General Where's the best place to place my 500 order?

Baerius · Jan 15, 2008

Hi FF members
I'm a newbie, this is my first post. I discovered the forum today and decided to join as I am soon going to buy a 500, (yay!). It will be my first ever car so I've been doing extensive research on the subject for some time now.

About two days ago I finally decided on the new Fiat 500 and excitedly began looking for dealers. That's when the problems began.

I live in Scotland and unfortunately, up here, Fiat is franchised by a dealer called Arnold Clark (AC).

For the past two days I have been asking about this dealership including random Fiat owners about Edinburgh, and looking at reviews on the net, (reviewcentre.com) and not once have I heard a good thing! I am beginning to have doubts about even buying in Scotland as AC seem to have a monopoly up here. In fact the reviews for fiat Scotland have been so bad I might go for my second choice and get a merc A class 2nd hand!!! (But I don't want to) What I do want is to be able to place my order with confidence and not with a dealership whose reputation is, at the moment, on a par with outfits from the criminal fraternity!

My question is, has anyone placed an order for a 500 yet and had complete confidence in the people they were dealing with?

I would be very interested in hearing some opinions and recommendations. And I wouldn't mind traveling to England or London to place my order there.
Many thanks.

rallycinq · Jan 15, 2008

Speak to Derek at Parks of East Kilbride. They are not AC.

I've ordered my 500 from him

Cheers

David

Oh and 'Hi'

Venters · Jan 16, 2008

:chin: Thats a tough one. I'm not sure who I'd recommend.

Stuartl · Jan 16, 2008

Hi And welcome.
Jump on the boat over to N.I and go to Mervyn Stewarts in Belfast. Can't reccomend them highly enough.

Baerius · Jan 16, 2008

I will probably trawl the various branches around Scotland first, get a feel for the atmosphere. Pushy salesmen and I'm outta there though, I know what I want!
1.3 Diesel lounge
Interscope system (Essential..I'm a musician))
foglights
16in
Azure
tan leather/ivory
Max chrome!
Foggys
Auto Climate Control
park sensor
And and and
Just hope I can find someone who won't screw up my order!

porlus · Jan 16, 2008

You might have to rethink the interscope bud. Apparently
its been delayed till later this year. I was going to get it
on mine and cancelled it in the end

Baerius · Jan 16, 2008

mmm....no interscope = deal breaker..good quality sound system is an absolute must for me...might no be able to wait...

NEWFIAT500ROCKS · Jan 17, 2008

I Know it would be a long way but i have found Andy Stubbs in Mill Lane Aldershot a good salesman to talk to he knows everything there can be about the 500 so give him a call 01252 322002 dont talk to the salesman there talk to Andy Stubbs the sales manager he will be able to do the deed for you and is a really great guy.

Baerius · Jan 17, 2008

Hey dude, thanks for that, I'll check him out. Any ideas when interscope might be available as an option?

dave · Jan 17, 2008

Baerius said:
I live in Scotland and unfortunately, up here, Fiat is franchised by a dealer called Arnold Clark (AC).

.

you maybe reading out of date reviews, ac fiat have got a lot better the last year or so, we used to get complaints about them on here, but now we get good reports about them

rallycinq · Jan 17, 2008

AC are getting a load of complaints up here still. One of our Subaru salesmen used to work for AC and he was wearing his AC jacket (with the badge covered up) The cover fell off while speaking to a customer who immediately went to walk out as he wasn't buying a car from AC.

Cheers

D

Venters · Jan 17, 2008

rallycinq said:
AC are getting a load of complaints up here still. One of our Subaru salesmen used to work for AC and he was wearing his AC jacket (with the badge covered up) The cover fell off while speaking to a customer who immediately went to walk out as he wasn't buying a car from AC.

Cheers

D

Makes you wonder how he sells so many more cars than anyone else put together up here, and gets so much repeat business.

You have a bad experience you maybe tell 10 people.
You have a good experience you maybe tell 1 person.

