Prima: Stripe or no Stripe?

[Fiat500USA]

Gavin wrote

gah, forget the stripe...i want bicolor...

i want this:



maybe in gray...but dang bicolor looks good...dang Europeans get all the fun stuff

Gavin

Yeah,

I would love to have access to everything they have in Europe. That's been the story of my life!  But you know what, this time, WE"RE getting the good stuff! We're getting a better, updated 500 before our European friends are. This time, It's OUR TURN!

[sjmst]

I see the poll up on the Blog page. Most people are going for red. Surprised there aren't more white!
I am still curious about stripe or no stripe. And if we will get that choice.

[Fiat500USA]

sjmst wrote

I see the poll up on the Blog page. Most people are going for red. Surprised there aren't more white!
I am still curious about stripe or no stripe. And if we will get that choice.

I was told a few weeks ago no stripe delete option. However, this was a while ago and things may have changed. Call 1-888-242-6342 and see what they say. Maybe they can make a note in your file.

[sjmst]

Fiat500USA wrote

sjmst wrote

I see the poll up on the Blog page. Most people are going for red. Surprised there aren't more white!
I am still curious about stripe or no stripe. And if we will get that choice.

I was told a few weeks ago no stripe delete option. However, this was a while ago and things may have changed. Call 1-888-242-6342 and see what they say. Maybe they can make a note in your file.

Ah. OK, well I can see that. They want the car to be uniform out the door. We can always take them off later, they are only stickers.

[Fiat500USA]

That style stripe does have a historic basis. I had a couple of 850 sedans and always wanted the Abarth version, I think some had 200hp!





*this isn't my car, it was the only one I could find to illustrate this. If the owner would like me to take this down, please contact me. Thanks.

[sam500]

Time to revive the old question (again) :)

I called the 888-FIAT number today, and was told that since the PE is set to go into production as early as next week, we can't really make changes to the orders anymore. Now, since we weren't really ever contacted about the stripe, and it was never really clear whether it was going to be optional, I was wondering a couple of things (which in retrospect should've asked over the phone):

1. Was anyone able to remove the stripes from their car by calling FIAT?

2. Does anyone think we'll be given the option to opt out of them before signing something?

I think I'm starting to come around to them, and like the idea of keeping the PE as it was intended. At the same time, I'm not sure if I would keep them if I were given the option.

[sjmst]

sam500 wrote

Time to revive the old question (again) :)

I called the 888-FIAT number today, and was told that since the PE is set to go into production as early as next week, we can't really make changes to the orders anymore. Now, since we weren't really ever contacted about the stripe, and it was never really clear whether it was going to be optional, I was wondering a couple of things (which in retrospect should've asked over the phone):

1. Was anyone able to remove the stripes from their car by calling FIAT?

2. Does anyone think we'll be given the option to opt out of them before signing something?

I think I'm starting to come around to them, and like the idea of keeping the PE as it was intended. At the same time, I'm not sure if I would keep them if I were given the option.

You note we are hearing that Fiat is building the PE's next week. If that is true, we were never contacted to see if we want to make any changes. I had the impression we would be, but perhaps that is wrong. Many unknowns, still.

As for the stripe. I have the same mixed feelings about it as you. Still, it seemd it is a sticker, and if so, should be easliy removed.

[sam500]

To be more accurate, the woman I spoke with said that they might go into production as early as next week, but could be the week after. Either way she said that they were not allowing any last minute changes (note that I was not persistent about this, or asked to speak with someone higher up in the food chain). I am not sure if FIAT ever explicitly said that they would contact us to confirm our orders, but was told that had I called a few weeks earlier, they would've been able to accommodate any changes. For some reason, I figured they would contact us, since we hadn't even seen the car when we put down the deposits. Maybe I was wrong. We still haven't signed anything, so I'm not stressed. Worst case scenario, I'll get something else. Let's just hope it doesn't come to that!

[sjmst]

Agreed

[Mike S]

Yes, the Abarth sedan had a 1600 and 2000 twincam in that 850 body. Very fast with normally aspirated engines.

[sketch]

To be fair, we weren't exactly given many options to change: you chose a colour and whether you wanted an engine block heater or a sunroof.  Not a whole lot to change :P

I never would have ordered the car specifically with a stripe, but now that it's there I'm pretty into it.  I like that it says "500" instead of using the checkers; the script Fiat use for "500" is really cool, in my opinion.

I think I'd actually kind of hate it if it said "PRIMA", though.  A badge on the back and two inserts in the seats is enough, I think, and everyone who's "in the know" will know that the 500 stripe along the sills is a mark of the PE.

[Fiat500USA]

sketch wrote

To be fair, we weren't exactly given many options to change: you chose a colour and whether you wanted an engine block heater or a sunroof.  Not a whole lot to change :P

I never would have ordered the car specifically with a stripe, but now that it's there I'm pretty into it.  I like that it says "500" instead of using the checkers; the script Fiat use for "500" is really cool, in my opinion.

I think I'd actually kind of hate it if it said "PRIMA", though.  A badge on the back and two inserts in the seats is enough, I think, and everyone who's "in the know" will know that the 500 stripe along the sills is a mark of the PE.

 I also like the 500 script.  I waited to long to change my color, but hey, that's my fault. I'm into the color I'm getting (grey).

[Gavin]

Happy with Grey too...if I got the Lounge it would be either Brown or Grey...

As for too late to make changes...I hope I asked for the SunRoof...I think I did, but can't remember...I know I was hoping to change it to a fixed glass roof if that was a option later, but that never came to be.

Gavin

[mseraph]

I tried to change from Red to Grey but they said I was too late and that was just 2 days after I got notified a Prima came available.  I’m liking the red though and the stripe to.    

[Gavin]

well I called Fiat...I did pre order the Prima with the sunroof...so while I would have preferred the fixed glass roof of the Lounge, well at least I got the sunroof...if I hadn't, well I would have bailed on the PE and gone Lounge. As of today, still leaning PE....

Gavin

[sjmst]

That's great, Gavin. I think in the long run you wlll never regret having the option to pop the top!

Let's face it, Fiat lead us to believe that we could change our order. Then, it turns out they never asked us if we wanted to, or gave us a deadline to do so.
Oh well, there are worse things that could happen.

As for the stripe, well, let's see how it looks. If we don't like it, it comes off!

[sam500]

I don't know if it was ever clear that they would contact us, but we had the option to change things earlier on by calling. I blame lack of communication, but am still quite excited. Even about the stripe! Who knew?

[Minuszka]

It would be good to know if some of us could get our cars without stripes? I know that I would not need it and I was told earlier that I can get it without, instead of having to remove it. That could damage the paint and it's an extra cost on both sides.
For me, it would be great to get he car delivered without the stripes and save the $500 or so that it costs.

[sjmst]

Minuszka wrote

It would be good to know if some of us could get our cars without stripes? I know that I would not need it and I was told earlier that I can get it without, instead of having to remove it. That could damage the paint and it's an extra cost on both sides.
For me, it would be great to get he car delivered without the stripes and save the $500 or so that it costs.

You could give the hotline a call. They told me I could, but as we now see it may not be possible.