Hi All

I am the guy from another forum (IS) that 306Maxi was referring to who is trying to sort out a 500 order with the local (Australian) Fiat dealers with a interior / exterior colour combination that is unavailable here in Oz (but available from the Italian on-line configerator). A request has been sent to Italy and hopefully I should hear back within a week.

Just a few Questions if some of you could answer – so I know my stuff when I get that reply, so that I do not get stonewalled with any “no e possibli” excuses and can hopefully put an order in soon

Is the new colour “Azzurro Cuor Leggero” the same as the old ChaCha Blu ?? from the old and new brochures I have it looks darker …but that is just a printed page ? I am a bit wary of picking a colour sight unseen (my cousin in Italy has a ChaCha blu)

Is the fabric Pop red / ivory interior still available – it sort of disappeared from the configerators when I was fantasy shopping late last year, but now it has re-appeared on the Italian Website

With the 500C (outside chance that I will get this) I noticed that above combination is achievable BUT only with the Ivory roof – however with the black interior you can get a Red Roof – question do you think it possible to have a red / ivory interior and red roof ???

OK one last Question, a very important one, looking at all these discussions on this forum (many a wasted hour or two !!!) there appears to be “issues” with the 500 - Fine all cars have issues, but on the whole is the 500 a reliable motor ???

Cheers

Joseph500 said:

OK one last Question, a very important one, looking at all these discussions on this forum (many a wasted hour or two !!!) there appears to be “issues” with the 500 - Fine all cars have issues, but on the whole is the 500 a reliable motor ???

Cheers

Click to expand...

Over the course of almost 2 years and 40,000 miles mine had one minor fault, a week into ownership with hydraulic seals. The dealer replaced them in a day. Since then she's been completely fine. A small niggle with a dash light behind the air con controls but she's been the most bulletproof car I've ever owned. Mind you, I've owned a various commodores so it's possibly no surprise the 500 is reliable by comparison.

In that 40,000 miles she's done a dozen track days where she's out for an hour and a half at a time, 2 trips to the Nurburgring where I wasn't shy about hammering around, my daily 74 mile return commute, trips to Europe and up North of England, country lanes thrashes and plenty more. And she's lapped it all up and not missed a bear.

My advice would be to change the oil a lot more than Fiat recommend. Mine goes through about half a litre per 1000 miles and I'm trying to get in the habit of doing an oil change every 5k miles.

Likewise, mine has been the most reliable car I have ever owned (that includes a raft of Hondas & a BMW E34), a total of over 25,000 miles in two 500's now with zero mechanical failures.

Sure there's the odd rattle occasionally, but they are easy to sort.

Joseph500 said:

Hi All

I am the guy from another forum (IS) that 306Maxi was referring to who is trying to sort out a 500 order with the local (Australian) Fiat dealers with a interior / exterior colour combination that is unavailable here in Oz (but available from the Italian on-line configerator). A request has been sent to Italy and hopefully I should hear back within a week.

Click to expand...

You're on the right track then I'd guess

Joseph500 said:

Is the new colour “Azzurro Cuor Leggero” the same as the old ChaCha Blu ?? from the old and new brochures I have it looks darker …but that is just a printed page ? I am a bit wary of picking a colour sight unseen (my cousin in Italy has a ChaCha blu)

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CCAB is still available in the UK so I'd asssume it's still available there

Seems to be the same colour here
http://500blog.blogspot.com/2007/07/new-fiat-500-in-azzurro-cuor-leggero.html

Joseph500 said:

Is the fabric Pop red / ivory interior still available – it sort of disappeared from the configerators when I was fantasy shopping late last year, but now it has re-appeared on the Italian Website

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Still on the Uk configurator so should be available.

Joseph500 said:

With the 500C (outside chance that I will get this) I noticed that above combination is achievable BUT only with the Ivory roof – however with the black interior you can get a Red Roof – question do you think it possible to have a red / ivory interior and red roof ???

Click to expand...

Seems to be available in the UK so certainly possible

Joseph500 said:

OK one last Question, a very important one, looking at all these discussions on this forum (many a wasted hour or two !!!) there appears to be “issues” with the 500 - Fine all cars have issues, but on the whole is the 500 a reliable motor ???

