Was just pondering it the other day when I read somebody's post about badge snobbery and Fiat - wondered what you guys and gals) thought about the marque.

I'd always associated it with the likes of Lancia and cars like the Stratos, throwing its weight behind Ferrari in the F1, or mad little cars like the Arbath's with the boots wedged open for ventilation..

So even though I'd never really considered a Fiat before, the badge thing didn't put me off at all. Does it matter to any of you - love the car/styling/performance but cough the word 'Fiat' when anybody asks you what you drive?

Theres a definate snobbery involved, especially when it comes to the coupe, My dad had a friend who loved the coupe when he first saw it back in the mid nineties when they were new, until he saw the fiat badge, he actually said if it had been a german make he would have bought it it, coz he did'nt want to own up to owning a Fiat !! a real shame if you ask me, the fact is that if you are a genuine car lover/petrol head, the badge on the car is un-important, its how the car makes you feel. I for one know endless people that drive your typical audis/bmw's/mercs, and all they do is complain about service bills etc etc, and they dont actually enjoy the cars, it just a status symbol to say you drive a Audi etc, which is quite pathetic really........and breath....rant over !

Fiat badge snobbery is based on a lot of false stories by media, and peoples belief that everything they read is true.

"Fiats - they rust"

This is rubbish, but in part true, based on the problem with all cars from the 70's, 80's and early 90's. But that's ALL mainstream manufacturers. Rovers, Fords, Vauxhalls all rusted badly in those decades. That said, this was partly based on the sourcing of raw materials for Lancias, which is said to have been from recycled metals, some of which included metals which were already oxidising.

"Fiats - they breakdown"

Again, based on an exaggeration of problems which occurred again with all manufacturers cars. Some Fiats had issues with electrics, but then Rovers had major head gasket issues, and trim issues, Fords would have engine failures, etc. In my view, some of the Fiat Engines, were fantastically strong units, and would go on forever.

"Fiats - they're very basic and uncomfortable"

Another fabrication based on probably part of the range Fiat were producing during the 80's. Most noteably the Fiat Panda. Which, yes, was very basic, (with it's hammock style seats, small engine, and box-like design), but during that time, Fiat were also producing, The Uno, Tipo, Tempra, Chroma. The Uno was economical and comfortable, the Chroma was a big luxo-barge, particularly the Chroma Turbo, which was a superb GT saloon.

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But, snobbery is useful sometimes. All 2nd hand Fiats are relatively cheap, which means you'll get a lot of car for your money. Selling, can be a pain though.

Bang on. If it wasn't for badge snobbery, I wouldn't be able afford a hand-built coupe from the Pininfarina plant. God bless FIAT.

Fiat are known for building cheap shoppingtrolleymobiles for the masses, that's where the snobbery comes in, regardless of how good the cars actually are. Fiat seem to have really turned themselves round in recent years, and people's attitudes seem to be slowly changing as well, see here:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic...%20Four%20Years

I would buy another without hesitation.

I had a FIAT 128 Sport in 1979 . It was SOOOOOOOO much better than anything else around at the time in that market niche. I've ALWAYS had a soft spot for FIAT (indeed Italian cars in general) ever since.

I like Fiats, and this is relavent , why do people take the Fiat badge of the back then? Mine will stay and I love saying it's a Fiat.

I took mine off for two reasons:

1. It was faded and looked 'orrible.

2. I found it difficult to drive with the balaclava.

Point taken Stan about the fade, as for the balaclava isn't that just part of the Mayors regalia like the bag marked swag.

Yes but nowadays I find it very hard to maintain a low profile in a Speed Pink coupé

So the the Fiat badge would be an issue then, speed pink an all.

Defo not an issue for me, badge or no badge, anyone who's genuinely interested in cars will know its a Fiat Coupe, anyone else who dismisses Fiats coz of the badge, particularly the coop, are probably driving 'euro boxes' that blend into everything else on the road......god im in a bad mood today !!

Owning a coupe has for me sparked a love affair for all Italian cars, they just look sooo much better than any other offerings, so much soul! A couple of years ago I'd have said that the latest models were a bit dull, the Stilo, punto and bravo really I wouldn't fork out for. BUT with Abarth reborn, and cars such as the 500 essesse on the horizon, Yeah I would!

for me it started with a 115 hlx bravo, looked different on the inside and out ( stood next to a astra or the like of the time, there's no comparison IMO ) then went for the Bravo 155hgt and I loved it, full leather etc etc and both very very reliable, so iv never understood the whole reliability issue over Fiats......

