General Ordered my 500 but now considering upgrading

[Soraya]

Hi Everyone,

I've only become a member of this forum just now, but I've found it extremely useful over the past few weeks since I ordered my Fiat 500. I've been driving a 98 Punto for the last five years, so my new car is going to feel amazing.

I ordered a 1.2 pop in Cha Cha Cha Azure, with blue and ivory interior, B&M and front fog lights. After scouring the internet and this website in particular, I've decided to listen to the niggling voice in my head telling me should go for a higher spec model as it will ultimately be better value for money. I was originally going to upgrade to the lounge, but I really dislike the interior - I mean REALLY dislike it, and I don't want leather seats so having them instead is not an option.

I'm thinking now to go for the Start&Stop. I know that many owners on here have had issues with that model, but I think that I could live with the hassle of getting that sorted if I had to, and hopefully these glitches might be under control by the time mine is ready. Also, one of my main priorities when buying a new car was that it should be as eco-friendly as possible, so the Start/Stop engine is a plus. I ordered my pop 2 days before the prices went up by £200, so I've been in contact with my dealer to see if I can get the Start/Stop for the lower price. He's ringing me back to today to let me know.

If anyone has any thoughts or advice for me, I'd really appreciate it.

That's all really folks. Not a very interesting post, but I wanted to say hello and thanks for the unwitting help over the past few weeks.

 

[Jake_in_notts]

I think this is a good choice, the S&S spec is the best spec IMO as it has the pop two-tone seats and alot of the toys you get on the loung and sport. I bought a pop and added stuff as it wasnt an option for me at the time.

As your buying a 1.2 anyway the choice of the S&S isnt a major change and you can turn it off if you dont get on with it

 

[Juwlz]

Hi Everyone,

I've only become a member of this forum just now, but I've found it extremely useful over the past few weeks since I ordered my Fiat 500. I've been driving a 98 Punto for the last five years, so my new car is going to feel amazing.

I ordered a 1.2 pop in Cha Cha Cha Azure, with blue and ivory interior, B&M and front fog lights. After scouring the internet and this website in particular, I've decided to listen to the niggling voice in my head telling me should go for a higher spec model as it will ultimately be better value for money. I was originally going to upgrade to the lounge, but I really dislike the interior - I mean REALLY dislike it, and I don't want leather seats so having them instead is not an option.

I'm thinking now to go for the Start&Stop. I know that many owners on here have had issues with that model, but I think that I could live with the hassle of getting that sorted if I had to, and hopefully these glitches might be under control by the time mine is ready. Also, one of my main priorities when buying a new car was that it should be as eco-friendly as possible, so the Start/Stop engine is a plus. I ordered my pop 2 days before the prices went up by £200, so I've been in contact with my dealer to see if I can get the Start/Stop for the lower price. He's ringing me back to today to let me know.

If anyone has any thoughts or advice for me, I'd really appreciate it.

That's all really folks. Not a very interesting post, but I wanted to say hello and thanks for the unwitting help over the past few weeks.

I've kind-of been having the same dilemma as you just over the last day or so. Like you I've ordered a Pop, just a few days before the prices went up. I also ruled out the Lounge, but for different reasons from yours. I realised that I'm not that bothered about the Pop being worth less second hand, but I like the idea of the most energy-efficient car possible, plus I live in London, so the Start & Stop should have been the one to go for.

I was a initally put-off by the newness of technology and I admire the people who have taken the chance and bought a start and stop already (I'm sure the issues with it will be sorted out very soon) but in the end it wasn't so much the problems that people have been having but the lack of airbags, no ABS etc, no electric windows that put me off. I'm guessing they're not there because they all use more power than the Start & Stop can provide, but I'm worried this diminishes the safety of the car.

I know I'm going to love the Pop anyway so I'm not that botehred that its probably too late to change but if anyone can shed more light on this I'd be interested to know.

 

[Soraya]

I've kind-of been having the same dilemma as you just over the last day or so. Like you I've ordered a Pop, just a few days before the prices went up. I also ruled out the Lounge, but for different reasons from yours. I realised that I'm not that bothered about the Pop being worth less second hand, but I like the idea of the most energy-efficient car possible, plus I live in London, so the Start & Stop should have been the one to go for.

I was a initally put-off by the newness of technology and I admire the people who have taken the chance and bought a start and stop already (I'm sure the issues with it will be sorted out very soon) but in the end it wasn't so much the problems that people have been having but the lack of airbags, no ABS etc, no electric windows that put me off. I'm guessing they're not there because they all use more power than the Start & Stop can provide, but I'm worried this diminishes the safety of the car.

I know I'm going to love the Pop anyway so I'm not that botehred that its probably too late to change but if anyone can shed more light on this I'd be interested to know.

