FloJo said:

I can't tell but the lounge in the photo looks like the normal glass roof rather than being an opening sunroof (I'm not sure where the controls are).
Are the wheels in the photo the ones you'll be getting? They look like multispoke ones and are the standard fit on lounges (15" ones) over here. I personally don't mind them, but to be honest if the car came without alloys I wouldn't be fussed either
Great choice though - and I like the leather! It's what I'm getting in mine too

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306maxi said:

They're very much a different wheel to the standard lounge wheel here. They're 15" like the standard lounge wheels, but they're the same design as the 16" multispokes we get here.

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FloJo said:

They look the same to me

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macdebbie said:

Better picture of the wheels I am getting (if I don't pay for the premium). These are the "free" ones on the Lounge.

http://www.fiatusaofpeabody.com/new/FIAT/2012-FIAT-500-989bd86f0a0a00de01a04643bbb7bdee.htm

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macdebbie said:

Went to the dealer this AM to check out after-market leather and to see what they had in stock for White (BNW) Lounges.

Before I decided on the Lounge, sat again in a car with a sunroof, and I just don't feel right. Just me. Too tight for me.

Then checked out the Cabrio, and I was bothered by the problem with seeing out the back. The salesperson showed me how you could have it partway up so the window is visible while you drive, but what's the point? Anyway, again, just me.

I sat in a Pop without a sunroof, but it felt too dark for me.

So on to the Lounges...

Sat in a Lounge with black ambience and black leather seats, and it felt too dark to me. Something about it was just not right.

Then checked out a white Lounge with red leather, and I didn't like it at all - glad I saw it.

I originally went there with the intent of ivory ambience, but decided that I was open to black with the right seats. Checked out the cloth seats, but knew I wanted leather, so nixed that.

Then I took a look at a car I had just glanced and in passing and dismissed. I sat in it and actually liked it. Like it quite a bit. The one at the dealer had a sunroof which I didn't want, so I am ordering one. 6-8 week delivery.

The dealer is discontinuing offering the aftermarket leather, said they've had problems with it. So I was limited to Fiat colors.

So..... after many weeks of driving everyone around me crazy, thsi is it. I had to give up on the Premium wheels I liked ($300) because they would not give me what I needed for my trade. I haven't completely given up, am sleeping on this decision.

Some will think I'm crazy, but I am also having them replace the side mirrors with white, instead of the chrome. Again, just me. I just like the look better.

And I was wrong about the heated leather seat price. It is $1,500 for the "Luxury Package" which includes the leather, heated seats, and back-up sensors.

Here it is....

http://www.fiatusaofmilwaukee.com/new/FIAT/2012-FIAT-500-221d9f3a404638d3009468cae6b2de73.htm

Thx again everyone for all of your help! Can't wait.

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Hi macdebbie. The car looks great. Opting for Fiat's own leather seats will be a much better bet than the retrofit - I would have had concerns over warranty.

Also having Automatic Climate control as a standard fit item in the Lounge is a godsend with the fixed glass roof. It also makes the car more fuel efficient.

Despite twisting your arm on the 'value' Sport model the classic retro look is more effeminate particularily with the white ambiance and it does suit what you are looking for . The half leather is listed as 'Sport Cloth/vinyl Bucket seats' so it is not leather and you're getting this on your car . On the spec sheet is also lists 'Sport suspension' so the Lounge will have a more comfortable ride - I was incorrect on this on a previous posting.

On the BNW white - this really suits the car and with your dodgy weather in NE US you wouldn't have to worry about wee repair jobs as I have had recently on the pearly paint.

In relation to the $21.5k ? cost - my car in Ireland originally cost €18.5k and that was with standard cloth and fixed glass roof. It didn't have the multi-air engine newer suspension or the 6 speed auto or the others bits (e.g. alarm, etc) so you are doing OK on the price.

You've put a lot of work into the selecting the right car for you and you have trusted your instinct - well done.

macdebbie said:

Thanks. And thanks again for your help.

Hopefully when I see the car again, I won't be disappointed. My husband didn't like the brown leather at all, and the salesperson said when we first arrived and I asked to see cars with leather so I could see what the colors looked like IN a car "we have a brown leather in a white car but I don't think it looks good". It gave me a bit of pause.

I wish it was a little more tannish rather than brown, but I liked it better than the red or black and I wanted leather. I asked about the Ivory leather, but the salesperson said they only use that for trim, like they did in my car on the top of the seats, and I think a BNW with ivory leather might look a bit pimpish.

I did get the spare tire, although it pained me to pay $100 for it. The salesperson told me if I waited and bought later it would be something like $500!

I tried to get them to give me credit for the chrome mirrors since the salesperson said they would use them on another car, but no go!

Do you think I should spring for the mutispoke wheels at $300, or leave as is?

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If your husband doesn't like the Brown leather - you've got his attention . The Tan on the European cars looks very classy. There has been a few brown/white ambiance interiors and they only suited the Sunburn orange colour - brown on a BNW is really a 'no no'. Looking at the US configator again I would go with the

leather and the white ambiance. I know I said Red with Black ambiance but there is toooo much black in the seats (the differences in the US spec has really stretched me ). I was giving the photo the benefit of doubt 'hoping' that the brown was more tan looking. The Black is too severe and there's no white ambiance and even if there was it wouldn't look right. I'm not into white ambiance on black interiors or even on the Black 500.

I will 'stick my head out' (I'm glued it back on before ) and go with the Red leather and the white ambiance on the BNW.

