Dealers.

Went and seen mine yesterday. They now have in a bossa nova 1.2 lounge, 1.3 diesel cha cha blue lounge and a 1.4 sport in red.

You cant drive them, unless you are considering buying one and a test drive may sway you. I have ordered two cars around £20k - £22k in value i cant drive them till launch?

My cars both confirmed for jan 21st delivery. Im told my 1.4 sport is 'defo' coming but then 2secs later says they cant 'promise' it.

My lounge is 'defo' coming feb. Not really the dealers fault as this was one of the cars i got through Fiat direct as part of that '500 range they did on fiat500.com

It makes me laugh, they also havent even asked how im going to be paying. All they have is a £500 deposit for the dealer ordered car.

They are probs thinking if i dont buy them, someone else will.

As far as i'm aware no dealers are allowing test drives but are letting the public see the car.

I take it your buying 2 500's?

im buying two: 1.2 lounge and a 1.4 sport.

my dealer said they can do test drives though only if your undecided? Im not ive ordered 2.

I wouldn't buy any car without a test drive let alone 2 however after a test drive they are better than I expected

Where in the Uk are U shiggy?

Only the red and white 1.4 petrols are at dealers at the moment.

None I have rung,have a 1.3 diesel or 1.2 demos oop Yorkshire way yet.

Also dont be too down if yours dont come for 21 jan.

Not sure any customers cars will be here 4 that date: Feb at the earliest.

It's not just me and the salesmen ive spoken too who says that.
Sales manager atWessex garages Gloucester main Fiat dealer and others who come on here (no names as they may not want to be named) say Feb/Mar for customers cars.

test drives are defo available at some dealers:
Peeps on here and on nf500.com have had test drives with
Autoworld, Chesterfield
W>Garages, Gloucester
Coventry Fiat, Coventry

Some dealers have recieved their Cha Cha Cha Azure 1.3 MultiJets - Wessex should be getting theirs next week. Can't wait... I want to check out the colour I've ordered in the flash!!

The official line from Fiat is that all 500s are to be kept hidden until the launch on January 21st, but as Ms_Cinq has said, there are some dealers offering test drives already as they are more interested in keeping customers happy than keeping Fiat happy.

I have posted this elsewhere, but to again confirm what Ms_Cinq has said, the build dates for 500s are:

Initial launch allocation of 2 units per dealer - Week 3 (week-commencing 14th January)
All other customer cars - Week 5 onwards (week-commencing 28th January)

Allow 2-3 weeks for delivery after build.

As for demonstrators, all dealers are getting the same three cars, a 1.4 Sport, 1.4 Lounge and 1.3 Lounge, so it will almost impossible to get a test-drive in a 1.2 until at least February/March, and then only if your dealer uses one of it's allocation to order one as a demonstrator.

Suasexed said:

Some dealers have recieved their Cha Cha Cha Azure 1.3 MultiJets

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They are now 'In Transit' so all dealers should be getting them next week.

Dunno about making me laugh, I still have not had an order form for my car yet, despite an alleged build date of week 5.

Apparently "it's not something we do normally"!!!!!

Although I have managed to get them to write a letter to me confirming my order & my spec.

T14086 said:

As far as i'm aware no dealers are allowing test drives but are letting the public see the car.

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Well we've just come back from Arnold Clark in Paisley. The '500 Specialist' allowed us out to test drive a 1.4 Sport in red.

It was good to compare with the 100HP as it has the same engine and many similar internal knobs amd switches.

Engine was still tight so couldn't really compare performance or use of 'sport' button. Liked the fact that the 1.4 had a six speed box but would have liked the digital air con to be standard as per the 100HP. Lots of nice retro touches in the interior.

On the whole we were generally impressed with it and are considering a 'Sport' version in the near future, perhaps even in the 1.2 petrol engine size.

