(S) Tempted to tamper with my TA...

Newbie here, got me a Pas red TA lounge about 3 weeks ago. And now I'm wondering how to make it look even sweeter.
It was already specced for me and so it only has the 15inch multi (which is a shame cos I would have so picked the 16inch multi or 'O's). Anyone got a recommendation on whether I should upgrade and where is a good place to buy?
Also thinking about chrome stuff (which I know divides opinion!).
Should I do the bonnet strip?
Should I do the A bar?
Should I do the Italian wing badges?

Am most convinced on the Italian wing badges.
The extra chrome I swing from thinking it's a good idea to feeling a little worried I could ruin my car!

I realise style is personal and all that but I'd still appreciate thoughts!
Cheers

I had the same wheel issue as you. A post order upgrade costs a lot. I decided I couldn't justify it. The only way would be to keep yours pristine and get a friend who wants a 500 (but is not bothered about wheels) to order the bigger ones for you, then swap.

On chrome and bits and bobs - personally I would maybe just do one set of badges or some stickers and leave it at that. Less is more.

Good luck.

Cheers robin,
Even if I had a friend who would be really nice and do a swap the sad thing is that someone driving my TA in it's three month demonstrator career someone slightly scuffed one of the front alloys. Nothing awful but it's still there!
Think you may be righ with the badges only thing.

Its all very tempting to tamper

Retrto fitting can be expensive as Robin says however at the end of the day its what you want v the cost.

As I said in a previous thread Mrs G has a 1.4 BNW 1.4 Sport with a chequered roof. It has the chrome kit, chrome mirrors and italian wing badges but seems to carry it off.

I have the A bar still in a box to glue on too, a set of Abarth shocks, springs and red leather front seats....... you could go on tampering, well I could and its not my car! And hopefully another set of Abarth 16s next week.

Down to you - go for it

Hi Daveyboydanger. Judging by your name - you sound like a bit of a boy racer. Now - we don't encourage anything like that on this forum . Driving with care is the order of the day . Some will advise you if you plan to spend some money it is best to spend it on an advanced drivers course (This I would highly recommended) plus it should reduce your insurance costs .
That said - again it's just my opinion - I would go for the boyracer look -this would have been 'designed' by a forum member's 11 year old.
http://www.fiatforum.com/500/196010-fiat-500-designed-eleven-year-old-2.html
For staters I would get rid of the 15 inch lounge wheels. This is for the missus's car. They can be demoted to winter wheels but it would be much cooler if the winter tyres were steelies. Do a swop with some gal with a POP and take her steelies.
Source the 5 o-spoke wheels - these are the real mccoy and the ones fitted on the Ferrari courtesy car. I had these wheels and they really man the car up. Be warned - they are a curse to refurbish with the mix of the chrome and the alloy finish lacquer - they come up regularily on ebay because some owners cannot live with the scratchs £250. From a distance you wouldn't notice. With the 'soft suspension' and I'd imagine the lack of ESR on a demo - the 16inchs will make the car more surefooted. An alternative is to get the Abarth 16 inch wheels - you could get a set brand new with tyres £300 from an esseesse upgrade. Red ringed centers (not abarth ones !) and paint the front calipers - don't do the rear drums - it will look stupid. £20 paint & £20 ebay
I would then de-chrome the bumpers. There's a seperate thread on this. £100.
From a previous thread you plan on keeping the car for 3 years. Well if you end up like Maxi planning to keep his car for 10 years and you could look at upgrading the suspension with some decent shocks (the standard shocks will probably have had its day at 3 years).
Now this is a little controversal. I would put in standard Abarth seats - you can pick up a pair cheaply but you would have to take them out when you're selling the car. These will look the business and hold you in the seat given that the TA can be a little roly poly €150-€250.
I'd leave the engine alone but I would probably slip in a ITG panel filter £30 but take it out before the service. I'd change the oil every 6 months and given the cheapness of the plugs put new standard NGKs (iridium plugs are not worth the money and will compromise the warranty) £6 in midway through the service interval to keep things sharp.
In 3 years time a car speced like this would have a good market once the passodola paintwork is kept pristine - the red paint known to be a little soft.
And the badges - that's a no brainer. £35 but again controversal I would put the Ferrari badges off the courtesy car on in its place if your went the 5os route.
And the stripes across the bonnet and the car - for the '11 year old' look. £100. Make sure you heavily wax the car beforehand so they can come off easily if you wish to remove them. The paint might have faded a bit.
And budget for a 20% loading on your insurance - but it will be worth it.

Yowzer multi, there's a lot to think about there.
I suppose my confession is that my stupid handle (daveyboydanger) is a bit of joke nickname (like if someone called me slim or something). Unfortunately I'm not too dangerous (although it has some fringe benefits like still being alive etc).
The Italian badges are ordered (eBay £30 delivered), the red ring caps are hopefully on the way (highest bidder), and then I'll step back and have a look and see whether I'm going to be a less is more guy or a more is more guy!
(although saying that i am tempted by a set 'O' spokes plus tyres on eBay for £300. Hmmm).
Thanks for the brain fodder!

You're very welcome Daveyboydanger. If you check the Abarth section you can see what new cars have come on stream. An esseesse upgrades means that they have a crate of bits that would be up for grabs. Also check out the spec on the Ferrari courtesy model which for me has a bit of a graw factor. In having a 500 it is easy to Abarth it when really it should have it own identity. RobW and Jnoiles cars to me are good examples of how to be different in customising and it's easy to find their cars on the forum. Hopefully I have kept to the topic (I know you weren't looking to tinker with the engine !) but you did ask for my thoughts. Hopefully I haven't throw to much at you .
Enjoy the car - all in good time.
P.S. don't forget the price of the tyres on a set of 16s - they're not cheap !

My internal acronym finder is broken. What is TA?

Twin Air?

Jason isn't a shoutybitch like some on here so doesn't make a song and dance every time he washes or drives his car.

I washed my car today after I took it for a drive....just saying

Please take some pictures and post them on here just to prove that your car still looks the same as it did last week and the week before and the day before......

But it looks cleaner

BNW doesn't half show up the flies. There's loads of them after even a short run.