Hi, I've had my Abarth 500 for a month now and am having a few problems.

First of all the car was late - was promised it would arrive and it was late by about 7 days - not the end of the world, but annoying. Anyway, when I kept phoning to hassle the dealer (bearing in mind my tax and mot on my trade in ran out in May and I was not offered anymore to renew so decided against the expense) to find out where the car was, I got really worried when he said they had 'lost' it as the transporter company said it had been delivered but the dealer didn't have it!!! Not the best start.

Anyway, car finally turned up and I picked it up from Rockingham Cars in Corby. Bearing in mind it was 'late' I was worried why... Just after picking it up and getting it home, I noticed there were silver marks on the wing...but couldn't work out why.

Anyway, found out on Saturday when giving the car a proper clean (not had one yet as its not been that dirty and the car doesn't get used that much) and noticed that the diamond cut 'petal' wheel had been damaged and they had tried to repair it with spray paint! There was overspray on the tyre (only noticeable once the tyre shine stuff was cleaned off) and speckles all over the anthracite centres of the wheel. Also explains the silver paint on the wing. I was a touch angry! When you buy a new car, you expect it all to be new and not touched up. The car was made to order and not lying around etc and had 9 miles on the clock.

In additon, the power steering has failed a couple of times now - when the car is started it just doesn't work - but turn it off and on again and its ok. Just a worry!

Also, the indicators are a nightmare - has anyone else experienced this problem? You turn them on and they cancel immediately. You then try again as turning to show other road users what you are intending to do, and they won't go on without crunching. Then, the bloody things don't cancel - they just stay on til you turn them off!!! I'm going to have to resort to hand signals soon due to fear of having a bump on a roundabout!!

Tried to book the car into the dealers for the wheel, indicators and power steering to be looked at and they said they won't give me a courtesy car as I am under 25!!!!! Really getting annoyed now. Anyway, Kevin from Rockingham is looking into what they can do and going to ring back tomorrow but I am just angry - I didn't want this after buying a new car!!:bang:

Anyway, rant over but if anyone else if having the indicator problem please let me know so I know its just a feature of the car, not me (although not really a radical abarth trait like welding the bonnet open)!!

I like the car for the way it looks and the attention it gets, performance is ok (although it does seem to struggle sometimes) but for a 1.4 its impressive.

Thanks for reading my rant!

flintymginty said:

Also, the indicators are a nightmare - has anyone else experienced this problem? You turn them on and they cancel immediately. You then try again as turning to show other road users what you are intending to do, and they won't go on without crunching. Then, the bloody things don't cancel - they just stay on til you turn them off!!! I'm going to have to resort to hand signals soon due to fear of having a bump on a roundabout!!

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That's exactly how our 500 is, I don't think it's a fault but if you do get it sorted do let us know

if i have the steering wheel turning to the right but indicating left, (ie most roundabouts!!!) indicator stalk feels like it will break!..but doesnt.


you get used to it and adapt...

Don't talk to me about problems with dealers and Fiat I've had enough of them after last week!

Hope all gets sorted, best bet is to contact Fiat/Abarth UK and ask to speak to a 'Manager', this is what I did and they gave the dealer/s a kick up the arse!

The indicators seem to be an italian car 'thing', mine does it, my previous 159 did it and I remember a bloke complaining about his 147 doing it in the Alfa dealership one day .

Sorry to hear about the other woes, I had great service from Rockingham but your experience is not acceptable and certainly not what I would have thought they would have provided.

Oh and I would certainly insist on them paying to have the car professionally detailed to see if they can remove the over spray and a replacement wheel, its possible it was done at portsbury and not at the dealers but they should have noticed and sorted it for you

Yup indicators are crap. I had somebody from Fiat ring me a year ago to do a survey on how happy I was with my 500 and they asked if i had any problems. I mentioned the indicators and she typed it in on her pc but obviously nothing has been changed and nobody bothered contacting me to discuss it further.

Dealership owes you a new wheel I think as diamond cut wheels are a bugger to repair.

Overspray should polish off.

Like everyones said the indicators are a charactheristic, can be very annoying more so when you want to indicate and it won't let you!

Demand a new wheel, no question.

Dealership owes you a new wheel I think as diamond cut wheels are a bugger to repair.

