General Ulysee or Galaxy?

[poggy]

Hi,

Even with my petrol auto I get about 24-25mpg round town, your wife must have a heavy foot Stu.

Lead time is probably 10 weeks, but don't leave it until summer as they have a longgggg shut down and all disappear on holiday.

Why is John K calling you mad Stu, I'm lost !!!.

Andy

 

[Stu DemonD]

Originally posted by John_K
Also, as it's a company car (and the fuel is paid for by the company!), I don't watch the MPG, but if not driven like a madman, I can get around 600 miles from a tank.
John

Believe me, I have tried to tell the missus she is heavy footed, but got to tread carefully. First thing I do when I get in the car is check the trip - aargh......

Stu

 

[poggy]

Hi,

I see now, you drive like a mad man !!!!![8D][8D]

Andy

 

[tboneman]

Phoned Fiat UK, they confirmed 6-speed on 2.2JTD Eleganza/Prestigio. As far as they knew, not available as an option on other models. Asked about mpg, their figures were only slightly different to the brochure quoted ones for 5 speed!

I was looking for the extra lease cost on the 2.2JTD (about 20 quid a month) to be offset by a better fuel economy, but that doesn't appear to be the case.

CO2 emissions not an issue as although the company pays for the fuel card, I end up getting taxed on all the mileage and then claim tax relief back on the business portion. All very complicated, but the upshot is that mpg matters!!

Especially relevant if I've now got to add a bit on to the monthly cost for a CD multichanger.

10-12 weeks fits in with my plans, if I order this week, should get it mid-late June. I know all about the Italian holidays, had a motoring holiday in Italy two years back (in a Zafira - no problems at all but too small now) and that was just when they all were on holiday so the beaches were a bit crowded the first week.

 

[poggy]

Hi,

Can't you take the car allowance instead for the car and buy it yourself. I did that and got a £4K discount on the list price by buying through www.melburymotorcompany.co.uk it was actually delivered by the Fiat main dealer in Slough, so it is not an import.

This way I claim back the business portion of all the costs, depreciation, insurance, tax etc. I get all my fuel paid and just balance that on the tax form. Seems to work out a lot cheaper than having a lease car.

If budget is tight, you can just buy the CD changer for the standard Connect system in the Eleganza. You have got to get the electric doors though, they are superb. Hours of amusement when people walk past the car.

Regards,

Andy Page

 

[MikeWhitcombe]

My look on it is people that have problems with their Ulysses are more likely to post than people who are content. They're not going to come on and complain about having no problems are they? If there's nothing wrong they don't have anything to talk about.

I'll start a poll.

 

[tboneman]

The scheme is set up to 'persuade' people towards the leasing scheme rather than purchasing our own car through an allowance. Understand where your coming from though.

Budget doesn't allow for leccy dorrs unfortunately, especially now I've got to add the CD player, and yes it will be on just the basic Connect system. How does that work by the way, where is the pictogram screen? I haven't managed to see one at a dealer (always have Dynamics for demos) and there's no piccy in the brochure...

 

[Stu DemonD]

Hey Cinqmeister, now there is an idea for a poll - better than 'Is TC on drugs' or 'Britney vs Kylie' - then again.......

 

[Stu DemonD]

tboneman,

I have PM'd you with my email address - I have a couple of jpegs showing the Connect + in all its glory, including one showing full screen map mode. If anyone else wants a look, feel free to mail.

I was going to try to put them on here, but haven't found time yet to upload them to my webspace!

 

[tboneman]

I've emailed you Stu.
Is the standard Connect not that good then? not sure I can stretch to Connect+, would probably have to lose the visibility pack and rear sunblinds at least...

 

[poggy]

Hi,

I have the standard Connect and the main difference is that you only get junction icons (i.e 'T' junctions with arrows, roundabouts, forks in the road etc) rather than a moving map. In terms of navigation, it does the same thing with the same voice commands. You can use the colour screen from the Connect + for a DVD player etc as there are connections in the glove box, but of course not while your driving.

