Saw one of these driving through Oxshott this morning. Powder blue on Italian number plates. I managed to nip out in front of it so I could have a good gawp at it in my rear view mirror.
Very cute little car, which with the ivory interior will go down a storm with the girls, I'm sure. Less aggressive/sporty than a MINI. Will doubtless be highly profitable for Fiat given its low cost base (Panda platform and Polish labour) but I think its downfall in this country will surely be the dealers? The MINIs success is largely down to the skill of BMW dealers who are on a different planet from your average Fiat dealer.
Edited by Honestjohn on 07/11/2007 at 17:01
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>>The MINIs success is largely down to the skill of BMW dealers who are on a different planet from your average Fiat dealer.
They were hopeless with us and a very big factor in us waving goodbye to the car. Haven't deal with FIAT service, but to MINI service "ain't all that"
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I had a poke around one at a dealers in France in July when they were launched. I liked it a lot. EVO magazine was saying the launch in the UK may be delayed until next summer due to very high demand for the LHD versions. I believe they sold out all 2007 production a few weeks back.
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Looked at one in Germany superb little car 3 months waiting list already so I was told meanwhile the Toyata Auris according to Autobild has been a complete disaster selling only a fraction of the numbers intended Fiat/Alfa/Lancia now have some of the best looking cars at any price.
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Nor expected to sell well in Poland so I heard, not cheap enough and too many years of driving the original has created a yearning for larger cars.
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Ironic if not popular in Poland because it's built there I believe.
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Some confusion in this thread.
Andy meant the Toyota Auris was selling poorly in Germany. The Toyota is built in Burnaston, isn't it?
The Panda & 500 are built in Poland and are apparently selling like hot ciabatta.
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Prices out now. £7900 for the basic (pop). Sport and Lounge start at £9300 and include Blue and me (bluetooth and voice activated media player), air con and 15" alloys. Sport has body kit stuff, and lounge has glass roof.
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The 500 looks great, but seems way overpriced when put alongside a Panda. Only 3 doors too. I'm sure the Polish people have realised this...
Give me a Panda 100HP over a 500 anyday
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I own a Fiat and love it. I've had one job done at a main dealer, and there's no way I will ever buy a car from them! It took them over 8 months to replace my fuel tank, the list of things they got wrong is unbelievable. When I come to get another car I would definately consider travelling further to another Fiat dealer, but the experience has put me off buying any car from a dealer.
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Some of the people I work with really want these, and they're the ones who previously would have wanted minis.
>Give me a Panda 100HP over a 500 anyday
Not exactly stylish though, is it, a Panda? The fiat will be aimed at the people who would have bought Minis, MX5s and New Beetles...
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Quite right pologirl, and it undercuts both of them by quite some margin. My sister is about to order one. Fiat are having to invest a great deal more in the factory to keep up with demand so they must be doing something right
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This may be one model where unusually the smaller engine may be the better bet. I've seen several road tests of the 1.4 which complain abouit the lack of oomph. For what is meant to be a nippy town car the 1.2 petrol or 1.3 diesel may be best. I think when they come in I'll take SWMBO's Mini to a dealer, get a test drive and compare the two.
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It really really hits the spot this car. Its retro done with the style that the
mini so badly missed. Its very very chic, trendy and stylish. (it looks simply
gorgeous inside and out in white) I first saw them at a demo in Turin last month side by side with the orginal, and they have done a fine job.
I managed to get SWMBO inside one in Naples a few weeks back. She loved it too for what it is and had no idea of the heritage.
It makes the new twingo look like a complete flop, and the the new mini clubman look laughable.
If its half way reliable this car will fly away.
------
< Ulla>
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The basic spec. looks most in line with the original 'philosophy' of the original to me. It might have been even more desirable with perhaps electric/windows mirrors deleted , but with alloy wheels added for the same price ( why electric mirrors are regarded as useful & upscale has long eluded me anyway).
It would have been nice to see the 1.3 multijet diesel in the basic spec as well - truly then a competitior to the MINI One , but with a fantastic little diesel added. I could well be tempted by that - a useful, practical, economical runabout with style & low-ish(?) depreciation
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It would have been nice to see the 1.3 multijet diesel in the basic spec as well -
According to my reading of the website, the 1.3 mulitjet is available in the basic spec - but it does bump the price to £9300.
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Saw one in the flesh the other day- really nice looking car! Pushes all of the retro buttons without looking like it's trying too hard (like I feel the MINI & beetle have done).
