A week has passed, having had the A500c. It is time I provided feedback on the dealer, having recovered from the excitement of collecting the car!
The handover on 12th October at Research Garage was a total pleasure and very exciting.
I made a conscientious decision to do the handover on a weekday rather than weekend as it meant more quality time. I also booked three straight days leave for the same reason.
When I arrived at the showroom having reseminated (?) the good times I had in the Fiat 500 over the last 30 months, there was no sign of my car. I met Ben and he looked after me very well, taking me through every page of every document to make sure I haven’t missed anything. I can tell you they were not itching for the funds but made it as if it was a pleasure dealing with them. Cue a number of crossing the 't's and dotting the 'i's and putting my signature on some papers.
Once this was done, he took me through to the workshop where my A500c was waiting. It stood there gleaming and with my reg no on it. I admit I was overwhelmed thinking ‘is it REALLY my car?’ but succeeded in not shedding tears. I inspected the car and everything met expectations. They had fitted the chrome door mirror cappings – a special Exoticaholic request – and branded valve caps. I sat in it and felt at home. The leather seats (£800 extra and linked to the bi-colour paintwork at £900 extra) were very comfortable and the thickly rimmed steering wheel a revelation to grip in my hands. As I was used to the gear shift knob in my outgoing Fiat 500, I forgot there wasn’t one in the A500c, having fumbled in mid air for the non-existent knob.
We returned to Ben’s office and it was time to do the transaction. Being deaf, I used my text phone to communicate with my bank on their dedicated text phone number to let them know of a large transaction about to be processed, using my debit card. It was fun running between two desks because the card reader was on the other desk at the service dept and I was in Ben’s office literally typing the conversation. Ben was on the phone next to the card reader to take questions firsthand from my bankers for additional security measures. I wrote my answers down for Ben to relay back to them. The ‘hum’ came through meaning my transaction has been authorised. Bingo!
The car was driven out of the workshop by Ben and parked next to my black and white Fiat 500. It was quite a sight to say the least. I took photographs for posterity and to record this particularly unique occasion.
Why am I saying unique? It is because in my nearly 25 years of holding a full driving licence, I have never owned a car over the 100hp threshold until this Abarth 500c. The nearest was the Streetka with 95hp between 2005 and 2008.
Just when I was about to get in, Peter Robinson, Abarth UK’s sales manager turned up! In his Campo grey A500. I found it a sheer coincidence, having had dealings with him at the Moving Motor Show. He came over and complimented me on my specification.
Nearly two hours had lapsed, and it was time for me to hit the open road. In my own Abarth 500c. We said our goodbyes and I turned the key which brought the 1.4 turbocharged engine into life and there was a nice burble, just feeling the dashboard and that was when a new chapter was about to unfold.
That is another story to write.
I would like to convey my thanks to Ben and his team for what was an enjoyable journey from enquiry in March 2010 to collection in October 2010.
Anyone considering an Abarth should go to Research Abarth and they will be pleasantly surprised!
