General Aspiring Tipo Owner - Advice appreciated

[Milotti]

Afternoon All,


After a few days browsing after finding your brilliant forum I have just decided to join and post on there, so firstly congrats on a great forum, what a pool of knowledge!


Apologies for a fairly uninteresting first post. I currently own a 1.2 polo and am looking to buy a Tipo at some point this year. I drive around 25,000 miles a year and commute daily 12 miles (each way) which takes usually just over an hour (each way) so slow moving, I have family around the UK and abroad so fairly long trips also.


I am strongly leaning toward getting a Tipo, they tick all the boxes for me. I would like to benefit from high MPG and would like something quicker than my Polo. Also, would prefer leather seats and the larger 7" screen (though this isn't a deal breaker). Finally, the 1.6 Lounge appeals most to me.


Enough rambling, In short, what do you suggest I go for? The 1.6 Lounge? Unfortunately on Autotrader there don't seem to be any that meet the above criteria. I'd imagine more will come on this year, is this a safe assumption?


My budget is around 12,500 and could put down a deposit of c.2000 for a hire purchase agreement.


ps. I think the S Designs look great but obviously more expensive and would need to see the street grey in person as not sold on it just yet.


Look forward to hearing your thoughts and apologies for the rambling question!

 

[s130]

Tipo list prices start from £14,550 all in. So your £12,500 makes a big dent in that. There must be deals at dealers taking £2000 or more off.

OR

Join the Fiat Motor Club GB and you can buy cars as on Fiat's Employee/Affinity scheme which is currently offering 25% (twenty five percent) of list price for all the Tipo range.

 

[Remould]

Hello and congratulations on a good choice !,I did very similar to you,I moved from a 1.2 Seat estate to the Tipo,the first pointer is the 7" screen only came on the lounge from late 2018 so that may limit your choice, although it was in the S design from launch.Engine wise I went for a 1.4T as I only do a short commute with a few longer runs for holidays and whilst it's a bit heavier on petrol than I hoped the comfort more than make up for it, overall it's a good choice given the spec and price especially ex demo cars.

 

[Milotti]

Thank you both for the advice. I hadn't heard of the Fiat Motor Club, will definitely check that out! Sounds very appealing, will need to check there isn't a minimum membership length or something before you can enjoy this discount. Looks like there is two different tiers depending on if you use Fiat finance or not.

Remould, glad you are enjoying your Tipo. I think I will go for the diesel but mindful of regulations coming in that I don't want to get hit by.

 

[s130]

Thank you both for the advice. I hadn't heard of the Fiat Motor Club, will definitely check that out! Sounds very appealing, will need to check there isn't a minimum membership length or something before you can enjoy this discount

To my knowledge there is no *minimum* membership prerequisite. There are restrictions on usage of the Affinity Schema regarding numbers of vehicles, family members etc. There are procedures to be followed which can take a short while to navigate.

I would also add that scheme discounts vary and can be LESS (depending on model) than what some very aggressive dealers may be able to offer. For the Tipo 25% is currently very aggressive but I would always exploring all avenues and deals.

 

[RichardH13]

I think you can buy new, there are deals to be had, you just have to talk to your dealer.

My Tipo is an Easy Plus 1.6, it was pre-registered, so was an 18 reg with 1 mile on the clock, but I got it in December, and saved £7,000 from list!

You have decent deposit, could do a deal on a PCP or lease, it depends how long you intend to keep it, a PCP is more flexible than a lease and with a PCP you have the option to buy at the end.

The reg changes in two weeks, go to the dealers when the new reg rush is over, end of the month or quarter is the best time and they may surprise you.

 

[bolgerwalsh]

Tipo list prices start from £14,550 all in. So your £12,500 makes a big dent in that. There must be deals at dealers taking £2000 or more off.

OR

Join the Fiat Motor Club GB and you can buy cars as on Fiat's
Employee/Affinity scheme which is currently offering 25% (twenty five percent) of list price for all the Tipo range.

Is this applicable in Ireland???

