Fiat 500 - First service

[robmug]

Well, at about 13,000 miles we're well due a service, so booked it in.

I don't know how much I was expecting to pay, but it was less than the £262 I ended up paying...

It seems that the £119 "menu price" excludes vat and all of the consumables...

...and they kept it an extra day for warranty work, then didn;t bother to call me this morning to mention that the parts didn't arrive so they weren't doing anything on it...have picked it up.

Not very happy...

[patmahe]

News like this is what is stopping me considering a Fiat as my next car, their product range is excellent but it seems customer service still leaves a lot to be desired.

[okgo]

It will all start to go downhill for these cars I fear over the next couple of years as people rack the miles up. And the true quality (or lack of) of the car and service will be exposed.

[JJCW]

okgo said:

It will all start to go downhill for these cars I fear over the next couple of years as people rack the miles up. And the true quality (or lack of) of the car and service will be exposed.

Would you suggest an alternative car?

[RicksAlfas]

patmahe said:

News like this is what is stopping me considering a Fiat as my next car, their product range is excellent but it seems customer service still leaves a lot to be desired.

I never quite understand this attitude.
ONE day a year you get a bit of hassle. 364 days you love the car you've got, and you still love it on the 365th day, it's just that you have to deal with some plonkers. Hardly the end of the world is it?

[patmahe]

RicksAlfas said:

patmahe said:

News like this is what is stopping me considering a Fiat as my next car, their product range is excellent but it seems customer service still leaves a lot to be desired.

I never quite understand this attitude.
ONE day a year you get a bit of hassle. 364 days you love the car you've got, and you still love it on the 365th day, it's just that you have to deal with some plonkers. Hardly the end of the world is it?

Yes but why should you have to, why should poor service from fiat be any more acceptable than poor service from Toyota? If Fiat want to sell more cars then they need to turn this around.

[RicksAlfas]

patmahe said:

RicksAlfas said:

patmahe said:

News like this is what is stopping me considering a Fiat as my next car, their product range is excellent but it seems customer service still leaves a lot to be desired.

I never quite understand this attitude.
ONE day a year you get a bit of hassle. 364 days you love the car you've got, and you still love it on the 365th day, it's just that you have to deal with some plonkers. Hardly the end of the world is it?

Yes but why should you have to, why should poor service from fiat be any more acceptable than poor service from Toyota?

I agree, it shouldn't be. But the point I was making is that if it's the car you like/want/desire, then slightly imperfect aftercare is not the be all and end all. Buy the car you want - not the aftercare.

[Muzzlehatch]

Our 500 had its first service a few weeks ago, at £191 all in at a dealer. Most pleasant it was.

BTW, try to go for an appointed dealer (smaller outfit) rather than a large main franchise dealer, as you'll generally get better customer service.

[Exoticaholic]

Muzzlehatch said:

Our 500 had its first service a few weeks ago, at £191 all in at a dealer. Most pleasant it was.

BTW, try to go for an appointed dealer (smaller outfit) rather than a large main franchise dealer, as you'll generally get better customer service.

Which dealer would that be? I take your 500 is a 1.2 rather than 1.3 diesel or 1.4 petrol. It is because 1.2 petrol cost more to service than the other two variants.

I have a Sport 1.2 and it is due for its first service in May 2009.

Edited by Exoticaholic on Wednesday 11th March 18:24

[Muzzlehatch]

It's Frensham Engineering in Surrey. Very small, but very friendly and helpful.

Steer well clear of a certain dealer in Guildford.

[okgo]

Muzzlehatch said:

It's Frensham Engineering in Surrey. Very small, but very friendly and helpful.

Steer well clear of a certain dealer in Guildford.

Bloody hell, that is a small place

[robmug]

Muzzlehatch said:

Our 500 had its first service a few weeks ago, at £191 all in at a dealer. Most pleasant it was.

Hmm...so the price isn't the same across the dealer network...even Porsche have a fixed price service menu for f cks sake! If I'd realised this I would have shopped around first.

[Jimbo.]

There's nothing forcing you to have it serviced at the Fiat dealers. If you don't like it, go elsewhere next time!

[penryar]

Just thought I'd resurrect this thread as the Missus has just had her 500 1.2 Dualogic serviced at the local main dealer, 1st service 12month rather than by mileage as she has only done 5800km in it, and it came to the grand total of €90.57
I can't believe some of the prices being quoted for servicing in the UK.

[911addict]

okgo said:

It will all start to go downhill for these cars I fear over the next couple of years as people rack the miles up. And the true quality (or lack of) of the car and service will be exposed.

I have had 2 Fiats (ok they were top of the range coupe turbos) but quality not an issue at all. My current turbo is 10 years old and still in wonderful condition.

[Robertf]

Funny my first service was last month, and the cost was £119.00

You should contact fiat head office.

I have had more aggro with BMW dealers of late than with Fiat, who were spot on.

[Rich135]

Robert, do you mind me asking where abouts that service was carried out? Main dealer?

Thanks

Rich

[puggy1958]

HI,I am considering the 500Abarth for my missus(she really wants a girly lounge 1.2 but i have refused to drive that!
Talking about service and quality , she had a Merc SLK that we have just sent back as it was on a personal contract hire,it cost me £700!!,Mercedes dealers for service quality are appalling!!,very costly and crap ,they left the bleed nipple loose on the brakes and the wife was lucky not to crash the car,they supplied us with the car and we discovered they forgot to MOT it!!(after 11months)when we couldn't find it to tax the car.No apologies were forthcoming,£40 for an air filter and £60 for brake fluid!!, i could go on and on,so really i am not worried about the little Fiat,by the way my other car is a TVR Chimaera,now you are talking about costs and quality (high and crap)but i love it.

[Robertf]

I used the dealer in Crawley, can't remember their name. I think they are commercial vehicle specialists.

[Mike500]

Hi all, I was a bit worried looking at the prices quoted by other 500 owners on this page, however i've just got my 1.2 lounge back from the garage after its first service. It came in at £122 which i'm really pleased with. This included oil and filter changes and even had my car picked up from my office and delivered back to me. I'm based in Lancashire so if anyone wants a recommendation for a very good garage just drop me a line.

Cheers.
Mike500