Styling Leather seats???? BNW or Funk White?? Opinions please

[loveshandbags]

This is awesome, thanks to all of you. 306maxi - the red leather does look fab (thanks for the pic) I know it’s not me but it looks really good. Loveshandbags – so that lovely Funk White car is yours – you must get loads of admiring glances. I’m afraid driving to the gym without coffee is a non starter – so I’m back to leather. Juwlz – you said you have tan, and I’ve now found a picture of a real car (rather than the Fiat website images) on here – I think it looks lovely, and now I think I might go tan and ivory instead – and just be careful!

Finally, arorat, thanks for your opinions, and pictures. Love your car – it’s a beauty. I love music, with a passion :slayer:, so the interscope is an essential for me and I like the look of that arm rest!

So within 24 hours it looks like my spec is completely different - and even more expensive (eek) I suppose what I realise is that we all have our preferences, and actually these all look pretty damn good -- Cheers everyone.

You have made great progress Manchester Lass.

Tan leather with the white ambiance
Twin Air engine - now you can save £1,200 with the more economical 1.2 engine. I take it you like a bit of spirited driving .
Side strips with the logo. Good for shopping !
Interscope. I did say no but it is good value and you cann't retrofit
Funk white. I haven't see it with the Tan leather. I don't how it would look. But the colour is great but it is more expensive to get repaired
Arm rest - good price and it might 'steady' the cup of coffee !
ESP. You can live without if you use the left foot or the handbrake.
Dualogic steering wheel controls.

As regards the admiring glances in the Funk white - my OH gets them.

Comes down to TA / Leather / Funk white / Dualogic

I would restrict your options to 3 of the 4 above to keep a 'lid' on your costs. Remember it is hard to get your money back on the extras.

 

[RhubarbandCustard]

Hello

Have arrived on the thread late I know. But just want to second red leather. I've attached (I hope) an image of my old BNW 08 reg 500 which I've just part exchanged (for a fab new Twinair).

The leather shown in the image is over 3 years old (it was one of the first 500s on the road in very early 2008) - and to be honest still looked great the day I handed over the car. Like anything made from leather the seats aged beautifully, didn't stain or mark (even with an often mucky Jack Russell as a daily passenger on the front seat). I never found them too hot, or too cold (although living in London I guess that was never a big issue).

Went with red leather too on my new TwinAir Fiat 500 (alongside Rock n Roll blue and ivory ambience) and don't regret it for a minute. It was actually having the red leather again that determined the exterior colour choice (!) Think it gives the car a really smart look - that's practical and hard wearing.

Enjoy your new car!

 

[TwinAir Newbie]

That does look extremely smart Rhubarb!

 

[cowabunga]

What you'd save on BNW vs funk would go a lot of the way to paying for the leather. Tan is the smart choice imo, as with the 2 others they don't match ivory ambience.

Also the ivory ambience is far better than the black, not sure what it will look like after 3/4 years but so far it's fine.

Ours is 1.3mjd, BNW, sunroof, Tan leather, rubbing strip, italian stripe, climate, 15" wheels (darent chance the 16's)

 

[loveshandbags]

What you'd save on BNW vs funk would go a lot of the way to paying for the leather. Tan is the smart choice imo, as with the 2 others they don't match ivory ambience.

Also the ivory ambience is far better than the black, not sure what it will look like after 3/4 years but so far it's fine.

Ours is 1.3mjd, BNW, sunroof, Tan leather, rubbing strip, italian stripe, climate, 15" wheels (darent chance the 16's)

I would agree with cowabunga...

Red leather & Black ambiance (I owned the combination) OR
Tan leather & White ambiance (saw it in the Flesh and the white stitching is very smart) and works with the dualogic setup with the more classy spec.
Despite owing Funk white and love it I would drop the colour and go BNW given the costs of the TA / Dualogic / Tan leather.

 

[Heidi]

Oh the funk White is so worth it! It is gorgeous. The bnw is just flat White.

Red leather seats are bo selecta! Set the car off beautifully.

Go for funk White, red leather and White ambience...perfect! Then again I am biaised lol

 

[cowabunga]

But.......

Going back, the missus really wanted one, this was 15 months ago. As no discounts were available at the time we managed to get £700 off, and then just specced up to our specific requirement. It was a lot of money for a 500 and even thought it's a diesel the depreciation will be expensive and substantial and will far outweigh any running costs.

