General How overpriced is the 500?

[TrevC]

Re. Discounts

When I bought my TA in March the dealer gave me £500 more for my 04 Mini Cooper than the Parker's part-ex price. I regard this as a discount.

For what it's worth, given the 500's retro styling I don't think you can compare it with the likes of Aygos etc. They are without doubt better value for A to B transport. When I bought my 500, the only other contenders were another Mini or a DS3. Both were more expensive so I bought the Fiat. (And before anyone says they are bigger, not so with the MINI - the 500 is a few inches shorter but has more passenger and luggage space). It's a personal thing - if you regard something as too expensive, you don't buy it.

 

[ffxmy]

My impression is that 500s are ~20% over priced in the UK, at least compared to what they used to be. One significant reason is the current poor £ exchange rate. The ending of the scrappage scheme hasn't helped either. This over pricing is unfortunate given the poor economic outlook and current lack of consumer confidence due to the government cutbacks and job insecurity.

Dealers naturally don't want to be seen offering cash discounts on list prices. Hence they are using tactics to keep cars moving out of the door while sticking to the list prices, such as offering discounts through inflated part ex offers (see above), pre-registering and offering generous finance deals. I'm not sure how successful they are at selling as there do seem to be a lot of new and nearly new cars at the garages I've visited. My local garage still has an unregistered by diesel in their showroom which has been there for months.

As well as the over pricing, buying a 500 now doesn't make as much sense as it once did because of the inevitable poorer residual values in the next few years. The competition is also improving. I've looked seriously at the 500 but it's very tempting to go for the new Kia Picanto. That will be cheaper, has lots of kit, a decent auto AFAICT along with a 7 year warranty. The new Kia Rio looks good too although that's bigger.

 

[RUI]

and we indeed played golf... here is a pic to sidetrack this thread

View attachment 91211

That car needs an armrest

 

[306maxi]

That car needs an armrest

It's going to get one

https://www.fiatforum.com/500/264890-armster-armrest-fiat-500-diesel-2.html?p=2788867

 

[306maxi]

I take it your bag is the one on the left ?
Could you not get a set of trolleys in their as well ?

And to keep it on topic the reduction in the warranty on the 500 from 4 years to 3 years is compromising the 'value for money' of the 'standard' 500 particularily when are US cousins are getting the 4 years on their launch models (as we did).

I'm not bothered about the warranty tbh. Important things like the gearbox and engine as well as the electronics are most likely to fail within the first couple of years. All those Korean cars with 7000 year warranty's will have loads of getout clauses and won't cover things like the suspension anyway.

 

[loveshandbags]

I'm not bothered about the warranty tbh. Important things like the gearbox and engine as well as the electronics are most likely to fail within the first couple of years. All those Korean cars with 7000 year warranty's will have loads of getout clauses and won't cover things like the suspension anyway.

The 4th year for me was important because given my track history to-date having a year left on a 4 year warranty (OK -it's a bit weak on dealer 'portion' ) means that it is much easier to sell on when it's 3 years old. I've not resorted to trade ins yet being very capable of selling my own cars privately. I reckon you are either better off
1. running the car 'into the ground'
2. sell / exchange the car when it has good re-sale and before you 'encounter' more expensive servicing e.g. cambelt changes, etc.

I had a 'look' at the the Kia and its warranty (it was in the Fiat dealership in Michael Barrables in Airside, swords) they maintained the warranty was from the manufacturer and was no quibble but I haven't checked the 'fine print' . Despite 'looking' I could not drive one. If I did end up in one I'd probably end up wearing 'something' so that no one would recognise me.

 

[RUI]

I like the look for the Kia Soul, I would drive one.

 

[loveshandbags]

I like the look for the Kia Soul, I would drive one.

At first I thought - that's too expensive (well it is in Ireland at €19,495+) but it in the UK its £11K bracket. And when I originally saw it - it did look kinda cool. Checking out the revamped model in the context of 'is the 500 overpriced' some key works came out of the Fifth gear review...
Cool
Youthful driving appeal
Choppy ride
Overpriced ?
No over 60s need apply ? !
and with the exception of the last one - it seemed to mirror some of the points raised in this thread. But then the 'new' Panda 2012 might corner this market.

 

[arorat]

At first I thought - that's too expensive (well it is in Ireland at €19,495+) but it in the UK its £11K bracket. And when I originally saw it - it did look kinda cool. Checking out the revamped model in the context of 'is the 500 overpriced' some key works came out of the Fifth gear review...
Cool
Youthful driving appeal
Choppy ride
Overpriced ?
No over 60s need apply ? !
and with the exception of the last one - it seemed to mirror some of the points raised in this thread. But then the 'new' Panda 2012 might corner this market.

you guys crazy, its box on wheels

 

[306maxi]

I tend to agree. Multispoke, I think you tend to overanalyse things and look rather deeply at things when perhaps other people don't

 

[loveshandbags]

I tend to agree. Multispoke, I think you tend to overanalyse things and look rather deeply at things when perhaps other people don't

I did say earlier on that I wouldn't drive a Kia and then when RUI mentioned the Soul and I had to re-think it. I got a little laugh on the over 60s bit and I'd thought I'd share that with you - at least that wouldn't impact the market for the 500 !

 

[grimwau]

It would in my case.

 

[loveshandbags]

It would in my case.

I'm not far behind you Tony. I'll be getting the special insurance discount in another 5 years . The first realisation of 'age' was being labelled a 'vet' at 40 down in the squash tournament . At least with the 500 it halves your age - hard to put a price on that

 

[wigit]

yes it is a over priced, but then again so are a lot of cars at the moment due to VAT (5% increase in total in 2.5 years), weak sterling and a lack of supply

in reality its the depreciation over three years thats more relevant to me in terms of what it costs

there is the lifestyle side of the 500 and the A500 cult, oddly most people i know ask why i didn't go A500 (do love em but wouldn't want to own one)