General Dealers

[smart examiner]

I would agree with DraigFlag87.
Picking an Abarth is also picking your dealer. It's a specialist car in a sense and it will need a bit of looking after particularily if you start tinkering with it . If you're looking for a BMW service on buying what is essentially a Fiat the car price might start going up and it may not be good value any more. Is the car for you or is it for your partner and have you owned any other cars in the Fiat group ?

Thanks to Draigflag and yourself for the replies. I did only E.mail the dealers,however i did get a reply from Abarth Cars,who said they would look into it,when infact all they had to do was just send me a brochure.
I have owned 2 Fiats in the past.A cinq sporting and a panda 100hp. I was also in London in 2010 and called into the flagship showroom and did see and sat in the abarth. When i told the salesman i was from the North he lost interest and said he did not have any brochures only a 2 page leaflet.
The one big fault for me on the panda was the foot rest next to the clutch which was far too high causing you to have a bent leg instead of being able to streach out.I also found it a tight fit for your left foot. I did notice that the abarth was just the same in this respect,but of course you can get used to this as i did on the panda.
Later i went to the Mini showroom on Park lane,and the staff there could not do enough for me.The foot rest on the Mini is much lower down so you can streach out.I was given thick brochures and offered a test drive,even though i told them i was not buying at that time.
It is all down to customer service and knowing how to treat a customer.I ran a newsagents for many years selling items for 20p and 30p and i treated each customer with respect. If someone is about to spend £14000 they should be treated with even more respect.
I have been into many showrooms over the years of all different car makers,and if i get ignored by the sales staff i walk out. When i get good service,the best discount,and friendly staff,then that is the firm that gets my business. Thanks for your input guys.

 

[multispoke]

Thanks to Draigflag and yourself for the replies. I did only E.mail the dealers,however i did get a reply from Abarth Cars,who said they would look into it,when infact all they had to do was just send me a brochure.
I have owned 2 Fiats in the past.A cinq sporting and a panda 100hp. I was also in London in 2010 and called into the flagship showroom and did see and sat in the abarth. When i told the salesman i was from the North he lost interest and said he did not have any brochures only a 2 page leaflet.
The one big fault for me on the panda was the foot rest next to the clutch which was far too high causing you to have a bent leg instead of being able to streach out.I also found it a tight fit for your left foot. I did notice that the abarth was just the same in this respect,but of course you can get used to this as i did on the panda.
Later i went to the Mini showroom on Park lane,and the staff there could not do enough for me.The foot rest on the Mini is much lower down so you can streach out.I was given thick brochures and offered a test drive,even though i told them i was not buying at that time.
It is all down to customer service and knowing how to treat a customer.I ran a newsagents for many years selling items for 20p and 30p and i treated each customer with respect. If someone is about to spend £14000 they should be treated with even more respect.
I have been into many showrooms over the years of all different car makers,and if i get ignored by the sales staff i walk out. When i get good service,the best discount,and friendly staff,then that is the firm that gets my business. Thanks for your input guys.

There is a difference between respect and service. Respect has to be earned and good service is expected. I would prefer a Garage to leave me alone to have a look around and I'm not really into been called 'Sir'.
It comes down to - do you really want a 500 ?
Drivers of Smart diesel cars don't like giving up their economy and Panda drivers don't like driving 500s because they think they are a bit girly - making it into an Abarth still doesn't really do it.
If you really wanted one you would have asked for a test drive.

 

[DraigFlag87]

Yea exactly, you buy the car you want, not the car someone else tries to make you buy.

For the record i hadn't even seen an Abarth, let alone sat in one or even driven one when i bought mine. It was all done over the phone

 

[smart examiner]

Guys,we seem to have gone off topic. My complaint was that every car company is only too pleased to post out brochures except Abarth. I have even had brochures from Rolls Royce,and Aston Martin years ago.I still say that a firm who has no interest in even sending out a brochure is not a firm that will get my business.
I have also been thinking about a 2 year old Mazda MX5,a new Toyota IQ, VW POLO, and the brand new Kia Picanto out this year. I will not change till September,if then.I might keep my Smart for another year, 70 MPG,Free Road Tax,Automatic. Great Car,and dealers who know how treat customers. A brochure was sent to me within Two days, i was given a full days solo test drive,a nice discount and items thrown in for free.
I know you guys love your Abarth and wanted one no matter what,and i am sure it is a good car which i would enjoy.I would get an automatic which would solve the tight foootwell space,however there are plenty of other cars that are just as good sold by firms who know about customer service.They are the ones i will deal with.

 

[multispoke]

Thanks for reply Smart Examiner and I hope you don't take this up the wrong way...
There's a saying about 'why does a Ferrari dealer smile at you' when he's handing the keys over to you ? Well it's because he knows the bills you will be paying in a few months time...
May I would suggest posting a reply on the Abarthisti forum in the Dealer section given that you have already made a complaint to Fiat HQ and it has had no effect.
When you came on intially I thought you never had driven a Fiat with the mention of Jaguars etc. I was taken aback when I realised that you were or have been a Panda 100bhp driver. I though that Panda drivers were 'down to earth' individuals and were not into been pampered.
And by the way I don't have an Abarth - its only a standard 500 - I'm just a wannabe and I'm happy with the electronic version of the A500 brochure. I reckon that practically no Abarth drivers have an actual brochure.

 

[icon]

As i started the thread thought i'd post an update.

I've ordered the car from Corkhills Cheshire Oaks and should be collecting on Saturday.

Couldn't get a red one anywhere unless i waited 12 weeks so have bought a new one that had just been delivered in White with red stripes, 5 spoke petal alloys, black leather, climate & upgraded hifi.

Thanks for all the help and lets hope its as much fun as the RenaultSport 197 that sadly will be making way for the A500.

Ian

 

[DraigFlag87]

Been dealing with Corkills myself recently, nice showroom with some very tasty motors there

It seems they charge the same labour rates as their Porsche franchise though, so shop around when service is due!

A fair few ex Renault Clio owners have downsized to the A500 and have not looked back

 

[grajo]

I've ordered the car from Corkhills Cheshire Oaks and should be collecting on Saturday.

Couldn't get a red one anywhere unless i waited 12 weeks so have bought a new one that had just been delivered in White with red stripes, 5 spoke petal alloys, black leather, climate & upgraded hifi.

Thanks for all the help and lets hope its as much fun as the RenaultSport 197 that sadly will be making way for the A500.

Ian

Congrats, after all the posts you realised you could not resist I'm not the longest owning A500 guy around here,am I guys!, but I'll tell you for noyhing it is such a serious amount of fun Gird you loins for the attention you will get

 

[icon]

I had a Porsche Cayman S before the RenaultSport so if Corkhills are charging similar prices for a service on the A500 i'll be looking elsewhere

Ian

 

[dave]

Glynn Hopkins had loads of different colour ones sitting in show room and out side last week. not sure if any was for sale or just demos,

 

[Gunscrossed]

When I picked mine up Thursday Glynn Hopkins had three new ones in stock, one red two black.