Arnold Clark in Paisley. The '500 Specialist'

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No more a specialist than any other dealer IMO

1.2 for me if I'm paying for it I think
1.3 if the boss is paying probably

Can't find either to have a try in yet.
If dealers will have 2 or all 3 engines sizes at their garage by next week, why are lots of them going to Birmingham area to a Fiat event to try them out? Why not just use their own.

Still dont see how shiggys garage got all three engine sizes at the mo.

Tell them you are thinknig of buying another one but need persuading lol

my dealer has a bossa nova 1.2 lounge, a 1.4 red sport and a 1.3 diesel cha cha blue lounge. im not not lying ive seen them in the flesh.

My dealer has now said my sport should be coming on jan 21st with the lounge coming feb.

The 1.2 lounge has the italia side stripe and also the electric sunroof, which has supposed delays and manual air con which also has delays on as well? odd.

shiggy said:

my dealer has a bossa nova 1.2 lounge, a 1.4 red sport and a 1.3 diesel cha cha blue lounge. im not not lying ive seen them in the flesh.

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It's not a 1.2 - it's a 1.3 diesel. All dealers were given the exact same launch cars, a Red 1.4 Sport with 16" multi-spoke wheels and a white stripe. A 1.3 White Lounge with the Italia stripe and a Cha Cha Cha Lounge which has yet to arrive at most dealers. That's a 1.3 aswell.

Dont deny U R just telling us what U hv been told Shiggy .Just doubt if the 1.2 is really a 1.2 never mind what they said to you.

Would they recognise a 1.2 Shiggy? Would you know the diff between the 1.2 and 1.4 engine even with the bonnet open? I wouldn't.

Are the salesmen hoping people who ask for a 1.2 test drive go out in that and think **wow what a corker-super engine** and order a 1.2 when its a 1.4 U been out in really.Also just a bit doubtful if U R actually gonna get one for 21 Jan.

Could they just be telling U what they think U want to hear Shigg?.

Maybe U R a very special customer and your Ist car is being built mid jan and being flown in by Army Chopper or something. Just dont be too sad if they leave a message on your answerphone soon saying ***Good news arrival in feb, but hey fantastic news U get the 08 plate now and it'll be worth more when U sell it***

Where is this dealer U R using?

Are they next to Portbury docks or something?We are talking a UK main dealer here are we or are you Fiat staff and buying direct from Fiat Group?If U R an ordinary retail customer U R doing well if U get it in Jan that's all.Good luck with it.

Ms_Cinq said:

If U R an ordinary retail customer U R doing well if U get it in Jan that's all.Good luck with it.[/B] :thumb

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Even people who ordered back in October, like Mark, have build dates of week 5 which equates to mid-February delivery.

I've bought a 1.2 Lounge and that's going to be week 7 build so should expect it the first week of March

spot on.
A red 1.4 sport,white 1.4 lounge,baby blue 1.3 diesel to each dealer. I know its true, kevin told me, but he prob got it from you at nf500.

Which dealer is shiggy using and I'll ring as a possible customer with the polygraph-porkie-detecteron device connected to the phone line. :devil:


Some dealers make U laugh alright. If U didnt laugh U wd cry

Ms_Cinq said:

If dealers will have 2 or all 3 engines sizes at their garage by next week, why are lots of them going to Birmingham area to a Fiat event to try them out? Why not just use their own.

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Because it's a free couple of days out that will be loads of fun with two nights in a hotel all paid for

Would you turn it down?

would you turn it down

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NO

Coventry or Birmingham this one?
Where abouts exactly
PM me if its a secret.

Ibis Coventry, ICC Birmingham, Donington Park Derbyshire have all benn used so far for the 500. No xpense spared.

Ms_Cinq said:

NO

Coventry or Birmingham this one?
Where abouts exactly
PM me if its a secret.

Ibis Coventry, ICC Birmingham, Donington Park Derbyshire have all benn used so far for the 500. No xpense spared.

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Well I'm going to somwhere just outside Coventry tomorrow!