On the wheel upgrade at €300 . I like my 16inch multispoke but don't like the 15inch multispoke. Your 15s are the same design and are quite nice. I'm into wheels but would hesistant on the extra $$$ since the wheel size is the same. Difficult one. My OH likes the multispoke. Possibly yes.

macdebbie said:

You looked at this photo below, not the configurator, and didn't like the combo?
http://www.fiatusaofmilwaukee.com/new/FIAT/2012-FIAT-500- 221d9f3a404638d3009468cae6b2de73.htm
I thought it WAS "different" but not unpleasant - white, brown, black - didn't think they clashed.
No. I didn't like it. I reckon you may have difficulty when you are looking to sell it or trade it in.
I'm in a quandry now, as I really, really, didn't like the red leather. Too bright a red......
Ok. That's the red gone.
Luckily haven't ordered yet.
Returned too fast
So it's either I choose the Pop I saw that I liked with the aftermarket charcoal leather (which they've discontinued using since they are having "problems" with it)
What problems are they having with the aftermarket leather ? And if you did order it how does the warranty / guarantee work ?
or go with a BNW Pop and cloth seats - the gray and ivory or the red and ivory with the ivory ambience.
In Europe you get the Houndstooth (Chequered cloth in either black or blue) or the POP interior in the Lounge. I couldn't make out your chequered seats - they seem OK but if they're brown I'm not too sure.
Or go with cloth seats in the Lounge, which I really didn't care for.
The black leather in the BNW Lounge with black ambience was way too dark inside for me. Too much black.
Agreed.
They don't offer black leather with ivory ambience, which I don't think I'd like anyway.
Agreed as well - option isn't offered anyway
Another problem... Just checked the configurator, and if I want ivory ambience inside, I have to get the brown and tan checked seats, which to me are much worse that the brown leather.
Agreed.
What is this blue/white checked cloth people are talking about in the Lounge and how do you get that with ivory ambience?
That's the one I have. Hard to keep clean but 'doable'. Not offered on the US models. Comes in black chequered on the black ambiance or blue on the white ambiance.
Don't know where to go from here....

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Option 1. Go with the 'Pop interior' on the Pop. In the US the 'Pop interior' is not offered on the Lounge. Grey fabric is classy and will suit the White ambiance and will be OK with the BNW. (You don't like red fabric and I'm the same but could live with it - generally better for re-sale). Low cost option at $16,500 Be mean to yourself on the extras or re-sale.

Option 2. Get either a Pop or a Lounge and upgrade to aftermarket charcoal leather at $1,500 - slightly dupious about this one and get the impression that it is no longer offered.

Option 3. Sport model

can you not lower the driver's seat right down to increase the headroom. I find it hard to believe that the head room is tight for you at at 5ft 4in. The 500 is essentially a bubble car for 4 adults and given the retractable nature of the moonroof with the glass going outside the car - the most you would lose on this is about 1 maybe 2 inchs of headroom. By 'dropping' to a lower spec model or the black ambiance Sport it will give you the budget for a moonroof. Realise also that your seats are bigger - but by how much ?

Stick with it

Remember - this is your car and if you like the Brown leather and the OH doesn't like it - he can use his own car.

macdebbie said:

Yes, I started looking at Pops again with basic Pop interior. My favorites are the BNW with Gray/Ivory seats and Ivory ambience, Rosso Brillante with the same seats/ambience or Verde Chiaro with the same seats/ambience.
You cann't go wrong with the white ambiance and grey fabric. Your colours are free once you don't step into the pearlescent which at $500 are OK price wise. I would need to see your reds in the flesh and your Rosso Brillante (once there's no Orange in the paint) would be very appealing but remember repair costs for the pearlescent. I still think the White pearlescent is brillant but I wouldn't go there .
I will check on lowering the seat. I think now I remembered that the seats are able to go up and down, and I really would like a sunroof. I think a sunroof would be good for resale also.
Moonroof at $850 Ok a bit pricey but you will love it. Make yourself fit in the car and have your OH 'grin and bear it'.
I am still torn over the heated leather, but perhaps that's for another time. The aftermarket package for that is $1,699 ($1,299 for the leather, and $499 for the heat). That is more than Fiat at $1,599 which also gives the backup sensors.
Forget the leather and go with the heat if you reckon you'll have to have it.
This may all be a good thing. When I started adding up the taxes (6.25% here) and fees - $500 destination and $299 VAF whatever that is - plus the spare tire at $100 it all is getting really pricey.
Keep the extras down. You wouldn't need climate with the moonroof.
I think I could be happy with a Pop. Basically I want a car that is fun to drive, looks good, is a bit different, and the A/C works!! I only drive .2 miles to work, so I do not do alot of driving. But I do love to drive, so want a fun car. We also have a sick kitty who needs surgery so we want to be careful what we spend on "non-essentials" right now. My mechanic said my 14 year old Volvo that has 160K miles could go another 100K, but I am just tired of it, and am afraid I'll be somewhere and it will break down - another reason for looking at a new car.
Your new 1.4 multi-air will easily last 100K miles too. Great engine.
Don't know if I should wait and see if Fiat comes out with a good lease program, or wait until the Abarth comes
if you didn't like the Sport model you wouldn't go for the Abarth and if you did your OH might have the keys.
out here and maybe the regular 500s will go down in price.
On the new 500s you're getting a 4 year warranty (or you should be) but next year it will drop to 3 years. That means in 2-3 years time you Pop should as easy to sell/trade-in as a 2012 Pop.
EDIT: They might being out a base 500 model as they have in Italy below the Pop
If you had to build the "perfect" Pop (good looking and good for resale), what would you build?
Also, not sure what you meant about to "be mean to yourself" on the extras. (??)
Being mean - well buying a 500 is not being mean but being frugal but if you spec a Pop up to Lounge you negate the fiscal advantages in buying a Pop.
Thanks again for your help!!

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