Close to ordering a 500 Pop for my wife and wondered whether and if so when Fiat are liklely to make any 2010 spec changes?

Current plan for our car is

500 1.2 Pop
Cha Cha Azure
Red/Ivory interior
Air Con
ESP
Rear head rests
Vintage wheel trims
Chrome mirrors

We quite like a retro rather than sporty or luxy style I guess

I just dont want to miss out on any worthwhile improvemnts if there are any coming up so any thoughts would be great

Also does anyone have any ideas on how long we have under the scrappage scheme - is the new funding close to running out?
Thanks

Not what you asked, but I would just point put that you are very close to Sport / Lounge price & miss some good kit: Blue & Me & heated mirrors. You also stand to lose more on this car (as options rarely carry a premium when cars are resold).

However, I get why you like the vintage look & it is your choice - just wanted to point that out...

Thank you as whilst it is not what I asked your point is very much on my mind. My spec does work out about £5/600 cheaper than say a Lounge and for us it is a close call which we are still agonising over. I feel that the more we add to the Pop the more sensible a Lounge seems. I quite like the chrome pack but feel that is taking us too close to next spec....

We will look at the cars carefully again as we would intend to keep for at least 5 years but I can't forget resale as plans can change....

Thanks for making me think!

Nick

Hey Nick2

Your spec sounds good, everyone will try to convince you to upgrade to a lounge or sport. I think the Pop is the way to go to get the things you want – but of course I am biased.

Personally blue n me has already saved my life more than ESP would have (though it is a bit tricky to get the hang of – I'm still learning!)

As for the 2010 spec changes – no-one seems to know when they'll happen and the car is great as it is anyway. All that seems to happen is the price rises. I don't know about the scrappage running out but I think VAT goes up again soonish, thats what most people seem to be talking about.

PS -By the way if you spec leather you get the rear headrests & split seats with it, just wondered if you know. Anyhow, Pop seats are v. nice so not gonna argue there! Chrome bits you can easily add later rather than speccing at source, if you're wanting to keep to the essentials.

Good luck.

Thanks Juwlz. I have seen the photos of your car in the owners photo section and to me it looks stunning! My personal view is that the Pop trim suits the 500 as it seems somehow more true to the original car. I guess the great thing about speccing the model is that it can be made to suit whatever theme an owner is looking for. For us i think we are looking for a smart car with simplicity of line with the safety features whilst sticking to a budget. In the past we have usually ticked most of the extras boxes when ordering our cars and I now think that we would have enjoyed them just as much without lots of bits. It's quite hard to be restrained here as I am still tempted to slip into our old ways......

Please do not think that I am knocking specced up 500s as I think they are great, it's just that we want to keep it simple (and cheaper) this time. I do keep building a Lounge in Black with leather and Soundscope and 16" wheels and sunroof but my head (and bank manager keep saying no!)

I just hope that we will be able to make the scrappage scheme as that will double the value of our car which we bought as a short term option and then fell in love with (well I did at least) a year ago.

Still not sure about the Chrome Pack....and as far as Blue and Me is concerned it's desirable but not that much of a deal for us especially considering that car will generally be used locally and not for work etc

I always worry about resale but as we intend to keep the car for 4 years and then possibly keep for our daughters saving a few hundred quid now appeals....but then again.......

Thanks again and I have found this site useful and friendly

Nick

hi nick

scrappage has been given an extra 100m of funding- this is to see it throught to the end of feb next year-...your car has to be delivered before scrappage runs out, so that, coupled with the imminent VAT rise, means now is the time to order.

There is no news on any spec changes for 2010, and as the car is only 2 years old, this is unlikey until the need arises....do not hold off for this reason

order it now, join the queue, and look forward to your new car!

Buy now and price fix - all variants will go up in price by at least £220 on the 1st of January 2010 and us dealers are selling these things like hotcakes !! Getting mine hopefully at end of december, red 1.2 pop with red/ivory ambiance, chrome kit, blue+me.

Can I suggest you try a lounge before making a final decision. The extra light in the interior makes it all worthwhile. And of course - like others - I am biased too - but it was one of the main reasons for choosing the Lounge Spec.