I cant afford to be a snob. Generally I set a budget and go find the best car I can for the money I've got, but there has been a few exceptions.

Namely and in chronological order

Saab 96 - Full bare metal respray (looked the dogs dongles and turned more heads than any 911)
2 CV - just coz they are great little motors
Fiat Bravo - still a great lookin hatchback
And my 20VT - speaks for itself really.

I've contemplated beemers and audis etc but at the end of the day the world and its wife owns one

never a truer word spoken than the last sentence.....

I'm not sure I could drive a Logan , but FIAT is fine . When I ordered mine 11 years ago, I could have bought a BMW 318i Compact or something similar for the same money. But oh dear, what a drab car that was . I doubt it would have been any more reliable than mine has been and boy does it now look dated. I would have been bored by it and bought something else with the associated depreciation losses.

I'm not that fussy about badges, as long as the product itself suits. I don't need a status symbol. I like driving, so the machine has to be good, but being different is nice too.

I do know the other side of the coin though. People treat you better if they think you are wealthy - sad but true . Turning up in a Panda with hammocks does not cut the mustard for the majority - been there too . The German marques exude solvency, give the owner kudos, deserved or not, but one car loan is much the same as another, and is only a way of looking successful until the bailiffs appear .

People should have the strength of character to ignore the marketing and the uneducated opinions of others and select products that they really like. The money does not come back so you might as well enjoy the purchase. I would much rather people say to me that is a nice car, good taste mate , than think expensive car, he is doing alright .

Pretend it's not a Fiat and you'll get both!

People are shocked when they realise how cheap they are, as I was when I first noticed them from a possible purchase perspective.

I could pretend it is not a FIAT, but it would not impress the snobs like the Jaguar does.

But I actually like saying I drive a FIAT, and see peoples reaction when they see what it looks like .

I would rather drive a Fiat than pay through the nose for a bland looking, overrated, underspecified, and common German car.

Having said that 20VT's seem to be worth more than similarly aged BMW 328 coupe's of comparable condition.

And Fiats are meant to depreciate..

Turned up to a wedding in the Coupe last summer, and the first comment on the car was "nice Alfa mate". "Its not an Alfa, is a Fiat" I said. "Wow, a Fiat" - like the chap was totally stunned that Fiat made sports cars.

I think a lot of people think that Fiat just make small cars, and at the moment its kind of true. Very nice small cars though!

I had a bit of badge snobbery on sunday, i was speaking to a bloke who owned a e36 m3, he couldnt praise the coupe enough, said it looked sounded and went the nuts, but he could never buy one because it was a fiat! glad i dont think the same otherwise i would also be driving round in a everyday m3 that sounds like a bag of nails! they aint so special.

The British mentality - They know the cost of everything and the value of nothing!

Can't blame him really - the coop doesn't look like any other fiat. I knew what a coupe looked like before i got mine but can't recall ever taking notice of them. I only started looking after I heard a 20v ot 20vt giving it death up the road whilst I was buying fuel and thought 'I could live with that every day!' It could be a Yugo for all I care.

But I admit to pointing out of the window at work and replying 'that blue one' when people ask what I drive, and then let them try and guess what it is.

I've just been told the holes in the balaclava should be at the front so I can put the Fiat badge back on the car now

I have 2 Fiats at the mo and have had another 6 ... would probably have another if the spec was right

For some reason my latest coupe has a coupe badge (from a Megane I fear) on the back in place of the blue Fiat badge - as soon as I get a chance, I will change back

Remember FIAT own some other pretty distinguished Italian marques

The thing with badge snobbery, and marque fanboys, is that you can never win. There's always a comment that can be made, a comparison to another car that can be made, etc...

Just buy the right car for you, that you can afford to run and will enjoy owning, and that's it. Don't worry about what the rest of the world think!

I'm not a badge snob....

....I love my Ferrari very much.

Fiat badge doesn't bother me one bit because when Fiat get it right they build fabulous cars. Having gone off and bought other marques I've returned to Fiat in a big way hence we now own the Coop an X1/9 and a new 500. All three are great cars not just great Fiats.

I took the Fiat badge off the back of my car. Not because I am ashamed of the fact its a Fiat, but becuse the badge was faded. It also looks cleaner at the rear without it.


I did buy a brand new ///// badge for the front though.

A guy at work also thought it was an Alfa. I can handle that though as Fiat own Alfa and I love those too.