I also have a full colour Garmin Streetpilot unit which is portable, but I have never found the need to use it in the Ulysse because the standard Connect works well enough for finding your way.

I guess it comes down to whether you are into gadgets, which is why I had electric doors etc. If it is a choice of the 2.0l with Connect + or the 2.2l with standard Connect then I would go for the bigger engine and 6 speed gearbox.

For the future though, the TMC traffic reports would be better on the Connect + as rather than just text messages you get icons on the map as well to show where the problems are. It will look similar to the Traffic Master system. I think it will be quite a while before a national TMC system is introduced which is licence free, so it will depend on how long you have the car as to whether this will influence your decision.

Andy

 

[tboneman]

Interesting.
Unfortunately the budget will only stretch to 2.0TDi with Standard Connect. But will have a rethink to see and also get quotes on Connect+ system through the leasing company.

 

[Stu DemonD]

No mail through yet - must be a delay in the servers! I presume you didn't use the email link in this Forum - not sure it works!

I must admit, whenever I drive the car I automatically put it onto full screen map mode. And then adjust the zoom [by voice command] depending on area I am in.

Also, for your information, it is NOT illegal to watch a DVD whilst driving using a TFT/LCD monitor - the legislation only covers CRT TVs in cars - a loophole that will be closed soon. <s>And</s>But I am sure they will still get you under 'driving without due care, etc...'.

Stu

 

[poggy]

Hi,

I think they would get you for driving without due care etc, same as if you are reading the paper while driving.

Mind you we could all be very poor if the budget is bad.

Andy

 

[Stu DemonD]

tboneman,

Just noted other options you mentioned. Vis pack is well worth it - automatic lights, rain sensors, etc.

I originally ordered ours with super vis pack, which included dark tinted glass for an extra £60. The car never came with this, due to a c**k up, so ended up with a darker after-market film tint paid for by the dealer [I think Poggy ended up with my order - see earlier threads]. Cost for this was about £260+VAT. This also negated the option of blinds all round [Eleganza comes with centre row only as standard].

Choices, choices!

Stu

 

[Stu DemonD]

Hi,

Just out of interest, re-specced my car on Coast to Coast cars:
http://www.coast2coastcars.co.uk/

My spec is 2.2JTD Eleganza, Connect +, 6 disk, long luggage cover, metallic paint, super vis pack, swivelling front seats, 16" wheels + tyre sensors.

Their current price is £20,429 - I think I paid £20,900 at the time, so even with Fiat increasing their prices, this site is now a lot lower, about £4,600 saving!

I was originally going to order my car through them, but my local Fiat dealer price matched at last minute, and also matched HP rate. So decided to go local.

Food for thought!

Stu

 

[tboneman]

Well so far the spec I'm looking at is:
2.0JTD Eleganza Manual
Metallic paint
Visibility Pack
Rear sun blinds
DVD player (family insistence, not mine!)
6 CD Autochanger
Standard Connect

That's probably going to be it as the Connect Nav+ adds too much, as does the 2.2 engine, but I'll decide tomorrow probably..

 

[Stu DemonD]

Personally, I think £1410 is way to expensive for the in car DVD setup. You can buy aftermarket versions, with two <s>7"</s> 6" screens and headphones for around <s>£600</s> £550 or so [it was only a guess at the time?] Plus have the portability to take it with you.

Let us know your final decision!

Stu

 

[tboneman]

Mmmm. I had looked into aftermarket versions, but properly fitted ones which cam in about £1200 for basically the same setup as the Fiat, so not that much cheaper. Of course the bonus of having one ordered witht he car is that I get to pay for it virtually interest free over the lease life. I think I may have mentioned that before but can't remember.
However, always open to suggestions, where have you seen the sort you mentioned for around £600?
That Connect Nav+ screen does look nice................

 

[tboneman]

Just had a quick look and found one at http://www.microvision-mv1.co.uk/promo/index.htm for £400 !! Not as neat as the fitted version, but has made me think.
Witht he money I save not having the fitted DVD I might be able to go for 2.2 engine and ConnectNav+ ....whoohoo!