Juwlz, the Start/Stop does have ABS, Electric windows, etc. One of the most annoying things about this model, is the fact that there are so many mistakes regarding it on the Fiat website. I spoke to my dealer and confirmed that the Start/Stop is infact the same as a lounge, with the exception of the glass roof and the trims. There have been a few posts on here regarding this, and at some point it would be good to have a sticky up here that has a genuine spec list for the Start/Stop to clear up any confusion.

I must say I'm really surprised that Fiat haven't done anything about the awful on the website - it MUST be effecting sales. I suggest you have a chat to your dealer about what is included with that Start/Stop, as it sounds like it would defintily be the best option for you given that you'll be driving through a busy city.

 

[Juwlz]

Juwlz, the Start/Stop does have ABS, Electric windows, etc. One of the most annoying things about this model, is the fact that there are so many mistakes regarding it on the Fiat website. I spoke to my dealer and confirmed that the Start/Stop is infact the same as a lounge, with the exception of the glass roof and the trims. There have been a few posts on here regarding this, and at some point it would be good to have a sticky up here that has a genuine spec list for the Start/Stop to clear up any confusion.

I must say I'm really surprised that Fiat haven't done anything about the awful on the website - it MUST be effecting sales. I suggest you have a chat to your dealer about what is included with that Start/Stop, as it sounds like it would defintily be the best option for you given that you'll be driving through a busy city.

Blimey thanks for the info – I saw that people were questionning it but nothing conclusive so I thought the Fiat website must be right. It even states no ABS/ driver's or passengers main airbag on the specification breakdown, not just on the configurator. I thought who can you trust if you can't trust the main website??? I am really angry if this is true! I think a phone call to my poor suffering dealer may be in order!

 

[crabman]

Blimey thanks for the info – I saw that people were questionning it but nothing conclusive so I thought the Fiat website must be right. It even states no ABS/ driver's or passengers main airbag on the specification breakdown, not just on the configurator. I thought who can you trust if you can't trust the main website??? I am really angry if this is true! I think a phone call to my poor suffering dealer may be in order!

The S&S is a great choice. We would have gone for it if it could have the interscope system, but it can't so we ended up with a sport. And I'd trust this forum over their website any day!

crabman

 

[Soraya]

Yes it is really bad isn't it? My dealer read out his spec sheet over the phone, and I wrote it down. This is what I was told.

The Start&Stop has all the features of the pop, plus:

Blue & Me
Air Conditioning
15" Alloys
Start/Stop engine
Exclusive interior upholstery
Low fuel consumption / CO2 emissions
Passenger seat memory (anybody know what the heck that is???)
Chrome Kit
Split rear seats with headrests.

I'll be interested to hear what your dealer tells you. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed now that I'm in time to change my order and that I'll get the lower price. Wish me luck!

 

[Juwlz]

Good luck Soraya,

I just 'chatted' with the Fiat online help and they confirmed what you said. I told them its all wrong when I look at the specs on their website. They insisted it was ok their end and that it must be a problem with my computer. I told them that's bull***t I know how websites work – I have made some myself in the past and what they're saying is impossible. They just have the wrong info on whatever version of their website I am looking at, but they are denying it! I offered to email them the screen snaps to show them what I'm seeing but they declined the offer. Instead they have apparently sent me screen snaps from their end. I told them that errors on their website had possibly caused me to order the wrong car and that it made me distrust Fiat as a brand.

To be honest the only upside is that its totally put me off having the Start and Stop – if they can't even get the info their website right god knows how they'd handle anything more complicated like the Start n Stop technology!!!

I can't believe I'm having these problems and I haven't even got the car yet.. should I cancel my order altogether????

 

[Jake_in_notts]

It would be nice if the S&S also benifited in a lower CO2 emission rating as I beleive its still taxed at the same rate as the std 1.2 untill 2010-11 when it will drop to £30 same as the diesel. Be nice if Fiat can get a car at 100g/Km as I hate to pay tax !!
I guess the only finantial benifit atm to buying it is the higher MPG you might get. I would be interested in seeing how the MPG IS actually reduced compared to std 1.2 when people start to get them run in and some brim-brim mpg calculations done.

 

[Juwlz]

I must say I'm really surprised that Fiat haven't done anything about the awful on the website - it MUST be effecting sales. I suggest you have a chat to your dealer about what is included with that Start/Stop, as it sounds like it would defintily be the best option for you given that you'll be driving through a busy city.

Yeah, and I wouldn't mind as much if they'd said – "yes we know, our website is wrong – we have been unable to get it to display the correct specs if you're running Firefox on a Mac, sorry etc". But no – it was the complete denial that really got to me. They kept telling me "it looks fine on my computer" Like I'm supposed to care what it looks like their end! I've looked at it on 3 different Macs so its not a problem with one computer. Arrgh! Sorry – I'm just so annoyed I have to get it off my chest.

