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General Still good value?

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General Still good value?

PandaLounge

PandaLounge

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I see that Fiat UK have now passed the price increases across to both the C and Abarth models to fall in line with the standard 500. The C now starts at £11,700 rather than £11,300 and the Abarth slightly rises to £13,605 from £13,500.

Question is is the little car becoming less value for money? I appreciate the problems in the current climate and the need to increase prices to meet the cost of labour, parts, distribution etc but with the planned increase in VAT the prices will go up again.
The 500 started out at £7,900 then went to £8,100, £8,300, £8,500 and now stands at £8,700. This is all without any extra kit as standard. If the 2010 VAT price increase doesn't include the new suspension spec then a grand more than January 2008 perhaps seems steep, but will Fiat also bump up the price when they fit the changes?

I know in the scheme of things the 500 represents an excellent choice and to be honest I'd probably still fork out for it as I love it, but is Fiat repostioning the car to distance it from the Panda and the planned Topolinno(?) city car or is it cashing in on the retro-chic appeal and pinching MINI customers instead?

TBH I'd be hard pushed now to justify £13,100 for a standard Lounge C when I could get the Abarth for £550 more.

Steve
 
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Re: Still good valua?

TechHouseC said:
I see that Fiat UK have now passed the price increases across to both the C and Abarth models to fall in line with the standard 500. The C now starts at £11,700 rather than £11,300 and the Abarth slightly rises to £13,605 from £13,500.

Question is is the little car becoming less value for money? I appreciate the problems in the current climate and the need to increase prices to meet the cost of labour, parts, distribution etc but with the planned increase in VAT the prices will go up again.
The 500 started out at £7,900 then went to £8,100, £8,300, £8,500 and now stands at £8,700. This is all without any extra kit as standard. If the 2010 VAT price increase doesn't include the new suspension spec then a grand more than January 2008 perhaps seems steep, but will Fiat also bump up the price when they fit the changes?

I know in the scheme of things the 500 represents an excellent choice and to be honest I'd probably still fork out for it as I love it, but is Fiat repostioning the car to distance it from the Panda and the planned Topolinno(?) city car or is it cashing in on the retro-chic appeal and pinching MINI customers instead?

TBH I'd be hard pushed now to justify £13,100 for a standard Lounge C when I could get the Abarth for £550 more.

Steve
Click to expand...
Of course it's not as good value for money as before. But Fiat can get them out of the door so fair play to them if they can raise the price.
 
Re: Still good valua?

Yes on both your counts I'd say.

Fiat will want some clear water between the Topolino, new Panda (2010), and 500; and don't forget that Sterling is now practically at parity with the Euro, so this drop alone has to justify a price adjustment.

As the currency sinks so everything we import, which is practically everything, will get dearer. We had a few good years though.
 
Re: Still good valua?

The demmand is still there so a few extra hundred won't matter to most. Example, there were 3 Abarth 500's on ebay last week, a second hand SS for 20,000 Euros, a 0-100 Version for 41,000 and the new tributo 695 for 50,000 Euros. It's still a small car and yet people will pay silly money.
 
Re: Still good valua?

DraigFlag87 said:
The demmand is still there so a few extra hundred won't matter to most. Example, there were 3 Abarth 500's on ebay last week, a second hand SS for 20,000 Euros, a 0-100 Version for 41,000 and the new tributo 695 for 50,000 Euros. It's still a small car and yet people will pay silly money.
Click to expand...
Exactly. The 500 is a lifestyle car and the sort of people who it will appeal to are the sorts who would probably pay a grand more if they had to. You need only look on the Panda forum to see the reactions of people to higher prices of normal cars.
 
Re: Still good valua?

I wonder if the 500 is hitting the targets they originally set, at the moment in Italy the Panda is out selling it nearly 3/1.

The price increases make the biggest difference on the small cars, but it is essentially a Panda so Fiat are clearly charging for the novelty (as they should). Especially if they rip-off Fords suspension development too!

