Prima Email - Price and Specs

[sjmst]

Yes, I agree. No doubt, the Prima is a mixed bag!

[Gavin]

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sjmst wrote

The Lounge does give you more options, except, the transmission..automatic only! If you are OK with that then yes, go for it.

If I were not getting the Prima I'd wait for the convertible.

Yeah, actually at 49 years old I'm fine with either the stick or the manual. If the manual was a 6 speed I would probably care a bit more, but I'm not buying the 500 to go racing around town...just commuting...so for me a 6 speed auto or 5 speed manual is basically a push.

I think the auto will still be fun to drive.

eh, waiting for more images and info. Since I only plan to keep this 500 for a couple of years (want the EV badly) getting the Prima makes some sense...I would likely get it a couple of months sooner than if I order a Lounge version.

Gavin

ps...i would wait for the EV, but I've been waiting on EVs for years and years...I think they really are coming in 2012...but I have learned that delays are almost inevitable.

[sjmst]

I do think the 6 speed auto will be fun. I have driven the 5 speed 500, and that's the one for me. But if they bring out 4 doors or wagons, I would get one in auto for my wife! I'm about your age, and I have learned to avoid settling if at all possible. Get what you want. The lounge def gives you more options.

[jmbd7h3]

I put all the features and options for all the Fiat 500 versions into an Excel document and my anlysis shows the Prima Edizone costs $1,000 more than the Sport version configured to match the Prima Edizone with the following exceptions.
     I left out the stripe as I have my own vinyl guy.
     The similarly configured Sport had to come with heated seats where the PE does not.
     The Prima Edizone had special wheels (look the same to me), Prima Edizone badge, gloss black roof and mirrors, vinyl body stripe, graphite instrument bezel, Prima Edizone floor mats, and, of course, the number.

Questions remain in my analysis: steering wheel audio controls and spare tire.

For me as number 30, I'm surprised the Prima Edizone package is so unappealing in terms of options to price (aka value). The no leather is a deal breaker as I have black lounge leather in my MINI and feel very strongly that such a luxurious seating surface is critical to avoiding the cheap, small car sensation. Otherwise I'm just as good to go get a Nissan cube or whatever those 2nd class cars are.

I think the lack of leather seats, exclusion of heated seats, and prevention of the ability to buy other options (ambient light, automatic rear view mirror) all balanced with the price point are going to leave me in my MINI. Fiat's aim at the luxury small car market seems to be a bit low on the luxury point for my tastes.

[jmbd7h3]

Oh, I was already swallowing my pride a bit to jump down from a 6-speed to a 5-speed and from a turbo to naturally aspirated.

[Minuszka]

From calling the Fiat 888 number today, I understand that the dash of the PE will be body color and the "graphite Instrument Panel Bezel" doesn't mean that the instrument panel is graphite, just some extra "bezel" decoration. That's good news.
She also told me that one will be able to order the PE without the "Black Body Stripe" - that is good to know if we have some influence on the final look of the PE.
She said that in about 3 weeks the dealers will contact the PE owners to go through the ordering options and details.
I hope this helps...

[sam500]

Thank you for calling! This is all extremely helpful, and should clear up a couple of important questions!

[sjmst]

sam500 wrote

Thank you for calling! This is all extremely helpful, and should clear up a couple of important questions!

That's fanatstic, thanks!

[sketch]

I understand your point that the Prima Edizione doesn't quite meet your "luxury needs", but you can't say that what Fiat offers isn't luxurious enough if you aren't considering everything Fiat offers. You will be able to get fine leather and heated seats in the Fiat 500, just not with this particular special edition.

Minuszka: Thanks so much for calling! I'm quite relieved to hear that we still get the body-coloured dash insert.  It's one of my favourite things about the interior.

[Gavin]

jmbd7h3 wrote

Oh, I was already swallowing my pride a bit to jump down from a 6-speed to a 5-speed and from a turbo to naturally aspirated.

ah, sounds like you should wait for the Abarth...much more in line with the Mini S. Should be a fun car. I know a lot of people waiting to get the Abarth 500.

Gavin

[cinquecento]

I'm trying so hard to like what I'm seeing on the PE.  Thus far, I'm having trouble.

Leather.  This is VERY important to me, the omission of heated seats is less crucial.
Regarding the seats, I'm very confused by the options.  In the pictures here and in the gallery on Autoblog, there are seats shown in brown that appear to be either leather or vinyl.  No one else seems to have noticed this but me, but there was a pre-production car at the LA show with Sport body and seats that weren't cloth but had the same style as the cloth options found under the configurator.  I'm VERY confused about this, as I'll probably cancel my order if I can't get those seats.

The engine being relatively weak matters less to me, but may get great MPGs to offset that.
I really don't think I'll get the stripe.
Should have been a 6-speed manual.
I'm not a fan of the 100-or-so pounds this car is heavier (2350) than the Euro version, especially when we were promised a strong And lighter chassis.
I'm really hoping the suspension is still Euro-tuned, and fat American tuned.

Despite all that, I'll end up with a 500; it's up to them whether it's sooner rather than later.

[Fiat500USA]

I'm going through a ton of material on the US car and will begin posting some info on it as soon as I get some more answers from Fiat.

BUT, let me say, from what I've learned, the US car IS DEFINITELY upgraded.  I personally wouldn't trade it for the Euro car, no way.

[sjmst]

There is no car Fiat, or any carmaker, can introduce that will meet with 100% approval. Still, I don't think I am going too far out on a limb to say this car will be a hit