Technical Euro6 1.2 Throttle Response, Hill Start Issues & Watchdog report

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Re: Fiat 500 gutless on hills

I didn't think the problem affected the auto

This problem doesn't to the best of my knowledge, sounds like another issue possibly

 

[ab4444]

Re: Fiat 500 gutless on hills

My Fiat 500 1.2 will be handed back to my friendly dealership, albeit the one that's 60 miles away from me, on the 28 February. My finance company have been advised of this in writing and they know that unless Fiat wave a magic wand within the next 2 weeks, they can have this car back.

What a shambles of an episode this has all been. And one that could have been handled so so differently and not stressed me out so much to the point of making me ill.

I will then be asking for all reasonable costs to be reimbursed. I do fear that they will try to make this difficult for me. None of them have been very cooperative to date. The finance company's 'normal' rejection process is for me to take it back to the original dealership and for them to assess the vehicle to confirm suitability for rejection. I've categorically stated that I will never deal with Huttons of Weston-super-Mare if someone paid me whilst pointing a gun to my head and it looks like the friendly people at Pewsham Garages, Wiltshire, will be receiving my lovely little car instead.

I would not suggest ANYONE buying a new Fiat 500 1.2 car at the moment and ESPECIALLY from Huttons. It doesn't seem to be any sort of priority on Fiat's behalf to get this issue rectified, and 6 months on, I'm STILL reeling from the attitude taken that it was somehow me and my inadequate driving skills at fault. Unbelievable.

 

[jrkitching]

Re: Fiat 500 gutless on hills

ab4444, whilst I have every sympathy with your situation, please do not underestimate the difficulty of forcing a contested rejection in a case such as this. Whilst I'd be the first to say that you most certainly have the moral high ground, what you will have to go through to win a case in Court will make your present troubles look like a walk in the park.

I'd strongly suggest you don't go down this route without first taking proper legal advice. If you lose your case, it will likely cost you more than the cost of a new 500 - perhaps much more.

 

[auditt]

My next door neighbour rejected a car after 2 power steering pumps in 8 months.The car was on lease and no legal action was needed they took it back
without any problems.I have tried to reject mine but it is with Fiat Finance others may not bother.Fiat Finance are still saying there is nothing wrong with the car.

 

[Officina red]

Hi ab4444, i agree with jrkitching you must take legal advice,
I knew someone who rejected a Saab car years ago, his brother was a
solicitor and it was a long and difficult fight,

Another way is to sell it and take the loss and move on, many years ago i had a Ford Fiesta that was dangerous, despite heplful Ford dealers it had to go. (have never bought a Ford since)

Vw Up is £8100 (move trim 3 door)
For your own sanity sometimes i think it is just best to get rid, and move on

 

[Palma500s]

I agree that the VW up! would be a much better car than the 1.2 No doubt about it. The problem is that there will also be an early redemption penalty on the finance deal which would mean losing even more than the depreciation on the car itself. We could easily be looking at a loss of over 50% of the car's value in total. I am sure Fiat dealers won't be offering a decent price on second hand 1.2 Eu6 models after this scandal.
Rejection is probably the only viable option available for ab444 now. Hopefully with some assistance from Watchdog and other auto media she will be successful. We know that so far Fiat have only responded to potential bad publicity. Good to finally see someone brave enough to take the fight to Fiat. If she does decide to take this course of action then she deserves all of our support.

 

[Officina red]

I agree that the VW up! would be a much better car than the 1.2 No doubt about it. The problem is that there will also be an early redemption penalty on the finance deal which would mean losing even more than the depreciation on the car itself. We could easily be looking at a loss of over 50% of the car's value in total. I am sure Fiat dealers won't be offering a decent price on second hand 1.2 Eu6 models after this scandal.
Rejection is probably the only viable option available for ab444 now. Hopefully with some assistance from Watchdog and other auto media she will be successful. We know that so far Fiat have only responded to potential bad publicity. Good to finally see someone brave enough to take the fight to Fiat. If she does decide to take this course of action then she deserves all of our support.

I don't think there is any early redemption penalty for finance in the uk,
If i were to sell mine now it would proberly be a £2500 loss, about normal for 9 months.

 

[Palma500s]

Perhaps you are right but Fiat finance in Spain tried to hit me with a very heavy penalty when I paid up the loan after 6 weeks. They wanted about 1.500 euros as they said this made up part of the discounted deal when I bought the car.
I wouldn't be surprised if the same applied in the UK. Which ever way you look at it losing 2.500 pounds in 9 months because you had to sell a faulty car back to the dealer is a high price to pay. Probably worth enquiring at the dealer. After the recent scandal you may get a nasty shock.

