I am so livid I have just got to stop myself going off on one, so sorry for the vent!!!

Went to pick up my 500c from the dealers today, after the ongoing Start & Stop Saga.. Well the put a new alternator on it, (Wont know for a day or so if its cured the problem).

But on walking me out to hand over the car, we find the bonnet now has 3 decent size dents on it, (With scratches down to bare metal!)





To thier credit they owned up fairly quick to the fact it must have been done there, (As they checked it over and gave a confirmation sheet on dropoff), but if I had not noticed it before driving off things would have been different!

So now my 3 week old car has to go in for a Bonnet repair next week on top of everything else.

I really do want to bang my head on the wall.

And to top it off when I went to drive it away from the dealers, there was a grating noise, They got under it and found out an Air filter pipe was hanging off loose and dragging.. Great quality control after the repair then

Sorry its a vent but I am fuming!!.

Did you say you took your 500 down to Derby?

Hope they do the bonnet repair to the correct quality control standard. Make sure you've still got the full 8 year ant-perforation warranty (I think it's 8 years isn't it?) on the repair. I would get it in writing too.

I too would be absolutely livid if I were in the same situation as you. I'd consider going elsewhere in the future.

Really sorry for your problems.

Welcome to the world of fiat customer service.
The dealers are a joke. This just shows how bad they are.
If it were me I would just tell them to take the car back and buy another from someone else. A painted bonnet is never going to last as long as one that's been painted in the factory.
I bet tbe stop and start is also not working.

Not nice. Make sure the repair is properly inspected.

RUI said:

Welcome to the world of fiat customer service.
The dealers are a joke. This just shows how bad they are.
If it were me I would just tell them to take the car back and buy another from someone else. A painted bonnet is never going to last as long as one that's been painted in the factory.
I bet tbe stop and start is also not working.

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Yes this could not happen to any "superior brand" at all.

http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/audi-s...bexley-damaged-my-car-now-trying-get-out.html

http://www.bimmerforums.co.uk/forum/f6/whinge-time-main-dealer-damaged-my-car-t95160/

Only bothered with A then B. I'm sure the rest of the Manufacturer Alphabet would yield results as well.

I had my Audi dented by Audi and I had a vw dented by vw both dealers came clean and told me. I would not have noticed until I washed the car and then it would have been too late.
As for the air filter pipe hanging off, all that shows is the muppets didn't even test drive it so how do they know that they have fixed the stop and start without even testing it.
Fiat are a joke I own 2 of them and would not have another.
I always have people asking me what car to buy, the first thing I say is not a fiat.

RUI said:

...Fiat are a joke I own 2 of them and would not have another. I always have people asking me what car to buy, the first thing I say is not a fiat.

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I've had a number of Fiats and that they have served me well.
If I was as unhappy as you are with the 500 & the 100HP would you not consider changing them. I wouldn't drive a car that I wasn't happy with. It's not like it's a company car that you got 'stuck' with.

I've got 3 and wouldn't hesitate to buy another.

loveshandbags said:

I've had a number of Fiats and that they have served me well.
If I was as unhappy as you are with the 500 & the 100HP would you not consider changing them. I wouldn't drive a car that I wasn't happy with. It's not like it's a company car that you got 'stuck' with.

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I am very happy with both the cars, they are great. The dealers are the bad bit and I don't go anywhere near a dealer anymore even though both cars still have warranty. I would rather pay someone that cares about what they do than pay a someone that does not care if they customer is happy.

RUI said:

I am very happy with both the cars, they are great. The dealers are the bad bit and I don't go anywhere near a dealer anymore even though both cars still have warranty. I would rather pay someone that cares about what they do than pay a someone that does not care if they customer is happy.

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That's a bit different to your earlier posting RUI because I remember you were quite chuffed with the 100HP. If you can get a good independent then you should be sorted.

The 100hp is great, so much fun to drive.

frupi said:

Did you say you took your 500 down to Derby?

Hope they do the bonnet repair to the correct quality control standard. Make sure you've still got the full 8 year ant-perforation warranty (I think it's 8 years isn't it?) on the repair. I would get it in writing too.

I too would be absolutely livid if I were in the same situation as you. I'd consider going elsewhere in the future.

Really sorry for your problems.

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No this is Chesterfield still, as they were workingon the problem from the start I thought it best ot let them continue on it rather than start again with Coop Derby. (Begining to regret that now).

Just really dispondent now, I know accidents happen and all that, but I am really finiky about keeping my car in good condition, and as others have said A respray is never the same, never knowing if there are going to be matching issues in the future with different fade rates etc.

History So Far

Purchased 30th March 2012. Log Book arrived same day (Error on logbook as car was registered with DVLA as an automatic rather than a Manual). Log book returned to Fiat who were to send it to the DVLA for amendment. (Now been lost either by the dealer or by DVLA), and DVLA will not reissue as they know ther is incorrect data on it, and Dealer seems unable to get correct info to DVLA to sort out the registration, so at the moment the car is in Limbo with No Logbook available to be issued

11th April First Visit for S&S + Rattle From Roof & Rear Seat, Charged Battery & Fixed rattles

25th& 26th April Second Visit for S&S (Changed for new Battery) Did not resolve

1st & 2nd May Third Visit for S&S and Loose Drivers seat, Changed Alternator & Fixed Drivers seat (Wont know if its resolved the S&S for a few days as they also charged the battery up)

Now booked in for

9th & 10th May Paintwork and S&S if further investigation required

I just consider this to be excessive, maybe I was lucky on my old 500 but in 3 years apart from regular services it went in one one day for an hour to change the rear boot chromework as it was pitted, apart from that nothing wrong.