Overspray should polish off.[/quote]

Thanks for all the posts on the indicators - I will still throw my toys out of the pram until so they have a proper look at it, but the wheel really really made me angry.
My boyfriend is a perfectionist when it comes to cars and he has been over it with a fine tooth comb now. Although there doesn't appear to be any other major problems with the finish, but the paint just won't come off. He has used autoglym paint renovator after the super resin polish and meguirs clay bar and detailer can't get the over spray off completely. It's a lot better than it was, but there is only so much you can do before you eat into the cars finish. So so angry about the slap-dash (no pun intended sikersh!) repair they did and are now denying all knowledge of it. Well, jonny is dealing with it now and he likes to moan about things, so will probably go and make a scene if we don't get our way by being nice!

Is it unreasonable to expect a new wheel? I've done some enquiries and the only way to repair a diamond cut wheel is to have it re-machined by plaining off a layer of alloy - and then repainting the centre and can't guarantee a 100% match! and prices start at £100 for a good repair

It just makes me so mad. I tried calling them 6 times today and finally managed to speak to the Abarth guy at 5:35 so nothing gets sorted today. Still no confirmation of a courtesy car unless I insure it at my own expense!

They took my £14 and a half k off me pretty fast, but when there is a problem with a month old car they want more of my hard earned pennies! NO!! Already considering ebay......

flintymginty said:

Dealership owes you a new wheel I think as diamond cut wheels are a bugger to repair.

Overspray should polish off.

Thanks for all the posts on the indicators - I will still throw my toys out of the pram until so they have a proper look at it, but the wheel really really made me angry.
My boyfriend is a perfectionist when it comes to cars and he has been over it with a fine tooth comb now. Although there doesn't appear to be any other major problems with the finish, but the paint just won't come off. He has used autoglym paint renovator after the super resin polish and meguirs clay bar and detailer can't get the over spray off completely. It's a lot better than it was, but there is only so much you can do before you eat into the cars finish. So so angry about the slap-dash (no pun intended sikersh!) repair they did and are now denying all knowledge of it. Well, jonny is dealing with it now and he likes to moan about things, so will probably go and make a scene if we don't get our way by being nice!

Is it unreasonable to expect a new wheel? I've done some enquiries and the only way to repair a diamond cut wheel is to have it re-machined by plaining off a layer of alloy - and then repainting the centre and can't guarantee a 100% match! and prices start at £100 for a good repair

It just makes me so mad. I tried calling them 6 times today and finally managed to speak to the Abarth guy at 5:35 so nothing gets sorted today. Still no confirmation of a courtesy car unless I insure it at my own expense!

They took my £14 and a half k off me pretty fast, but when there is a problem with a month old car they want more of my hard earned pennies! NO!! Already considering ebay......

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No go for a new wheel, absolutely - its a new car after all and not exactly a cheap one either!

They may have a set of Petals spare potentially if they have Essesse'd any of their demo cars that had them on... if not they should order you one in!

flintymginty said:

slap-dash (no pun intended sikersh!)

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lol no probs, I though it was quite funny

flintymginty said:

Is it unreasonable to expect a new wheel?

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Definitely not, demand they replace the wheel. My N/S front Petal alloy has a pitted effect on it and I've asked the dealer to replace it, which I'll be suprised if they do But you never know...

Don't feel alone, most of us have had bad experiences with Fiat/Abarth, I've had my fair share of mishaps too. Don't give up, make their life hell if you want to, they will get sick of you in the end and give in! Sorry to hear you had these issues, the Abarth is supposed to be fun, and as for a courtesy car, it's usually 21 or over, not 25 (providing your license is cleanish) Oh and don't worry about the performance, it just needs running in, after a couple of thousand miles or so it will feel much faster! Good luck

If I was the dealer I would have phoned you straight away and said the wheel is scratched. I have ordered a new one you can either take the car now and bring it back to change the wheel when it arrives or leave it with us and we will change it. Many apologies. For the inconvenience I have put a full tank of petrol in the car to say sorry.

Im surprised they could not even be bothered to take the wheel off and spray it away from any cars. That is just bone idle.

They should replace your wheel in my opinion. You have paid for a brand new sports car and the dealer has prepared the car like a shoddy second hand car dealer.

