General Iv'e done it! I finally ordered one!

[RobTuck]

Hows yours looking now nottsfiat07? Any joy with the Panda?

Im getting so excited! Is this allowed behaviour for a 20-something bloke? lol.

My car is now in Antwerp (I think thats what Tim said), so its looking to be on schedule.

 

[Nuova500]

Antwerp? Thats Belgium, maybe the boat stops off there on the way to Bristol to offload cars?

 

[RobTuck]

From what I can tell (i.e. Google), Grimaldi (the shipping company Fiat use) have a terminal in Antwerp, so that's where they then pick up the cars to bring them in to Portbury I suppose. I have no idea how they get from Tychy to Antwerp though.

 

[Nuova500]

I thought they went from Tychy to Northern Poland and onto a boat there? If not thats one hell of a train journey to Antwerp, cant say Ive ever seen that sort of car train in Europe and Ive done a lot of driving there.

 

[grimwau]

cant say Ive ever seen that sort of car train in Europe and Ive done a lot of driving there.

Is that train driving or car driving.

 

[Nuova500]

LOL, Im only allowed to drive the train to London
Id love to know how the cars get here though, be nice to see loads of factory pics and transport ones of them, sad I know

 

[Sleepy Kiki]

Congrats on your order, early December will probably come around earlier than you think!
The climate control is great, it's stops me from constantly fiddling with the dash. The 50/50 split rear seats are really useful, (especially when taking a discruntled cat to the vets I can wedge the cat basket quite securely in the back so it doesn't move around.....briliant)

 

[RobTuck]

Congrats on your order, early December will probably come around earlier than you think!

Well, at the moment, its looking more like late November, which im VERY happy with!

I dont think I would change a single one of my options. Having only ever had A/C, im looking forward to Climate Control. Actually, im looking forward to every little thing with my 500

 

[[email protected]]

Will be FAB Rob, nice spec !

 

[nottsfiat07]

Hows yours looking now nottsfiat07? Any joy with the Panda?

Im getting so excited! Is this allowed behaviour for a 20-something bloke? lol.

My car is now in Antwerp (I think thats what Tim said), so its looking to be on schedule.

No news on 500 yet, must phone dealer as they were gonna phone me but as per they havent. Prob went on a bender with my £200 deposit. Got a couple of people watching the panda on ebay, but no contact from anyone yet. Prob end up just trading it in

And Kiki, is that a REALLY big cat box if you have to wedge it in even with the seat half folded? Still I cant comment I got 5 cats and have to hire a van when its booster time!

 

[RobTuck]

Im getting REALLY excited now! Tim just informed me that my car is no longer in Antwerp. Its in Portbury! Its over a week early (which makes it 2 weeks early!). We can only assume that theyve started using the tunnel again, and it came by train.

 

[booklady]

how exciting!!! Ours is being born this week and is expected in Bristol on 24th November, so will hopefully get it early December, which is great as we were originally quoted early January!!

 

[Tango Tim]

Hi all, as to "nuovapanda" wanting to know how the 500`s arrive at Portbury, the next time I speak to our Fiat Zone manager, I`ll quiz him on as many details as I can about the factory and the delivery system that they use to transport the 500`s to Portbury, so watch this thread for those interested .....!!!!

 

[Nuova500]

Thanks Tim, Ive done a bit of reserch and there is a transport company that moves Fiats from Tychy by covered rail wagons or road out of Poland. It doesnt say where they then go, Id just be interested to know

http://www.atglogistic.com/dienst_e/logistik_e.htm#Tychy

 

[Tango Tim]

Cheers...!! Thanks for the info about the train system in Poland...!! between us all we should find out all the details how the 500`s arrive here, I`ve just sent an email to our Zonie who is a great guy so with a bit of luck and some time I should be able to find out the info....!!
Tim

 

[RobTuck]

Ohhhh......I dont think I can take this anymore! Im going to burst!

I phoned Harwoods this morning and my car is expected in today! However, im not in a position to pick it up until 29th! Aaaargh!!!

 

[Nuova500]

Ill go get it for you
Thats great its arrived early. As far as Im aware no cars are transported into Portbury docks by rail, at least they never were when I worked freight there.

 

[booklady]

oooh! how exciting!!! ours should hit UK shores next Monday, so I am begining to understand how you are feeling

The time actually went quite fast for the first 5 or 6 weeks don't you think?

 

[RobTuck]

The time actually went quite fast for the first 5 or 6 weeks don't you think?

Im really surprised how its flown by. I thought it would be an agonising wait, but I think the constant updates from Tim has helped a lot with that. I havent had to spend much time wondering how the build was coming along, as ive always been kept nicely in the loop!

Its taken exactly 6 weeks from the date of ordering to being delivered to the dealer. Considering two dealers in Cardiff initially warned me of a 16 week wait, im very pleased!

 

[grimwau]

but I think the constant updates from Tim has helped a lot with that.

That is one of the marks of a good dealership, keeping customers updated.