General Anyone seen a new 500 in Britain yet?

[KevinB]

Yes, have a look for yourself when you get the chance Jase. Don't buy a Black 500 on the strength of what we say .​

As you may have noticed above, I don't even know the difference between .fr and .it dealers and sites.
The French dealers are definately advertising Black 500s as being metallic paint on www.ebay.fr

http://cgi.ebay.fr/Fiat-500-LOUNGE-...oryZ9843QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

but Fiat might give us different colours in the UK just to be difficult​

 

[Ms_Cinq]

The French dealers are definately advertising Black 500s as being metallic paint
[/QUOTE
Les Fiat dealers Francais could be telling Les Porkies like the English ones do sometimes.

Black 500 Sport Piccadilly Motors Wakefield
White 500 Sport Piccadilly Motors Knaresborough
Red 500 Lounge JCS Fiat Kegworth Derbyshire
Black 500 Sport ttcentre.com Surrey
Silver 500 Sport M-vogue Northampton

Keep UK sightings of the little critters coming you lot.
There must be more we don't yet know about.

 

[ensonricky]

Give the car a chance, it hasn't even been released in this country yet and the initial euphoria is already replaced by negativity. Think Arbath, that will bring a smile to your all your faces.

Back to the black issue the only two non-metallic(Pastel) colours in the range are plain white(Bianco bianco) and the standard blue(Blu m'ama non m'ama) and these are no cost options. The metallics including the black(Nero Provocatore) are a 360 Euro extra cost option.

I have seen the a black 500 close up in an Italian Supermarket promoting a lottery and can confirm it is a very nice finish and this from someone who swore never to consider black again after a sad tale with a black Ford XR3i, now that's a confession for you!

 

[ensonricky]

Attached photos as previously mentioned, I couldn't fit it in my shopping trolly unfortunately.

 

[ThisBitterPill]

I know it's not in GB but...

I just came back from France and I saw this in a dealership (which was sadly closed and the gates were padlocked!..Grrrrr!) I think there was a red one inside too!

Daz

 

[gib1970]

sad to say it, but i agree with some earlier posters...i was full of anticipation for the 500 but after the reviews and the photos its a bit of a let-down. way too 'cute' looking for me to want to drive - and a bit more power, bodykit and a few scorpion logos on the abarth version won't really change much - in fact, i think this car will look garishly incongrouous with a big bodykit.

im sure the 500 will sell shed-loads, but as a fiat-loving seicento and panda owner it doesnt do anything for me. which is great considering the mark up that this car will have just for its perceived style and image!

tbh, for my next car if it was going to be a fiat again (which it probably will!) id rather have the panda 100hp than the 500, abarth included.....get just as much fun and pocket a good few grand into the bargain

 

[ensonricky]

Nothing cute about this H&R variant.

http://nf500.com/

 

[oilrag]

I would have liked to see a basic model cheaper than the Panda. But the `new` Beetle and `Mini` seem to sell, despite departing totally from the original cars concepts of cheap transport.

The 500 still looks like a KA to me from the side and that almost vertical painted front screams `stonechips`.
I hope it succeeds and that the high price is reflected in build quality.

It really makes the Panda and GP look fantastic value for money though.

 

[Ms_Cinq]

Seem to be a few guys on here who like the look of the 500, tho some have not seen it yet. The guys I know think it is too cute and girly for them, and some of the guys on here will prob think the same when they see it for real.

The 500 quality is good in places but not good throughout and not greatly improved on the Panda - the Panda is a true four seater and not a bit of a compromise on interior space like the 500.

if most guys don't want it in britain it leaves more for us women to buy.

The recent Stanford Hall autoitalia car event had 2 lhd 500s attending and the old skool fiat guys thought it was a bit of a fraud pretending to be a rebirth of the original 500, while the modern Italian car owners thought it was girly and an expensive fem version of the Panda.


Any more sightings of the little critters in Britain?

 

[gib1970]

Seem to be a few guys on here who like the look of the 500, tho some have not seen it yet. The guys I know think it is too cute and girly for them, and some of the guys on here will prob think the same when they see it for real.

The 500 quality is good in places but not good throughout and not greatly improved on the Panda - the Panda is a true four seater and not a bit of a compromise on interior space like the 500.

if most guys don't want it in britain it leaves more for us women to buy.

The recent Stanford Hall autoitalia car event had 2 lhd 500s attending and the old skool fiat guys thought it was a bit of a fraud pretending to be a rebirth of the original 500, while the modern Italian car owners thought it was girly and an expensive fem version of the Panda.

sounds a fair summing up to me - methinks the 500 will end up being driven by a lot of women..and also the same style-over-substance brigade that steamed into the new mini, with no real regard or interest to the car itself as a driving experience. count me out of joining the next estate agents runaround

 

[ensonricky]

It will be a shame if macho posturing gets in the way of acknowledging an excellently designed car, far better packaged than the Mini, in terms of space efficiency.

