Availability Update

[spindoc]

Talked to Greg Eaton, my salesman at Fiat of Cary (NC) today after he'd gotten back from the training in LA.  He said their studio will have an initial inventory of 30 cars, which should be delivered to them in 21 days (since they got their Fiat dealer licensure today).  They will all be Sport models.  The dealership will not be able to choose how those cars are equipped, they're just taking what they're shipped.

He made a couple of interesting comments that were news to me.  First, Nav will not be available on this first shipment of cars (though they expect many upcoming Lounge models will be so equipped).  Nav will be available at some point as a dealer-installed add-on, though I didn't ask when.

He also said he was told that most of the first batch of cars will be equipped from the factory similarly to how the pre-production cars at the training were equipped.  And (as we've seen in photos and videos), many of those pre-production Sport models have automatic climate control - seemingly contradicting the note on Fiat's "Build Your Own" page which has "(Auto Trans)" indicated for the Safety & Convenience Package.

I only asked about the initial inventory, since I passed on ordering a PE, and will need to get a car as soon as I can.  They should get their inventory list early next week, and anticipate getting their demo within about a week.

[Fiat500USA]

spindoc wrote

Talked to Greg Eaton, my salesman at Fiat of Cary (NC) today after he'd gotten back from the training in LA.  He said their studio will have an initial inventory of 30 cars, which should be delivered to them in 21 days (since they got their Fiat dealer licensure today).  They will all be Sport models.  The dealership will not be able to choose how those cars are equipped, they're just taking what they're shipped.

He made a couple of interesting comments that were news to me.  First, Nav will not be available on this first shipment of cars (though they expect many upcoming Lounge models will be so equipped).  Nav will be available at some point as a dealer-installed add-on, though I didn't ask when.

He also said he was told that most of the first batch of cars will be equipped from the factory similarly to how the pre-production cars at the training were equipped.  And (as we've seen in photos and videos), many of those pre-production Sport models have automatic climate control - seemingly contradicting the note on Fiat's "Build Your Own" page which has "(Auto Trans)" indicated for the Safety & Convenience Package.

I only asked about the initial inventory, since I passed on ordering a PE, and will need to get a car as soon as I can.  They should get their inventory list early next week, and anticipate getting their demo within about a week.

Thanks spindoc for that report.

[Minuszka]

Spindoc, I'm also in NC, but further down south, near CLT, so my dealership might be the one in South Carolina, but I was always wondering about the only NC dealer, even if it's about 2.5 hours away. Thanks for keeping everyone posted about Cary updates.

[Gavin]

Per the people at motor village la...

Edwin Arredondo Straight from Laura Soave herself... The Primas have been released and will arrive at our L.A . Studio in 17-21 days!

Gavin

Edit:


Edwin Arredondo I forgot to mention, Laura stated that for those looking to change the color of their Prima it is too late but If you can find someone to trade with you, you can do that!

[jmbd7h3]

Is it confirmed we can't change the color?! We were told expressly that would could when we made the original down payment.

Jon

[jmbd7h3]

Per the orginal ciaofiatusa website FAQs:

Q:  Is there a way to change my vehicle configuration after placing my reservation?

A:  Changes can be made when the dealer contacts you to finalize the order.


https://www.ciaofiat500.com/FAQ.aspx


 

[Mike S]

They were also going to contact us in December to finalize everything. Clearly, that has never happened.

I think they can change your order. Any car that comes down the line can be a PE if it has the right body color. The other Prima stuff can be installed when they build a car.

[Giallo Edizione]

Mike S wrote

They were also going to contact us in December to finalize everything. Clearly, that has never happened.

I think they can change your order. Any car that comes down the line can be a PE if it has the right body color. The other Prima stuff can be installed when they build a car.

I'm not sure that's the case, at least for me, that I was not contacted. Here is the email I recieved from FIAT .

