When will "the call" come?

[jvsgabriel]

Hi All, a warm and sunny hi from here in San Diego.  Being potential PE owner 366/500, I'm just so excited to have it finally parked in my driveway.  That being said I had originally wanted the White PE with a sunroof.   Not having a chance to get to the LA car show, I had to wait for SD to get it's car show in Dec/Jan to finally see the cars in person.  So after touching, sitting and playing with the car in person, and also seeing the colors, I really wanted to change to the gray.  

I immediately called Fiat's Ciaofiat number on 1/3/11, in order to change the color.  The lady I spoke with didn't even seem to have a clue, and put me on hold.  She eventually got back to me and got my name, number, email, home address, and PE number as well.  She said that she would have to "escalate" the information to the higher ups.  And that I would be receiving either a call or email with the results. I am quite disappointed in the "escalation", as I have still not heard anything back from them.  

That being said, I am guessing that they have not started production yet on the PE's.  I hope they are getting all the production bugs out and building the cars we will get to test drive soon.  Sorry but they aren't getting any more of my money till i get to test drive one of these cars.  Still waiting for any official news on the cars...nice try with the poster over the holidays.  

joel #366/500.    

[sjmst]

Hey there Joel, congrats on ordering a PE!
I am guessing they will honor your request. Lots of confusion still.
While at the auto show, did you see any red cars? I don't mean the pearlescent, I mean the straight non metallic red?

[Minuszka]

Joel,
you're not the only one waiting to hear back from CiaoFiat. They "escalate" everything and there seem to be a lack of training. I've called them last week (year) with a question and asking to add the engine block heater and haven't heard back. They also always say that we should receive and email soon...
I understand that they haven't started production yet, but many are unsure if the originally selected options could be modified or not; or even some options being added to the PE like heated seat.
Fiat is stressing how individually customizable these cars are, but the PE models seem to have a very short list of options ( color, roof. block heater ).
I hope that communication will improve soon and that you get your choice of color!

[sjmst]

Yes, to show how "special" we loyal fans are, we get fewer options and must travel cross country to get our cars!

[Mike S]

I would just give them a break. Everything is new, factory, employees and dealer network. I think they should get it right before they open for business.

You could take a quick delivery and then have a problem with the car. The parts needed would be on back order. Be careful what you ask for.

[John Reid]

Since you saw the cars in person, how would you describe the red and gray colors? Is the red more maroon? bright? and the gray, light or dark?  Did you see the black cloth with red stitching interior we will be getting? Many thanks!

[jvsgabriel]

Hi Sam, as for the colors the car show had a white and red 500.  The rest of the colors were on little spherical plastic dots, sort of like the ones on the freeways, to keep you in your lane (braille riding dots).  The colors look really nice, but I have to be honest and say that those artificial indoor lights are powerful and made the cars blindingly bright and almost glow.  I guess since Fiat only had the two cars to show, they had pretty much a spot light on each of them.  But the red was nice, not quite a ferrari red, but deep and rich.  But I'm going with the gray.

I was impressed with the build quality, as with any car on display at a car show, you will get hundreds of people touching, feeling, playing and pushing things, and nothing looked too out of place.  Perhaps the only thing that was busted was the rear parcel shelf (if you can call it that), which was bending in the middle.  But as for everything else it looked nice.  Seats were firm and supportive, even the back seats.  I'm 5'11" and I was able to fit inside the back no problem, well at least for the short amount of time i was there.  As for the driver's seat, very nice and comfy and the driver's arm rest fit nicely under my elbow.  Wish they had left the battery connected, really wanted to see the monopod instrument panel light up and all.  

Sorry, not much I can say about the red, but I did think it was a nice shade of red.  In fact if it was up to my wife, we would probably be getting the red instead of the other two colors. She really loves the red they put on the car.  

Joel

[jvsgabriel]

Hi John, the red was pretty much a basic red, not my style but nice.  It is similar to a nice fire engine red, but not quite a ferrari red.  I think i would say it is more bright then that, not as deep red.  The gray was a nice shade, not too dark and not light at all.  But like I replied to Sam, the lights inside were super bright and gave the cars a glowing appearance.  The gray kind of reminds me of the old 1990's Audi gray cars.  

As for the interiors, the red car had the red leather interior and black piping.  It was really nice and supple, pretty deep bolstering around the rib area and also around the bottom seat area as well.  The back seats were pretty utilitarian and flat, not much shape to them, perhaps cause you aren't really supposed to have living humans back there for any extended period of time.  But they did have a nice tempurpedic kind of feel to them, a bit of firmness at first, then you kind of sink into them.  

  The white car had a dark and light gray cloth pattern in it.  Same amount of bolstering in the seats as the leather ones.  I think they took out the under seat passenger storage compartment from the cars.  Or at least I didn't know how to open it up.  But there is something really hard electronic component under the front passenger seat, which I kept hitting with my shoes when I was in the back seat.  But like I mentioned I still fit back there.  A bit difficult to get in/out of the back seat, but it's do-able.  

