Off Topic Something I've noticed about the 500 Lardy

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Off Topic Something I've noticed about the 500 Lardy

306maxi

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None of them seem to be driven by young families? Seems to be a car that appeals to the older sort of people whose hips benefit from a higher seating position *snigger*

Grey haired gent in his 60's was driving this one I saw today

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I've seen a white lounge in Waitrose, we were having a peek in the window (of course!) when both parents and two youngsters approx 5&7 came back and we had a little chat, whilst the parents packed the boot. The kiddies got in and knelt on the back seat and grinned at us with their chins on the headrests whilst we spoke. It was a very cute little scene all in all, so yes there are the odd modern family who don't require a seven-seater. The car was remarkably clean inside too, not full of the litter usually seen in 'family' cars and the kiddies were chirpy and happy. "I've got a car like yours and I like yours too" I said and they just grinned and bounced a bit before the parents got in and we all said bye-bye. Clearly they approved! Yep it may be rare but it has happened!
 
None of them seem to be driven by young families? Seems to be a car that appeals to the older sort of people whose hips benefit from a higher seating position *snigger*

Grey haired gent in his 60's was driving this one I saw today

1239223_10151824033705189_1447548356_o.jpg

Why is the age of the driver worthy of comment? Or the colour of his hair? Why the sniggering??

We retired two years ago at 52. The L we have just bought suits us fine. Loads of space to lug stuff to our narrow boat or on to Cornwall or indeed on one of our regular jaunts to France.

If people engage their brain they might find they can get a real good deal on an L at the moment, and get a really useful car to boot.


Martin G (hips OK but hair a bit grey)
 
Why is the age of the driver worthy of comment? Or the colour of his hair? Why the sniggering??

We retired two years ago at 52. The L we have just bought suits us fine. Loads of space to lug stuff to our narrow boat or on to Cornwall or indeed on one of our regular jaunts to France.

If people engage their brain they might find they can get a real good deal on an L at the moment, and get a really useful car to boot.


Martin G (hips OK but hair a bit grey)

Your reply sums it up, the reason it is noteworthy is because Fiat in their infinite wisdom are aiming the 500Lard at young families (see TV advertising) but the cars seem to be bought by older drivers like yourselves.
 
Your reply sums it up, the reason it is noteworthy is because Fiat in their infinite wisdom are aiming the 500Lard at young families (see TV advertising) but the cars seem to be bought by older drivers like yourselves.

Or maybe drivers who are realising that being grandparents means they can recapture a bit of their youth....the marketing of the L may be cleverer than it is given credit for.
 
Why is the age of the driver worthy of comment? Or the colour of his hair? Why the sniggering??

We retired two years ago at 52. The L we have just bought suits us fine. Loads of space to lug stuff to our narrow boat or on to Cornwall or indeed on one of our regular jaunts to France.

If people engage their brain they might find they can get a real good deal on an L at the moment, and get a really useful car to boot.


Martin G (hips OK but hair a bit grey)

What happens when one's brain refuses to engage with such ugliness.
 
Or maybe drivers who are realising that being grandparents means they can recapture a bit of their youth....the marketing of the L may be cleverer than it is given credit for.

Well I'm 51 and the advertising is definitely not aimed at me, even at a subliminal level. I don't like the car (yes, I have driven it) and I can't see me ever owning one. I certainly don't buy my cars for the few occasions I have other peoples kids in it (even if they are related to me). I use my car every day and got it to suit my requirements.
 
Scout500 gets it. The advertising is aimed at hip young families, but like all cars in this sector te car appeals to a completely different crowd, wasn't laughing at you, was laughing at the poor advertising campaign that Fiat came up with.
 
Well I'm 51 and the advertising is definitely not aimed at me, even at a subliminal level. I don't like the car (yes, I have driven it) and I can't see me ever owning one. I certainly don't buy my cars for the few occasions I have other peoples kids in it (even if they are related to me). I use my car every day and got it to suit my requirements.

We did precisely the same.

I understand the point about the advertising/marketing but it's surprising how much advertising is targeted at younger people but in fact attracts an older generation to the product.

After all marketing a car in the same way as you market over 50's life insurance is never going to attract people to the product is it?

Ikea is a classic too - you see loads of people of my generation in their stores despite their advertising clearly being aimed at young professionals.
 
like all C+ cars they appeal to a wide section of the market, they are actually growing on me and I found myself looking at the 500L MPW at Carfest with appreciative eyes, compare it to the MINI ****ryman and you may find yourself apprciating it's looks too

the taller the car the easier it is to get in and out of, so helpful if you have dodgy hips :D
 
According to my local dealer they haven't retailed one yet, but put plenty on the motability scheme....

