44sunsets said:

Yeah I find it odd that they never seem to have any idea exactly when the car or parts will be here -- this is the 21st Century, companies have amazing supply chain efficiency nowadays.

Then again this is very Italian -- relax, kick back, it'll be here when it's here

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Tbh I think living in Australia you just have to accept that this is the nature of the beast

They told me that they would let me know when they arrived and as ive already test driven the 1.2, as soon as they can actually guarantee me they know its a manual and not an auto (because they cant seem to until it arrives for sure) then im happy to purchase. It really shouldn't be that difficult. I'm always being told different things.

One point its one or two weeks and the next its not for months. I never know one way or the other. I was honestly lucky to find one to test drive and unfortunately when i was told there was at least 4-5 manuals, there were actually none. There is a lack of them, but if their going to advertise something, perhaps they should make sure they can back the claim and the service they claim to provide. I wasnt sure how the 1.2 would compare because i drove the twinair, but its a pleasure to drive. Unfortunately I just think the dealers are terrible. If it wasnt what I was looking for and I had less time, I would have walked. Nothing bad on the car, its fantastic, just terrible customer service, and lack of information. :shakehead:

JamesBondFiat said:

They told me that they would let me know when they arrived and as ive already test driven the 1.2, as soon as they can actually guarantee me they know its a manual and not an auto (because they cant seem to until it arrives for sure) then im happy to purchase. It really shouldn't be that difficult. I'm always being told different things.

One point its one or two weeks and the next its not for months. I never know one way or the other. I was honestly lucky to find one to test drive and unfortunately when i was told there was at least 4-5 manuals, there were actually none. There is a lack of them, but if their going to advertise something, perhaps they should make sure they can back the claim and the service they claim to provide. I wasnt sure how the 1.2 would compare because i drove the twinair, but its a pleasure to drive. Unfortunately I just think the dealers are terrible. If it wasnt what I was looking for and I had less time, I would have walked. Nothing bad on the car, its fantastic, just terrible customer service, and lack of information. :shakehead:

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All the dealers I have spoken to in AU have told me that they won't be in for quite a while. For instance in Victoria they are saying Sept/Oct and in SA it is Nov/Dec if lucky. NSW said end of Sept. I have been told that if anyone is saying a date and it is sooner then they are lying. I don't know what to think now. This shortage is worldwide, that much is obvious and I really can't see Australia getting them in anytime soon.

AU2013 said:

All the dealers I have spoken to in AU have told me that they won't be in for quite a while. For instance in Victoria they are saying Sept/Oct and in SA it is Nov/Dec if lucky. NSW said end of Sept. I have been told that if anyone is saying a date and it is sooner then they are lying. I don't know what to think now. This shortage is worldwide, that much is obvious and I really can't see Australia getting them in anytime soon.

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There is no worldwide shortage, it takes a while to build the cars, it then takes a buttload of time for them to get to Australia.

I understand why you put down a deposit, completely reasonable and understandable. I really just wanted to test drive the car first, and as they couldnt even guarantee me it was going to be a manual, didnt want to sign anything till it was in front of me.
I'm sorry your having this problem as well, really puts a damper on buying a new car.
Cars take time to build, all cars do. But they cant even tell me if its manual or auto till it gets there. The information they get doesnt match whats arriving. And every shipment gets 4-5 cars, max. I'm not concerned about how good the car is, I know its good, and fantastic to drive.
I'm concerned because in trying to track one down to purchase, I keep getting different stories. I'm really concerned about what is actually going to happen, what their saying doesnt back up whats arriving or not even turning up. Just doesnt seem right.

JamesBondFiat said:

I understand why you put down a deposit, completely reasonable and understandable. I really just wanted to test drive the car first, and as they couldnt even guarantee me it was going to be a manual, didnt want to sign anything till it was in front of me.
I'm sorry your having this problem as well, really puts a damper on buying a new car.
I'm concerned because in trying to track one down to purchase, I keep getting different stories. I'm really concerned about what is actually going to happen, what their saying doesnt back up whats arriving or not even turning up. Just doesnt seem right.

