Yes, I have finally bought one (or at least put down the deposit). Hope to pick up later this week.

05 Eleganza Auto with 29k miles on the clock and a new gearbox (!) and the remainder of the manufacturer's warranty (60k or 3 years). All for the grand sum of £7850.

Seems too good to be true doesn't it?

The way that I look at it is that any problems are not going to cost me anything for 18 months (other than the inconvenience of the car being odd the road), I can take a view during this time as to whether I want to risk keeping it beyond the three years.

Thanks for bearing with me and all of my postings over the past fortnight.

Hi - seems like a cracking price as well

Any idea what options it came with? Nav+ or just Nav?

Hi Stuart,

Haven't got a clue about the bells and whistles, will tell you on Wednesday. My main focus was on the warranty.

Where did you buy it, was it a main dealer, seems a bargain. Is it petrol or diesel ?.

Just to say that I picked up my car last night and took it for a long run (150 miles). It drives like a dream and I am really pleased with it.

It is the usual ex Addison vehicle, a black Eleganza (2.0 JTD) that only really seems to be an Eleganza in name only – no alloys etc, although it does have the electric rear doors.

The one thing that I really wanted, that didn’t come with the car, was the handbook. Any idea where I might pick one up from? I have no idea how to set the child locks or even open the bonnet!

Afew scratches and dings on it; nothing major, I am sure it will have twice as many within another month or two.

New gearbox was fitted 300 miles ago, and I am told that there is a 12 month/12k warranty on this, in parallel with the balance (18months) of the manufacturer’s warranty. On the subject of the manufacturer’s warranty, there was no paperwork. The dealer told me that all I needed to do was to take it to my local Fiat dealer, and they would check that I was within the three years/60k miles, and then undertake any necessary work. Is this true, or should I have to present anything to the dealer?

As regards Fleet Sales themselves, they seemed helpful and pleasant enough, so I can’t really add to any of the feedback that has previously been given. I dealt with Rachel. When I collected the car, she told me that she had made a mistake on the pricing and that they had actually lost some money on my car. Whether this is true or not, I really couldn’t say, although it was on their forecourt (and website) at £8999. If you are considering buying a car from them, do haggle, it looks like they will listen to big discounts if you have the cash.

Glad your pleased with the car, did you get sat nav etc with it. You can phone Fiat to get the warranty transferred to you, I think it cost £25. I wouldn't mention it was a taxi when you call them as I think some warranties are void if it is used as a taxi (no idea if this is the case with Fiat).

You can buy a owners manual from a dealer or they sometimes come up on E-Bay. The child locks are activated when you press the button in and will stop the electric windows, electric door operation and sunroof working in the back row.

Hi Poggy,

No SatNav unfortunately.

Thanks for the info re childlocks, I have spent a bit of time on the EV2 forum this afternoon and found where most things are.

Re the warranty, the car was sold with "balance of manufacturer's warranty". Should I be responsible for the £25 admin fee, or should the dealer pay this? I would imagine the latter but, considering the bargain price that I got, and the fact that they have probably lost money, perhaps I should just stump up. Any thoughts?

Cheers

I think that unless you bought it from a Fiat dealer you normally pay yourself. I did the same when I bought the Alfa and ended up caliming on it with no problem.

Thanks Poggy, will get onto Fiat this afternoon if I get time. First I am off to the Marea board, to find out what I should be selling the old girl for - 3 cars on the drive is a bit of a squeeze.

Cheers.