[sjmst]

Thanks for the feedback on the red! Can't wait to see it myself.

[Fiat500USA]

Hi jvsgabriel,

Thanks for that report! It's helping me work on my color decision.

[Fiat500USA]

 Here's the latest. My sources say we'll hear something within the next 10-12 days. The hold up is some dealers are not ready and Fiat wants us to have a quality delivery. It is very important to Fiat. They are working through this for us.

[sjmst]

I appreciate that. I must say, though, that a "quality delivery" to me would be getting it at the closest dealer. If I have to go to Maryland from NY it doesn''t matter how cute the studio is. I will still have to travel cross country to get it.

[Vlad92]

Thanks for the update!  I have heard nothing from my local dealer except they are still working through the "franchise legal BS". In all honesty I would almost prefer a delay.  We are expecting 8 - 10 inches of snow next few day so it's a reminder to me winter is still here and my Prima will just sit in the garage anyway so why not wait until I can actually drive it.  The other part of me is that "I want it now!". Hopefully we will know more soon!

[prima 109]

My local dealer is dealing with permit crap.  The next closest dealer in Butler, PA is doing the same thing, and Criswell's wanted me to "committ" to buying the car there.  Needless to say, I was a little turned off by that as we are still in the early stages.  And also the fact like Vlad said it is winter, mine I know will sit in the garage as well til spring, I'm not driving this car in the winter.

Craig

[sjmst]

prima 109 wrote

My local dealer is dealing with permit crap.  The next closest dealer in Butler, PA is doing the same thing, and Criswell's wanted me to "committ" to buying the car there.  Needless to say, I was a little turned off by that as we are still in the early stages.  And also the fact like Vlad said it is winter, mine I know will sit in the garage as well til spring, I'm not driving this car in the winter.

Craig

Criswell wants you to "committ"? That's interesting. Why would you do that? Why not just wait and see which is the closest dealer once the cars are ready? What do you get from them if you "committ?"

[jvsgabriel]

Hi Again, well just called Fiat again, and of course no news on what is happening with the color change.  The rep took my name and zip code, then checked the database to say that my request was noted, but that there was no reply from the factory yet.  Thank you for your interest, have a nice day, good bye, click.

And another thing, what is happening with the US Fiat site?  When I went there just to check if there was anything new on the site...and to my surprise, uh nothing new.  But by mistake I just typed in Ciao Fiat in the google search, and it took me to the Canadian site, and that site is more informative and active.  And guess what, they have an actual list of dealers!  WTF, must be government regulations on our side that we can't get set up as quickly, cause the US site will say "Fiat Studios arriving soon." How does this happen, didn't we get it first.  I get it we must be the test market, where they learn stuff and what NOT to do.  Ok, just venting a bit.  Still very excited, and can't wait for the car to arrive.  

Joel

[prima 109]

I dunno, I told him I wanted to wait for the official e mail from Fiat to finalize the order and pick the closest dealer from there.  Like I said, I was put off by that suggestion.  He knows I'm 200 miles away, plus PA has state inspections and emissions tests that have to be done before I can register it.  It was shocking to say the least & no mention of incentives to buy the car there.  I may have to anyway as the closet one to me hasn't broken ground yet, but I want it from the next closest dealer.  Time will tell.

Craig

[Mike S]

I called Criswell a few weeks ago regarding taking delivery there and never got any pressure to commit. I did get a call last week from them just updating me on the lack of progress. If I can get the car a month sooner from Criswell, it's worth it to me. They are over 1000 miles from me.

[sjmst]

Mike S wrote

I called Criswell a few weeks ago regarding taking delivery there and never got any pressure to commit. I did get a call last week from them just updating me on the lack of progress. If I can get the car a month sooner from Criswell, it's worth it to me. They are over 1000 miles from me.

I would do the same. They are a closer to me at about 265 miles (I am on Long Island). A month sooner means less mileage on my current car and more money for it when I sell. That, and I just want the car a little sooner!
I emailed Criswell and got a response from Giles. I don't think he'd mind me posting part of it here:

"Our studio is coming along really quickly! we are still expecting the first Fiat 500's to arrive this month. The only unknown is if the primas will be among them. I sure hope so. I will keep you informed."

[Fiat500USA]

sjmst wrote

Mike S wrote

I called Criswell a few weeks ago regarding taking delivery there and never got any pressure to commit. I did get a call last week from them just updating me on the lack of progress. If I can get the car a month sooner from Criswell, it's worth it to me. They are over 1000 miles from me.

I would do the same. They are a closer to me at about 265 miles (I am on Long Island). A month sooner means less mileage on my current car and more money for it when I sell. That, and I just want the car a little sooner!

Any news on how the Long Island dealers coming along? I'm going to give Larchmont a call tomorrow and see what's up.