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It's not the best situation, but it's the nature of the beast. You're buying an uncommon car from a marque who doesn't have a huge dealer network in your country and which manufactures their cars over the other side of the world, I understand your frustration, but this is the Toyota for example where they sell shedloads of cars in Australia and could probably pull one one out of stock somewhere for you.

I'm not sure I actually understand what's happening in your case, you've testdriven a car so you're happy to buy a 500, but you're just waiting for them to have stock that's not a dualogic (Fiat don't do an auto)?

306maxi said:

It's not the best situation, but it's the nature of the beast. You're buying an uncommon car from a marque who doesn't have a huge dealer network in your country and which manufactures their cars over the other side of the world, I understand your frustration, but this is the Toyota for example where they sell shedloads of cars in Australia and could probably pull one one out of stock somewhere for you.

I'm not sure I actually understand what's happening in your case, you've testdriven a car so you're happy to buy a 500, but you're just waiting for them to have stock that's not a dualogic (Fiat don't do an auto)?

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306maxi - I am just going by what people are saying and what is on Google around the globe. I have test driven a dualogic and thought it handled fine and was a cute kind of car. Here it isn't if it is a manual or dualogic or the 500 c - it is just if it is the Fiat 500 full stop that there are no supplies. Actually, maybe I could pick one up online but they cost more than what they are now selling them new for.

JamesBondFiat - Yes, they can be pushy but I admire the fact that you won't sign anything until you have seen and tried the car. I feel I was pushed a bit because the threat was there that the prices would probably change come Monday (and this was on the Friday at 5pm).

I am brand new to Fiat so I'd really like to know what everyone thinks of them, are they worth the possible 6 month line up? What are your experiences?
Like I say, I just thought it was a quirky little car that would probably look good to have signage on for advertising but I am not sure whether it is worth not having a car with signage for several month's or if I should quit and get a another small car for now for advertising purposes and then look at the Fiat once car yards actually get them in. But it also brings another problem if I quit now because I don't want anything made in Japan (parts or cars) and that probably doesn't leave a lot.

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

Why not just order a car? Silly question I know.

I had been told the auto was easier to get. But obviously not. The price change is rubbish. You shouldn't have been lied to like that. That's why when I'm told their arriving soon, I don't believe it. They are a rarer car but that's not an excuse for poor customer service and assistance to purchasers.

I personally think the car is really fantastic to drive, good gearbox, handling, styling and engineering. Which makes the dealership issues unfortunate.
I understand your position, I'm pretty much in the same situation.
From what I can tell Aus2013 has placed an order/contract on a 500 but hasn't actually Recieved it.

306Maxi - I've test driven the car, and am currently waiting for a manual 1.2 to arrive. (Not even fussed on colour)
But there just isn't any. I need to make sure it's a manual and until it's off the truck they can't assure me it is. (Been told before 4-5 cars were manual and weren't.)
At the same time I'm being told it will arrive in a week or two and nothing. Basically, I'm 100% happy with the car. But there isn't any available, and the dealerships either lie or can't tell me any more.

Yes, you are right, I have ordered the car and paid the deposit, like I say it was under pressure. I said I wouldn't pay until the Monday but he said he couldn't promise that there wouldn't be a Fax on his desk Monday morning advising that the sale price is over and he told me if this were to be the case then no dealer would do it for me at the lower price. So, this being 5pm I was pushed really to give in and pay right away. I have also been told by 2 dealers that no one is getting the 500's in unless they are ordered, so it was impossible to leave it until they got stock in and check the car over first as it just wasn't going to happen. I was able to drive one but it isn't for sale as they have to keep it as their demo in order to get clients to place orders and pay deposits.
I am a bit filthy after finding out that the price had been dropped and it wasn't just a sale thing and that the car would not be going up by a few thousand come Monday morning or whenever Fiat decided the sale was over.
So, yes, there is a shortage. They cannot supply what they are taking orders for and NONE of them know when/if they are coming in and when that will be. Not impressed. From what I have read online, people that have had issues with their Fiat's haven't been treated well by the dealers. That part doesn't bother me as I feel once you have bought a car you don't worry about the warrantee as it isn't worth the paper it is written on and just adds to stress. Wow, what a hassle. I didn't realise at the time otherwise I wouldn't have placed an order. I would have left it until such time that supplies became available, if indeed they did become available and take it from there. I agree the car is lovely, but.......
Okay, my whinge is over (at least for this reply, ha!).