From: Fiat 500 Prima Edizione Reservation Program/USA [mailto:[e-mail]]
Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2011 6:00 AM
To: Secret Bezel
Subject: Complete Your FIAT 500 Reservation

Dear Mr. Bezel
Congratulations, a Cinquecento Prima Edizione has become available.

To place your reservation, please click on the following link within the next 24 hours. Confirm Your Prima Edizione.


Please remember, your reservation can only be held for this 24-hour period. After that time, your Cinquecento will be offered to the next individual on the Prima Edizione wait list.

We are excited to welcome you to our family.

FIAT USA


The link is still active though it notes no Prima's are available:  https://www.ciaofiat500.com/

When I went to the link back then they asked me to configure it and I had two choices to make, color and sunroof or not , and gave them my charge card number.

They then followed up with a confirming email with my assigned PE number.

I assumed at that point it was a done deal and then next time I was contacted, it would be for pickup of my new car.

[sketch]

Mike S wrote

Any car that comes down the line can be a PE if it has the right body color.

By what logic?  I severely doubt they're going to swap badges, seats, wheels, "bezels", and all the other PE-exclusive features with another equivalently-equipped Sport just because you wanted to change your colour four months after you made the reservation.

[Mike S]

People were told they would have a chance to make changes to the options they selected.

Changing the seats, bezel and badges would not be a big deal at the factory. This is advertised as a very customizable car. Otherwise, any sport will do.

[Fiat500USA]

sketch wrote

Mike S wrote

Any car that comes down the line can be a PE if it has the right body color.

By what logic?  I severely doubt they're going to swap badges, seats, wheels, "bezels", and all the other PE-exclusive features with another equivalently-equipped Sport just because you wanted to change your colour four months after you made the reservation.

Easy now

The problem is, they said they were going to contact us and we could change at that time. Some of us relied on that. We waited and waited, like the patient people we have all been. I finally contacted them to change the color the second week of January, and a week later they called and said it was too late.

But you're correct in saying they aren't going to change the production schedule.  I even asked;)

Not really happy about it, I just waited too long. Once I get the car, I'm sure I'll love it.

[sjmst]

Fiat500USA wrote

sketch wrote

Mike S wrote

Any car that comes down the line can be a PE if it has the right body color.

By what logic?  I severely doubt they're going to swap badges, seats, wheels, "bezels", and all the other PE-exclusive features with another equivalently-equipped Sport just because you wanted to change your colour four months after you made the reservation.

Easy now

The problem is, they said they were going to contact us and we could change at that time. Some of us relied on that. We waited and waited, like the patient people we have all been. I finally contacted them to change the color the second week of January, and a week later they called and said it was too late.

But you're correct in saying they aren't going to change the production schedule.  I even asked;)

Not really happy about it, I just waited too long. Once I get the car, I'm sure I'll love it.

What he said

[Gavin]

Yeah...I think Fiat USA just over promised a bit and found they couldn't quite keep all those promises.

Sadly it will likely piss off a few customers. And it will probably cause a few cancellations. But, in reality, Fiat will sell those cancellations immediately.

Me? I will be happy with my Grey Prima with Sunroof....for 2 years...then I will be insanely happy with my Brown Fiat 500 with fixed glass roof, Ivory upper interior, heated seats and leather. And Lounge style premium rims and the graphic I want. (I love the "5" enclosed in a circle that is placed on the front hood...not sure why...just love it.)

In two years all the glitches that start-ups have will be ironed out...AND all the options and such that Europe has will have filtered over to the states.

I will love my Prima. I will adore my Fiat 500 EV that I will be able to custom configure EXACTLY like I want. :)

Now does anybody know if we can have the Studio put in heated seats as after market on our Primas?? Seems Fiat is only talking about doing it with the Auto transmission...

Gavin

[sjmst]

Gavin, I know that adding heated seats is possible with just about any modern car.

[sketch]

Oh, I missed this earlier, but if memory serves there are two comfort and convenience packages.  The first one (ostensibly for the manual transmission) includes automatic climate control and a security alarm.  The automatic transmission package adds to that heated seats and a compact spare tire.