General P-day!

[JTD_Liam]

The Panda had a very brief TV add campaign when first launched (only lasted about a week though, from what I could tell) and there were a handful of billboard ads. After that it went quiet and the list prices (which I thought seemed ok to start with) were, on reflection, just too much when it became apparent how good the competition was and what they were being offered for (Up!/Mii/CityGo). Give me a Panda over one of those bland boxes anyday, but many people feel safer putting £7000 in a VW than £8900 in a Fiat.

All in all, little advertising plus comparatively high prices isn't gonna equal great sales.

Thankfully with the 4X4 and Trekking models Fiat seemed to have learnt some lessons. The list prices for the top models weren't hiked up as much as could have been imagined, the introductory offers were decent (ie competitive finance package) and the lesser Panda's were effectively given a price cut to bring them in line with competitors. Fiat also made use of the Top Gear Best SUV award for the Panda 4x4 in its newspaper & magazine ad campaign and this in turn seems to have helped 4x4 sales but also attracted attention to lesser Panda models.

They do seem to push the 500 more than anything else, but I guess being quite a fashion statement, it will one day go a bit out of date so they need to make the most of it. The Panda concept on the other hand is less likely to date & this particular model has a whole life cycle ahead of it, therefore they can afford to allow sales to trickle through for now. The last thing they must want is for everyone to buy 500s and Pandas now and then in a couple of years when the Punto & Bravo has gone (and not been replaced if rumours are true) for the 500 and Panda sales to nosedive too.

 

[JTD_Liam]

As an add-on to my last comment:

This doesn't excuse dealerships not having Panda's available to test drive - I have also seen this at some dealers recently & simply having one Panda Easy on the forecourt, nothing in the showroom and no 4x4/Trekking anywhere to be seen isn't good enough for a new model.

If you find this to be the case I would raise the issue with Fiat UK because they cannot expect to sell cars if people can't experience them in the dealers first.

 

[rgk78]

As an add-on to my last comment:

This doesn't excuse dealerships not having Panda's available to test drive - I have also seen this at some dealers recently & simply having one Panda Easy on the forecourt, nothing in the showroom and no 4x4/Trekking anywhere to be seen isn't good enough for a new model.

If you find this to be the case I would raise the issue with Fiat UK because they cannot expect to sell cars if people can't experience them in the dealers first.

I think this is so true. In Gr Manchester, for example, there will be plenty of people who would make an impulse buy of the 4x4 because of it's looks, charm, good ratings and low price compared to highly rated small SUVs. The dealers should be kicking themselves.

 

[philboo]

I totally agree with all the comments about how few Pandas are around. I have started to see a few more but I saw more Ups on the road within a month of launch than I've ever seen 2012 version Pandas to date.

The dealers did sell on the 4x4 demo cars quickly in a lot of cases (I can understand why, it was a bad, cold winter and they could shift two cars easily so why not ?) but they should have only done this if ordering in additional stock. I bought from the dealer I did because they had a car, I could drive it and they matched the deal I could get at other dealers. It was further from home but in the end I don't think it was the wrong choice.

My local dealer (also Citroen, kia, suzuki) said to me he sold the demos and wouldn't get another apart from a customer order. That is so the wrong attitude I'd never buy or order without at least sitting in and playing with the car even if I couldn't drive it (this was the case when I ordered the 500 at launch).

The dealer I ended up buying from did say they had ordered a red one for the showroom as it seems to be doing well for them. I also said that personally I feel having a trekking or 4x4 in the showroom would generate and sell the standard Panda as it has quite a nice spec so doesn't look quite as basic as the odd Panda the dealers do have in stock which seem to be really basic ones.

 

[Coolie]

From my recent experience,

Fiat need to:
Provide a timely stock / delivery of cars people want, and provide good access to demos
Get the price right
Provide great finance incentives (0% and low deposit)
Sales reps need to understand the product they are selling

Seems a simple, but unfortunately Fiat UK and the dealers are in the same mindset tbh.

In my day job, I'm spending around £0.5m on new Fiat product this year, and its hardwork getting Fiat UK engaged properly and providing the right support on sales/delivery/comms, and I spend a fortune on parts through dealers - which requires very intensive management by my fleet team. I'm constantly telling them what they need to do, to improve, instead of them coming up with solutions.

