Hi everyone

Can you help me? I've fallen in love with the new 500C, but my other half is refusing even to go and look at one!!

I can get a good deal on PX with my old car, the fuel and running costs on the C are just sooo much lower than the one we've got. The main issue (aside from the fact its a 'girls' car!! but I drive 90% of the time anyway), is the luggage space.

Anyone got any hints/tips on how to convince him to my way of thinking? And does the C version have the same split rear seat???

thanks very much guys!

You go and look at one. Take a look at the little boot, and remember that the seats fold, and if it really is what you want ask him to come and take a look.

Is it just for you, or is it to be a shared car all the time?

ladywotlunches said:

Hi everyone

Can you help me? I've fallen in love with the new 500C, but my other half is refusing even to go and look at one!!

I can get a good deal on PX with my old car, the fuel and running costs on the C are just sooo much lower than the one we've got. The main issue (aside from the fact its a 'girls' car!! but I drive 90% of the time anyway), is the luggage space.

Anyone got any hints/tips on how to convince him to my way of thinking? And does the C version have the same split rear seat???

thanks very much guys!

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Hi - get him to go and look and have a test drive, he'll be coming away with an order form in his hands!

My wife really wanted a 500 (hatchback) so I went to the local dealers to look, convinced that they were too small & impractical (only 4 seats / 2 doors / small boot), but was surprised by the amount of space inside - more than in a Mini and with the split rear seats, fairly practical, we can even get my son`s cello in! You can (I think) have the split rear seats on the convertible?

What swung it for me though was that the car is brilliant to drive, very safe, the 1.2 petrol versions and 1.3 diesels are £35.00 per year road tax (dropping to £20.00 next year) and average 45 mpg plus. Also the depreciation is pretty good too! It also makes you smile every time you get in it.

All in all, compared to the alternatives its pretty much a no-brainer!

PS: There are also plenty of blokes on the forum who own / drive these cars, so they are definitely not a girls car!

Good luck!

Thanks Guys

I've been to look - driven a 500 (not c, they won't let it out the showroom!) in automatic (yuck) 1.4 and multijet, and LOVE it!! I've tested getting in a buggy and shopping, that works. I even got the dealer to lend me one for an extended test drive, brought it home and hubby would barely come out on the street to look.

I secretly think he's scared he will love it! We do only have one car at the moment - but he drives about once a week, if that, as we're in london and he scoots into work.

OK, so you're not going to get suitcases in - but for the money we'd save, we could get a cab to the airport! And I saw somewhere that they have designed suitcases specifically to fit into the boot. Anyone know about them....?

You could try what I did, ie. nag and nag and become a complete pain in the rear until he was worn down Appreciate that might not work in everyone's case but did it for me and my husband is pretty stubborn.

We have 2 kids and a dog so practicality was also an issue. Like you, I am the one who uses the car most of time as husband commutes to work on train. We currently have a 15 year old Merc estate and earlier in year he agreed to upgrade that to a newer estate such as a VW Passat or something. Then we went on holiday to Italy and there was a little red Fiat 500 in the hotel car park and of course he went over for a look and much to my surprise really like it (had refused to look at one in dealership prior to this).

He then said I could get a 500c to run around in but had to agree to keep the c**p old Merc for odd times we travel as family with loads of kit etc. I think though most of the time I will get away with the Fiat as it is just me and the kids and even the dog can go on back seat and I have noted the seat cover suggestions on another thread! Given the choice of a VW Passat estate or a Fiat 500c was a bit of a no brainer as you can imagine!

I am assuming you have at least one child as you mention buggies? If you can get away with the space and live in London then I would have thought it was an ideal option - especially as so cheap to run and easy to park etc. Hope you can find something to persuade him to go and at least look at one as am sure he will come to see reason, Good Luck!

Midlife Crisis - VW Passat estate is exactly the other option we have!!!! (and I would like to say your screename is exactly what my hubby said I was having ) We have one child who has been on the test drive and LOVES the car too!

So do you have the convertible already? - my dealer just told me there could be a 5 MONTH wait!!!! He has a standard version of what I want that I could have this week though - multijet in Electroclash Grey. Lovely.

hmm - off to ponder new devious means of persuasion :devil:

Ah just go and buy one, then you will become uber cool.
It's the best money I've ever spent

I admit to having a midlife crisis but my husband says I am just a spoilt brat
Seriously though, the VW Passat idea was just too much - have driven sensible cars now for over 10 years and am FED up of them. I need a fun car again!!

As most folk know as I have been whingeing on for ages, ordered mine on 8th April and latest expectation is delivery beginning September. Think that now things have started to move along re.production you would hopefully only have the normal wait time but I guess if demand is high it could be longer.

