Great Cars that Didn’t Sell Well - Fiat 132 and Argenta
Discussion
The 1977 Fiat 132 and subsequent Argenta that was launched in 1982, were great cars back in the day.
With a strong and powerful 2.0 Twin Cam Engine mated to a 5 Speed Gearbox, they were streets ahead of the competition. Add a luxurious interior, features such as standard Electric Front Windows (in 1977) and Central Locking together with good looks, I cannot understand why it didn’t sell well (at least in Britain).
With a strong and powerful 2.0 Twin Cam Engine mated to a 5 Speed Gearbox, they were streets ahead of the competition. Add a luxurious interior, features such as standard Electric Front Windows (in 1977) and Central Locking together with good looks, I cannot understand why it didn’t sell well (at least in Britain).
We had a few Fiats in the family in the 70s and my Dad had a 125 at the time that became mine in 1977, so I read all the Road Test reports on Fiats and the 132 got slated for massive understeer when first tested in 1975. Soon after they made some revisions to them and later ones like the 1977 132 1800ES I had in the early 80s drove really well.
The twin-cam engine and 5 speed box was years ahead of most of the competition but for some reason when the 132 2000 came along they went back to rear drum brakes and I suspect the Argenta would have had the same.
I don't think the Argenta was a looker either which may not have helped. Still their unpopularity made them cheap.
The twin-cam engine and 5 speed box was years ahead of most of the competition but for some reason when the 132 2000 came along they went back to rear drum brakes and I suspect the Argenta would have had the same.
I don't think the Argenta was a looker either which may not have helped. Still their unpopularity made them cheap.
My father had a 1978 Fiat 132 that he bought in the mid 80's to replace a 1978 Datsun 120Y whish rusted away. In terms of luxury, the Fiat was pretty neat. It had velour interior, electric windows, automatic, power windows and these pretty neat sun visors that would slide out of the headliner. It would have been great if the bloody thing ran but it didn't half the time.
My father was not a car guy and I think those cars are best suited in enthusiasts hands.
My father was not a car guy and I think those cars are best suited in enthusiasts hands.
visitinglondon said:
I know this is subjective, but I thought the 131 was a great looking car (particularly the relatively rare 131 Sport) and thought the 132 and Argenta looked ugly/clumsy in comparison
Like you say looks are subjective. I personally think they were both great looking cars. The face-lifted Argenta (I think 85 onwards) I’ll admit was the best looker. A friend of mine's dad had a Fiat 132. I can remember 3 things about it.
1. The engine was lovely
2. He had drilled holes in the bonnet and both wings and had laced the bonnet down due to rust.
3. Before he scrapped it he said we could have the alloy wheels off it. That plan went out of the window when we started jacking up the carpets inside the car.
1. The engine was lovely
2. He had drilled holes in the bonnet and both wings and had laced the bonnet down due to rust.
3. Before he scrapped it he said we could have the alloy wheels off it. That plan went out of the window when we started jacking up the carpets inside the car.
Contemporary road Tests didn't rate either one, dynamically. Maybe group tests were British-biased but nobody was going to buy a Fiat when a Cortina did much the same job.
I had a 5 year old Alfetta 2000, also not a great seller though it did win a CAR group test. Parts were expensive.
I had a 5 year old Alfetta 2000, also not a great seller though it did win a CAR group test. Parts were expensive.
LuS1fer said:
Contemporary road Tests didn't rate either one, dynamically. Maybe group tests were British-biased but nobody was going to buy a Fiat when a Cortina did much the same job.
I had a 5 year old Alfetta 2000, also not a great seller though it did win a CAR group test. Parts were expensive.
I remember the Argenta winning a What Car Group Test on its launch in 1982 against the competition. I had a 5 year old Alfetta 2000, also not a great seller though it did win a CAR group test. Parts were expensive.
Whilst the Cortina was a great car, it would only be the high level Ghia’s in 2.0 and 2.3 Guises that could compete with the 132. There are pros and cons for both types, although for me the 5 Speed Gearbox and Twin Cam Engine of the Fiat narrowly takes it.
I’m not sure about the price difference between a 1980 Cortina 2.3 Ghia and a 132 2000 GLS. This would obviously be a factor.
Rob 131 Sport said:
I remember the Argenta winning a What Car Group Test on its launch in 1982 against the competition.
Whilst the Cortina was a great car, it would only be the high level Ghia’s in 2.0 and 2.3 Guises that could compete with the 132. There are pros and cons for both types, although for me the 5 Speed Gearbox and Twin Cam Engine of the Fiat narrowly takes it.
I’m not sure about the price difference between a 1980 Cortina 2.3 Ghia and a 132 2000 GLS. This would obviously be a factor.
In October 1978, a Ford Cortina 2.3 Ghia had a list price of £4844 while the 2.0 Ghia was £4356 ( an S version of either was about £400 less).Whilst the Cortina was a great car, it would only be the high level Ghia’s in 2.0 and 2.3 Guises that could compete with the 132. There are pros and cons for both types, although for me the 5 Speed Gearbox and Twin Cam Engine of the Fiat narrowly takes it.
I’m not sure about the price difference between a 1980 Cortina 2.3 Ghia and a 132 2000 GLS. This would obviously be a factor.
The 132 2000GLS was £4595 with an extra £264 for an auto box.
At that time, Motor rated the Cavalier 2.0 GL the best of the bunch and that was a bargain £3778 though you could have the Manta-esque GLS Coupe or the Sports Hatch for around £4300.
I imagine discounts would have been more forthcoming from Ford.
Rob 131 Sport said:
I suppose if you look at the competition (say in 1978) that would have been the 2.0/2.3 Cortina, the Princess 2200 and the 2.0 Cavalier, why on earth would you overlook the 132.
Given your username probably a bit hard for you to view impartially, but like you I would have picked a 132/Argenta over the British equivalents - as has been mentioned possibly a perceived issue with Italian electrics/rusting steered people away, which is a bit daft given the crap the British motor industry was churning out at the time.Chunkychucky said:
Rob 131 Sport said:
I suppose if you look at the competition (say in 1978) that would have been the 2.0/2.3 Cortina, the Princess 2200 and the 2.0 Cavalier, why on earth would you overlook the 132.
Given your username probably a bit hard for you to view impartially, but like you I would have picked a 132/Argenta over the British equivalents - as has been mentioned possibly a perceived issue with Italian electrics/rusting steered people away, which is a bit daft given the crap the British motor industry was churning out at the time.Anyway, this may also explain it - build quaity.
https://driventowrite.com/2019/03/19/1979-fiat-132...
https://driventowrite.com/2019/03/29/period-road-t...
Fait's reputation for build quality was extremely low as with most Italian cars of the period, with the soluble Alfasuds, rusty Lancia Betas and generally crumbly Fiats. I think Lada built the 124 considerably better but used a wholly inferior engine.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/triggerscarstuff/alb...
Compare that to the far superior Alfetta 2000 which wasn't that much more expensive but was technically far superior.
https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article...
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