Some WA dealer news, and Prima not really Prima.

[sonicsby5]

Just talked to Erin Alexander at Rairdon FIAT of Kirkland. http://www.fiatusaofkirkland.com
She just got back from her training in LA and was SO EXCITED about her test drive and the whole experience.  I'm very jealous.  She confirmed that the Primas are in production.  It sounds like the factory built over 2000 500's before they even started the Primas.  All dealer demos I would expect.  So we're not really Prima at all.  Erin thinks we'll have our Primas in April.  There are 26 WA PE's.

Erin says FIAT will be calling all of the Prima owners next week to find out to which dealer they want their cars shipped.

Other news for WA FIAT buyers via Erin at Rairdon:  Rairdon will be the first dealer open in April followed by Tacoma FIAT in August and Town and Country FIAT in December.  FIAT of Kirkland should have a test car in 2-3 weeks.  

I was hoping she'd tell me that our Primas would be here sooner, but...I guess we'll keep waiting.

[Gavin]

2000 dealer demos is a hell of a lot of demos vehicles....especially with so few dealerships...unless every Chrysler dealer is going to get a Fiat 500 demo along with the 130 Fiat Studios.

I wonder how many might get sold before we get our "Prima" cars?

I imagine all 2000 are owned by Fiat/Chrysler and not the dealerships themselves...if not, we won't be the first 500 owners.

eh, whatever.

I would think, even if the Primas are just now being made, that we will get them before April. How long does it take to make a car and then ship it?

One: do they want them sitting on a lot somewhere?
Two: do they want to miss out on free advertising...ie, us driving the cars around town.

Gavin

[Mike S]

The Primas have been in production since at least January 31 according to the email we received 1/31. Another email one week later with more of the same. I think many of the PE's are completed and could be shipping. I expect delivery next week and no later than the end of this month.

There is no reason for it not to happen.

[Giallo Edizione]

Gavin wrote

2000 dealer demos is a hell of a lot of demos vehicles....especially with so few dealerships...unless every Chrysler dealer is going to get a Fiat 500 demo along with the 130 Fiat Studios.

I wonder how many might get sold before we get our "Prima" cars?

I imagine all 2000 are owned by Fiat/Chrysler and not the dealerships themselves...if not, we won't be the first 500 owners.

eh, whatever.

I would think, even if the Primas are just now being made, that we will get them before April. How long does it take to make a car and then ship it?

One: do they want them sitting on a lot somewhere?
Two: do they want to miss out on free advertising...ie, us driving the cars around town.

Gavin

Are Canada and Mexico dealers in that 130 dealer count? Also, probably more than one per dealer for big dealerships, plus "executive" cars for Chrysler honchos, plus backup replacements for duds. Frankly I am glad that they get to practice on at least 2,310 of them before they make mine....and I don't mind not getting snow and salt all over it this year.

[sjmst]

April?? Oh no, this will cost me at least a 1000 dollars. I hope that's wrong.

[Gavin]

Ah, true...I forgot Canada and Mexico. Though I haven't heard anything about Mexico dealerships.

Also Brazil is suppose to get the 500 too...

Still 2000 is a lot for 130 US + 61 Canada + ? Mexico and Brazil.

About 5 per store...and many many stores aren't going to open for almost a year.

Still making the cars is good. And yes I too appreciate them learning a bit on the demo models before making mine. Still I don't at all believe we will be waiting till April...

I hope Sam is right with his post:

This just in from Criswel Fiat:

I just returned from FIAT training in LA.  We will post pics on Facebook before the day ends.  ....Most of the Primas are built and awaiting shipment.  
Here is the process for delivery;
you must request us as your "finishing dealer", after that the serial number is assigned to us and shipment follows.  We will be the first dealer open for business within a week from now.
Sam



Criswel has a good chance of having current info.