Cheers

Click to expand...

IMHO yes, the Panda has been around since 2003 now and there aren't loads of horror stories. Some people have had issues but that's to be expected. There are some little niggles that people have like saggy cushions on leather upholstery, washer nozzles coming out in cold weather, B&M being a bit flaky, issues with Start&Stop, but all of these things are just niggles and there's only been the very odd person whose had problems with their engine and their lack of English skills always makes me think that we're not getting the full story.....

Good News

I can get the ChaCha Blue with the Red Leather / Ivory,

Still waiting to hear about the Red / Ivory Fabric Pop interior ... but unlikely Still waiting on news on the red roof on the 500c

Worst news ... the Abarth will be here soon (still to be 100% confirmed) ....... goodness THAT is a temptation :tempt:

Hi

I made a special order as well through Fiat at Parramatta. Took them a month to take order but don't trust their info too much. My order was approved in January for Feb production. I noticed on a website that Fiat in Italy had closed factories for at least two weeks due to lack of production. I called Fiat Aust. and they had no idea of closedown. After a few days Fiat Aust. got back to me and said the car had gone from Feb production to now March production. I sent an email to dealer to get new arrival date for car (estimate).. One week later am still waiting. It looks a great car (500C) but hell its hard work to get one....:bang:

Matt

Re: Buying Advice - in Oz

One problem I have is trying to visualise colours here without the benefit of actually seeing in the flesh.......

I am getting a luke warm reaction from the young'uns about the Cha Cha Blue ......... something about looking a bit "gay" ...... but in a bad way.

Mucking around on the configerator (yet again) can across "rock and roll blue" . on the UK site & it looks quite dull, but on the International 500 video configerator it looks GORGEOUS !!! Trolled this site and only one reference and that was not complimentary

Anybody with some real world photos ??? Yes I know it is quite dark..but that is cool I quite like that dark, almost inky blue

One more Q - On the International 500 video configerator there are these 16inch 8 spoke alloy wheels .... are these available in real life ??

Cheers all - thanks for all the help and insights

Re: Buying Advice - in Oz

Joseph500 said:

One problem I have is trying to visualise colours here without the benefit of actually seeing in the flesh.......

I am getting a luke warm reaction from the young'uns about the Cha Cha Blue ......... something about looking a bit "gay" ...... but in a bad way.

Mucking around on the configerator (yet again) can across "rock and roll blue" . on the UK site & it looks quite dull, but on the International 500 video configerator it looks GORGEOUS !!! Trolled this site and only one reference and that was not complimentary

Anybody with some real world photos ??? Yes I know it is quite dark..but that is cool I quite like that dark, almost inky blue

One more Q - On the International 500 video configerator there are these 16inch 8 spoke alloy wheels .... are these available in real life ??

Cheers all - thanks for all the help and insights

Click to expand...

8 spokes = http://shop4parts.co.uk/?name=store&op=Details&ProdID=4756&sku=12022 ?

If so yes you can get them but of course it'll be the sort of thing you'll have to jump through hoops with the dealer in Australia to organise. Don't seem to be an option at purchase though, only aftermarket in the UK.

Give Gareth a PM https://www.fiatforum.com/members/gareth111278 he's got a Panda in Rock and Roll blue. Tbh it wouldn't be my choice as it's very dark and almost black but not black if you get what I mean.

Bloody Hell Maxi - you are fast ...... and a venerable font of Fiat knowledge ...

Ta

Joseph500 said:

Bloody Hell Maxi - you are fast ...... and a venerable font of Fiat knowledge ...

Ta

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Thanks When I was buying my car I read a tonne of threads here, had a look on lots of sites so picked up a lot of knowledge.

Joseph500 said:

Bloody Hell Maxi - you are fast ...... and a venerable font of Fiat knowledge ...