Now the worlds changed, supply has become looser and you can find them at good prices if you look. The quesion i would i ask myself now is,

"Would i compromise on spec if it was going to cost substantially less?"

The answer is yes. I reckon vs what we paid these will work out at say 1/2 - 2/3 total cost over 3 yrs. See below.

http://www.motorpoint.co.uk/(S(5bctqg55jjaual45blxylfef))/Search/Stock.aspx?make=Fiat&model=500&trim=1.2%20Sport%203dr%20[Start%20Stop]&body=Hatchback&fuel=Unleaded&type=0

http://www.motorpoint.co.uk/(S(fdsz...5 Sport 3dr&body=Hatchback&fuel=Diesel&type=0

My choice would be one of the 60 reg's.

Like I said above, not "perfect" spec but the savings are substantial.

 

[nottsfiat07]

Haven't read anything much as I can't be bothered but BNW, ivory ambience and red leather. Classic combo. Two and a half years on my leather doesn't have a sag in sight. Which is more than I can say for me. Don't have a red sport stripe and two tone alloys though as this would make it the same as mine and we wouldn't want that would we?

 

[loveshandbags]

Oh the funk White is so worth it! It is gorgeous. The bnw is just flat White. Red leather seats are bo selecta! Set the car off beautifully. Go for funk White, red leather and White ambience...perfect! Then again I am biaised lol

Tan leather & White ambiance (saw it in the Flesh and the white stitching is very smart) and works with the dualogic setup with the more classy spec.
Despite owing Funk white and love it I would drop the colour and go BNW given the costs of the TA / Dualogic / Tan leather.

Going back, the missus really wanted one,… we managed to get £700 off, …the depreciation will be expensive… My choice would be one of the 60 reg's.
Like I said above, not "perfect" spec but the savings are substantial.

I get the impression that Manchester Lass is buying new with a Finance deal so whatever car she gets - she will be stuck with it for 3 years.

The 2009 Funk white 1.4 (100bhp) that was bought 2 months ago with Climate and 16s was in preference to a 2011 Pop 1.2L with the bare basics . Because my brother used to operate as a dealer I am very conscious of the difficulty in re-sale on a car and will compromise the spec so that it is easier to 'shift on'. I also wanted the quicker engine but was not prepared to pay for the TA or even a 1.4 engine. This is probably different to someone buying on Finance where they are making a much bigger 'commitment'. The day I buy I would look to be able to sell if a better car came up !

Coming from from Ikea at around 7pm this evening spotted this Funk white. It did stand out in the deary weather and it's the 'basic' Lounge with the 15s but I'm not recommending that you buy it new

 

[Heidi]

I'm 'stuck' with mine til probably 2017 for financial not finance reasons so am glad I chose the best spec for me which was FW and leather seats. It's still shiny new and no sag on seats at all and White ambiance still spotless.

 

[bgunn]

It all depends what you want from a car. I chose the spec of mine based on the fact it's the first car I've bought from new, and I plan to keep it for a good deal longer than the finance period, so I wanted to spec it they way I wanted a car, rather than for someone else.

By the time I sell it, the differences in spec really won't make much change to the price, so I'd rather have the car I really want instead of putting up with a lower spec that might be easier for a dealership to shift on.

 

[loveshandbags]

I'm 'stuck' with mine til probably 2017 for financial not finance reasons so am glad I chose the best spec for me which was FW and leather seats. It's still shiny new and no sag on seats at all and White ambiance still spotless.

Didn't realise you have the red leather Heidi. It does look well and works with the Funk white. But if you add the cost of all the extras including the Dualogic its going to be a pricey car for M.L.

I wonder is there more room for negotiation on price and in particular on the extras now ?

 

[FloJo]

The funk white does look a beauty - I'm not a white car person at all and I'm tempted!! However I'm sticking with my choice of the volare blue, but not ordered yet - planning to go in at the weekend and sort it out. I'm more than likely going for the tan leather seats though - depends on whether we can haggle any kind of discount (or OH contributing towards it for my birthday...) to go towards them or any of the other extras I want. I've found a seperate buyer for my car so might be able to push them into something but will see

Oh yes - Manc Lass - I have a few concerns about the ivory becoming grubby but I'm sold on it now and will just make sure I make an effort to keep it all clean and tidy and have some wipes available "just in case"!

