(G) just driven a 1.2 pop & ordered 1

Ummm hello,

So excited about the 500 I wanted to try and find like minded people. So thanks to google here I am.
I've been following the 500 since the concept, the recent launch prompted me to visit our local fiat dealership to basically just have a nose about. Well I visited the showroom on the 22nd and had placed a order by the 24th.
We currently run a 2004 1.2 panda which bar the radio (which has a mind of its own) has been brilliant. Its the wives car and she was'nt too keen on the 500. Well after a run out in the country side and accidentally passing a fiat dealership I managed to get her to test drive one (a 1.3mjt) lounge spec 500 and a 1.2 grande punto. The g/punto was soooo slow and gutless (nice car though) but the 500 was something else. It was peppy and drove brillantly and the kids fitted nicely in the back.
So we sat and configured our car online and went to 2 dealers to see who could offer the best deal. Both dealerships could'nt of been more helpfull with vospers eventually getting the deal.
We've ordered a 1.2 pop in pasadobla red with black n red interior (good or bad idea?) with 15" sport alloys, side rubbing strips with silver 500 logo's, chrome kit & air con.(with chrome mirrors & small italian badges & my FREE mats to be fitted upon PDI by the dealer). I've not driven a 1.2 so the dealer rang me to say that they had 1 in stock and I was welcome to drive it.It's is a white bog standard 1.2 pop which in its most basic spec and guise has a certain charm about it.
What a little gem, it drives sooooo well and feels much more lively than our panda even though it only had 7 miles on the clock). I had to ask the rep if it was the 1.4 as it felt so different to our 1.2 engined panda.
The point being is try a 1.2 before you buy another motored 500 as it was alot better than I dared hoped.
Sorry to waffle on but the wifes fed up with me talking 500's ALL the time so I need some like minded people.
The new addition to our family is due in late march, which is ages away

Cheers

Yoshi welcome...
Nice chice I too am getting Pasodoble red...and I also originally specced it out with the red/ivory leather interior

BUT

the kind people on the fiat forum posted me lots of pics of the red leather in this thread:

https://www.fiatforum.com/500/131591...nge-flesh.html

and I immediately ran down to my dealer and changed to the standard ivory cloth interior...! Saved me £600 and allowed me to add parktronic.

Good to hear that the 1.2 is so great!

I'm going for the 1.3 myself as I'm interested in super economy but with style and a hint of luxury!

Anyway I'm waiting for march with the same longing...if not MORE

yoshi, feel free to talk about the 500 here any time you like. You will always find an eager audience.

Wicked! So there are now 1.2s filtering into dealerships, fantastic! I'm glad you enjoyed the 1.2 as I've ordered one but have only tested the 1.4. The black and red CLOTH interior looks really nice, good choice

welcome to here

Thanks for the link to the seat pictures, I hope its not ALL TOO much red. Its just that I did'nt want it too dark inside what with the black dash n steering wheel etc.

The lighter interior cloth looks ideal but with my 2 mucky little people in the back it's the reason we've gone for the darker option. Although the top half (black part) of the seat is a type of vinyl which seems ideal to wipe down.

Thanks for the welcomes, I think there's going to be a whole lot of new members in the next few months

Hoping to get an update tomorrow on our build date...hope its good news.

Glad to hear you rated the 1.2, thats what I want... simply cos I cant afford another £1400 at the mo

Same here... I think £1400 is a little steep just to go up an engine option. The way I looked at it was the 1.2 and 1.3D had similar 0-60 times (I know in the real world the 1.3D will have better performance due to the extra torque) they were both £35 a year tax and the 1.2 is praised by most reviews, whether it be in the Panda or the 500. Although you'll get back some of the extra outlet when you come to sell a 1.3D 500, I just couldn't justify the extra inital outlet.

Don't worry Suasexed, I'm sure it's gonna be great + its the WAY you drive it that matters!