Let's Take a Deep Breath

[sam500]

AgentP, I was offered the LoJack while I was signing the paperwork at Motor Village, and I looked at some of the discounts I would be getting from my insurance company. Add to that peace of mind, and an extra little deterrent to keep people away from the PE, and I was pretty much sold, considering that Los Angeles isn't all Beverly Hills, and Bel Air. Glad you like the pictures!

[Fiat500USA]

sam500 wrote

Okay. MrJones was right. I am back :) Briefly, at least. Just wanted to share with you guys that I got my Prima Edizione yesterday, and it's very much worth the wait! The car is wonderful, looks great, and gets so many looks and compliments, it's kind of amusing.

The moment I saw it all nice and clean I knew that was my car. I didn't even think of asking to see another color, or a matching bezel, or anything. Cashier's check, trade in, deposit, and out the door. I can't stop smiling.

I might come out of retirement again :) to post some pictures, and maybe a review. So far, I am in love.

Congratulations Sam! Thanks again for sharing and contributing. Love those pics! I wish you many, many happy miles with your new Fiat!

Best regards,
Chris

[5*(10)^2]

sam, how much did they offer you the lojack? And was installation on the spot or an appt for another day?

[unclelaverne]

I paid $495 for Lojack and it will be installed when they fix the bumper & mirror Wednesday.  

[sam500]

I have an appointment on friday to install it. I don't remember 100% but $495 sounds about right.

[Minuszka]

What's with the mirror and the bumper?

[PE#454]

I read of your delivery experience on the facebook PE wall, and I'm so sorry that it was not the joyful event it should have been. Did they offer any explanation as to how your car received such treatment? It seems like the dealership has a lot of explaining to do, and I would be sure to let Laura Soave know how things were handled.

[MrJones]

sam500 wrote

AgentP, I was offered the LoJack while I was signing the paperwork at Motor Village, and I looked at some of the discounts I would be getting from my insurance company. Add to that peace of mind, and an extra little deterrent to keep people away from the PE, and I was pretty much sold, considering that Los Angeles isn't all Beverly Hills, and Bel Air. Glad you like the pictures!

Hi Sam! I knew you would be back! Hope you're loving your new car.

Forgive my ignorance, but doesn't this car come with an ignition immobilizer? Wouldn't that make LoJack a little redundant? Please explain.

[Minuszka]

Could the " delivery experience on the facebook PE wall " posted here too, or the link to it?

[PE#454]

http://www.facebook.com/?sk=lf#!/pages/FIAT-500-Prima-Edizione/184600331550595 

"And so it goes from bad to worse. They couldn't find the keys for an hour. Salesman didn't show up. Paperwork problems and last but not least someone ran it into a wall. Back bumper is a chewed up mess and will need body work. Yay. Why did i know this was a bad idea from the start."

[sam500]

Actually, this is a great question, and one I'm not sure I can answer. What was recommended to me was LoJack early response (or something like that) that is used to track your car within minutes if it is stolen. I have no idea exactly how it works, or if it's redundant with the immobilizer, but was told by my insurance that they will give me an extra safety discount with it. The LoJack website recommends having both, but they are selling the damn things, so I'm not surprised. Now, this car looks nothing like the most stolen cars in the US (civics/accord/camry), and I'm guessing special edition cars are probably harder to "disappear", so maybe that's also an extra deterrent.

However, as the woman put it, this car doesn't exactly blend in (and I've found that to be true, but I won't complain :). I would hate for anything to happen to it!

My appointment is not till friday, so I think I might be able to change my mind yet (though I did sign the contract). Any thoughts?

[Gavin]

quote: Could the " delivery experience on the facebook PE wall " posted here too, or the link to it?


except Fiat, and well within their rights, has been editing their facebook page...Thad's post on his Prima on a lot 6 miles from his house for 10 days sitting, and my reply about my Prima on lot sitting many many days...well both are gone.

which is fine

but would be hard to link too right now :)

Gavin

[sketch]

I wouldn't worry too much.  People don't steal cars today so they can drive them around, they steal them so they can harvest parts from them.  That's why the most-stolen cars are very common ones from 10-15 years ago, the age where owners are eschewing dealerships for cheaper used parts, all Camrys and Civics and Accords.  They're also easier to steal when they're older.

[5*(10)^2]

sam, if you don't mind, I will offer my 2cents on lojack.