Just got the sinking feeling this one is a Friday Afternoon Special!

RUI said:

I am very happy with both the cars, they are great. The dealers are the bad bit and I don't go anywhere near a dealer anymore even though both cars still have warranty. I would rather pay someone that cares about what they do than pay a someone that does not care if they customer is happy.

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Your experience of a dealership is one of the reasons why I spent a bit of time 'phoning around several dealerships in a 50 mile radius of where I live. I realise that travelling to get your car serviced is a complete non starter for some and might even seem ridiculous to many, but in my own case in doing so, I had a really pleasant first experience with a Fiat dealer and I'd go back to them again, despite them being over 20 miles away from where I live.

Our POP is the first Fiat we have ever owned and tbh, this will be the only one we will ever own, not because we are disappointed by the brand, but because there aren't really any other models that the Missus finds appealing. The POP was bought solely for its chic retro looks I'm afraid!

flashyphotos said:

No this is Chesterfield still, as they were workingon the problem from the start I thought it best ot let them continue on it rather than start again with Coop Derby. (Begining to regret that now).

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Sorry mate, after reading your last post, sounds like you've had a poor time of it. As for dealer service next time, try Worksop. As I said before, they were really good with us and I can recommend them. Hope that helps.

frupi said:

Our POP is the first Fiat we have ever owned and tbh, this will be the only one we will ever own

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I have always been a Fiat/Alfa person for my sins,

First car was a P Reg (1975) 1.1 Litre Alfasud
First Brand new Car was an Y Reg (1983) Fiat Strada Convertible

Then there have been a long line of Alfas & Fiats, interspersed with Dross company cars and the Odd TVR, Lotus or Jag

But I just love a little Fiat, and the 500 is the first really nice one for such a long time

Sorry to hear about the damage on the bonnet. At least the Yellow shouldn't be hard to match up. Car is new so there should be no differences in colour.

If you remove the S/S bits on your list there isn't that much. At least you know that you've bought the right car and you're enjoying it (once it's not in the garage). The teething issues will pass and things will settle down. Plus think of the savings on the London Congestion charge. Have faith !

RUI said:

Welcome to the world of fiat customer service.
The dealers are a joke. This just shows how bad they are.

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RUI said:

As for the air filter pipe hanging off, all that shows is the muppets didn't even test drive it so how do they know that they have fixed the stop and start without even testing it.
Fiat are a joke I own 2 of them and would not have another.
I always have people asking me what car to buy, the first thing I say is not a fiat.

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If you hate Fiats so much why do you spend so much time here life is too short to continually moan on a forum.

frupi said:

Your experience of a dealership is one of the reasons why I spent a bit of time 'phoning around several dealerships in a 50 mile radius of where I live. I realise that travelling to get your car serviced is a complete non starter for some and might even seem ridiculous to many, but in my own case in doing so, I had a really pleasant first experience with a Fiat dealer and I'd go back to them again, despite them being over 20 miles away from where I live.

Our POP is the first Fiat we have ever owned and tbh, this will be the only one we will ever own, not because we are disappointed by the brand, but because there aren't really any other models that the Missus finds appealing. The POP was bought solely for its chic retro looks I'm afraid!

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This does seem to be a constant complaint, there are many good dealerships (some brilliant it must be said) but they are so inconsistent. Why one dealership is good yet 5 miles down the road another is simply awful is a problem that Fiat have to sort out. However I fear as long as the units are being sold in sufficient numbers this problem will not be top of the list but as everything in life it will catch up with you one day.
20 miles isn't too bad, I know customers who drive over 100 miles, honestly!

T14086 said:

This does seem to be a constant complaint, there are many good dealerships (some brilliant it must be said) but they are so inconsistent. Why one dealership is good yet 5 miles down the road another is simply awful is a problem that Fiat have to sort out. However I fear as long as the units are being sold in sufficient numbers this problem will not be top of the list but as everything in life it will catch up with you one day.
20 miles isn't too bad, I know customers who drive over 100 miles, honestly!

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Yep, and I've been guilty of the 180 mile round trip just to get a service done too! What a ridiculous thing to have to do just to get a dealer service stamp (Cadillac).

Ment to add its 100 miles each way, 200 mile for a service!

180 mile in a cadillac, how much fuel did that use up

T14086 said:

Ment to add its 100 miles each way, 200 mile for a service!

180 mile in a cadillac, how much fuel did that use up

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18 mpg in a 6.2 litre V8, 10 gallons or 45.6 litres at £1.36 a litre, about 62 quid return journey. Pretty crap eh!

Took me ages to work that out, I'm rubbish at maths!

frupi said:

18 mpg in a 6.2 litre V8, 10 gallons or 45.6 litres at £1.36 a litre, about 62 quid return journey. Pretty crap eh!

Took me ages to work that out, I'm rubbish at maths!

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Hope the dealer appreciated your loyalty and gave you a discount on the service.