Still happy with our new Panda Easy at the right price and right finance package - and happy with its back to basics, but competent, approach to motoring.

 

[Dangerinleyland]

Motorpoint are now selling pre-reg delivery mileage panda lounge TA's for £7999! Bargain. Shame I bought mine on Tuesday for £300 more! Never mind. Consoling myself with the thought that they'd prob have dropped their trade in offer by similar amounts (or is that wishful thinking?).
Still if there are any people still wondering whether to go for the panda, this is too good a deal to pass up!

 

[deeyup]

Motorpoint are now selling pre-reg delivery mileage panda lounge TA's for £7999! Bargain. Shame I bought mine on Tuesday for £300 more! Never mind. Consoling myself with the thought that they'd prob have dropped their trade in offer by similar amounts (or is that wishful thinking?).
Still if there are any people still wondering whether to go for the panda, this is too good a deal to pass up!

By the time you add the admin fee, cleaning fee and whatever other fees they can think of you'd be about the same.
As you say, they most probably would have given less for you part ex too so you may have come out worse using Motorpoint.

 

[deeyup]

From my recent experience,

Fiat need to:
Provide a timely stock / delivery of cars people want, and provide good access to demos
Get the price right
Provide great finance incentives (0% and low deposit)
Sales reps need to understand the product they are selling

Seems a simple, but unfortunately Fiat UK and the dealers are in the same mindset tbh.

I think fiat are no worse than any other manufacturer regarding delivery.
Around 8 weeks for a factory order is pretty good imo.
A few have had problems with certain options (sliding rear seat, I'm looking at you!) but in the whole the situation is pretty good.

The list prices are optimistic, but finally the right discounts are coming our way.

Demo cars being unavailable are down to dealers selling them off.
Fiat do allocate demo models to all dealers. They are supposed to keep them for a duration but a lot don't. I think it's short sighted of them to sell them on.

Fiats I-Deal finance packages do offer the exact situations you describe.
I got a stupidly low rate on my deal with £20 interest over the term.

You're right about sales staff not knowing their product. A lot of them are not 'car enthusiasts' and just don't get it. They aren't really interested in specs, it's just a job.

A lot of all that is down to individual dealerships. They aren't all the same. I bang on about my local all the time as many will know, but this one is switched on entirely.
They order the right cars for stock and have demo cars there to try.
They had the 1st twin air 4x4 demo car in the country, and still have it.
They've sold many 4x4's off the back of it.

 

[Super Uwe]

I think fiat are no worse than any other manufacturer regarding delivery.
Around 8 weeks for a factory order is pretty good imo.
A few have had problems with certain options (sliding rear seat, I'm looking at you!) but in the whole the situation is pretty good.

The list prices are optimistic, but finally the right discounts are coming our way.

Demo cars being unavailable are down to dealers selling them off.
Fiat do allocate demo models to all dealers. They are supposed to keep them for a duration but a lot don't. I think it's short sighted of them to sell them on.

Fiats I-Deal finance packages do offer the exact situations you describe.
I got a stupidly low rate on my deal with £20 interest over the term.

You're right about sales staff not knowing their product. A lot of them are not 'car enthusiasts' and just don't get it. They aren't really interested in specs, it's just a job.

A lot of all that is down to individual dealerships. They aren't all the same. I bang on about my local all the time as many will know, but this one is switched on entirely.
They order the right cars for stock and have demo cars there to try.
They had the 1st twin air 4x4 demo car in the country, and still have it.
They've sold many 4x4's off the back of it.

Great post there particularly regarding the issue with dealerships.

It's my one big frustration with the FIAT network; the fact that there is so much inconsistency between individual dealers.

I think you are fully entitled to talk about Griffin Mill though as they are a very good dealer IMO. I know your mate works there, but whenever I have dealt with them in the past they have always been spot on.

The dealer I've been using in Devon so far is Roundswell in Barnstaple and they have generally been good too. My nearest dealer is Vospers in Exeter but I have had two bad dealings with them in terms of getting a quote for bodyshop repairs and also quoting mental prices for services.

I know there are others on here who have used them, and maybe I was unlucky to catch them on a bad day, but two cock ups out of two is enough for me to think it isn't worth it!

It's kind of annoying for me as it means I have to go much further out of my way, but I am nevertheless grateful to have other options available.