One must not forget that by most reports the 500 improves on two of the main failings of the Panda, a less than attractive design and poorish ride.

Also we are not yet privy to the specification or pricing of the British cars so comments on value should be reserved until then.

Keep the faith.

 

[KevinB]

There's a full road test of a 500 in this week's AUTOCAR magazine.

They are suggesting we will not get the cheaper 1.2 and Popular models immediately in the UK as Fiat opt to sell only the more expensive versions to us until the initial 'rush' dies down.

Autocar also make comments similar to those I have seen elsewhere about the poor ride-quality of the car on some roads, which is not good news to an old crock like me: I need my comfort.

I'm pleased I didn't rush out and buy a left-hooker in my initial enthusiasm.
The 500 is a great looking car, but obviously it's not head-and-shoulders above the competition.

If you think the 500 looks too girly, don't forget there will be a Ford version of the 500 coming out next year, the new Ford Ka. It will have Fiat 500 underpinnings, a less feminine looking bodyshape probably, and no doubt a lower price. :yum:

 

[Nuova500]

I reckon the Ford version will be closer to the original concept than the Fiat one tbh! As for the Panda having a poor ride, thats rubbish, its brilliant.

 

[Suasexed]

Autocar refer to how people will view the car once it's lost it's inital gloss... For me, the gloss has pretty much gone, even before the UK launch. I'm now far more excited to see what Ford come up with.

 

[ensonricky]

All the negative road test comments from a variety of sources regarding the ride of the 500 appear to all relate to the 1.4 version. It's turning circle is also increased due to the positioning of the larger six speed box. The 1.4 engine mated to the 500 chassis also does not appear to be anywhere near a good a match as with the Panda. From the very first road tests it appeared clear that the 1.4 was the poorest in the range by some margin.

The likelihood that the 1.2 will not be imported, mooted from the very outset, is a great dissapointment as a small capacity(afforable) engine is what the 500 should be all about. I wrote to Fiat two months ago to implore them to import the 1.2 engine citing numerous advantages including the eligibility for the lower tax category.

I have reserved a car via the '500 WANTS YOU' online booking but for some time now I have decided to forgo my reservation if the version on offer is 1.4 as seems likely.

 

[thepottleflump]

I saw loads in Italy, looks a really great car, makes real sense as a town vehicle.

 

[KevinB]

It might help if Ford would give us an idea what their version of the 500 (the new Ford Ka) was actually going to look like.

Worldcarfans are the latest site to show a heavily disguised vehicle undergoing testing which could be the new Ka, but it's by no means certain.

http://www.worldcarfans.com/9070914.005/new-ford-ka-spy-photos

If this is NOT the new Ford ka, where the heck are they hiding it?

I have phoned Ford (a complete waste of time) and I have written to Ford (UK and Germany) to try and get them to confirm a that this is indeed the ka undergoing testing, and to give me a clue as to the launch date. As expected, I have heard absolutely nothing!

For those who haven't seen a 500 yet, there's going to be one on display at the London Design Festival 23 to 25 September.

http://nf500.com/2007/09/17/new-fiat-500-at-london-design-festival-2007/

 

[Ms_Cinq]

It is def that we are not getting 1.2s and Populars then or just another rumour.

Feel so sorry for peeps who have paid dealers a deposit expecting a 1.2 pop for under 9k .

Typical of greedy Fiat to only give us the expensive ones first

 

[Ms_Cinq]

I rang a couple of dealers this morno, the one who was saying 1.2s will be from 8500 pounds is still saying that. They kno nothing about us not getting the 1.2 or the popularat launch. But they dont know much at all really and they could be telling lies, obviously wanted an order and a 500 quid deposit off my credit card. No way. From what the mags are saying I am fast going off the whole idea.

The list brought forward from before and updated
Black 500 Sport Piccadilly Motors Wakefield
White 500 Sport Piccadilly Motors Knaresborough
Red 500 Lounge JCS Fiat Kegworth Derbyshire
Black 500 Sport ttcentre.com Surrey
Silver 500 Sport M-vogue Northampton
500 should be on display at london design festival 23 to 25 sept 07

 

[Skate2create]

Myself and Beeson went to Motorvogue on saturday around 5pm hoping not to get pounced upon by salesmen. The guy came out (South african I think) and stood talking to us for a good 20-odd minutes about it and about our cars (bravobeastie and marea 20v respectively) and was very friendly and not at all pushy. infact he didn't even ask if we were interested LOL.
Opened the car up so we could have a sit in. I was quite suprised by the amount of space tbh, wasn't that bad at all for a small car. The parcel shelf though... bit of an afterthought perhaps?! it couldn't of been 4cm wide!

I like the retro-ness of the speedo and rev gauge being incorporated into one unit. could prove confusing. Got a few pis on my camera phone which I'll try and get uploaded at some point this evening =)

Dan