn ... " a Chrysler 'Le Baron' with the Maserati touch!"

UberXY

FlatSix: regards your avatar - Brian told me that the windshield wiper of the 24 car fell off minutes before the start of the race.

84_Carrera

So why can't Chrysler, 25 years later, match 35mpg highway or "beat the BMW 528 or Mercedes 190" equivalents anymore? Fiat's offering to Chrysler is in small-car technology, & the appearance of doing SOMETHING to merit our bailout money, nothing more IMO.

UberXY

BTW, Fiat has said that it will only do the deal if the US government gives Chrysler another $US 3 billion in bailout "loans".

ked

"Speaking of Alfa what became of the Maser/Alfa dealerships that was discussed maybe a year ago. heard anything================= nice 356, what year"

like Lucy, Charlie Brown's placekick holder, Fiat has for the past years pulled the ball away after the snap. the "current economic crisis" was the most recent excuse, approx 4 mos ago. a local gang of us cranky old Alfisti get together monthly to laugh & cry about it. in Feb, I'm sure we'll be saying something insane like, "well, maybe the msrp on the Alfa 8 will drop..."

thanks, JF, my SC is a '65 built by Karmann... a physically kinda rough one that runs w/ the best of 'em (such examples are owned by friends, who I irritate to no end), so I have light-outlawed it - really just lightened it - aimed at being for fun/fun/fun & little more.

Uber, I have the same plan towards the US gov.
on comparisons w/ BMW, I wish THEY could match their 1600/2002, for that matter.
the Maserati / LeBaron (marketing) concept was pathetic wasn't it? how the mighty fell, presaging the clusterF they auto industry finds itself in today. this is what always happens when the financial types overwhelm the product guys, in almost any industry.
cheers!

Amber Gramps

Jake, good to see you in OT.

Personally, if it wasn't for memories of my '64 barracuda I'd be at the front of the line to pull the plug on the entire MOPAR nightmare.

theiceman

isn't this an OT discusion ?

ked

I sold 2 Alfa Spiders to buy my first 911.
ok now?

jakeflyer

I sold a 1958 alfa and traded in my MGBGT to get my first 911 (1966) in 1968. The 911 was a real class car along side the MG and a good trade. Wish I still had the alfa/

ked

we all wish "we kept the Alfa"! I am always on the lookout for a clean Spider (owned 4, 2 of them Duettos). I retain 50% of a '66 Guilia Sprint GT (1600cc) w/ my bro - the car languishes in Burbank - but at least I sleep well at night. if I added up all my parts laying around, I suppose I have about 20% of a 105 series, too.

"nothing handles like an Alfa" is so true & having one from the late '50s to the early '70's is a great counterpoint to a 356 or 901 chassis Porsche - driving both will keep you happily on your toes (well, under- & over- them, alternatively)! of course, I love Brit sports cars too... esp when my friends own them.

gerry100

I had a Fiat and I've had a Chrysler- they belong together like Roseanne Barr and Tom Arnold.

Bearclaw

This doesn't surprise me. Fiat has a long history of throwing good money after bad. I heard some industry analysts a couple days ago saying the most likely scenario is for someone to buy Jeep (the only piece considered to be worth anything) and dissolve the rest. Considering the products they've produced lo these many years, it would be a mercy killing.