(G) We have our first new 500!

I flew down to Turin on Wednesday and drove out new 500 1.3 M-Jet 16v back on Thursday. 1300km in its first day and it took it all in its stride without an issue.

We went for the silver metallic with half leather trim :-)

Lots of things to be done to her so watch this space.

Updates on the new product lines are coming soon too :-)

Cheers all

Nigel
www.nuova500shop.com

PS Had loads of pics taken yesterday if I can work out how to put them up I will!!

Try these two for starters. I just like the B&W medium for cars, gives it a dramatic edge

Sorry about the quality of some of them, they were taken with a mobile phone as the camera packed up!

Pic 1
06:06 as I left Turin with 13km on the clock. Thats 05:06 UK time by the way! Drove off into the Alps in the dark and watched as the sun rose - fantastic

Pic 2
Yep thats a bona fide Alp there in the background!

Pic 3
On the way!

Pic 4
On the channel tunnel. Its 250€ if you dont book in advance, but i was on the train in 24 from arriving though!

Pic 4
Cleaned up and taken to Avon Dasset for a glorious photo shoot

nice..........!!!

wow they look nicer then i thought they would!

Congrats, must have been an exciting experience. Out of curiosity can you tell us something about how you arranged the purchase. Also what is the ride like as this has been critisized in some quarters.

The large circular instrument panel looks kind of.. weird..

the new 500 in my opinion is a mix of the new micra and a mini- where i work have imported a black 1 they are pretty cool little motors!

What size wheels you got on yours NF500SHP?
15s supposed to be bouncy but ok ride
16+ supposed to be a harsh ride

The wheels are going to be changed for 17's from a Grande Sporting to see what they look like but nothing is firm yet (no pun intended) and things are likely to be changed. We are altering the suspension as soon as the Eibachs are released so will match that up accordingly and try some different set ups as things develop.

The large central instrument panel works after a while, the only downside is that I like my steering wheel low down and as such I cant see anything over about 40 kmh!

The ride - it depends on your terminology. The ride, i.e. road comfort is absolutely fine, I did 1300km in one day without any side affects and I am a wuss for comfort (I normally drive a 166 Lusso). The handling and grip though are not as good as it should be in my initial opinion. The biggest problem I have is that it gets unsettle very quickly if you are anything other than positive through the twisty's if you are driving it with any kind of verve. Its a very short wheelbase which although front wheel drive does tend to make you a little insecure at times. I am sure with a little less body roll and some more experience of driving it that it will be sorted. Please bear in mind I have only driven this for a day and mainly on motorways.

As soon as I have got the car on UK license plates and been through the whole import cycle I will write up how it was done.

The best thing is I can't help looking out the office window and smiling at it - which is simply one of the best things about it. I took it to two dealerships and stopped all work in all quarters there as they just wanted to come and look at it (and one was a Mitsubishi dealers lol!)

Congratulations on doing a personal import of a 500.

I thought about, and talked about it, but then did nothing - partly because the family told me it was a daft idea.

You obviously thought about it and actually did it.
Well done

You even drove it home - I think I might have wimped out and got someone else to drive it (or transport it) home for me!

Keep us updated. Have you contacted Fiat and told them of your 500Shop plan. If so have they given you any information about the UK launch?

Driving in Europe is so much better than in the UK to be honest. The only issue I had was when I got back to the UK - the standard of our driving is appaling and our roads are crap in comparison. I have driven a lot in Europe before and thoroughly enjoy it whereas here, its a chore!

Fiat UK are not a lot of use to anyone to be honest, you talk to them at shows and over the phone but they know less than most. I am great friends with our local dealership who are great guys, but they never get told anything until the last minute either!

The car is being whisked off for a magazine shoot and write up on Thursday, then its off for its UK conversion then in about 3 weeks it should be on the road on UK plates (private plate N 500 SHP ).

Several customer's of Walkers Garage Northallerton bought there's in Italy at the start of august and did that same trip across france to britain.

Scroll down page link below to see full story and mor pics.
http://www.walkers-garage.co.uk/

belated reply, but pics taken at avon dasset... you around this way then?