General The first official showing of the 500 in the UK

[ensonricky]

The first official showing of the 500 is currrently taking place at the VivaItalia show at Olympia that runs until Sunday. http://www.vivaitaliashow.eu/

They have two 1.4 Lounge models on display in Pearl and White. Unlike some motorshows you have full access to the cars, I even opened the engine bay to check the capacity. There is little information available and they are just taking addresses for the forwarding of Brochures at this stage. I did ask for the launch date and they said that the official launch is next month but the first cars will not be available for sale until next year.

I will download some pictures later but the models on display looked superb. The interior is fantastic, only slightly let down by one or two items that were not of the same quality as the rest, such as the sunroof blind and the seat height adjuster.

Fiat really looked like a company on the up, the coorporate hospitality was second to none wth drink and food being supplied at regular intervals. The other cars on display also looked good but the interior of the 500 is a real stand out. A Bravo, Panda and Grande Punto are also on the stand.

Anyone who lives in or near London and is interested in the 500 should pay a visit, tickets are £10.00 and you more than make that up in free food and drink!

 

[ensonricky]

A few images of the Fiat stand.

 

[Ms_Cinq]

official launch is next month

Is that right? Official launch November????????

I thought The rhd cars dont arrive til december at the earliest and cannot to be sold til Jan/feb 08. so thats a long launch period and should nicely hack off the dealers and traders who are trying to shift left hookers at exhorbitant prices...

 

[KevinB]

Well first I think the Fiat 500 will be awarded Car of the The Year 2008 Award and then the UK launch can start- I expect it to start fairly soon and for prices to be announced fairly soon- even though there will probably only be LHD vehicles available for test drives.

Not many weeks to the start of the 500s UK launch, but a long wait for customers to get their 'bespoke' 500s made for them IMO.

 

[sikersh]

I'm VERY tempted to put a deposit down on one, prob wait until after Xmas if I can hold myself back!

 

[KevinB]

Lots of UK buyers seem to be putting deposits down, but I think they will be waiting ages to get their Right Hand Drive cars as the factory in Poland works full time churning out the LHD vehicles.

I'm guessing UK prices could be announced next month, but you will expected to order without taking a test drive at all, or to do a test drive in a LHD car. Not an ideal situation.

 

[sikersh]

This is what I just received via email from my local Stoneacre Fiat:

"Fiat are currently taking deposits of £500. What happens then is your car will go to the front of the queue in the production line. All dealers have two on order for demonstration cars, the people who leave deposits will be next to get there's."

I've just asked how long should buyers expect to wait for there 'bespoke' 500's. Hopefully get an answer soon, but they don't seem too clued-up to be honest!

Si

 

[ensonricky]

I agree that for bespoke examples purchasers will be waiting until the middle of next year for delivery. Something to consider is that new engines will be introduced to the range next year, although whether they will be available in this country anyone knows. Another change due next year is the stop start mechanism for fuel conservation that may be standard on most of the range.

I expect to hear in the next couple of weeks when my online 500 reservation with be available together with the final specification. Full details will be posted when I receive them.

 

[KevinB]

Thanks, for the information sikersh- its a lot more than I was told by my local branch of Stoneacre.

The replies I have seen from Fiat Customer Services in the UK are a bit pathetic too. I suppose I should feel sorry for the Fiat staff...people are asking for the info and they just don't seem to have it. (I should but I dont)

TWO demo 500s per dealership sounds a bit optimistic to me, but I suppose it might happen ......by next Easter!

TWO Right Hand Drive 500s per dealership this side of Xmas is probably not going to happen... and if it does I'll go to a smallish dealership and make them an offer they can't refuse on one of them. I fancy a 500 Lounge for 1st Jan delivery, I'm not too bothered about colour, I'd even pay a tad above list price (maybe)!