 

[JTD_Liam]

There are a couple of Lounge models with leather interior (both diesels) on AutoTrader at present; one is at Eden Fiat in Basingstoke and the other at Thames Fiat Slough - the one at Slough is an auto and over-budget though However, as Remould pointed out, the bigger 7" UConnect screen only became available on the Lounge from late 2018 so neither of them have it fitted:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201807118359209?onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=New&fuel-type=Diesel&aggregatedTrim=Lounge&sort=sponsored&make=FIAT&advertising-location=at_cars&postcode=b12jl&model=TIPO&radius=1500&page=6

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classi...l&model=TIPO&radius=1500&page=12&modal=photos

I would imagine that although the prices of used Tipo's are pretty keen, because you want the high spec 1.6 diesel Lounge and preferably with leather, you'd probably be sensible to have a look at the recommendations like the Fiat Motor GB Club or just do a search on CarWow - if you input what you're looking for, dealers then effectively bid for your business by offering their best price. If nothing else you can use this as a guide on what deals are out there and/or use it as a bargaining tool with a local dealer

I have an S-Design and love the Street Grey colour, which is currently only available on the S-Design. However, you can't get the S-Design with the diesel engine in the UK unfortunately and would have to be happy with the 1.4 T-Jet 120 petrol - I'd have gone with the 1.6 diesel in S-Design trim if I could've. The 1.4 T-Jet petrol is very perky, but as Remould said it's a bit heavier on fuel than you might expect - I'm currently getting low 30s mpg with 3500 miles on the clock. You could probably expect late 40s to early 50s to the gallon with the 1.6 Multijet diesel, from my experience of that engine in my previous car.

 

[s130]

Is this applicable in Ireland???

No idea but the scheme is applicable to Fiat UK so if Fiat UK are responsible for sales and distribution in Ireland (Ireland? or Northern Ireland?) then I would think that it would be applicable.

 

[Schumi2001]

With your driving profile, it looks like you need a 1.6 Multijet DCT, only available as Easy Plus, I think.

 

[Schumi2001]

Tipo list prices start from £14,550 all in. So your £12,500 makes a big dent in that. There must be deals at dealers taking £2000 or more off.

OR

Join the Fiat Motor Club GB and you can buy cars as on Fiat's Employee/Affinity scheme which is currently offering 25% (twenty five percent) of list price for all the Tipo range.

Never has it been so important to properly differentiate between ‘of’ and ‘off’!

 

[JTD_Liam]

With your driving profile, it looks like you need a 1.6 Multijet DCT, only available as Easy Plus, I think.

Yes unfortunately the DCT (auto) gearbox is now only available on the Easy Plus trim level, having been available on the Lounge too, up until late last year. Fiat seemed to rationalise this at the same time as dropping the 1.3 Multijet 95bhp diesel and 1.6 e-Torq 110 petrol auto. Granted the latter two didn't seem to sell much in the UK so I can see why those were dropped, though I can't quite grasp the logic of making the DCT available only on one trim level, when the engine it's mated to is on both Easy Plus & Lounge.

It might (or might not) be of interest that I specced a 1.6 Multijet Lounge with a couple of options on Carwow last night, as I was curious of whether swapping into a diesel would be feasible. There appears to be 0% finance and £1000 Fiat deposit contribution, which is far better than the finance rate I got in September. However the biggest saving that was quoted from 5 dealers was £2,766 if I bought on finance - £1000 of that was the Fiat deposit contribution.

The deals for cash were stronger (up to £5,266), but unless you have the best part of £17,000 laying around you'd still need a fairly hefty loan, which won't be 0% like Fiat are offering. I'd probably be better off if I'd bought now because of the 0% finance, but I wasn't left blown away. I guess because the Tipo is more keenly priced than Fiat's tend to be these days, the level of savings are less significant.

 

[s130]

Never has it been so important to properly differentiate between ‘of’ and ‘off’!

Ooops. Yes should have been OFF. Too late for me to correct. Sorry. Certainly prefer the "of" but it isn't going to happen

 

[oconnortom22]

Hi lads I bought the Tipo Lounge in Ireland back when they were just on the market new. Firstly lovely smooth car but mine 1.4l is not light on petrol. Do a fair bit of milage a year as I love driving so at 47k the clutch failed and had yo be replaced along with both back shocks. Since the replacement reverse gear is crunching like crazy on long spins okay in around the City but Fiat are stating its up to their spec so has anyone crunching in reverse after a decent spin.

 

[bolgerwalsh]

No idea but the scheme is applicable to Fiat UK so if Fiat UK are responsible for sales and distribution in Ireland (Ireland? or Northern Ireland?) then I would think that it would be applicable.

Hi folks. Many thanks for the advice, but I since found a pre-reg tipo sedan 1.3 for €15,500 (yes that's euro!) in easy trim. Over here, pop trim is no longer available, and so it is easy or lounge.
Some of you people looking to get into new cars might benefit by purchasing here before March 29th(Brexit) and exporting the car from Ireland.