Well guys, I picked up my new baby this afternoon at about 4pm. Its completely luscious. But read on...

Took it out of the dealers, went about a mile up the road to Tesco, bought some eatables and of course I parked the new baby away from other cars! Came back and took the 500 to fill it up with juice. no problems. As I got back in the car, I noticed that my free mats hadnt been put in, so Mrs notts says "call back round the dealers and ill tell em". So off we pop. I turned into the dealership, dropped the mrs off to go ask about the mats, and went round the back to the car park to turn round and pick her up. She came out of the dealership, saying that they were sorry and we could pick up the mats in the morning. As I pulled out of the dealership, an old guy in a nissan pulled in, pulled across the front of me so I could pass. I pulled forward, waiting in the entrance to pull out into traffic, when guess what? The old fart only reversed into me! Id had the car a grand total of about 30 minutes. He carried on into the car park and I had to chase him and get him to roll down his window. He looked at me like I was from another planet. I told him he had reversed into me, and he said, oh, I thought it was a bollard or something I hit. I said no, it was my car that I only bought half an hour ago. When we went back into the dealership, 2 of the guys said "did that old bloke just reverse into you?!"

There doesnt seem to be any damage to the paintwork on the bumper, but the chrome strip has obviously been distorted as the top of it now has creases in it. Taking it back to the dealer in the morning, said they will look under the bumper to see if theres any damage underneath.

So can anyone beat this record for having someone run into your new 500? 30 mins is my record! Beat that!

I'm so sorry to hear that, I would have thumped the the old git.

At least it's only a peice of chrome though that can be easiley replaced, I'm sure it will be fine this time tomorrow.

OH no! Stupid old man!

I had a damaged car too so I know how you are feeling (although mine was done by a YTS car valeter at the dealer!)

Here's hoping it'll look like new tomorrow

Oh no, why are they always in Nissans? Hope the car is OK, you were lucky.

I'll bet the old boy had a hat on!!!

Mark Elvin said:

I'll bet the old boy had a hat on!!!

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Or should have gone to Specsavers!! ( I should point out that I don't work for the Specsavers, or are in any way conneceted to them )...although I have one of their specs on my nose as I write this...

On the more serious note, I'm very sorry for your shunt. Hope it will get sorted out tomorrow. Enjoy! (eventually...)

Melanabb said:

...although I have one of their specs on my nose as I write this...

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Surely you'd be better off with them on your eyes? Just an idea.

OMG I thought 67 miles for a new windscreen was bad enough! How can you mistake a car in your rear view mirror for a bollard, I know 500's are small but that is taking the micky!

Should have got his insurance details and claimed off him since it's entirely his fault and the car is brand new, stupid old **** shouldn't be on the road if he can't see cars behind him.

Hope all is OK with it apart from the chrome though.

cheers for good wishes guys! Think itll just be a matter of a new chrome bit, really dont want a new bumper! The guy was about 70, he did have thick glasses on and his eyes did look a bit cateracty to be honest! He looked totally nonplussed, as if he had woken up in Tescos in his pyjamas with no idea how he got there. Scary thing was, he had his granddaughter in the back, not secured in... I noticed this as when I passed she rubber necked my 500 and smiled at it! " I thought, theres the first smile my 500 has caused... then, crunch! Was I hoist on my own petard?! Smug that I had a car that made people smile?

I'm gutted for you - hope it is easily sorted and no paint required.

You could always blame the dealer "if you hadn't forgot to put my mats in.........." :idea:

500Matt

nottsfiat07 said:

cheers for good wishes guys! Think itll just be a matter of a new chrome bit, really dont want a new bumper! The guy was about 70, he did have thick glasses on and his eyes did look a bit cateracty to be honest! He looked totally nonplussed, as if he had woken up in Tescos in his pyjamas with no idea how he got there. Scary thing was, he had his granddaughter in the back, not secured in... I noticed this as when I passed she rubber necked my 500 and smiled at it! " I thought, theres the first smile my 500 has caused... then, crunch! Was I hoist on my own petard?! Smug that I had a car that made people smile?

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You appear remarkably calm about the whole incident, good luck with the repair.

Actually I almost blamed the Mrs.." If you hadnt made me go back for the mats there and then..." LOL but I live with her so there's nothing to be gained from that!


In my younger days I would have kicked off big style Im sure, but now I guess Im resigned to the fact that "s**t happens". Im actually glad I didnt as the guys son in law works at the dealership and being "big" about it will probably get it sorted for me without fuss if its not an insurance job. If I had slagged the old guy off and had a benny at him they would probably pee in my windscreen washer fluid or summat while they were looking for damage LOL

"Go softly amongst the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. Then they won't wee in your washer fluid."

Oh Notts, how horrible I tried to reply to this last night but the forum kept crashing on me.

Hope there is just the chrome strip damaged and nothing underneath bent.

Can't wait to see her!
Snowball
x

cheers snowball! If it actually stops raining at any point tomorrow I will take some pics!

Went back to dealers this morning, they had a really good look at it and there isnt any damage to anything under the bumper. The chrome strip across the bumper was obviously where the nissan hit, and it was distorted which resulted in the top edge of the chrome strip being buckled and also 2 small cracks in it, which I couldnt see in the dark last night. They have quoted £108 for a new chrome strip and £28 for a new black bit which sits underneath. They did say tho that it is held on with plastic clips which go through the bumper and are then heat welded on behind, so they are not sure if they can do it, it may need to go to a body shop, but it shouldnt be a big job. Ive left it with the old guys son in law who works at the dealers, he is gonna get back to me with how they want to proceed, probably just pay for the repair. Just occured to me whether or not they can do it without taking the bumper off, Id prefer it if they could leave it intact and do it from underneath, but we will have to see.

Other than that, spent loads of time in it today and I think its great! Everything seems to work so far, got my phone paired no trouble and phone book transferred. Made and recieved a few calls and everyone could hear me ok and it was well loud over the speakers. Sophia the blue and me lady who lives in my car had no problem understanding my instructions both on the phone side and in navigating round the tracks on my usb stick. Quite impressed with the stereo, its so much better than the one in my panda! No rattles or anything. Overall, it feels quality. When I think back to our cinquecento (which we loved at the time) this feels several hundred steps up.

Looking forward to showing you guys some pics if I can tomorrow!

I once had really bad luck when I was test driving a 500. I was going around the Kingstown Industrial Estate (The place in 'lisle where all the dealers are) I got in traffic behind a pickup truck, which was carrying some cartons of oil, and he went really fast round the junction, and guess what a 5 litre carton of oil fell out, right into the path of the car!!!!!!! I could react and the entire right hand side of the car got covered in it, thankfully the salesman got the number of the truck, and it was put througth the wash right away, the car is still there, immaculate :-D I just coudnt believe my bad luck :-D :-D

Well if I had been driving it, with my luck the oil would have probably landed on the bonnet and left a great dent too! At least the salesman was with you, so you didnt just turn up back at the garage with the demonstrator covered in gunk! explain that!

thought Id give an update... old bloke has paid the estimated cost to the garage for replacing my chrome trim, so just waiting for them to get the parts! Tried to wriggle out of it a bit but threat of going thru insurance made him stump up! Plus... sat in back seat today for first time today, noticed a lump in the pocket behind the drivers seat, and there was a towing eye in there! Looked in boot under carpet and there are already 2 in there too! So i got 3 now! Odd! Anyone wanna buy one? lol