Ensonricky:The "500 wants you" internet promotion was a bit of a disappointment for Italian and French customers - they didn't get their cars before everyone else. I think it might work well for UK buyers - Fiat will be keen not to repeat the mistakes made before. IMO they will be 1.4s only. As I understand it we do not get the 1.2 vehicles or the cheaper 'Popular' version in the UK until later in the year.

I expect 500 to win Car of the Year Award(s) and then prices can be announced to everyone, and then the launch can commence: All this can happen before the end of Nov.
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Update: An anonymous source (a young lad who works for an agency which produces bumf for Fiat) thinks RHD 500s are still NOT going to arrive any earlier than we thought (i.e. we have to wait til 2008 still) even though the UK launch period may well start earlier than we previously thought (ie before end of 08). He thinks the chances of me buying and taking delivery of a RHD 500 on 1st Jan 08 are absolutely ZERO.​

 

[sikersh]

It'll definitely win Euro Car of the Year If it does, Fiat deserve a LOT of praise for re-inventing something so iconic.

I'll hopefully get more info tomorrow from Stoneacre Fiat regarding the prices for the cars and accessories.

That £500 deposit is very tempting and with me just getting a New job, I'm on the edge. Just need the prices now for everything

Si

 

[Ms_Cinq]

Nobody knows prices really but the sales toads will take your money off you if they can to get an order.it is what they are trained to do.

Use search button on this site to see what others say stoneacre are like and good luck.

 

[sikersh]

Nobody knows prices really but the sales toads will take your money off you if they can to get an order.it is what they are trained to do.

Use search button on this site to see what others say stoneacre are like and good luck.

The Fiat garage near my house used to be a Lythgoe, but Stoneacre have (only recently) taken it over. Same people are there (I'm on first name terms with the guy in parts...thats Punto GT's for you ) and they have been O.K upto yet, might be a different kettle of fish when buying a car though...

I'm going to see what details they provide me with, I won't be rushing into getting one, I might leave it until after Feb '08 before going for one, I'll have to see.

 

[N500SHP]

From what we can gather the lower spec versions are not going to be released here initially, just the higher spec ones. The idea is to match the price of the lower spec Mini - seems a bit daft to me lol!

 

[KevinB]

Yes, I think we get the more expensive ones first in the UK and then when the initial rush is over and we have spent all our cash,the cheaper ones come available. That's a pity because from what we've read in some articles the little 1.2 is a great little engine and much more economical than the 1.4)

I predict the lower spec ones will be available in the UK when FORD get near to announcing the prices for their version of the vehicle (the FORD KA) due out in late 2008.

Be warned FIAT: If you make the prices too high for the 500, people like myself will wait for the cheaper Ford Ka badged version​

 

[Suasexed]

Yes, I think we get the more expensive ones first in the UK and then when the initial rush is over and we have spent all our cash,the cheaper ones come available. That's a pity because from what we've read in some articles the little 1.2 is a great little engine and much more economical than the 1.4)

The 1.2 is great little engine. Pretty lively a free reving - it matches the 1.4 up until the higher revs for power, so unless you really rev the 1.4 it's not going to feel that much quicker than the 1.2. I'm hanging on until the 1.2s are out - or maybe even the 2cyl jobbies

 

[volxstu]

TBH I think it looks like a Micra with some Italian clothes on

 

[T14086]

Be warned FIAT: If you make the prices too high for the 500, people like myself will wait for the cheaper Ford Ka badged version​

KA's rust

 

[Suasexed]

KA's rust

So do most cars which were first built (and haven't changed) over 10 years ago.

 

[KevinB]

Mine dont rust, I don't keep them long enough
Anyway they only rust after the first 18 months or so!

I am hoping that the new Fiat built Ford Ka (to be built alongside the Fiat 500 at Fiat's Tychy plant) will use the same steel as the 500, but will just be moulded into a different shape. The Ford version will probably be cheaper too.

 

[Suasexed]

Mine dont rust, I don't keep them long enough
Anyway they only rust after the first 18 months or so!

If looked after well they should never rust