So it is poor value in that respect, and also in that the Mini has a unique platform designed to be a 'sporty' hatch.


Lets hope they dont waste all the revenue they are raising.
 
Re: Still good valua?

ivantate said:
I wonder if the 500 is hitting the targets they originally set, at the moment in Italy the Panda is out selling it nearly 3/1.

The price increases make the biggest difference on the small cars, but it is essentially a Panda so Fiat are clearly charging for the novelty (as they should). Especially if they rip-off Fords suspension development too!

So it is poor value in that respect, and also in that the Mini has a unique platform designed to be a 'sporty' hatch.


Lets hope they dont waste all the revenue they are raising.
Click to expand...
The Ka wasn't developed by Ford! The Ford Ka was developed completely by Fiat. Of course Ford dictated the styling but the rear end was developed for the Abarth and Ford merely chose to put the different rear end on the Ka because they felt it would help them sell the Ka in Britain which is its most important market.
 
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Re: Still good valua?

Next year fuel prices will rocket, and more people will lose their jobs. I'd expect all small cars to hold their value well, and bigger, thirstier, ones to be practically worthless within three years, at best. So the 500 has to be good value, not the best perhaps, but good. Anything that gives approaching 50 mpg and is fashionable is going to be on peoples' wish list.

Right now I'd say the best value car of all is the Citroen C1.

And the very economical twins arriving next year should boost the image for all 500s.
 
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Re: Still good valua?

After reading this, I went onto the Fiat site and configured a 500 in the same spec as mine, and quite surprisingly, it's now £1000 more to buy than what I paid for it.

I still think its good value, but I'd certainly have had to have a much bigger think about it if it was that price at the time.
 
Re: Still good valua?

Same as above checked the currect price with same options as we had and the cost of ours is now £1200 more than we paid in march!! makes you wonder if part of the increase is Fiat covering the cost of scrappage as the 500 is one car that didnt need the scrappage incentive to sell!!
 
Re: Still good valua?

Too many cars said:
Same as above checked the currect price with same options as we had and the cost of ours is now £1200 more than we paid in march!! makes you wonder if part of the increase is Fiat covering the cost of scrappage as the 500 is one car that didnt need the scrappage incentive to sell!!
Click to expand...
Are you sure it's actually £1200 more expensive? As stated above the prices have only gone up by £800 since launch.
 
Re: Still good valua?

If I include the discount I managed to get on a non discountable car then yes ;-)
 
Re: Still good valua?

and the £800 increase since launch only relates to the pop, others have gone up by slightly more and slightly less and also options costs appear to have altered up or down as well, so to work out true increase in cost is not easy, Not moaning as if the new price goes up it also holds up resale values ;)
 
Re: Still good valua?

306maxi said:
Well the discounts will return in time. I was offered £400 off before scrappage too :)
Click to expand...

Only a £400 discount!! ;-)

Thats probably part of the increases as well as once scrappage ends, they will be able offer discounts on the cars as retail price has a level of discount built in now and every buyer thinks there on a winner when the dealer gives them a deal!!
 
Re: Still good valua?

I bought Bj for £7,700 new - As much as I really like the car, and waited with baited breath for years (after the initial concept car was unveiled about 5 or 6 years ago)to run out and buy one, I wouldn't buy another at the price they are now.
Now i've got one I the plan is to run it day to day for another couple of years - then tuck it away in the garage and buy a second hand Panda or similar for the day to day stuff and keep Bj for weekend use, probably for a very long time.(they may even have to bury me in it:D)
 
Re: Still good valua?

306maxi said:
The Ka wasn't developed by Ford! The Ford Ka was developed completely by Fiat. Of course Ford dictated the styling but the rear end was developed for the Abarth and Ford merely chose to put the different rear end on the Ka because they felt it would help them sell the Ka in Britain which is its most important market.
Click to expand...

how do you know this?

I saw a Ka test mule at Dunton 3 years ago
 
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