Let us know how you get on and good luck with the persuading ideas although hope you don't have to resort to anything too drastic

I just stamped my feet a bit and eventually he gave in!

Seriously though, I recently went for a weekend away to Manchester with my mum and my little boy. We got in the boot all the stuff for the weekend, including clothes for 3 people for 3 nights, toys, buggy, some food, coats, handbags etc.

Recently I also managed to get in a single seater sofa bed from Ikea, and the car seat and buggy plus some clothes shopping bags, me and my mum! the seats were down but still it is an amazing amoutn of stuff you can get in there!

Get him to go and look at it, if necessary take some bags to prove to him it's a big enough car and if all else fails, stamp your feet and threaten not to cook dinner nor do the laundry again!

Good luck!

Heidi said:

I just stamped my feet a bit and eventually he gave in!

Seriously though, I recently went for a weekend away to Manchester with my mum and my little boy. We got in the boot all the stuff for the weekend, including clothes for 3 people for 3 nights, toys, buggy, some food, coats, handbags etc.

Recently I also managed to get in a single seater sofa bed from Ikea, and the car seat and buggy plus some clothes shopping bags, me and my mum! the seats were down but still it is an amazing amoutn of stuff you can get in there!

Get him to go and look at it, if necessary take some bags to prove to him it's a big enough car and if all else fails, stamp your feet and threaten not to cook dinner nor do the laundry again!

Good luck!

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Perfect - if you don't mind, I'm going to copy your post and email it to him now

EDIT : I've got a normal 500, not a 500c

you tell him that if you buy one this year and he really doesnt like it, you'l probably get your money back come next summer...residuals will be strong for these which is why I didnt think twice about ordering a 500C...what about a black one with black roof...would still look butch and put some 16" wheels on maybe to butch it up even more?...probably one of the only cars that doesnt depreciate much at all and running costs etc cant be beaten for a convertible...not sure if the seats fold down on the 500C though but boot is still same size as hatchback

who's paying - if you're buying it yourself, why do you need him to say yes?? Just order one!

ha ha booklady. it's really funny, i've been with hubbie for over 10 years but only married for 4 ... before we got married i'd just go out and buy a car without telling him but now for some reason we always have to 'discuss' it. I get my own way eventually but it's such a bind!

I'm thinking of telling him we can get the 500 the dealer has now this year, and if he doesn't like it we can get something else next year (and if he does like it we can upgrade to the C :devil We can 'straight swap' our car now - so, what do we have to lose???!!

ladywotlunches said:

I'm thinking of telling him we can get the 500 the dealer has now this year, and if he doesn't like it we can get something else next year (and if he does like it we can upgrade to the C :devil We can 'straight swap' our car now - so, what do we have to lose???!!

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I should say he's got alot to lose if he says no to you lol - if you are anything like me you'll be throwing all your toys out of your pram and sulking ... that'll soon change his mind!

Heidi said:

ha ha booklady. it's really funny, i've been with hubbie for over 10 years but only married for 4 ... before we got married i'd just go out and buy a car without telling him but now for some reason we always have to 'discuss' it. I get my own way eventually but it's such a bind!

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Yep - I love the car, but so far the response has been along the lines, of "get one and I'll leave"!! So unfair, as officially our car is in my name. But if I have to choose between the two....

no choice really

drop the subject for a couple of days, but get the brochure from the dealer and leave it around to catch his eye.

when you are out with friends, tell them what you are thinking of getting, I reckon if you get a positive response from them, he'll be more interested, trouble is that if they slate it, then you're scuppered!!

Have to admit that I was really keen, booked a test drive as 'something to do on a Sunday', we both fell in love with it and ordered one about 3 weeks later!

Have to laugh! I also usually get my own way in the end but not without having to 'play the game' and endure the negotiations first When we chose the dog it was the same and had to get what he wanted even though I am the one who looks after it all the time.

When I looked at the 500c I reckon you could still get a couple of overnight bags (if you pack carefully) in the boot, although obviously there is more room in the hatchback version. If you put the roof down then you can get all kinds of stuff in it poking out of the roof - mattresses, pot plants, curtain poles etc - how about that for an argument for one??? My idea is that I want the car badly enough and will find a way to make it practical if it kills me . No way will I dare moan if it turns out to be a pain as couldn't bear the 'I told you so' comments.

Seriously though I would consider holding out for the 500c as you obviously have your heart set on it and might regret not waiting for it and pushing for your number one choice. Your idea of Electroclash Grey would be great in the convertible and would look stunning with ivory or red roof in my opinion. That is probably a 'manly' enough colour as well for everyone to be happy.