ahmett
Prominent member
True, supply and demand!
I am sure the iphone costs less than 200 pounds to make yet they sell it for 500! No wonder apple makes billions! And dont get me started on those macbooks! They might as well plate them with gold!
General Fiat 500 vs the Competition
- Thread starter pearce_jj
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General Fiat 500 vs the Competition
True, supply and demand!
I am sure the iphone costs less than 200 pounds to make yet they sell it for 500! No wonder apple makes billions! And dont get me started on those macbooks! They might as well plate them with gold!
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That is a remarkable difference. In some ways at least the Panda is better specced of course (number of doors at least).
I would be fascinated to know the cost to Fiat of building each. Also, I wonder how much is allocated per car for marketing - an awful lot more per 500 than for each Panda I would bet.
Do you think the Panda is being sold at a loss?
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This is what I'm challenging - and the numbers already posted show that it should be cheaper to own an A1 SE than a 500 twin-air over 36k/3yrs (in the UK), including depreciation/fuel/servicing/tax/insurance/interest. Or the 105bhp Fabia with DSG gearbox for less than the twinair lounge costs to own (and indeed the 1.2 lounge).
Pay your money and take your choice of course, I'm not questioning that! Some of the Fiat options are quite splendid, if I do jump to VAG I'll miss the Interscope and red/ivory interior especially.
Rather, just trying to highlight that the 500 isn't the 'cheap' motoring that it was expected to be when launched, primarily due to higher purchase price and weaker residuals, and frustrated further by compelling offers elsewhere such as inclusive servicing deals (3 years for Skoda, 5 years for Mini incidentally) and some deep purchase price discounts.
Very true. Early adopters trading in after 3 years have done extremely well, since strong demand, coupled with FIAT's policy of ramping up the price to what the market will bear, has thus far kept residuals high.
Unfortunately, the process of continually adjusting new car prices upwards in real terms (which protects residuals & thereby enables attractive pcp finance deals to be offered) has all the essential elements of a Ponzi scheme and I suspect purchasers buying a 500 now will not be so fortunate. The combination of low-quality OEM components, meagre warranties & costly replacement parts will make owning this car an expensive proposition for many of those buying a 3yr old used car today, and once the average consumer starts seeing the repair bills, residuals will drop like a stone.
Furthermore, as the model matures & new competitors emerge, FIAT will surely discount the 500 heavily to keep market share (current Panda offers show the scope they have for doing this) & that will hurt residuals even more.
Anyone care to predict the value of an 8yr old 500 with 96k on the clock?
True story but you don't pay this tax for a polo, an A1, a beetle etc. but if you buy an A3 1.8 4wd you will pay it...
The only VAG car that gives you the joy and hapiness of a fiat 500 is the Beetle!
I had one and I sold it because i just want to purchase a new car. I had decided to go for the brand new Beetle but it's still not launched in the Greek market so i ordered the 500. It ranked second in my list! <3
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Can't remember when I last saw an ad for a Panda. I'd expect 500 marketing adds at least £500 to the cost of each car.
No way. These kinds of discounts have been available on Pandas (most FIAT's, come to think of it) for years.
Sometimes on a long journey LadyKitching & I play "count 500's & Pandas". The 500 almost always wins, usually by about 2 to 1.
But whilst on holiday in Keswick last month, we noticed that Pandas there outnumber 500's by at least 10 to 1.
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Let's not open that can of worms!
ahmett
Prominent member
Guys dont forget the new panda has been announced so essentially that makes all current model pandas that are sold new 'second hand'!!!
It is natural they would have crazy discounts as they are basically stopping production of it. No new Fiat 500 announced although I am curious what they would do to change it in the future!
But they've been doing crazy discounts on Pandas for years. Back in 2008 you could have bought a new Panda Active for £4995.
AFAIK Supersaver et al sell them at cost and then get a cash bonus from Fiat for selling lots.
Be interesting to see what the final deals turn out to be but there's not much fat to cut.
I see Supersaver are now giving £500 worth of free stuff when you buy a 500 although they don't go as far as calling it a discount.
ahmett
Prominent member
ahmett
Prominent member
What if he wants an A1?
ahmett
Prominent member
Then he can have one its his choice i just think spending 25k on that car is a crying shame.
ahmett
Prominent member
I was considering getting one but i calculated it as too much more expensive than the fiat without being so much better. I find my 100 hp fiat enough power for a small car. If i wanted more power it would have to either be rear wheel drive or 4 wheel drive. I do not like overpowered front wheel drive cars, it feels unnatural having a lot of power in the front wheels. Torque steer is not sexy!
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There are versions with the same engine and platform from Seat, Skoda and VW, at (very) varying prices.
That's where Fiat suck. They could easily churn out loads of Fiat/Alfa/Lancia clones of the same vehicles, but they don't