I'm too sensible to buy one, though. Or too old & male, more likely...
As an aside, with this current trend for retro new cars, any suggestions as to what should be next? I'd vote for the 2CV or VW camper. Opinions?
A.
--
Dr Alex Mears
Volvo 940S estate 1993
Maxda MX5 1.8iS 1997
Yamaha RD350 YPVS 1992
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mk 1 cortina would be my choice
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As an aside with this current trend for retro new cars any suggestions as to what should be next? I'd vote for the 2CV or VW camper.
Well, in light of this - www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?v=e&t=55...3 - I've got to vote for the 2CV!
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VW Camper would get my vote, still loads of the old ones around, must be well rusty by now, a new version of this 'iconic' surfer dude design would be good.
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Another vote for a retro 2CV comes from Thomas Imhof (Germany), one of the ECOTY judges, who in his comment on the Fiat 500 says "Now I would love to see Citroen doing a modern incarnation of the 2CV"
I liked his comment on the Fiat 500, btw: "In a time where even A- and B-segment cars are morphing into mini-predators, with hooded, slitty eyes and snarling, hungry mouths, the new 500 is a real relief. It makes people smile rather than jump for safety. "
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Being similarly engineered to the Panda will give this car the mechanical simplicity that the Mini lacks and that gives it reliability, low running costs and longevity.
In addition it has plain and simple lines without the excesses of decoration and embellishment on the Mini.
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The big surprise is everyone expected UK prices to be similar to the BMW Mini... but they're not.
Most basic 1.2 FIAT 500 starts at £7900. The most expensive, before options is less than the price of a Mini One.
They cannot keep up with demand and now it's going to be even more popular than some considered in the UK.
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I doubt that the 500 will sell well in the UK:
- most people in the UK are prejudiced against Fiats of any kind,
- whereas MINI has somehow worked the BMW-family angle very well,
- the UK Fiat dealer network is rubbish,
- the people out there who do like and want Fiats like/want them because they are CHEAP. The 500 ain't....
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I guess we'll all have to wait to see.... good design does sell. The BMW Mini is very compromised in it's packaging but that's done well at a premium price.
Signs are the FIAT 500 will do okay.
So is it FIAT these days or Fiat? I thought FIAT was Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino. We don't write Vw or Bmw do we ;-)
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So is it FIAT these days or Fiat? I thought FIAT was Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino. We don't write Vw or Bmw do we ;-)
Or, maybe even fIaT ?
Edited by woodbines on 07/11/2007 at 17:57
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fear-t
you buya the car or i breaka your nose
Edited by Webmaster on 08/11/2007 at 00:43
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I think it will do well. You are right that the brits don't tend to like them, but my dealer has several orders already, even before the price came out. (and about to get another!)
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They're going to like this one all right, unless it turns out to be a pile of carp, which it probably won't. It's squarely in the MINI's aesthetic area and beats it soundly on all counts. It's sure to be cheaper to run. Eventually there will be a fast one too.
It will have to be quite bad to do badly.
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Lud, there won't be a fast "FIAT" 500 that will be the Abarth 500 :-) It's going to be a brand in it's own right with about 150bhp with the option to increase power to 180bhp.
Despite all the stuff people can say about previous FIAT's, the new 500 is looking pretty good and I'd be surprised if not a success.
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I believe FIAT have had the axe through the UK dealer network.
But I couldn't say if all the new ones are an improvement - possibly not IME.
I gave up with a local new "multi franchise" emporium at the third time of trying, as they just couldn't get their act together, and went to a known good one miles further away (Gray's in Warwick).
It's a bit of a fag getting a 20 minute train ride back, but worth the effort: work paid for _actually done_ at the time requested.
I'd imagine that's not too difficult to do, would you?
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any insight into the likely depreciation on these?
whats the recomendation here as a buy?
bottom basic or specced up?
which version offers best TCO?
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MINI/FIAT: different cars and therefore prices. No A/C! Really downmarket in todays climate that is.
No doubt extras will be added 'for free'' in later years, but no one looking towards a MINI [knowing the cost] is going to be tempted so far down market in terms of comfort stuff, surely? It's like comparing the Astra with the BMW1.
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The Astra is miles better than the BMW1, which is surely one of the most unappealing cars on the road.
And Minis are not that special.
Plenty of buyers will go for the 500 over the Mini. I would.
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