 

[nicks500]

Wow, loads to think about. I hadn't even considered the Sport version, but I will now. Back to the website builder thingy.....I wonder what the main advantages of the Sport are over the Lounge??

You cant order the sport anymore, only the lounge (unless you are going to try and find one second hand. it will be replaced soon by the twinair and the twinair plus. Biggest difference imo is the satin dash instead of the colour of the body and black alloys(as standard)

check out this thread what you can have... https://www.fiatforum.com/500/270251-so-11-models-reduced-8-new-models.html

 

[Littala]

Another vote for red leather! - I had it on my 1st 500, Bepe, a 2008 1.4 Sport, and I loved it. There was a slight sag on the driver's seat, but the leather seat panel was replaced under warranty at about a year old. When I part-exed it at 3 years old, the seats were still like new.

I've got the black leather on my new 500 Sport, Only because I couldn't have red leather again with the Volare Blue.

 

[Manchester Lass]

I'm going to test drive in dualogic at the weekend - so far I've drive two manuals, preferred the TA but for everyday driving I really want an automatic. Having had two Smart cars, I can't imagine the Fiat is any more jerky than my first Brabus for two - I was virtually bowing every time the gears changed! My 08 is much better but still has temperamental moments.

I usually buy my cars outright, just putting the costs of depreciation to the back of my mind - I work really hard and reckon I'm worth it! But I think I'll go with the Fiat finance on this, because it is such a good deal! I'm better off saving the rest for the end payment!

I love your posts and pics - the red leather does looks fab - but I'm softening to the tan - but then running out to the gym tonight with a cup of tea (don't ask) I tipped it up in the passenger well of my car, with loads going on the passenger seat. As it's black leather, it didn't matter. And I wondered if it would have trashed a tan leather seat??

 

[loveshandbags]

I'm going to test drive in dualogic at the weekend - so far I've drive two manuals, preferred the TA but for everyday driving I really want an automatic. Having had two Smart cars, I can't imagine the Fiat is any more jerky than my first Brabus for two - I was virtually bowing every time the gears changed! My 08 is much better but still has temperamental moments.

I usually buy my cars outright, just putting the costs of depreciation to the back of my mind - I work really hard and reckon I'm worth it! But I think I'll go with the Fiat finance on this, because it is such a good deal! I'm better off saving the rest for the end payment!

I love your posts and pics - the red leather does looks fab - but I'm softening to the tan - but then running out to the gym tonight with a cup of tea (don't ask) I tipped it up in the passenger well of my car, with loads going on the passenger seat. As it's black leather, it didn't matter. And I wondered if it would have trashed a tan leather seat??

The leather will take a cup of tea - happened on my red leather - but have a few moist wipes handy. The tan in someways is more resilent - it is not as prone to problems from blue jeans (which the red leather doesn't like). Remember the leather does need a conditioner 'to feed the leather'. This stuff is pricey. I had a cleaner / conditioner for my red leather and at €10 for a wee squirty bottle it ain't cheap. Take your time on getting the spec right if you're going to buy one under Finance. If you're keeping it for a several years (as quite a few on here intend to) an extra £1.5K wouldn't matter too much in the overall scheme of things.

If I was getting a dualogic in a TA I would look for 'Steering wheel controls for the dualogic' (around £100) but only if there were of the paddle type as in the A500c (not too sure if they exist on the standard 500 ). Some of the TA drivers change gear as if it was a clutchless gearbox and it's supposedly less jerky.

 

[Heidi]

I haven't conditioned my leather and no creases or sags .....same with my house leather sofas, a bit of jif every now and again and 12 years on still mark free. Think can go overboard a bit, just enjoy the car....it's lovely .

 

[neet]

Funk white is more difficult to "repair" eg getting scratches out shoud the worse happen, I agree with Maxi red leather looks great with white (BMW or Funk) but I'm a bit biased

 

[306maxi]

Funk white is more difficult to "repair" eg getting scratches out shoud the worse happen, I agree with Maxi red leather looks great with white (BMW or Funk) but I'm a bit biased

Other than the italian side stripes your car looks like the twin of mine, if it's got black ambience it's indentical