Ta

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Others call it full of the proverbial

Best of luck J500, it sounds like you may need it, but keep at it: It is going to be a very special (Australian) 500

bludvl_x19 said:

Others call it full of the proverbial

Best of luck J500, it sounds like you may need it, but keep at it: It is going to be a very special (Australian) 500

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Sod off with your lovely Bertone exxie :bang:

Hi

Update on my 500 (or lack there of) …………hum I have been recurrently overwhelmed with work stuff so little time to chase-up the local Fiat guys about my future 500. They have been a bit wishy washy – more so a case of them trying to decipher the wishy washy (only this time in Italian) advice they are getting from Italy.

But as my youngun’s have vetoed the ChaCha Blue ………..I am having doubts myself so the best I can do is to hop on a plane and get over to London and check out the Flagship store. From what I can gather they have sample chips of all the external and internal options and some fancy configerators that are far better than the on-line ones. Is that true ??? Worth the trip ???

PS: I am really visiting London (late June) ….but just not for picking a few colours

Joseph500 said:

Hi

But as my youngun’s have vetoed the ChaCha Blue ………..I am having doubts myself so the best I can do is to hop on a plane and get over to London and check out the Flagship store.

Click to expand...

Might be simpler to order a range of the touch up sticks and see how they look in the flesh, not ideal but it might help.

I was initially interested in the CCB but when i saw that I had exactly the same reaction.....!
Personally I chose BNW but would have been happy with Red or Black tbh

Re: Buying Advice - in Oz

Joseph500 said:

One problem I have is trying to visualise colours here without the benefit of actually seeing in the flesh.......

I am getting a luke warm reaction from the young'uns about the Cha Cha Blue ......... something about looking a bit "gay" ...... but in a bad way.

Mucking around on the configerator (yet again) can across "rock and roll blue" . on the UK site & it looks quite dull, but on the International 500 video configerator it looks GORGEOUS !!! Trolled this site and only one reference and that was not complimentary

Anybody with some real world photos ??? Yes I know it is quite dark..but that is cool I quite like that dark, almost inky blue

One more Q - On the International 500 video configerator there are these 16inch 8 spoke alloy wheels .... are these available in real life ??

Cheers all - thanks for all the help and insights

Click to expand...

I currently have a 500 in rock n roll blue on order and IMO it is an amazing colour and one that is looked over a lot. There aren't many around which is great and fits in with the individul 500 feeling. In some light it does look black and in others a real as you say 'inky' blue. I fell in love with it when i saw it and with the blue and ivory interior and ivory ambiance it just makes the blue pop.

Cant wait until it is here!

Re: Buying Advice - in Oz

Sarah500 said:

I currently have a 500 in rock n roll blue on order and IMO it is an amazing colour and one that is looked over a lot. There aren't many around which is great and fits in with the individul 500 feeling. In some light it does look black and in others a real as you say 'inky' blue. I fell in love with it when i saw it and with the blue and ivory interior and ivory ambiance it just makes the blue pop.

Cant wait until it is here!

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Thanks Sarah, so have you actually seen the colour - in the flesh ???? What is the code if you know ??? Would it be 475, by chance ??

What makes things a little confusing is Fiat bad habit of using different names for the same colours in different markets grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Re: Buying Advice - in Oz

Yea i have seen it in the flesh. There was one in the showroom, had my heart set on a ford Ka before i seen it and fell in love, and when i went back to just buy it, it had been sold so had to order.

In the brochure i have it says 475 for Rock n Roll blue. Its a UK booklet so dunno if it the same over seas.

Hope that helps

Re: Buying Advice - in Oz

Sarah500 said:

Yea i have seen it in the flesh. There was one in the showroom, had my heart set on a ford Ka before i seen it and fell in love, and when i went back to just buy it, it had been sold so had to order.

In the brochure i have it says 475 for Rock n Roll blue. Its a UK booklet so dunno if it the same over seas.

Hope that helps

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Yes Sarah, yes it does !!!! in a good way !!!

From the English site the R'n'R looks quite dull, the International myFiat500 site R'n'R blue does not exist - that was a worry, however they do have a Goth Metal blue that looks the bomb !!! code number 475.

Thanks for the advice ..cheers

Re: Buying Advice - in Oz

rock n roll blue is goth metal blue.

Re: Buying Advice - in Oz

Thanks maxi that clears up a lot of confusion for me too ... kept seeing ggoth metal blue and thinking it looked very similar