General 500 TwinAir UK Pricing Announced

[Scrogg]

FGAUK have today announced pricing of the new TwinAir range in the 500 and 500C.

The new engine, which will be available across the entire range, is priced at a £1,200 premium over the existing 1.2.

As discussed elsewhere, Volare Blue will join the 500 colour palette as the launch colour for the TwinAir.

This new engine will be available to order from Wednesday 15 September, and each dealership will receive a Volare Blue Pop and Pasadoble Red Lounge to use as showroom car/demonstrator week-commencing 25 October.

 

[Super Uwe]

Thanks a lot for the info!

Well, not a massive surprise for me personally, I knew there would be some sort of premium for the new engine but hard to say whether £1200 is too much or not.

 

[RobW]

one too many engines to choose from now IMO

 

[Scrogg]

one too many engines to choose from now IMO

I can't see the 1.2 and 1.4 16v surviving much longer...

 

[jrkitching]

I can't see the 1.2 and 1.4 16v surviving much longer...

IMO it's the diesel which looks particularly pointless now (in the UK market where there's no fuel price advantage). The 1.2 could still have something to offer as it has the advantage of proven long term reliability which the multiair has yet to gain.

But I think the whole 500 range is now looking well overpriced in the current market and I suspect FIAT may soon have to do some serious discounting if they want to keep on selling in volume.

 

[RobW]

I can't see the 1.2 and 1.4 16v surviving much longer...

I see that the 1.4 Pop is being discontinued

When the 0.9 with 100HP comes out i think it will indeed supercede the 1.4, and arguably the diesel

1.2 has suprised me that it was ever offered

 

[IainG GPS]

Are they having a laugh, thats some premium over the 1.2.

The whole range is getting expensive, they are charging premium money for an avearge car.

So far ours has been reliable apart from the buzzing steering column.

 

[jrkitching]

The whole range is getting expensive, they are charging premium money for an avearge car.

Couldn't agree more. The current price difference b/w the 500 & the Panda is hard to justify on a 'cost to build' basis. FIAT will likely charge whatever the market will bear - if people stop buying at these prices, then the discounting will surely start...

I was fortunate to get my 500 on scrappage, and also to get a generous discount on the new Panda I've just bought.

 

[Super Uwe]

IMO it's the diesel which looks particularly pointless now (in the UK market where there's no fuel price advantage). The 1.2 could still have something to offer as it has the advantage of proven long term reliability which the multiair has yet to gain.

But I think the whole 500 range is now looking well overpriced in the current market and I suspect FIAT may soon have to do some serious discounting if they want to keep on selling in volume.

Some very fair points there. My guess is that Fiat will look at the order book a few months in and then decide what to do with prices. Looking at the economy in a very broad sense it's just so hard to predict what is going to happen, but that is going to be an issue for all car manufacturers.

From a business perspective I do think they are wise not to follow the same route as when it was launched the first time; i.e. not to set the prices as cheaply to start with. They've built up a nice little reputation with the 500 and I can't say I blame them for trying to make what they can from it (irrespective of whether people feel the build quality etc is good enough or not to warrant it).

I'd be interested to know what the month-by-month sales figures of the 500 are looking like, would anyone know if they're still strong?

 

[jrkitching]

Looking at the economy in a very broad sense it's just so hard to predict what is going to happen, but that is going to be an issue for all car manufacturers.

My crystal ball is no better than anyone else's but I predict a small but definite increase in sales in Nov/Dec as people try to avoid the VAT increase that's coming in the new year. I expect manufacturers to respond by increasing prices in October by 2-3%, then by offering to "absorb the VAT increase" at least until the registration prefix changes again next March.

With a generally bleak outlook for the economy in 2011, expect some attractive offers this time next year after everyone's just forked out for their summer hols...

 

[YouKnowWho]

The 1.2 pop is the only car under £10,000 ... that is silly money.

I wonder how many of the people who bought 07/08/09 cars would buy them again at todays prices

 

[jrkitching]

The 1.2 pop is the only car under £10,000 ... that is silly money.

I wonder how many of the people who bought 07/08/09 cars would buy them again at todays prices

Certainly not me, much as I like my 500 - but it was possibly the best deal available in the days of scrappage when I bought mine.

The good news for those who already have one is that these silly prices will help keep residuals firm, unless of course FIAT start seriously discounting the 500...

 

[RobW]

500 is still significantly cheaper than the MINI

http://www.mini.co.uk/html/model_range/home.html

 

[306maxi]

The 1.2 pop is the only car under £10,000 ... that is silly money.

I wonder how many of the people who bought 07/08/09 cars would buy them again at todays prices

I would if my car got written off But only because I got gap insurance

 

[rkt2003]

I wonder if that new blue will be available on the rest of the range anytime soon????

 

[306maxi]

I wonder if that new blue will be available on the rest of the range anytime soon????

Rest of the range as in the 500? Or other cars in the Fiat stable?

 

[306maxi]

I see that the 1.4 Pop is being discontinued

When the 0.9 with 100HP comes out i think it will indeed supercede the 1.4, and arguably the diesel

1.2 has suprised me that it was ever offered

1.2 is a good engine and considering it's sold in massive numbers I can't see why you'd be surprised?

Look at those prices!!!!!

£17265 for a 500c byDiesel diseasel!!!!! I mean wow!!! you could buy a proper car for that price!

Never quite understood the 1.4 pop, if you had the money for the sporty engine in the range you were hardly not going to be able to afford a lounge or a sport.

 

[Advanced Driver]

It seems strange that you can order one long before you can test drive one.

It's worth remembering that this new engine will probably make the 500 the greenist car ever! Some people will pay lots of money for that. There isn't even much that can match fuel consumption figures. In addition to that, it is also a faster than most of the competition eg. the Aygo.

I think it'll be difficult for me to buy a 1.2 when this engine is faster and more economical.

 

[rkt2003]

Rest of the range as in the 500? Or other cars in the Fiat stable?

The 500.

 

[306maxi]

The 500.

I don't see any suggestion that it won't be available on all 500's aside from the byDiesel's and Abarth's of course.