General Abarth Collection Day - today

Currently reading:
General Abarth Collection Day - today

w12ksy

New member
Joined
Mar 23, 2009
Messages
5
Points
2
Location
Steeple Bumpstead
Well today was the day to pick up my Abarth after the usual long wait, looking forward to this morning - what a nightmare!

Phoned up by the dealer at 10.10am just as I was pulling into Liverpool Street train station have I got my driving licence with me because without it I cannot take delivery of the car. Well I didn't have it with me but why did they not phone me yesterday to make sure I would be bringing all the paperwork with me.

So, I got back on the train (another 1 hr journey) met my girlfriend who brought my licence to the station then back on the train (another hr), got on another train to the dealers area then walked about a mile to the showroom. Not very happy with the whole situation but never mind would soon get my car.

Oh dear, although I had been assured that I did not need to order the split rear seats as they were now standard my lovely new car was missing the split rear seats - god I was p****d off.

Eventually managed to negotiate a reasonable outcome and drove my car home some 5.5hrs after the original pick up time.

I can't wait to get the phone call from Fiat UK regarding my "new car experience"

What a disaster.
 
Sounds like a bad pick up, hopefully the car will rapidly put the smile back on your face.

Dunno where they got the idea about the split seats from though, only 'standard' with the leather option.
 
wow - split seats, that is something I wanted if I do change my Lounge :D

So did you get the split seats in the end?

Got any pics? :)
 
Man what a nightmare!
Im gonna have to go through all that next month :D
What docs did you have to take so that I can be prepared!

Also helped my mate pick up a new VW Van for work yesterday, got there and there was a dent in the door! Sucks to be him.
 
Sounds like a very poor dealer. I suggest you contact Abarth & convey your thoughts !!

We bought ours from Westover in Poole. The best car buying experience I have ever had.


Re the seats I think you will find once you have driven the car for a bit the permanent smile you develop will stop you worrying about them. Enjoy, It really is the best kept motoring secret this year
 
Your dealer sounds like mine, I think I new more about the car than they did. Luckily I notice the split option before ordering, when I asked for it I had to argue the fact that it was an option, as they kept insisting it was standard.

They also tried to add vat onto the £2500 price of the ESSEESSE kit, which again I had to haggle back.

On collection the following happened:

Pick up day came and went as the car was not ready on the day.
They forgot to stick the esseesse badge on the back.
The full tank of fuel was only a third.
They lost my center caps for the original wheels.
No "ESSEESSE" key cover as per the brochure.
Number plate cover cap missing on front (all spoils the new look).

The overall experience of collecting my car was spoilt by sloppy service, and if that is what they do when you have just paid over 16k, then I am dreading having it serviced there.

Thames Motors Slough, not the best I would say.

Ad:bang:
 
Thames Motors Slough, not the best I would say.

Ad:bang:

Oh Crap Ad....
Err I just umm ordered my 500 with them last month!
I had a really good experience, and the guy I used was awesome..
Which person served you?

Ameer my guy, was great, got me a courtesy car for when we went away on holiday for a week just because I asked lol.
He is sorting out Mats and everything.
 
Your dealer sounds like mine, I think I new more about the car than they did. Luckily I notice the split option before ordering, when I asked for it I had to argue the fact that it was an option, as they kept insisting it was standard.

They also tried to add vat onto the £2500 price of the ESSEESSE kit, which again I had to haggle back.

On collection the following happened:

Pick up day came and went as the car was not ready on the day.
They forgot to stick the esseesse badge on the back.
The full tank of fuel was only a third.
They lost my center caps for the original wheels.
No "ESSEESSE" key cover as per the brochure.
Number plate cover cap missing on front (all spoils the new look).

The overall experience of collecting my car was spoilt by sloppy service, and if that is what they do when you have just paid over 16k, then I am dreading having it serviced there.

Thames Motors Slough, not the best I would say.

Ad:bang:

Again I would suggest you let Abarth know, how else will sloppy dealers get a kicking.

Chris at Westover I cant praise enough, great attitude & he knew the product (y) Split seats as an extra are on the options list all customers can get, the dealer only has to read it FFS

Still a friend had a worse experience with a Skoda dealer, ordered an Octavia estate & when he went to collect it was a hatch back, in the end he kept the hatch but his bank account was suitably enhanced :D
 
Thanks for all the replies, to answer a few of the questions;

The paperwork required by the dealer was the 2 part driving licence, a utility bill and a credit/debit card, I had everything except the paper part of the licence.

Spec of the car is - Boss Nova White, Red stripes/mirrors, 17" wheels, auto dipping rear view mirror, climate control and cloth seats.