I have it in another car. Touch wood but never yet activated it. I actually found the location of the device when I was working on my car a while back. I will refrain from posting the details/tech/specs for obvious reasons.

A buddy of mine has one in his car too and his car was stolen from his driveway a month ago. Unfortunately, the police department couldn't track down this car. LoJack uses RF and one would think that even if the car was hidden in a building structure, it should be activated. But it didn't. The car was found a week later dumped in an alley. No major losses.

Email me if you want to know more.

[sketch]

What kinds of cars are these?

One of the dads that used to drive the high school carpool had his Sebring stolen.  They found it a week later torched in a field.  He bought LoJack for the Concorde he bought to replace the Sebring.  When the Concorde was stolen, LoJack worked, and they recovered it.

You have to consider, though, that these are late '90s—early '00s Chryslers, which are notoriously easy to "break into" (hardly; you can jimmy their locks with a flat screwdriver and a couple of seconds, apparently) and steal.  Immobiliser systems are simply too difficult for most thieves to get around, so while you might end up with a broken window or two (lord knows I have), your car most likely isn't going anywhere.

[unclelaverne]

The delivery was a less than stellar experience.  The 2 salespeople at Motor Village insist on contacting me via FB messaging when they had my phone number.  So I finally ended up calling Michael Saturday night and he said be here at 10am Sunday.  So I was.  He wasn't there.  The other salesperson wasn't there either.  He tried to set up an appointment later in the day as well but I couldn't respond to his FB message to tell him I already spoke to Michael and handled it.  Or did he?  lol  So a non Fiat person helped me.  Later Michael said he wasn't available til 1 but I was welcome to wait in the studio til then.  WHAT?  Why would you tell me to come at 10 just to wait til 1?  whatever.

They couldn't find my car for a half hour.  O.k. found it.  The keys were not available.  Locked in the keybox with no way to get them, lost whatever.  I heard 3 different reasons.  All I know is no keys for another half hour.  O.k. got keys.  We will wash it and get it ready for you.  Um, wasn't that what you were doing when you had it for the week it sat there?  15 minutes later the salesman comes back.  "we have a problem"  Your car is damaged.  O.k.  Lets have it.   Someone scrubbed a wall with the rear end.  The rear bumper is scraped bad.  Top to bottom, all the way around from the side panel to the back and down to the plastic.  It's gouged.  The side light on the rear passenger side is gouged.  The mirror is gouged with deep scratches.  They owe me a new key fob since it is a little smashed and gouged on the plastic parts.   There are scratches all over the inside.  It's basically a mess.  Someone seriously manhandled it.  

Now if whoever scrubbed the wall didn't mention it because they were afraid to lose their job and they got kids to feed, hey, I'm alright with that.  I don't want that to happen so I guess whoever didn't fess up to it had their reasons.  

Just make it right and we are square.  

All told I was there 4 hours.  I had cash and no trade in.  Hoped it would be an easy in and out.  

Not.  So.  Much.  

PS.  I love my car so it's all good.  I guess.  lol

[MrJones]

Just now getting around to your reply.

I don't see the value in the lojack, personally. I found what others have posted to be interesting.
I look at things differently. If the $ saved on the cost of the insurance over the life of the car is greater than the cost of the lojack--do it. Otherwise, save the money and apply it toward an increased deductible--that will definitely save you money in the long run.

[sjmst]

Sorry to hear of the delivery nightmare unclelaverne!

Looks like you didn't let it get to you, which is healthy...plus now you have some story to tell!

Anyway, good luck from here on out, and enjoy!

[5*(10)^2]

Hey Sketch, my friend has a 2005 BMW. Yep. I was shocked too they were able to break in without leaving any marks. The lock cylinder wasn't damaged. The start/stop ignition switch wasn't damaged either. My theory was that my friend left the key in the unlocked car but he assured me his key was in his pocket.

[ciddyguy]

sketch wrote

I wouldn't worry too much.  People don't steal cars today so they can drive them around, they steal them so they can harvest parts from them.  That's why the most-stolen cars are very common ones from 10-15 years ago, the age where owners are eschewing dealerships for cheaper used parts, all Camrys and Civics and Accords.  They're also easier to steal when they're older.

Indeed, but one thing to remember, most cars built before 1996-1997 didn't have the immobilizer system that became required around that time for virtually ALL cars, even the Fiat has it, has had it since around that time along with everyone else, both in Europe and here. Don't believe the later models are stolen much these days, but definitely those built prior to the immobilizer systems.