Cheers

D

I can imagine they would be very popular with people with limited mobility, and storage for a wheelchair would be no problem what so ever so yes ideal for anybody with a physical disability.

As to them retailing -

Well we collected ours on Sunday and it was parked amongst all the other 63 regs. waiting to be collected that day.

Our L was the only one I noticed, the rest of the FIATS waiting to be picked up were ALL 500's (and there was a shed load of them!)

Aside from ours I have only noticed one other and that was in Knottingley in Yorkshire (not our home town but somewhere we visit)

So it seems we can enjoy our 'exclusivity' a bit longer....:D
 
Lots of 500Ls on Mallorca being used as hire cars. One of the families we were away with had one and they were horrified by it. They are completely non-car people but even they could see it had nothing in common with the 500.
 
Lots of 500Ls on Mallorca being used as hire cars. One of the families we were away with had one and they were horrified by it. They are completely non-car people but even they could see it had nothing in common with the 500.

did they not know they are both made by FIAT? :D
 
It isn't just aimed at young people, it's aimed at young people with kids.

I personally think that Fiat screwed up with it's embarrassing advertising campaign.
 
Lots of 500Ls on Mallorca being used as hire cars. One of the families we were away with had one and they were horrified by it. They are completely non-car people but even they could see it had nothing in common with the 500.

there are some 500L hire cars at Edinburgh Airport too, kinda suprised me.
i have asked for one on my next trip

obviously no waiting list for this one!
 
I've seen a fair few in Norwich, and a couple driven by young families too.

Single people, particularly women, like the 500 because it is fashionable, small, easy to drive, economical and relatively cheap. Two colleagues have them in fact, for just these reasons - and they have been reliable too.

The 500L certainly appeals to a broader spectrum of people, particularly as it is wholly practical in so many ways, which the 500 isn't - no glove box, only two doors and relatively poor rear space.

And then there is the price. The 500L is expensive and it is older people who tend to have the disposable cash.

As a comparison, I have seen about four of the Vauxhall Adams in the same time as I have seen three times as many 500ls. Here's a small car targeted wholly at young people, with little in the way of practicality - the back seats make the 500 feel like a limousine and the seats are set too low to make ingress and egress easy - not much in the way of looks, and a painful need to be fashionable. It doesn't seem to be selling at all well. And the price :eek:
 
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I've seen a fair few in Norwich, and a couple driven by young families too.

Single people, particularly women, like the 500 because it is fashionable, small, easy to drive, economical and relatively cheap. Two colleagues have them in fact, for just these reasons - and they have been reliable too.

The 500L certainly appeals to a broader spectrum of people, particularly as it is wholly practical in so many ways, which the 500 isn't - no glove box, only two doors and relatively poor rear space.

And then there is the price. The 500L is expensive and it is older people who tend to have the disposable cash.

As a comparison, I have seen about four of the Vauxhall Adams in the same time as I have seen three times as many 500ls. Here's a small car targeted wholly at young people, with little in the way of practicality - the back seats make the 500 feel like a limousine and the seats are set too low to make ingress and egress easy - not much in the way of looks, and a painful need to be fashionable. It doesn't seem to be selling at all well. And the price :eek:

The Vauxhall Adams are horrible things to look at and not only do they have a truly awful name but the trim levels are equally as annoyingly named - 'Jam, Slam and Glam' - there ought to also be one called a 'Pram', as that's what it reminds me of with the contrasting roof option with the chrome trim. It looks just like the roof on an old Silver Cross pram (showing my age a bit there).
 

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Might be something to do with the price, I saw one in the dealers with a price tag north of £20k......

Then how does a Pop Star 1.4 in BNW for well under £14K sound? Huge discounts currently being offered and a generous contribution from FIAT.

And lets not forget this includes:-

16inch alloys,
A/C,
an excellent Bluetooth audio system with touch screen and Aux/usb connectivity,
Cruise control and speed limiter,
Stability control,
more airbags than you can shake a stick at,
height/rake adjustable leather steering wheel with phone and audio controls,
Leather gear knob,
6 Speed gerabox,
Thermic windscreen,
Front leccy windows,
Multiple rear seat configuration,
12V load comparmnet socket,
Variable height load floor in the luggage space with load hooks,
Trip computer,

an so on and so on.........we had no need to add any options to get a really well spec'd car.

It sure was a real no brainer for us and if ever the time is right to buy one this must be it. This being before either the popularity really picks up and the discounting and deposit contributions dry up or FIAT decide it's not a runner after all an axe it.
 
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