With regard to the split rear seats at the time of my order (1st week March) I requested the split seat option but was assured by the dealer that it was now standard and there was no need to spec or to pay the £150.00.

A friend of mine recently bought a 500 Lounge from the same dealer network within 3 weeks of ownership he was phoned by Fiat UK and asked a series of dealer satisfaction questions - he too experienced a poor service and was "rewarded" with a free Superguard treatment.

Although yesterday was a totally pants experience the car on the whole is as I expected, very nice and goes well, I am making a few changes however.

I have already fitted a BMC air filter and will shortly be fitting a Pioneer DEH P88RS stereo with full ipod control and a proper Nokia hands free kit for my N95 - all the swap over stuff is on order from DVB.

The dealer is going to try to get me the split rear seats/headrests but I doubt if I will ever see them, but on a slight plus side I did get a few items FOC including servicing.
 
I have already fitted a BMC air filter and will shortly be fitting a Pioneer DEH P88RS stereo with full ipod control and a proper Nokia hands free kit for my N95 - all the swap over stuff is on order from DVB.


How are you going to do the audio stuff? I was firmly under the impression that the B&M system prevents you from doing much aftermarket (if you disconnect it you get CANBUS errors and flashing mileage?

I would love to get rid of my B&M and would be very keen on hearing if it goes well for you(y)
 
I'm slightly confused as to why people want to remove B&M?

Firstly connecting a Pioneer head unit won't give any additional iPod functionality. I had a DEH-P55BT and it was good when using an iPod I don't feel it was any better than B&M for handling an iPod. I'm not sure if people are aware but when you connect your iPod digitally to the head unit you lose the ability to use the clickwheel and so on, for good reason too! Using the clickwheel is dangerous while driving. Also, AFAIK nothing will integrate with CANBUS to the point where you'll be able to use your steering wheel buttons to control your iPod.

Also, why would you want a Nokia hands free kit? My P55BT handled my N95 absolutely fine. B&M integrates it with the head unit and means you use the display on the instrument cluster. Why would you want it any other way?
 
They forgot to stick the esseesse badge on the back.
Doughnuts
The full tank of fuel was only a third.
I did slightly better at 2 thirds :rolleyes:
They lost my center caps for the original wheels.
Doughnuts
No "ESSEESSE" key cover as per the brochure.
Ah to be fair this was deleted by Abarth italy but notification of such wasn't passed on to the UK :bang:

The overall experience of collecting my car was spoilt by sloppy service, and if that is what they do when you have just paid over 16k, then I am dreading having it serviced there.

Have to say sales and pick up from my dealer was very good but my experience this week of the service department was lacking to the extreme, hope the service centres are sorted out soon.
 
The paperwork required by the dealer was the 2 part driving licence, a utility bill and a credit/debit card, I had everything except the paper part of the licence.

People are very tight about the two parts, sooner they sort out a single card the better

Spec of the car is - Boss Nova White, Red stripes/mirrors, 17" wheels, auto dipping rear view mirror, climate control and cloth seats.

Nice spec and yeap doubt you will ever see the retro fitting of the seats I hope you got your money back on that. Regards to the BMC flter, you should have driven it for a few weeks without fitting it, you'd appreciate it far more, I know I did (y) (Oh and it totally unaffects the warranty as it is a recommended part, result!)
 
I'm slightly confused as to why people want to remove B&M?

Firstly connecting a Pioneer head unit won't give any additional iPod functionality. I had a DEH-P55BT and it was good when using an iPod I don't feel it was any better than B&M for handling an iPod. I'm not sure if people are aware but when you connect your iPod digitally to the head unit you lose the ability to use the clickwheel and so on, for good reason too! Using the clickwheel is dangerous while driving. Also, AFAIK nothing will integrate with CANBUS to the point where you'll be able to use your steering wheel buttons to control your iPod.

Also, why would you want a Nokia hands free kit? My P55BT handled my N95 absolutely fine. B&M integrates it with the head unit and means you use the display on the instrument cluster. Why would you want it any other way?


I think I have to disagree with every single point you just made. B&M is the single most frustrating thing about the Abarth and its far and away the worst manufacturers system I have used.

Lets start with the media player - it doesnt play .aac DRM from Apple - now im not debating whether this is Apples or Fiats fault as that doesnt change the final outcome! Ford use a media system based on B&M in the new Fiesta which does have .aac capability licensed from Apple, so its not even like its not possible. Then there is the issue of hard drives - ive been told that it will only power 1.8" drives - so I bought one and it doesnt, so im stuck with a SD card stuck in a USB adapter - lovely looking it aint!

