Prima Edizione

[abarth500racer]

Anyone is the U.S. getting the Prima Edizione version of the 500? If so, do you know when you will be getting it?

[Peter O]

It should be "sometime in February". For more information look here (http://fiat500usa.blogspot.com/2011/01/first-view-of-2012-fiat-500-prima.html).

[SFV500]

We'll see, the day of reckoning is 2/28. But, if they are built before they are going to have problems unless that was the dealer's plan all along. I know some people have already got their money back. Are they going to build those?

Legally I have the right to wait until 2/28 and until then I have all the cards. For this money if I decide I don't want the sunroof or change my mind on the color on 2/27, I will.
I am starting to have other doubts that have nothing to do with the Prima Edizione and I don't want to hijack this thread. But, we will see.

[abarth500racer]

Thanks for the info SFV500. I just hope Fiat USA doesn't screw this up.

[SFV500]

I hope so too, I just got another call wanting me to get a 2010 Caliber instead of following up on my inquiry. I think they are tired of me calling.lol

[abarth500racer]

A Caliber? Hope you're not going to go for that. Sounds like a bait and switch lol

[wreckmaster]

X2!!! Have patience and wait for the 500 which is truly worth the waith:) If you go for an Caliber you will surly regret....

In europe all Dodges will be rebranded as FIAT in june..... The Dodge Journey will become Fiat Freeway, and Chrysler 300C will become Lancia Thema:eek:

[SFV500]

It is a bait and switch, next they are going to say they have a 500 in stock and come in for a test drive and when I get there they have a 2010 PT cruiser with a Fiat badge on itlol
They'd probably call it the retro fiat 600 or something.:aktion082:

But in the past few months I have been offered a PT, Patriot, Caliber, LeBaron Conv. and a 2.7L Charger for less of a payment and the "special" Ally financing. This is partly because I ordered a voucher when Chrysler reorganized last year and the dealers I worked with had closed. I guess on a computer somewhere I'm fair game:beaten2: and my wife has a Jeep Liberty Renegade 4X2 that was paid off a year or so ago.

[sjmst]

I hope so too, I just got another call wanting me to get a 2010 Caliber instead of following up on my inquiry. I think they are tired of me calling.lol

This is just your typical dealer games. THEY want to sell a car. Today. What YOU want is not so important.

I have a PE on order. Hoping that it will be ready in about 4 weeks. Have not heard anything, and I know it could be as late as April. I also know I might need to travel a couple hundred miles to get it.

[5OO]

The lack of information to consumers is disconcerting, especially those who have paid deposits. Very few dealers have functioning websites, potential curious (not informed like us) customers must be even more in the dark. With Facebook, and twitter there is no excuse why there is such a disconnection to the customers.

[sjmst]

The lack of information to consumers is disconcerting, especially those who have paid deposits. Very few dealers have functioning websites, potential curious (not informed like us) customers must be even more in the dark. With Facebook, and twitter there is no excuse why there is such a disconnection to the customers.

Agree

[wreckmaster]

Its the Fiat way I am afraid:( Its how they are all over the world! But they make great cars, and when you finally get the car it will be worth it for sure:icon_thumleft: But customer service aint theire strong side:mad:

[Pethead]

There are new pictures of the prima edizione. In this case, the seats at the warehouse of the factory.

[navy48]

I found out today that one of our PE customers canceled his order. can you imagine? anyway, we now have a PE available. haven't seen the sticker on it yet, but I think it's around $23,500, maybe #133? but I also found out that our owner may take if for himself. can't say I blame him. it's a great car and may someday be a collectable.

[navy48]

The lack of information to consumers is disconcerting, especially those who have paid deposits. Very few dealers have functioning websites, potential curious (not informed like us) customers must be even more in the dark. With Facebook, and twitter there is no excuse why there is such a disconnection to the customers.



here's my thought on this: FIAT wants complete separation for their 500's and any Chrysler, Jeep or Dodge dealership...COMPLETE. dealers awarded a FIAT Studio MUST have a completely separate facility for the 500.

having said that, here's the problem with many, if not most, of the new FIAT Studios. in such a short period of time, it's very difficult to obtain a piece of property, zone it and construct a building. can't happen. so these dealers are scrambling to find what they can to renovate.

so, if you don't have a facility for your FIAT Studio up and running AND you have to keep all of your FIAT dealings separate from your Chrysler dealings, how on earth can you advertise your FIAT Studio when you may not even know where it will be OR when it will open?