Adrian Bravo said:

If I was the dealer I would have phoned you straight away and said the wheel is scratched. I have ordered a new one you can either take the car now and bring it back to change the wheel when it arrives or leave it with us and we will change it. Many apologies. For the inconvenience I have put a full tank of petrol in the car to say sorry.

Im surprised they could not even be bothered to take the wheel off and spray it away from any cars. That is just bone idle.

They should replace your wheel in my opinion. You have paid for a brand new sports car and the dealer has prepared the car like a shoddy second hand car dealer.

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And that's why you're not a Fiat dealer

Adrian Bravo said:

If I was the dealer I would have phoned you straight away and said the wheel is scratched. I have ordered a new one you can either take the car now and bring it back to change the wheel when it arrives or leave it with us and we will change it. Many apologies. For the inconvenience I have put a full tank of petrol in the car to say sorry.

Im surprised they could not even be bothered to take the wheel off and spray it away from any cars. That is just bone idle.

They should replace your wheel in my opinion. You have paid for a brand new sports car and the dealer has prepared the car like a shoddy second hand car dealer.

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This is exactly it! It is just a bogded cheap job on a car that cost me a fair chunk of my savings! That's what makes me so angry! Even if the dealer didn't do the repair, surely someone should have noticed at very least the overspray on the PDi? We noticed it almost as soon as the car got home, but stupidly couldn't think what it was and I thought it was something off the road that had flicked up...so naive!

Not heard from Kevin at Rockingham yet - thought he was getting back to me first thing this morning - so I'll have to spend another day chasing him.

Also, I annoyed by the courtesy car insurance, but not shocked - when I brought the car they said phone Avviva, who we use for insurance, they will provide you with driveaway insurance so we can tax the car for you and send us the cover note directly. Phone Avviva, first of all they don't know what an Abarth is, and ask me am I sure its not a pop or a lounge! hmmm. Anyway, the next day I try again and they do know what the car is now, and we go through all the process and then they say just to confirm no-one under 25 will drive this car, yes? Urr, well no as I am 24!! "Sorry we can't insure you on a performance car as you are too young. You shouldn't even have been able to buy this car as you are under 25."
I was fuming - really Abarth should know this if they use this company regularly - and I can't be the first person under 25 to own an Abarth 500! Anyway, phone my insurance and they add it straight away and send me the cover note the next day! That is service for you! And at least they don't discriminate over your age!

Surely I can use the age discrimination card (obviously not backed by any legislation, but in general) because they are happy to sell an under 25 this car, but when there is something wrong with it, they're like sorry, we can't insure you on a courtesy car as you are under 25. For fiat in general I bet loads of their customers are under 25 - it's just not cricket! Their conduct is already making me question Rockingham Cars in Corby... We've serviced cars previously at Peugeot, Renault, Ford and Vauxhall and they pretty much throw you the keys to a courtesy car, (some ask for a fuel deposit) and you are away! I owned a group 16 insurance clio when I was 20 never had any problems with dealers (although I always got a 1.5dci courtesy car!!)

Again, another long rant but I don't need this hassle... I just want to love my new car and not hate it like I am beginning to.

And by the way, I am a 'careful' lady owner with a clean license!!! (that's how I marketed my 182 anyway! It loved to be ragged though!)

flintymginty said:

This is exactly it! It is just a bogded cheap job on a car that cost me a fair chunk of my savings! That's what makes me so angry! Even if the dealer didn't do the repair, surely someone should have noticed at very least the overspray on the PDi? We noticed it almost as soon as the car got home, but stupidly couldn't think what it was and I thought it was something off the road that had flicked up...so naive!

Not heard from Kevin at Rockingham yet - thought he was getting back to me first thing this morning - so I'll have to spend another day chasing him.

Also, I annoyed by the courtesy car insurance, but not shocked - when I brought the car they said phone Avviva, who we use for insurance, they will provide you with driveaway insurance so we can tax the car for you and send us the cover note directly. Phone Avviva, first of all they don't know what an Abarth is, and ask me am I sure its not a pop or a lounge! hmmm. Anyway, the next day I try again and they do know what the car is now, and we go through all the process and then they say just to confirm no-one under 25 will drive this car, yes? Urr, well no as I am 24!! "Sorry we can't insure you on a performance car as you are too young. You shouldn't even have been able to buy this car as you are under 25."
I was fuming - really Abarth should know this if they use this company regularly - and I can't be the first person under 25 to own an Abarth 500! Anyway, phone my insurance and they add it straight away and send me the cover note the next day! That is service for you! And at least they don't discriminate over your age!

