When will "the call" come?

[sjmst]

No, but I will try to check around again. I spoke to the people at Westbury but they had told me they would not be ready 'till the end of '11.

[Fiat500USA]

sjmst wrote

No, but I will try to check around again. I spoke to the people at Westbury but they had told me they would not be ready 'till the end of '11.

End of '11. Ouch!  The dealer up in Albany would be close(r) to me but I read the same thing, breaking ground end of 2011. However, i just read something else that they will have a temporary site up until then. Maybe Westbury will also have a temporary site. I'm hoping to get in touch with someone at the dealer that can fill me in.

[jvsgabriel]

Hi everyone from sunny San Diego again.  Well still no reply on my color change question.  Called them again, and same reply.  But other news seems to be out on when they are coming.  So has anyone else heard that our cars are coming in February?  And we have a transmission change as well.  It seems the reports have either gotten the transmissions wrong, cause they are reporting that the car will have a 6 speed manual vs. a 5 speed.  Now don't get me wrong, I would much prefer a 6 speed vs. 5.  Now if only our PE's would come with the European Abarth engine with the 135hp, just as a surprise of course.  This was my hope when the blog came out with our US Abarth being powered by a 170hp engine instead.  I will keep doing my daily google 500 search.  

Joel

[Fiat500USA]

jvsgabriel wrote

Hi everyone from sunny San Diego again.  Well still no reply on my color change question.  Called them again, and same reply.  But other news seems to be out on when they are coming.  So has anyone else heard that our cars are coming in February?  And we have a transmission change as well.  It seems the reports have either gotten the transmissions wrong, cause they are reporting that the car will have a 6 speed manual vs. a 5 speed.  Now don't get me wrong, I would much prefer a 6 speed vs. 5.  Now if only our PE's would come with the European Abarth engine with the 135hp, just as a surprise of course.  This was my hope when the blog came out with our US Abarth being powered by a 170hp engine instead.  I will keep doing my daily google 500 search.  

Joel

Hi Joel,

Welcome to the forum!

Last I heard, mid to late February. The six-speed manual info is wrong, someone must have the old info and posted/repeated it. By the way, I'm hoping to get some answers on the transmission (why the 5 speed and what are the improvements) later this month.


Chris

[jdjefferson]

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[sam500]

i just got off the phone with Ashley, and she confirmed that the PE is about ready to go into production as early as next week (I was thinking about removing the sunroof option, but they can't make any more changes). She said that they were still on schedule to have them delivered by April 30, but that they were going to try to do it earlier if at all possible.

I drove by Motor Village LA (it's about 5 minutes away from me) yesterday out of curiosity, and everything looked pretty much ready to go. No cars on display yet, but the facility looks good!

Seems like we'll be hearing a lot more in the next few weeks!

I'm excited.

[Mike S]

I still expect delivery in mid Feb. They should be delivering ordered cars by the end of April, not PE's.

On the 8th you thought we might be hearing from Fiat in 10 to 12 days. Today is 12 days, so maybe...

[Vlad92]

Bad news... Just got the call from the Fiat that my request to add the engine block heater from 2 weeks ago was rejected due to the current stage of production my car is in.  Basically she said the car was far enough along in the build process that they could not make the change.  The lady (Maria) apologized several times.  Not really a huge issue for me, but it's disappointing as I was under the impression we would all get to confirm our orders (and change as necessary).  Probably bad news as well for others who have requested changes.  On the brighter side... I guess that means our cars are actually be assembled!

[sjmst]

Vlad92 wrote

... On the brighter side... I guess that means our cars are actually be assembled!

Sorry that you couldn't make the addition..but I like the brighter side, and I bet you can add the heater.

[Mike S]

The engines are built in the U.S. and I guess shipped to Mexico. I think a block heater can easily be a dealer or owner installed option.

I don't think there are any accurate answers from the Fiat answer line. By now, there should be a real department that can start answering questions. The people on the phones are temporary help.

[sjmst]

Agreed on all points.

[Fiat500USA]

sjmst wrote

Agreed on all points.

Yeah, the time has come.  More info please! I think think the next seven days will hold (hopefully) some answers for us.

[Mike S]

Nissan is delivering the Leaf, sounds interesting, I think I'll go check them out. Maybe next year I can look at a Fiat.

[Fiat500USA]

Mike S wrote

Nissan is delivering the Leaf, sounds interesting, I think I'll go check them out. Maybe next year I can look at a Fiat.

Are we losing you Mike? It's tough to see a Fiat fan like you be disappointed, but I do understand.
Some days this is very frustrating. We need something, NOW! A time-line or some contact from the company on where we stand would really help.

[JustWilliam]

Nissan is delivering the Leaf, sounds interesting, I think I'll go check them out.

Nissan is indeed beginning to deliver the Leaf to reservation holders, but there are thousands of US reservations to be filled, versus 500 reservations for the Prima. I'm certainly not an authority, but all available data suggests that FIAT will be selling unreserved 500's long before Nissan delivers an unreserved Leaf.  The Toluca Mexico plant is capable of producing 50,000 FIAT 500's for North America alone, while the same 50,000 Leaf production units from Nissan's Oppama, Japan plant must be allocated globally.

