The most impulsive purchase my wife and I have ever made. Went into showroom saw car for the first time, test drive, 10 minutes of half-hearted negotiating and deal done. Given my shopping list consisted of such requirements as economy, interior and luggage space, 5 doors, dealer on the doorstep, decent motorway cruiser.......obvious really....an Abarth 500 from a dealer 30 miles away!
Handover was a bit rushed in our opinion, a bit of a conveyor belt situation and I was not encouraged by the fact that our car was still having a chamois wipe-down outside the showroom having supposedly been prepared the day before including the GardX treatment (yeah , I know what you're going to say but this formed part of the overall deal). We were being subtly and not so subtly pressed to move away from the car and get the paperwork done. If we had taken more time I am sure we would have spotted the minor flaws before paying and leaving.
I am not going to name the dealer yet as I am waiting for them to sort out a couple of minor issues later this week including a scratch to the hazard warning switch (this is either a simple removal and refit new switch exercise or a complete dash dismantling depending on which dealer you speak to. Anyone know if you can pop out the switch and replace the clear plastic cover with minimal fuss?) I am also interested in their comments regarding a stone chip that may have been touched in (not 100% on this so I have to be careful). The fact that this flaw was covered by wax has brought out the old cynic in me I'm afraid.
Don't get me wrong, I love this car (it has the same emotional connection that my classic mini had) but the Abarth dealer experience hasn't quite matched up to the car yet. In fact the way the conversations have gone there is that underlying tension as though things are about to take a turn for the worse! I hope I am wrong and the situation turns around, particularly as the next nearest dealer is over 50 miles away! Can a Fiat dealer service these and honour the warranty? Over the years I have had company cars and crappy service from Merc, Audi, VW dealers as well as superb service from Citroen and Vauxhall so you never know in this game. I have to say my wife has a Toyota and the dealer has been fantastic even though they didn't even sell her the car.
Ours is a red one with no stripes and the 16 inch wheels. A little understated and as a result a real surprise to other road users as I leave them trailing in my wake! Pics to follow.

Thanks Paula. I have a confession to make now as well. Since I ordered the car over a week ago the picture of your car has been my screen saver! I hope I haven't breached your copyright?!

It can all so easily be resolved and once the miles have started to clock up I am sure the niggles will be forgotten. Forgive and forget and all that. It is seriously the most fun I have had driving a car since a Renault 5 Turbo that was simply ridiculous and sometimes dangerous especially overtaking with a 44 tonne truck approaching....put foot to floor, nothing. Wait 5 seconds .....whiplash! Turbo lag they called it.

Hello and welcome 

Sad you have not had a great experience 

The Hazard switch is part of a complete set (fogs,sport switch) and the body coloured panel will have to come off but is a five minute job ive taken mine off in the hope i could move the sport button closer to the steering wheel but it was not possible

Hope you have luck in sorting the problems out and stay around and let us know how you get on 

No charge then Paula? I haven't even seen another A500 on the road yet so I am looking forward to getting and giving the wave/flashing headlights that used to be the norm in my old Mini.

We love the red. We love the way the colour changes depending on the light. Indeed, I have to keep getting out of my seat, walk across to the window having squeezed past the plasma to sneak a peek through the blinds just to check things out. I can't believe this it feels like my first car again!

I think the cars in question (disappearing fron view in my rear view mirror) were a Nissan Micra 1.0 and an old Fiesta 950! Boy racer or what!

Ive got a red un too