P1000579.jpg

500 My TA Lounge in Volare Blue.

Introduction

Just picked up today:











You can just about make out a tiny little crease in the rear wheelarch of the last pic - I noticed this on collection of the car, and it was pointed out - this is going to be repaired, and the Italian flag wing badges will go on at the same time. The dealer were very apologetic and assured me the damage wasn't there on PDI, so it must have happened on the way to Central London where I picked it up - ho hum, these things happen!

Getting used to it - it's a big change from an Alfa 156 V6, but it's bloody nice :)
Thanks, now it's repaired, I'm very happy with it. I got a decent offer of goodwill from the dealer in the form of 20% off the next(first) service, and Fiat CS offered me £100 in vouchers for supplying the car damaged, so I think I've come out of the situation well. All I need now is the Italian flag wing badges to arrive (on back order) and the car will be complete!
 
very nice, we ordered our 500, same colour last week, can not wait!
great pics
 
On Monday, my Italian flag wing badges finally arrived, so I got some IPA to clean the paintwork of wax before applying them:

(excuse the photo quality, they were taken on my iPhone 3GS)







A few weeks ago, I ordered a pair of the sill protectors that were fitted to the 'Sport', and fitted them:



Finishes the car off nicely, I think - a little splash of colour on the front wings, but classy.
 
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I meant to like the post but being ham-fisted on an iPad, I pressed the wrong icon. Sorry!
 
Only because Matt has bumped this thread - I can't see the lovely engine shot. Did you attach it, or is it just my browser?

Car looks lovely btw - it must be well run in by now!
 
I've done just over 2300 miles in it, and yes, it definitely feels a lot livelier than it did when brand new, it's as nippy in ECO as it was in full fat mode when new, and the economy is getting better all of the time; I get around 40-45 and I do hoon it around a fair amount as it's such a laugh.

I can't edit the post with the engine photo, so I'll link to it again:

engine19.jpg


When it gets to 3000 miles, I'm going to give it its first oil and filter change, as I simply don't like the idea of leaving the first fill of oil in there until next year.
 
I've done just over 2300 miles in it, ...
When it gets to 3000 miles, I'm going to give it its first oil and filter change, as I simply don't like the idea of leaving the first fill of oil in there until next year.

Do you plan doing the oil and filter change yourself ?
 
Nice looking car. I have never seen any that color of blue here in the USA; mostly red, white and black here.

It is interesting seeing the comments about the body imperfections and the way the dealer handled them. It is my understanding that the Chrysler dealers here in the USA were more or less forced to take the Fiats and they generally are not motivated to provide anything more than the usual low level of customer service and satisfaction that you would get at a Chyrysler/Dodge dealer. There is an attitude that the little cars get in the way in the dealer service department and there is usually only one Fiat tech on staff.

If they do not get their collective act together Fiat will never sell any of the Abarth models in the USA and they sure as heck won't service them very well either.
 
Nice looking car. I have never seen any that color of blue here in the USA; mostly red, white and black here.

It is interesting seeing the comments about the body imperfections and the way the dealer handled them. It is my understanding that the Chrysler dealers here in the USA were more or less forced to take the Fiats and they generally are not motivated to provide anything more than the usual low level of customer service and satisfaction that you would get at a Chyrysler/Dodge dealer. There is an attitude that the little cars get in the way in the dealer service department and there is usually only one Fiat tech on staff.

If they do not get their collective act together Fiat will never sell any of the Abarth models in the USA and they sure as heck won't service them very well either.


Dont worry its no better across the pond = )
 
Yep. [An oil and filter change is] not a difficult job at all..
Hello there :) I've got a Volare Blue TwinAir Lounge as well, just done 1000 miles in it. I was thinking of doing an oil and filter change at 2000, maybe I will leave it to 3000 as you are, but my question is:

Will doing the oil and filter change myself invalidate the warranty? :confused:

I maintain a Series III Land Rover myself, so the mechanical side of an oil and filter change do not deter me at all :D But I do worry about the dealer being... upset by me tinkering with the car
 
Nice looking car. I have never seen any that color of blue here in the USA; mostly red, white and black here.

It is interesting seeing the comments about the body imperfections and the way the dealer handled them. It is my understanding that the Chrysler dealers here in the USA were more or less forced to take the Fiats and they generally are not motivated to provide anything more than the usual low level of customer service and satisfaction that you would get at a Chyrysler/Dodge dealer. There is an attitude that the little cars get in the way in the dealer service department and there is usually only one Fiat tech on staff.

If they do not get their collective act together Fiat will never sell any of the Abarth models in the USA and they sure as heck won't service them very well either.

Im puzzled that the Chrysler/Dodge dealers seem to consider the Fiat a hinderance. Do they not realise that if Fiat hadn't taken on Chrysler, they could be in a similar predicament to Saab dealers? ie without a business. Seems a bizzare attitude to me but maybe i don't know the full story. Even so it needs sorting else Fiat's presence back in the USA might be very short-lived.
 
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