Makes me think that if there's a problem with with their car they'll blame it on you. Oh well – I'll trust this website from now on, not the Fiat one.

 

[MissR]

Hi Everyone,

I've only become a member of this forum just now, but I've found it extremely useful over the past few weeks since I ordered my Fiat 500. I've been driving a 98 Punto for the last five years, so my new car is going to feel amazing.

I ordered a 1.2 pop in Cha Cha Cha Azure, with blue and ivory interior, B&M and front fog lights. After scouring the internet and this website in particular, I've decided to listen to the niggling voice in my head telling me should go for a higher spec model as it will ultimately be better value for money. I was originally going to upgrade to the lounge, but I really dislike the interior - I mean REALLY dislike it, and I don't want leather seats so having them instead is not an option.

I'm thinking now to go for the Start&Stop. I know that many owners on here have had issues with that model, but I think that I could live with the hassle of getting that sorted if I had to, and hopefully these glitches might be under control by the time mine is ready. Also, one of my main priorities when buying a new car was that it should be as eco-friendly as possible, so the Start/Stop engine is a plus. I ordered my pop 2 days before the prices went up by £200, so I've been in contact with my dealer to see if I can get the Start/Stop for the lower price. He's ringing me back to today to let me know.

If anyone has any thoughts or advice for me, I'd really appreciate it.

That's all really folks. Not a very interesting post, but I wanted to say hello and thanks for the unwitting help over the past few weeks.

If your adding fogs and B&M would have though the sport would be the more obvious choice (as it comes with fog and B&M?) The interior is pretty none offensive too.

Sure you'll enjoy whatever you go for and if you're only just ordering and Start Stop niggles should be ironed out by the time you get yours.

 

[Soraya]

Yeah, I know getting the sport would save me £150 on fogs, but I fell in love with the ivory ambience on the pop interior when I test drove the car. If you could get it in the sport I'd probably go for it, but you can't. Also, I like the idea of S/S anyway.

The reason I want fogs is that I do a lot of night driving and I find myself doing long distances in awful weather pretty regularly. A couple of the reviews I read commented that the headlights are a bit poor and I
as I'm used to having fogs on my car and do get a lot of use out of them, I thought I'd play it safe.

Can anyone with fogs on their car comment on whether they are worth having for the money?

 

[MissR]

Yeah the Ivory Ambience is lovely, especially with Cha Cha I can see your point. Could you not stretch to leather?

 

[OrangeSport]

Passenger seat memory (anybody know what the heck that is???

It allows the seat to go back to its priginal position after being tilted forward - standard on the driver's seat anyway but work having on both sides...

 

[Soraya]

Re: Ordered my start/stop - hoorah!

Just a quick update: I've changed my order and I'm now getting a Start/Stop. Because the order number was still the same, I can have the upgrade for the old price and not pay the extra £200 - yay!! Useful info for anybody considering doing something similar.

MissR, I probably could stretch to it, but I don't like the leather seats. I know they make your car look more expensive, but I like how the cloth upholstery has ivory on the upper part of the seat as well as the headrest - it's looks more cheerful, somehow. The leather seats are too dark. Also, I find leather sticky and uncomfortable in the summer if I'm wearing shorts or a skirt on a long journey.

I'm very chuffed with my decision, but I'm sure in the remaining 10 weeks I will be able to think of about a million other things that I'd like to add. Discipline is the key here I think, or perhaps forgetfulness - parhaps I could have my memory of the whole thing wiped until the car actually turns up, then I won't torture myself for the whole time looking at pics on the net, accessories on ebay, etc. etc. etc.

Oh well, patience is a virtue, after all.

 

[nottsfiat07]

Re: Ordered my start/stop - hoorah!

Just a quick update: I've changed my order and I'm now getting a Start/Stop. Because the order number was still the same, I can have the upgrade for the old price and not pay the extra £200 - yay!! Useful info for anybody considering doing something similar.

MissR, I probably could stretch to it, but I don't like the leather seats. I know they make your car look more expensive, but I like how the cloth upholstery has ivory on the upper part of the seat as well as the headrest - it's looks more cheerful, somehow. The leather seats are too dark. Also, I find leather sticky and uncomfortable in the summer if I'm wearing shorts or a skirt on a long journey.

I'm very chuffed with my decision, but I'm sure in the remaining 10 weeks I will be able to think of about a million other things that I'd like to add. Discipline is the key here I think, or perhaps forgetfulness - parhaps I could have my memory of the whole thing wiped until the car actually turns up, then I won't torture myself for the whole time looking at pics on the net, accessories on ebay, etc. etc. etc.

Oh well, patience is a virtue, after all.

Yes, I find that too myself when wearing a skirt.