First off, this isn't reflective of every dealer in the country, but I had to sail through a **** storm to get my car in the spec I ordered and it looks like the wind's blowing my way again so I'd like to share this to save anyone else having to put up with this nonsense.

I ordered my car with a fair few options on it, so much so that they ran out of space on my vehicle order form which acted as my reciept and details of my agreement with the dealer. Through some degree of foresight (and cos I don't trust no-one), I made them print out the the notes they were sending along with the order to Fiat which included the entire options list.

Fast forward three months and the guy who sold me the car has shifted departments so some guy who isn't particularly au fait with the order takes over.

Despite me assuring him I had paperwork describing my order, he was intensely convinced that the options I'd ordered that had to be fitted by the dealer weren't on the order at all because they weren't on the vehicle order form.

As an aside, I was also 'reminded' that I'd been quoted a price that didn't include fitting my bodykit so I shouldn't complain about the other parts in issue (namely sports pedals and carpet mats) because I was getting the car at effectively discounted price. It's always a nice **** take when a dealer tells you they're doing you a favour by staying in concordance with a contract they've signed...

After a load of to-ing and fro-ing, I contacted Fiat customer support who seemed to clatter a few skulls together and suddenly my car had pedals and mats being fitted. Turns out they were effectively fitted for free which I imagine was to avoid an excessive confrontation and/or red faces.

I've now had the car two weeks and in those two weeks I've been trying to unsuccessfully contact the dealer to ask about the alarm that was supposed to be fitted. Despite them telling me they'd call back they never have. I'd assumed it was a factory fit and (I'll put my hands up) naively assumed it'd be fitted. Turns out the alarm is a part that the dealer has to fit.

Now we're back at the stage where the dealer says it wasn't part of the order but I've got the paperwork to back it up. Fiat customer service are involved again and doing their job fantastically. Bottom line is something's gonna get done because I was quoted a price for a fully specced car and they haven't matched that spec. Whether it's ends up fitted or, preferably, the price of the alarm refunded to me because I'd rather never deal with this dealer again, I will prevail because I've got the paperwork to back me up.

So, what have we learned today

• If you're buying a 500, due to the distribution of factory fit and dealer fit options you can have added to your order, make sure you have absolutely every little detail in black and white before you sign anything

• Be aware of what is and what isn't factory fit, what the dealer has to fit and make sure all costs of fitting are included in the price they're quoting you

Borderline educational rant over

Gotta know, who's the dealer ??

Yes who is the dealer?

Crikey, not great. I hope this all gets sorted for you, I have to say, I didn't realise until after I had ordered my 500 and reading posts on here that some of the items were dealer fit and that they weren't all fitted when manufactured.

I hope a conclusion is reached for you, either the alarm gets fitted or you get the money back. Kind of puts a dampener on things though doesn't it...

the 500 dealer fit alarm has only been recently released.

I'll be honest when i first done a PDI on a 500 with loads of extras, i thought it should have been factory fit, but thankfully all the stuff ive fittted so far has been a doddle but i will admit all the chrome extra's go to our local bodyshop to be bonded on that is apart from the wing mirror cover's

And ive yet to seen one with an alarm or fit on for that matter, im keen to get one on mine to, i may make my car the guinea pig, well that is when it finally turns up!!

But i hope you get all your prob's sorted damiano. just keep in contact with customer services, they will get the job sorted!

nightmare - always worth getting it in black and white.

Also if you realise after (like the alarm) that its not fitted you can 'reject' the car, leaving them to sell it second hand as its been registered to you and driven for a week! - think they'll just fit you an alarm..

Simmo1 said:

Also if you realise after (like the alarm) that its not fitted you can 'reject' the car

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No you can't.

Taking delivery of a car without first checking it is fitted with everything it should be/everything you've paid for is not grounds for rejecting it.

Well, not unless a "I'm too stupid to check these things before driving away" clause has recently been added?

You can refuse to take delivery of an incorrectly specified car, but not return it once you have.

Scrogg said:

No you can't.
You can refuse to take delivery of an incorrectly specified car, but not return it once you have.

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Damiano, what a horrible episode, especially when Fiat bang-on about the thousands of options customers can have. Like many things in life, the boardroom dictates new things that the factory floor never gets trained on.

I'm sure i wont be needing to reject mine in about 5 weeks time, Scrogg

kj2000 said:

I'm sure i wont be needing to reject mine in about 5 weeks time, Scrogg

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I'm sure you won't

...as long as I ordered it right!

my dealer told me that anything in the sales brochure that has a code number is factory fit e/g rear parking sensors are 508 skydome roof is 400 everything else with no number incl: the alarm are dealer fitted