2014 Fiat 500l Easy on 2040-cars

Auto blog

We like the Fiat 500X despite the faults | Long-term Update

"Personality goes a long way," according to Jules Winnfield in Pulp Fiction. And while Samuel L. Jackson's character was talking about the merits of dogs over pigs, the same maxim applies to cars. Such is the case with our long-term 500X. It continues to charm us, despite the faults. Yes, this car has faults. One being the nine-speed transmission, which is a lot like a Where's Waldo book: it's sometimes fun, usually confusing, and ultimately takes too much time. And the center infotainment screen is slow to boot up. We also noticed some excessive noise from our winter tires, which isn't necessarily the fault of the 500X but, hey, this is the paragraph about gripes. But 500X related stories in the Autoblog office follows a consistent pattern: "This one thing, man it's bad, but I still like the car. Take X, for instance." And X has a lot of possible options: quick-warming heated front seats and steering wheel, the upright driving position, the general layout of the interior, and the bright saddle-leather seats in our tester. View 34 Photos And therein lies why we still like out Fiat. It's just kind of a happy car. It cover the basics well enough - spacious interior, versatile cargo interior, comfortable seats, and makes up for the rest with general good cheer. There are better cars than the 500X, but there are also better, more boring cars than the 500X. Picking between the two, we'd prefer the flawed Fiat to a boring alternative.

Detroit 3 and UAW could create healthcare pool

Healthcare costs continue to multiply in the US with no clear end in sight, but the United Auto Workers and the Big Three are negotiating a way to rapid growth under control. As part of the latest contract talks, the union has an idea to create a healthcare pool across all of its members at Ford, General Motors, and FCA US. If accepted, the company-wide integration would spread out the expenses and create a massive member base for bargaining with insurance companies. Both Ford and GM are at least considering the proposal, according to The Detroit News, and FCA US might be on board, as well. The idea is the work of current UAW president Dennis Williams and is based on the similar pool for the Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association for retirees. "I've walked through this several ways; I just don't have any other answer," Williams said to The Detroit News. "I do believe this will work. It's worked with the VEBA." Williams was elected UAW president last year and won by an overwhelming margin. He vowed no more concessions to automakers. In addition to healthcare, the two-tier wage system is another major talking point in the contract negotiation because it gives fewer benefits to entry-level workers. Higher wages are also a request. Healthcare costs are a massive expense for automakers and are expected to reach over $2 billion this year, according to The Detroit News. The payments are up nearly 50 percent or more in just the last four years.

Fiat Chrysler recalls 1.33 million vehicles over fire, air bag risks

WASHINGTON - Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV said on Friday it is recalling 1.33 million vehicles worldwide in two separate campaigns for potential fire risks and inadvertent airbag deployments. The Italian-American automaker said it is recalling about 770,000 sport utility vehicles because of a wiring issue that may lead to inadvertent deployment of the driver-side air bag and is linked to reports of five related minor injuries, but no crashes. The company said wiring could chafe against pieces of steering-wheel trim, potentially causing a short-circuit and ultimately leading to an inadvertent air bag deployment. The issue could also cause unintended windshield wiper operation or inoperable switches. The recall covers 538,000 2011-2015 Dodge Journey vehicles in North America and 233,000 2011-2015 Fiat Freemont crossovers sold elsewhere. Dealers will inspect and replace the wiring, as needed and equip it with additional protective covering. The automaker is also recalling 565,000 vehicles to replace their alternators because of fire risks. The company said hot ambient temperatures could lead to premature diode wear, may result in a burning odor or smoke, could impact the anti-lock braking system or lead to engine stalls. The company said it is aware of two potentially related accidents but no injuries. The recall covers 2011-2014 model year Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger and Dodge Challenger cars and Dodge Durango SUVs and 2012-2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee SUVs. In October, Fiat Chrysler recalled about 86,000 Ram 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks, 3500, 4500 and 5500 chassis cabs from the 2007-2013 model years and 2011-2014 Dodge Charger Pursuit sedans for the same alternator issue. Fiat Chrysler said at the time one minor injury was related to the recall. Dealers will replace the alternators. By David ShepardsonRelated Video: Auto News Chrysler Fiat RAM Safety Coupe SUV Sedan FCA dodge journey fiat chrysler automobiles fiat freemont