[MetroMPG]

Matt, I think you've hit the nail on the head - North American's perceptions of Fiats are based on bad cars from a long time ago. Something they'll have to tackle aggressively in terms of marketing.

My family had a Fiat when I was a kid. I was too young to really remember it other than it was white with black vinyl seats. Apparently my dad ran it out of oil on the highway one day. Sold it to my uncle who rebuilt the engine and used it as his college car.