Only 20% of Dealerships Ready in Feb?

[Mike S]

Me three.

[Fiat500USA]

Jim McKenzie wrote

I agree with all that you've written Chrs, and please understand my frustration is NOT with your site, which I think is excellent, but with Fiat's overall marketing. I also think Bert's post was interesting and a good microcosm of what I meant: three dealers in the area, one shows up, does great.  The other two don't respond ...such variance.

A side point.  I belong to the Seattle X1/9 club, (others here do too), and I am forever amazed on how on top of the Fiat scene the Seattle and Northwest guys are.   I'm in Florida and we get perhaps 5% of the Fiat news that the  Seattle guys come up with.   Thank goodness for them, and their posts.  Thanks Bert.

In the end, I knw we'll all get our cars...but at different times dependent upon individual dealerships. It is however frustrating to see the cars in photos and video and not have any solid for sale date...or even the month.  I think I have seen "end of year", "by January 1st", then "February", now "late March early April".     I had assumed (!) that they'd be a National Day where anyone could go to a dealer and buy a car.  My bad :)

On happy Fiat news, my 1973 Fiat 850 Spider just got painted FLY yellow and the engine goes in....tomorrow.  It's taken me 16 months to get this far, so you'd think I'd have some patience on the 500 :)

Pics here of my 850 restoral. Seems it just went from orange to green to gray to yellow  http://www.flickr.com/photos/nagasakee/sets/72157614059700971/


 

Hi Jim,

 I wrote that at 2am so I don't think that came out the way I intended.  

I am right with you there. I don't get some dealers. It's sad to say, but I think some of these guys are just going through the motions, at least on the phone.

If I was in charge at Fiat, I would suggest to the dealers they actively pursue hiring Fiat club members/Fiat enthusiasts.   The dealers need motivated people with energy and enthusiasm.

I assumed there was going to be a day everyone opened. I guess I was naive. To get 130 dealers coordinated and open in 3-4 months is, in retrospect, a really tall order.  There are going to be some dealers that make it early and others that will be behind. The good news is they are pushing through. Service training is already happening, so we are getting closer.

The last time-line I saw was a range on a calender marked off as mid March-mid April for mainstream buyers.

About your 850. Man, great job on that car!  I caught myself day dreaming looking at the pictures.  i always wanted an 850 Sport Coupe and was thinking of getting one before I ordered the Prima. One of my favorite Fiats.

Keep us posted on it.

[Fiat500USA]

Mike S wrote

Me three.

Me four!

[cinquecento]

I wonder how many people have gone to physically inspect their local future dealers?  I'm up in MN, and we have two dealers coming, I went to the two sites (or where I thought they would be based on the ownership) and didn't find anything resembling any progress on a physical structure yet.

I'd love see the progress of the dealers around the country (and Canada), just to know what to expect.  At this point, I'm expecting to have to get the car shipped from whichever dealer gets them first and makes a compelling offer to work out the nitty-gritties of delivery and all the paperwork.

I presume there's at least a chance that a car could get delivered before there was any way to get Fiat-authorized service within hundreds of miles, but hey, even just having it in the driveway would be fun!

Thanks Chris for giving us this forum to share our collective excitement, and just a tad of impatience!

[Fiat500USA]

cinquecento wrote

I wonder how many people have gone to physically inspect their local future dealers?  I'm up in MN, and we have two dealers coming, I went to the two sites (or where I thought they would be based on the ownership) and didn't find anything resembling any progress on a physical structure yet.

I'd love see the progress of the dealers around the country (and Canada), just to know what to expect.  At this point, I'm expecting to have to get the car shipped from whichever dealer gets them first and makes a compelling offer to work out the nitty-gritties of delivery and all the paperwork.

I presume there's at least a chance that a car could get delivered before there was any way to get Fiat-authorized service within hundreds of miles, but hey, even just having it in the driveway would be fun!

Thanks Chris for giving us this forum to share our collective excitement, and just a tad of impatience!

You're welcome, but it's mutual because I need to thank you and everyone for visiting here.  When I was young, I used to hang out on Broadway with all the car guys and gals.  We talked cars and enjoyed each others rides. There were great cars, not so great and some of us didn't even have cars, but it was all good and a lot of fun. For me, those days are long gone and I don't have much time for car shows anymore, but this is a way for me to get back to my roots and the days when cars were my world.

[FiATL]

Chris,

First off, thanks for all the work you've put into this.  Your blog is the first place I go every morning to try to get more information about my Prima #286.  

Now, I am wondering how Fiat is going to let those of us who haven't even seen one in person feel and touch it prior to making that final commitment?  I'm 98% sure I'm going to take mine as I love small cars but there is that small chance that it isn't comfortable or my wide foot just doesn't fit right on the pedal, etc.

So looking forward to seeing more of what they have in store for those of us who took the initial plunge in signing up for a 500 Prima.

Again, thank you!
Chris
ATLanta, GA.

[CaliberSRT4]

Obviously Fiat can't personally get a car to everybody to demo, so I believe they are leaving it up to you. I think they said you can take delivery whenever you are ready to. Dealers have been receiving cars over the past few weeks. You will need to find a local dealer with a 500 demo car and then you can go and check it out at the dealer.

[CaliberSRT4]

Forgot to mention. The demo car will not be a Prima obviously, but it will probably be a Sport model so at least it is mostly similar to the Prima.

[Fiat500USA]

FiATL wrote

Chris,

First off, thanks for all the work you've put into this.  Your blog is the first place I go every morning to try to get more information about my Prima #286.  

Now, I am wondering how Fiat is going to let those of us who haven't even seen one in person feel and touch it prior to making that final commitment?  I'm 98% sure I'm going to take mine as I love small cars but there is that small chance that it isn't comfortable or my wide foot just doesn't fit right on the pedal, etc.

So looking forward to seeing more of what they have in store for those of us who took the initial plunge in signing up for a 500 Prima.

Again, thank you!
Chris
ATLanta, GA.

Thanks FiATL, and welcome to the forum. I think there is a dealer near Atlanta, maybe they'll get a car soon and you can check it out. Call them tomorrow (or today).

[FiATL]

Wish it were as easy as looking up my local dealer's phone number.  I have finally tracked down a contact name at the closest dealer to me and have a message in to them.  It appears that none of the GA dealers have a website set up yet.

How about a thread where people can post which dealers have opened and/or have demo cars available?  I'd even be willing to drive a few hours to see one if I have to.

Love this forum and can't wait to see some of these fun cars out on the street.

[NM dude]

Received a phone call yesterday (Saturday) from Patrick Melloy owner of Fiat of Albuquerque. He wanted to let me know they will be getting their demo car mid to late Feb. He said they have just finished getting the permits, etc. to build their building. He expects it to be open by June. He acknowledged that they will not be able to deliver my Prima and I`m sorry about that.  He seems like a really nice guy and excited about the 500. Of course I`ll go there for service, and maybe next year an Abarth!

[Gavin]

Dude...
What email address are you using...I can't get a reply from melloy at this time....

I also will use them for service and hopefully get an EV from them in late 2012 or early 2013.

thanks

Gavin

[Fiat500USA]

FiATL wrote

Wish it were as easy as looking up my local dealer's phone number.  I have finally tracked down a contact name at the closest dealer to me and have a message in to them.  It appears that none of the GA dealers have a website set up yet.

How about a thread where people can post which dealers have opened and/or have demo cars available?  I'd even be willing to drive a few hours to see one if I have to.

Love this forum and can't wait to see some of these fun cars out on the street.

Good idea! I've posted it.