 

[Officina red]

Just been reading my posts again, and i think that they are not coming across correctly, first ab4444 you have my deepest sympathy,

I just mean that you need proper legal advice before you reject the car,
and i would look at all other options including selling/trading in the 500.
No offence meant at all.

 

[RussH]

Perhaps you are right but Fiat finance in Spain tried to hit me with a very heavy penalty when I paid up the loan after 6 weeks. They wanted about 1.500 euros as they said this made up part of the discounted deal when I bought the car.
I wouldn't be surprised if the same applied in the UK. Which ever way you look at it losing 2.500 pounds in 9 months because you had to sell a faulty car back to the dealer is a high price to pay. Probably worth enquiring at the dealer. After the recent scandal you may get a nasty shock.

Same in the UK, hence why lots of people pay it off within the 14 day cooling off period. They then get to keep the discount without any penalties.

 

[Officina red]

Same in the UK, hence why lots of people pay it off within the 14 day cooling off period. They then get to keep the discount without any penalties.

Not if it's financed by FGA Capital UK

 

[RussH]

Not if it's financed by FGA Capital UK

Unless I'm missing something whether it's FGA or anyone else is irrelevant. The 14 days is a regulatory period. FGA don't have a say in this.

 

[Officina red]

Unless I'm missing something whether it's FGA or anyone else is irrelevant. The 14 days is a regulatory period. FGA don't have a say in this.

The reason i know is that i asked for a settlement figure from FGA
about a month ago, and there is no penalty fee at all.

 

[RussH]

Ah ok I think we're talking about slightly different things. Sometimes there are finance deals such as deposit contributions, servicing packages, discounts etc. So if you want these you can sign up for finance but then pay it off within 14 days and still keep the "offers".

Beyond that you're correct, there shouldn't be any penalties.

 

[jrkitching]

If you want to go down the route of just chopping the car in early and walking away, you'll need to find someone who's prepared to buy it or trade it in & then get a settlement figure from the finance company. Basically you pay the difference between the two.

In the current market, I'd expect a '14 plate 1.2 lounge sold to the trade for cash to make around £7k; trade in will be heavily influenced by what you're trading it in for.

But I can't help feeling somewhat saddened that after 97 pages of posts, we're talking like this about what used to be one of the most desirable small cars you could buy.

It really is time someone from Fiat woke up & smelt the coffee.

 

[Officina red]

No problem, and i really don't want to cause offence, i think we all
feel for ab4444,

I just think it is vital to take legal advice because Fiat will.
But i have made my point, time for me to butt out for a while,
before the mods start to check if maxi has registered under another
Name

 

[Colinsar]

Hi my 1.2 colour threrapy purchased in September is running perfectly . Can anybody explain this if the problem is the euro 6 thing why doe it not effect every 1.2 ? Mine just seems to be getting better and better as the miles clock up .
Just over 3000 miles now .oh I would say I have tried premium grade petrol and this seems to give it a little extra .
just wondering !

 

[jrkitching]

Hi my 1.2 colour therapy purchased in September is running perfectly . Can anybody explain this if the problem is the euro 6 thing why does it not affect every 1.2 ? Mine just seems to be getting better and better as the miles clock up .
Just over 3000 miles now .oh I would say I have tried premium grade petrol and this seems to give it a little extra .
just wondering !

We don't have an explanation as yet - some folks are reporting that their cars are absolutely fine, others are tearing their hair out in frustration. It's one of the more puzzling aspects of this issue.

One thing is for sure, though - if your car is one of the affected ones, adding time & mileage won't make the problem go away.

 

[ab4444]

Further updates for everyone!

I'm now taking my car to the extremely friendly, helpful, 'can do' people at Pewsham Garage, Chippenham, tomorrow where we will be raising a brand new technical ticket and try to ascertain what the heck is wrong with my car.

At the very least, we will be able to prove categorically that my preferred dealership has done a full assessment of the vehicle ahead of any rejection process, should this be the way things go. And of course, the finance company insist on this as part of their 'normal' rejection process; a dealership has to undertake a full assessment to deem the car faulty and essentially 'accept' the car as suitable for a rejection.

So - I'll keep you posted. But I have to say at least now that these guys are willing to put my little car through the ringer and push Fiat up against a corner with a brand new technical ticket in my book feels like a little step forward.

 

[Mick F]

My fingers and toes are crossed for you!

http://www.ktamotorgroup.com/
Make sure Pewsham Garage take it for a test drive with you as driver and as passenger and make sure you find a hill.

Good luck and best wishes,
Mick.