Surely I can use the age discrimination card (obviously not backed by any legislation, but in general) because they are happy to sell an under 25 this car, but when there is something wrong with it, they're like sorry, we can't insure you on a courtesy car as you are under 25. For fiat in general I bet loads of their customers are under 25 - it's just not cricket! Their conduct is already making me question Rockingham Cars in Corby... We've serviced cars previously at Peugeot, Renault, Ford and Vauxhall and they pretty much throw you the keys to a courtesy car, (some ask for a fuel deposit) and you are away! I owned a group 16 insurance clio when I was 20 never had any problems with dealers (although I always got a 1.5dci courtesy car!!)

Again, another long rant but I don't need this hassle... I just want to love my new car and not hate it like I am beginning to.

And by the way, I am a 'careful' lady owner with a clean license!!! (that's how I marketed my 182 anyway! It loved to be ragged though!)

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Like I said before, if your having no luck with the dealer contact Fiat/Abarth UK and ask for a Manager. This ought to work

sounds like bad treatment all round - although have to agree on the indicators...just how they are with fiats, you get used to when they cancel, when they crunch through the wheel etc etc and adapt to it! my previous fiat, seicento, and my ex's panda, are exactly the same - just one of those things

I Had a few simple problems when I collected my Abarth and this resulted in no less than 7 visits to the dealer. The dealer made me feel that it was my fault, and you then worry about upsetting them as one day they will be servicing your car.

You do wonder who the customer is sometimes.

I eventually sent a personal letter to Ivan Gibson, who is head of Abarth UK, listing all the correspondance I had had.

To be fair to Abarth, Ivan Gibson actually contacted me direct by phone to check everything had been sorted, but for a company that is supposed to care, the service I got was very poor. I got so fed up with Fiat that I just wished I never bought the car.

The dealers seem to struggle with the fact that the customer is sometimes right, and trying to cover up problems will not resolve them. Result of this is I will never buy Fiat again, no matter how good the cars are.

I informed Abarth that they needed to communicate with the dealers better, as each time a problem was passed over from Customer Services to the Dealer, a piece of information usually got missed. I was lucky, as my Dealer is the nearest to Fiat headquarters, so Ivan visited them to see what had gone wrong, my guess is these issues are happening at many Dealers.

You get the feeling that Dealers think you should be grateful to recieve your car, not the fact that they should be grateful you bought it from them.

Good luck with your car, stay calm and positive, they are human too, just be direct with what you want sorted out, and get lead times from them so you can chase up if they take too long.

8 weeks after I collected the car they phoned to do a customer survey, let's just say the dealer got 1 out of 10.

As for the indicators, mine seem fine other than not self cancelling sometimes on LH turns. It must just be the way I drive. End of day it's a cracking car for the money, enjoy it best you can.

It seems they had botched a repair. You should have taken it back immediately and asked for a new wheel, and a proper paint rectification. It was supposed to be a new car after all. They'd allowed a kid to do nine miles in it; plenty of time to curb the thing.

As for the indicators. All Fiat group cars seem to share the same internal mechanical self-cancelling gubbins. It is crap, and the most annoying part of day-to-day ownership. Customers have been complaining for years and the answer usually seems to be a description of how to use the indicators! Denial or what . I wonder why it is so difficult for Fiat to design a new mechanism?

I wonder if Maseratis and Ferraris share the same crap mechanism with Fiat, Alfa and Lancia: I doubt it?

ads abarth said:

Result of this is I will never buy Fiat again, no matter how good the cars are.

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Same here. The car is awesome, but its not worth it for the bad customer care when something goes wrong

And there's something I don't understand. Fiat allowed only a handful of outlets to sell Abarths, supposedly those with the greatest ability to deliver good service. The mechanical component differences are only items taken off the Fiat parts shelf anyway; a turbo 1.4, some different springs and dampers, and a tweaked exhaust, plus a few other bits and pieces - hardly cutting edge engineering demanding specialised mechanics.

The idea was to deliver exclusivity. I'd have thought allowing all dealers to sell the Abarths and cutting the price a bit would have made more people happy. The specialist dealer thing seems not to have worked.