just ordered one yesterday, white 500 pop, ivory black interior... dont know when i'll get it, but i paid 1000 bucks deposit.

Very lovely colour choice. I'm not concerned about the warranty either, now have no intention of getting the car services at any fiat dealer locally. If possible I will find a local mechanic near me I know won't spin me a line everytime I need a part.

Aus2013 - completely understand the signing. Would make sense to me too. Being put on the spot like that I'd be pretty pissed off. I got informed weeks ago the shipment had arrived, that there were manuals and I could test one and when I arrived there an hour later, not only where there no manuals, but none at all to test. I just about blew a gasket (no pun intended).
I'm happy to buy one as soon as it arrives and is definitely the transmission (manual). But I'm beyond concern in terms of when and if, no one can give me a definite answer.

didnt want to wait 4 months for a yellow so might go with a gelato white or pasodoble red with black/grey interior. yosachan, which white did you get? i believe theres funk white and gelato white?

still not sure if i should go white or red. help please?

If your looking for a more elegant colour, the white is more like driving a white tiger running through snow. Quiet a elegant looking colour. Red is nice, but less elegant and more 'fun'. White looks awesome on the interior dash too, don't think you'd be disappointed. Are you ordering? Or is there actually ones available at your dealership?

I am going to call the dealer tomorrow because I feel I have been lied to. Don't like that. Anyway, I will let you know how it goes.
Musica - I ordered the Gelato White which is very crisp and am still told it will be month's off so I don't know what you have been told in terms of colour - like white is easier to get and will be in before 4 months?? Odd really as one dealer told me 5 or 6 months if lucky and another said 4 month's no matter the colour. I think they say whatever they want at the moment. I am going to try and cancel my order and tell them to call me once they get cars in and if they say they are only getting ones in that have been ordered, then bad luck, who cares. If I didn't want it for business then I wouldn't care how long it took. It is a bit difficult to plan advertising around the arrival of a car that may not arrive anyway!

jamesbondfiat thanks for the reply. my dealer has told me apparently they have a white arriving early next month.

JamesBondFiat said:

If your looking for a more elegant colour, the white is more like driving a white tiger running through snow. Quiet a elegant looking colour. Red is nice, but less elegant and more 'fun'. White looks awesome on the interior dash too, don't think you'd be disappointed. Are you ordering? Or is there actually ones available at your dealership?

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The white is lovely and I had wondered about going red or white but for advertising purposes the white is easier to work with. Can I ask what state you are in JamesBondFiat? Obviously a state that has cars arrive at least! ;-)

Musica said:

jamesbondfiat thanks for the reply. my dealer has told me apparently they have a white arriving early next month.

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Take it! You may be lining up otherwise ;-) unless of course you prefer the red.

Musica - Just be careful, only saying out of concern, what may turn up in a month, might actually not. But obviously reasonable. Just doesn't seem like they really know. Pretty similar to what I imagine Aus2013 was told. But definitely understand.
Aus2013 I'm in WA.
And no problem, if I can help in any way. Be good to know how you go with your purchase. Still trying to work out whats going on myself.

Thanks so much JamesBondFiat. I will let you know what happens tomorrow! See if I get my deposit back until they actually get a car in that I can look at and decide on.