The Leaf is a fantastic vehicle, and truly groundbreaking and significant. Pure EV enthusiasts have reason to rejoice.

No offense intended or implied, but I honestly think that the 500 and Leaf are vastly dissimilar vehicles serving distinctly different customers. Surely one of the two appeals to you more, and is worth waiting just a bit longer for? Honestly,www.mynissanleaf.com is an awesome forum full of great folks, and they will discuss the up's, downs, joys and frustrations of ordering and waiting for THEIR cars.

I'd hate to lose your voice in THIS forum, and I really hope you stick around. The two vehicles and their respective forums are full of real, passionate people just like you. Or me. Keep a conversation going, or start a new one in either forum or both.

Peace,
William

 

     

[sam500]

I actually can relate a little bit. Looking at the car, the experience so far, and some of the final specs is making me take a second look at the MINI. I've never owned one, and now that I'm thinking about a small retro car (and considering the fact that FIAT has thrown its fair share of curve balls), I just don't know anymore. I obviously want to be in love with the FIAT 500 (the number 331, my PE,  is very personal to me), but it's becoming harder and harder to not look at the other options out there.

When I went to see the car at the preview event before the LA Auto show I was completely smitten. I was so excited to be one of the first people to sign my name to the 500 US revival. I defended FIAT, and the 500 left and right. I smiled when I remembered Jeremy Clarkson's reaction to his "pet mouse" Abarth. But everything now seems too secretive, and too delayed, and when we do find out something it's just kind of matter of fact. As in, "by the way, the 500 only gets 37 miles per gallon" or "oh, you can't really make any more modifications, your PE is already in production."

Let's hope that some good news come in the next few days. For now, I have an appointment to test drive a Cooper S tomorrow at 2...

Fiat500USA wrote

Mike S wrote

Nissan is delivering the Leaf, sounds interesting, I think I'll go check them out. Maybe next year I can look at a Fiat.

Are we losing you Mike? It's tough to see a Fiat fan like you be disappointed, but I do understand.
Some days this is very frustrating. We need something, NOW! A time-line or some contact from the company on where we stand would really help.

[sjmst]

sam500 wrote

I actually can relate a little bit. Looking at the car, the experience so far, and some of the final specs is making me take a second look at the MINI. I've never owned one, and now that I'm thinking about a small retro car (and considering the fact that FIAT has thrown its fair share of curve balls), I just don't know anymore. I obviously want to be in love with the FIAT 500 (the number 331, my PE,  is very personal to me), but it's becoming harder and harder to not look at the other options out there.

When I went to see the car at the preview event before the LA Auto show I was completely smitten. I was so excited to be one of the first people to sign my name to the 500 US revival. I defended FIAT, and the 500 left and right. I smiled when I remembered Jeremy Clarkson's reaction to his "pet mouse" Abarth. But everything now seems too secretive, and too delayed, and when we do find out something it's just kind of matter of fact. As in, "by the way, the 500 only gets 37 miles per gallon" or "oh, you can't really make any more modifications, your PE is already in production."

Let's hope that some good news come in the next few days. For now, I have an appointment to test drive a Cooper S tomorrow at 2...

Fiat500USA wrote

Mike S wrote

Nissan is delivering the Leaf, sounds interesting, I think I'll go check them out. Maybe next year I can look at a Fiat.

Are we losing you Mike? It's tough to see a Fiat fan like you be disappointed, but I do understand.
Some days this is very frustrating. We need something, NOW! A time-line or some contact from the company on where we stand would really help.

I totally understand sam500's feeling about this. Fiat no doubt could have done this better. For example, their stagnant official site. Why not more info? Updates? Even if nothing is happening, something along the lines of what Chris does here with weekly, usually daily updates would be welcome. Leading us to believe we could change our PE configurations, then saying no you can't.  I have not heard one person say they think Fiat is doing a good job in bringing this to the USA.

BUT, on the other hand, Fiat is between a rock and a hard place. If they say NOTHING until launch date they will be accused of being too stingy with info as well. There are undoubtedly snags in converting a car meant for one market to another. The MPG issue may be as the result of new MPG rating systems in place. I am hopeful that the car will be just as competitive in the gas mileage area as we hoped.

So, remember we are all enthusiasts, starving for info.Yes, I want that damn car and I want it NOW! So I vent here on this site. The general public, however,  will very likely think that Fiat did just fine in launching the car. I hope I am right.

[Mike S]

And that's the problem. There is no communication with Fiat and the date continues to be pushed back. Now April 30th.

[Vlad92]

I agree with Mike's frustration...  I placed my reservation for the Leaf on day one (4/20/10).  I am told I'm close to the top of the list in my state.  The problem is, I'm also being told I am in one of the last states where the Leaf will go on sale so I should expect delivery in the fall... of 2012!!!  So my plan right now is to get the Prima now and trade my daily driver (my Genesis) for the Leaf when it arrives.  The Leaf will then be my daily driver (my commute round trip is 25 miles).  That will spread out the financial burden a bit.  So I guess I'm saying it might not work for everyone... but my plan is to get both.

[Mike S]

The last official email from Fiat said delivery mid to late February delivery and it seems things are really on time for those dates.