Hi Guys,

My name is Paula (obviously) and I bought an A500 yesterday. Been trogging around car dealers all summer getting depressed with the choice on offer and the generally appalling experience that going to car dealers is.

My MX-5 is now 11 years old and last winter was interesting - I work for the health service in the community which means I have to get to clinics, home visits and groups in all weathers on country lanes, A roads and the M42. Rear wheel drive, no abs or stability control and sitting pretty much on the floor with the local 4x4s behind you with their headlights blinding you in the ice and snow after a 10 hour day - lovely.

But most cars with all the safety kit on cost about 20 grand and are boring, boring, boring - not to mention gutless and too big to fit in the tiny last space in the clinic car park when I get there. Really, really didn't want a little girly car though.

I'd been to Research Fiat in Nuneaton to try out a different car and had seen the A500 a few weeks ago. After a depressing experience where I tried to look at a C30 and got ignored in a Volvo garage and got told by a Golf dealer that they couldn't get hold of a new Golf for 5-6 months and if I bought a second hand one I should make sure it was in warrantee (are they that unreliable?) I thought I'd have a go.

Love the high seating position (no more headlight dazzle), performance, grip, engine sound, lots of little gadgets all over the place etc. Bit dubious about whether my iPhone will ever work with it and whether it's gonna get nicked from some places I visit but ah well. . . .

Big smile plastered on my face when I got back probably stuffed any chance of a discount - although I figured there aint much on offer anyhow. Not overly keen on white cars and I do like something that get seen so I've ordered a red one, with the dimming rear view mirror, after market rear parking sensors; and then got all carried away and added 17" 10 spoke alloys and black leather. Can't believe it's only £800 - it's nearly two grand in (the admittedly bigger) Golf. No go faster stripes - did consider getting it debadged for security but it seemed like sacriledge.

Was told about 12 weeks - do hope it's right as I need it befor the worst of the winter sets in really. Happy with the dealer so far - not that it was hard work as he just had to listen to my inane chatter as I bought one and added a load of expensive extras )

Savings are for cissies. . .

Paula

Ian - as car salesmen go he was pretty pleasant - owns a very nice MG.

Wasn't really a hard sell even for the bits I wasn't originally planning to fork out for. But leather is sooooo nice and those 17" alloys were a good price.

Makes me smile though when he told me how excellent my choices were - I suspect they never tell customers that they are making lousy choices. 

Paula

Yeh I ordered from Ian as well, nice guy (but I guess you can never tell lol)
Good call with the leather and the 17"s

Certainly not 'oops' 

Good to see more red cars being ordered it seemed a little neglected as a colour choice early on.

The guy in the shop seemed to think they were selling 50:50 to girls but I guess we're less likely to join this sort of forum.

Also known as Olopgirl.

Savings are for cissies. . .

They sure are!
Welcome!

Good to see another red car in the mix.
I was the only red driver at Gaydon Manor
It got a lot of attention though

Its not just smaller dealers either ...my other halfs boss went to Jag dealers recently and asked about part exing his 2.5 yr old Jag for another 40k one and salesman wasnt even bothered ....so he said he wouldnt bother and the salesman just walked off 

Welcome by the way