FIAT has put some pretty strict requirements on these owners. all that the FIAT enthusiasts can do is wait it out. in the long run, it will be all worth the wait! :icon_thumleft:

[SFV500]

They were so happy when I gave up my Prima Edizione that they gave me $50 gift card to drive a Chrysler 200, they even said I would get better financing and a lower payment. It was a $24000 car. When I told them that I wanted to wait for 500c they said that the 200 convertible was going to be available first and they were going to be offering better deals on them. Then they told me about the pre-set pricing on the Fiats.

[navy48]

It was a $24000 car.

the PE or the 200? :confused:

[SFV500]

The 200 was $24000, the PE was $20350. They had a $3000 discount on the 200 and the dealer was discounting more.

[sjmst]

They were so happy when I gave up my Prima Edizione that they gave me $50 gift card to drive a Chrysler 200, they even said I would get better financing and a lower payment. It was a $24000 car. When I told them that I wanted to wait for 500c they said that the 200 convertible was going to be available first and they were going to be offering better deals on them. Then they told me about the pre-set pricing on the Fiats.

That's kind of what I was expecting, and I thought Fiat wanted to avoid:

"Fiat, yeah Vinny sells those, he's out today. How about a great deal on a Sebring?"

NO.

[SFV500]

Lets just say I heard more from the Fiat department on my way home than at the dealer. My phone was ringing off the hook to let the car go. I was so proud of my wife to make such a effort for me I took her out for dinner. They wanted me to hurry up with dinner to make my final decision. She was starting to get upset after the 2nd or 3rd call.

[sjmst]

Lets just say I heard more from the Fiat department on my way home than at the dealer. My phone was ringing off the hook to let the car go. I was so proud of my wife to make such a effort for me I took her out for dinner. They wanted me to hurry up with dinner to make my final decision. She was starting to get upset after the 2nd or 3rd call.

So they think they can get a markup, vs having to sell to you at list price because you bought through Fiat directly.

[sketch]

The cars are starting to roll in, my friends! A number have taken delivery already, many are waiting on their dealers to become properly licensed... mine is coming tomorrow!

The biggest hurdle is not quite that the dealers haven't constructed their buildings yet, it's that it's pretty difficult—or at least time consuming—to obtain the proper licensing necessary to sell a new brand of cars, especially one that's essentially brand-new to the country. This is done on a state-by-state basis, too, if I'm not mistaken.

To use an example, even though a FIAT studio is planned for New Orleans, they aren't at all prepared yet, so my delivery is being handled by Landers FIAT, which is in Shreveport, five and a half hours away. Even more out there: customers in and around Kansas and Nebraska are taking delivery of their cars through the future studio in Olathe, Kansas... but since Olathe is not yet legally able to sell FIAT, the actual sale of the car will be completed by the Shreveport dealer as well. So we're gonna have a guy flying from Louisiana to meet a car driven from Kansas to sell to someone in Nebraska. What.

The fact that FIAT is willing to go through all this just to get the customers their cars a few weeks earlier is comforting. I'm sure the dealers don't exactly love having to jump through all the hurdles associated with selling a car from one state through another to yet another, but they're doing it, ensuring that we get these cars as soon as legally possible.

[sjmst]

Hey Sketch, you are right. It's the license issue. I was lucky Fiat of Westbury in NY had one. Got my car 3/28--#499. Already have a 1000 miles on it.

[wreckmaster]

Hey Sketch, you are right. It's the license issue. I was lucky Fiat of Westbury in NY had one. Got my car 3/28--#499. Already have a 1000 miles on it.

A rosso 500 is never wrong:icon_thumleft: It looks amazing:cool: Ans so does the spider:)

[sjmst]

A rosso 500 is never wrong:icon_thumleft: It looks amazing:cool: Ans so does the spider:)

Thanks! :)

[navy48]

a friend of mine in KC is wanting a 500 and said he may come to Indy to pick up a Sport but he found out that the Olathe FIAT Studio is set to open in May so he's just waiting for them to open.

[wreckmaster]

a friend of mine in KC is wanting a 500 and said he may come to Indy to pick up a Sport but he found out that the Olathe FIAT Studio is set to open in May so he's just waiting for them to open.

:super: Make sure he registers on here then:)

[navy48]

I found out today that one of our PE customers canceled his order. can you imagine? anyway, we now have a PE available. haven't seen the sticker on it yet, but I think it's around $23,500, maybe #133? but I also found out that our owner may take if for himself. can't say I blame him. it's a great car and may someday be a collectable.

yep.....the owner of O'Brien FIAT purchased the orphaned Prima. LUCKY GUY!!! biggrin2