You are supposed to be able to re-format an Ipod and put MP3 files on which should then work with the B&M system, except in my car it doesnt, it simply doesnt recognise it - oh and that was after buying the 20quid Ipod holder from Fiat - the same system in my Alfa will connect to the Ipod, so its a Fiat problem!.

Phone system: Took about a week to finally get it to connect to my Iphone. Voice recognition is terrible to non-existent. BT connection randomly dropped and call quality is poor - same with my SE K550i.

This is before you factor in the random crashing and the occasions when it starts to cycle all the songs in media library and freezes up - only way to reset is a battery disconnect.

My car has had the flashing mileage problem from new - it has been for repair 3 times with Fiat. They tell me its a problem somewhere with the B&M CANBUS but cant find it. Great.

Couple this to the fact that I have a lovely Alpine Made For Ipod HU sitting on the shelf at home that works flawlessly with the Ipod and even displays the Album art, but I cant use it because Fiat integrate the B&M system so far into the car that when you try to remove it, it chucks a spaz fit.

Terrible, poorly implemented and 'rushed' system. A little bit more money spent here and there whilst developing could have made it 'worthy'.

Dont even get me started on B&M Nav as I may burst a blood vessel.
 
I think I have to disagree with every single point you just made. B&M is the single most frustrating thing about the Abarth and its far and away the worst manufacturers system I have used.

Lets start with the media player - it doesnt play .aac DRM from Apple - now im not debating whether this is Apples or Fiats fault as that doesnt change the final outcome! Ford use a media system based on B&M in the new Fiesta which does have .aac capability licensed from Apple, so its not even like its not possible. Then there is the issue of hard drives - ive been told that it will only power 1.8" drives - so I bought one and it doesnt, so im stuck with a SD card stuck in a USB adapter - lovely looking it aint!

You are supposed to be able to re-format an Ipod and put MP3 files on which should then work with the B&M system, except in my car it doesnt, it simply doesnt recognise it - oh and that was after buying the 20quid Ipod holder from Fiat - the same system in my Alfa will connect to the Ipod, so its a Fiat problem!.

Phone system: Took about a week to finally get it to connect to my Iphone. Voice recognition is terrible to non-existent. BT connection randomly dropped and call quality is poor - same with my SE K550i.

This is before you factor in the random crashing and the occasions when it starts to cycle all the songs in media library and freezes up - only way to reset is a battery disconnect.

My car has had the flashing mileage problem from new - it has been for repair 3 times with Fiat. They tell me its a problem somewhere with the B&M CANBUS but cant find it. Great.

Couple this to the fact that I have a lovely Alpine Made For Ipod HU sitting on the shelf at home that works flawlessly with the Ipod and even displays the Album art, but I cant use it because Fiat integrate the B&M system so far into the car that when you try to remove it, it chucks a spaz fit.

Terrible, poorly implemented and 'rushed' system. A little bit more money spent here and there whilst developing could have made it 'worthy'.

Dont even get me started on B&M Nav as I may burst a blood vessel.

Few questions for you.

Firstly, you're aware that B&M doesn't support iPod touch or iPhones right? If you have a normal iPod and it doesn't work then don't sit there on the forums bitching about it, get it sorted! You do also realise the iPod kit Fiat sell is just an extendable iPod cable and something to physically hold your iPod? There's nothing special about the cable! It's just a USB - dock connector like the one you got when you bought your iPod.

Secondly why are you using an SD card with a USB adaptor and not a USB flash drive like everyone else? You're adding complexity to the system and the more complex you make things the less likely they are to work and the more points of failure there are.

Thirdly, BT problem? Get Fiat to sort it!

Not to sound rude but do you think Fiat went out and made a system that flatout doesn't work and then decided to sell it on pretty much their whole range of cars? :confused: If B&M were this bad everyone with a 500 lounge, sport or Abarth would be bitching about it day and night but they aren't. If you have a faulty product then go out and get it fixed rather than bitching about it on a forum.
 
I have the B&M in my car an I am very happy with it. Great voice recognition, struggled a bit with just firstnames, but that is understandable as I am Norwegian, but added last names also and now it always get my names right.

Have an iPhone with latest SW and the integration is flawless, only thing missing is text reader, but that is the iPhones fault and not the car.

I use a very small 8Gb USB stick and it plays everything perfect. (I use Mp3 files so no AAC problems.

Audio quality is good, no network drops with my provider (Netcom)

I would never mount another headunit. The factory one does the job perfectly and fits the car.

But each to his own I guess.

C
 
Back
Top