Gavin

[Bert]

For those of you local to Seattle, I expect Jon Sherrell of the Rairdon Group to make a presentation to our local club (Fiat Enthusiasts Northwest http://wwwfiatnorthwest.org) on March 2nd.  I'll post more if that is comfirmed...

He may have a demo car for us to see.

Anyone interested in the new 500 is welcome to attend, email me for meeting details at [e-mail]

He was at the LA training with Erin and seems very excited to give us an update (of course that is his job...)

[sonicsby5]

Sounds fun, I'll email you Bert.

Also, "April" was just Erin's guesstimate.  It better be sooner.  We've got a road trip planned in March and I want to do it in the FIAT!

[Ciddyguy]

OH this is indeed good news!

Glad to know that a dealer will be in Tacoma as well as in Seattle and Kirkland. I live in Seattle so once Rairdon is up and going, I'm going to check out this little bad boy SOON. :-)

Bert, I might email you about going to a meeting if your guy at Rairdon brings the car to demo.

[sam500]

I actually just got back from Motor Village LA, where I was told that they already have a list of the PEs that are most likely going to be delivered there. I was also told that the cars would start arriving towards the end of february, or first week of march at the latest.

[Fiat500USA]

The build order is, from what I've been able to uncover:

 1) Pre-production cars (Marketing units, demos, test cars, etc.)
 2) Prima Edizione cars
 3)Pre-spec production cars (some where like 5-6,000 cars over the next few months)
 4) Production cars


Our cars are the first cars that are to be sold. The pre-production and marketing units are not for retail sale. The Prima cars will be built in order, but they may be interspersed among the pre-production cars, this is how I understand it to be.

[Giallo Edizione]

Fiat500USA wrote

The build order is, from what I've been able to uncover:

 1) Pre-production cars (Marketing units, demos, test cars, etc.)
 2) Prima Edizione cars
 3)Pre-spec production cars (some where like 5-6,000 cars over the next few months)
 4) Production cars


Our cars are the first cars that are to be sold. The pre-production and marketing units are not for retail sale. The Prima cars will be built in order, but they may be interspersed among the pre-production cars, this is how I understand it to be.

In 3, do they mean cars spec'd by Chrysler for distribution to dealers for inventory, with customer orders being in group 4?

[sjmst]

Secret Bezel wrote

Fiat500USA wrote

The build order is, from what I've been able to uncover:

 1) Pre-production cars (Marketing units, demos, test cars, etc.)
 2) Prima Edizione cars
 3)Pre-spec production cars (some where like 5-6,000 cars over the next few months)
 4) Production cars


Our cars are the first cars that are to be sold. The pre-production and marketing units are not for retail sale. The Prima cars will be built in order, but they may be interspersed among the pre-production cars, this is how I understand it to be.

In 3, do they mean cars spec'd by Chrysler for distribution to dealers for inventory, with customer orders being in group 4?

Yes, 1 & 4 seem to be the same

[Gavin]

Week I see it as:

1. Demos etc, owned by fiat/ chrysler, not for sale at any price....well at least for a while.
2. Our cars...Yea.
3. Car to sit on lot for sales to customer who need one now when they shop.
4. Cars "made" by customers...customers came to dealership ( or made online?) and designed car they want and then waiting 6 weeks or so for car to arrive.

Gavin

[Fiat500USA]

Gavin wrote

Week I see it as:

1. Demos etc, owned by fiat/ chrysler, not for sale at any price....well at least for a while.
2. Our cars...Yea.
3. Car to sit on lot for sales to customer who need one now when they shop.
4. Cars "made" by customers...customers came to dealership ( or made online?) and designed car they want and then waiting 6 weeks or so for car to arrive.

Gavin

That sounds right

[NM dude]

Wow, so it sounds like those of us who have ordered Primas will be driving around in our cars while those placing a custom order will be waiting for months for their cars, unless they can find what they want on a dealer`s lot!

[Mike S]

Unless they buy one on Craigslist.