I've been raped again..

Left the B parked and found somebody (kids?) with time on their hands has had a really good pull at the hard top seal on the driver side. I need a new seal pronto as there's now a 5mm gap between glass and roof and its peeing rain.

Local Fiat deal promises delivery on Monday at €116 for a 18" piece of rubber channel

'Hey boy..pick up the soap..'

Anyone ever good a good price from their dealer for anything...?

Thats a bummer mate... no pun intended. I feel your pain. Incidentally, my B is the cheapest car I have ever owned in the last 25 years however, it is the one that causes me the most concern when I park it anywhere... does anybody else feel the same way?

Steve

Rustbucket said:

Anyone ever good a good price from their dealer for anything...?

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No. FIAT UK rob people in a blatant and inexcusable way. I'd let the rain come into my car before I gave those ****ers £100 for a piece of rubber.

Rustbucket said:

Anyone ever good a good price from their dealer for anything...?

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I got a good price once; door clips and interior trim clips 23p each. Bargain!

Does anyone have any evidence that parts from Fiat UK are more expensive than from Fiat in Italy? I go to Italy on holiday every year and, whilst I might struggle to bring a bonnet or a gearbox back, smaller parts wouldnt be a problem. With the poor exchange rate, the price difference would have to be considerable. Mind, I'm not offering... just thinking out loud, so to speak.

Bumble, I can't say for Italy, but here in France a window winder mechanism (the whole caboodle) is 300 euros, whilst Barchettaparts have it for 100 plus delivery. I know that is second hand and Fiat is new but even so, that is a heck of a difference. I will pop in to my local Fiat dealership to get some prices. I could do with a dose of valium - or armagnac as they call it round here!
Interesting to get price comparison from throughout Europe.

1) go without
2) get secondhand part
3) buy jap car, then you'll really find out about high prices!

4) Take it from another Barchetta :devil:

I get 20% Discount from my Fiat Dealer after building up a friendship with a nice chap called Pete.

Be nice to them and in turn they will do their best.

afroking said:

4) Take it from another Barchetta :devil:

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I didn't want to say that

Nino_1975 said:

I get 20% Discount from my Fiat Dealer after building up a friendship with a nice chap called Pete.

Be nice to them and in turn they will do their best.

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Yes thats very true, mark-up for hte dealer wont be much though so 20% is alot.

some dealers will give discount to ff members so always worth saying you are a member. i even heard of one giving bigger discounts to FF members than their own staff

Part of the issue for me is that you sometimes have to buy a complete assembly rather than a component - such as throttle body parts. My experience of Ford years back was that you could practically buy the atoms the car was made from, which makes a difference.

HP. said:

Part of the issue for me is that you sometimes have to buy a complete assembly rather than a component ..

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Dead right. New hood is a good example. Local dealership was only prepared to provide a 'complete' roof..ie metal frame and all the fixings + the actual cover, which was the bit that needed replacing. Quoted €2750 for the complete unit + €2100 to fit it. Now even by Fiat standards €4850+VAT at 21.5% is taking the proverbial. Apparently the fabric folding bit isn't available separately on Eper...Uh Huh.

Dublin Fiat dealer admitted their prices were on the high side of extortion and suggested ebay for the roof which they would then fit at €1000 but not give a warranty (fair enough on an unknown part) ..so sometimes they see reason.

Similar thing with my old coupe that was heavy on rear swinging arm wear..Fiat insisted on complete replacement at €250 per side every 20k miles while Alternative Auto's in UK did a repair kit for €40...

Rustbucket said:

Apparently the fabric folding bit isn't available separately on Eper...Uh Huh.

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hmm, it is listed separately though isn't it?

Rustbucket said:

Dead right. New hood is a good example. Local dealership was only prepared to provide a 'complete' roof..ie metal frame and all the fixings + the actual cover, which was the bit that needed replacing. Quoted €2750 for the complete unit + €2100 to fit it. Now even by Fiat standards €4850+VAT at 21.5% is taking the proverbial. Apparently the fabric folding bit isn't available separately on Eper...Uh Huh.

Dublin Fiat dealer admitted their prices were on the high side of extortion and suggested ebay for the roof which they would then fit at €1000 but not give a warranty (fair enough on an unknown part) ..so sometimes they see reason.

Similar thing with my old coupe that was heavy on rear swinging arm wear..Fiat insisted on complete replacement at €250 per side every 20k miles while Alternative Auto's in UK did a repair kit for €40...

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If Fiat dont physically make this part then they are at mercy of the supplier who dictate the price, as said dont know who actually does make it though?

T14086 said:

If Fiat dont physically make this part then they are at mercy of the supplier who dictate the price, as said dont know who actually does make it though?

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FIAT are big enough and wealthy enough, not to be at the mercy of anyone. You think one of the world's largest manufacturers can't make a few rubber extrusions? They just don't give a **** about customers or their needs.

Funkstar De Luxe said:

FIAT are big enough and wealthy enough, not to be at the mercy of anyone. You think one of the world's largest manufacturers can't make a few rubber extrusions? They just don't give a **** about customers or their needs.

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May I ask what evidence you have to support this answer?

From my experience, and as others have said, some dealers do indeed appear to be completely useless where others actually seem to care.

One branch in Teesside fell into the useless category, thankfully they don't sell Fiats any more.

Good point. Few car makers actually 'make' any parts beyond major components like engine, transmission and a few panels, most parts are bought in sub assembies from independent makers. B is a case in point where the whole thing bar the engine went out to contract.

However bulk purchasing by a major company has a huge influence on price. The supermarkets are experts at this and dictate the prices they pay to producers even to the extent of deciding when the supplier is going to give a promotional discount.

Is this a similar scam to buying a cheap computer printer? You then get shafted for the price of ink cartridges?

Still the prices seem exceptionally high. This coupled with the 'take it or leave it' attitude of the majority of Fiat dealerships doesn't help.

T14086 said:

May I ask what evidence you have to support this answer?

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From numerous encounters with incompetent FIAT UK (Scotland, actually).

"As of 2009, Fiat is the world's 6th largest carmaker as well as Italy's largest carmaker.". Wikipedia.

I'm not sure what bits you'd like me to justify. However, anyone who has needed a part for just about any FIAT (including the new 500), experiences long waits, high prices, and uninformed staff.