T14086 · Jan 17, 2008

AC fiat techs always do well in fiat top tech of year competitions & one garage (ayr fiat I think) came top in scotland/north england,but there are plenty of other options/garages/specialists to go to

Baerius · Jan 18, 2008

Thanks for this guys. It seems as though there is still quite a feeling against AC from a significant proportion of its customer base, I know the argument that 'AC sells a lot of cars therefore it will have more dissatisfaction' is valid, but it IS a monopoly, and if you look at a company like Sony, well their satisfied/dissatisfied ratio is much lower than AC in relation to it's size and Sony is a GIANT!
But I will give AC a visit, if they **** me off I'll let you know, as I will if they are excellent... I think it's important to speak up about your dealership experience on these forums, both positive and negative; it's like the most important thing about buying a car and I believe it is essential that when an individual builds up an enormous sum like 12 grand with the intention of buying a car, then the dealer should respect this significant effort of will and understand where the customer is coming from....lose the cavalier attitude and look at it from the buyer's point of view. Good customer service is EASY and makes a huge difference, all you have to do is tell the truth and people will totally respect that, people will always come back to buy from an honest person... I know I would!
What I am trying to say is that AC shouldn't have such a bad rep! It's because of this that I'm considering buying an A-Class, simply because MB dealers have less of a bad rep! (Still bad but less so lol). That and the interscope and leather interior delays!

seadragon · Jan 18, 2008

Baerius said:
Thanks for this guys. It seems as though there is still quite a feeling against AC from a significant proportion of its customer base, I know the argument that 'AC sells a lot of cars therefore it will have more dissatisfaction' is valid, but it IS a monopoly, and if you look at a company like Sony, well their satisfied/dissatisfied ratio is much lower than AC in relation to it's size and Sony is a GIANT!
But I will give AC a visit, if they **** me off I'll let you know, as I will if they are excellent... I think it's important to speak up about your dealership experience on these forums, both positive and negative; it's like the most important thing about buying a car and I believe it is essential that when an individual builds up an enormous sum like 12 grand with the intention of buying a car, then the dealer should respect this significant effort of will and understand where the customer is coming from....lose the cavalier attitude and look at it from the buyer's point of view. Good customer service is EASY and makes a huge difference, all you have to do is tell the truth and people will totally respect that, people will always come back to buy from an honest person... I know I would!
What I am trying to say is that AC shouldn't have such a bad rep! It's because of this that I'm considering buying an A-Class, simply because MB dealers have less of a bad rep! (Still bad but less so lol). That and the interscope and leather interior delays!

My MB dealer sucks, worst service ever, wouldnt recommend them to anyone, no knowledge and cant be bothered to help !!!!!

I am getting my car from a dealer in Gloucester, awesome knowledge and servce. I also want the interscope badly but i love the 500 will get it retro-fitted whenever it becomes available.

dave · Jan 18, 2008

buy some fiatforum clothes then wear them to the dealers, customer service is a lot better then

Baerius · Jan 18, 2008

Retrofitted? Is that possible without getting the trim all screwed up? Mmm, now I'm getting some hope back. Who's your dealer in Gloucester? Does anyone have an idea of how long interscope might take if you option it in your order?

Baerius · Jan 18, 2008

Dave: LOL nice one!!!

Venters · Jan 18, 2008

Baerius said:
I think it's important to speak up about your dealership experience on these forums, both positive and negative;

It's a shame more people are not like that.

Sony is a manufacturer that makes products. AC sell product and service. It's not really a fair comparison.

Edit: I just hope you pick the right guy to speak too now. Don't want to eat my words!

Baerius · Jan 19, 2008

Actually went into Edinburgh AC today and checked out their 500, sat in it, played around with the switch gear...have to say....very solidly built...AC salesman was a bit vague but pleasant enough...although he says Auto climate control comes as standard on lounge spec....is this true as on the configurator it's an extra....

Feel much better now that I went, although the salesman said it would be a 12 week delivery for a 'standard' spec and October 08 for a 'special' spec! Don't think I can wait that long...but at least he was honest..
Also went to MB and looked at the A-class....ooo tempting....Fiat a lot more fun looking but could be dare I say it... a little....gay?

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