2016/2017 Fiat 500 Abarth

[Re_Invention]

So I was playing around with TrueCar on a work break and stumbled on what is an unbelievable deal for a 2016 Fiat 500 Abarth. MSRP is $23,570 for a no options 5 speed Abarth with non-incentivized discounts ($4,592) putting the car at $18,978 then deduct $7,200 in incentives according to TrueCar which I'm skeptical on:

check USAA member - $200
check 2016 Fiat Retail Customer Cash Allowance (both) - $2,000 & $2,000
check 2016 Fiat 500 Bonus Cash - $500
check 2016 Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram Conquest Lease to Retail/Lease Bonus Cash - $1,000
check 2016 Chrysler, Dodge, FIAT, Jeep and RAM Military Cash Allowance - $500
check [Loan] 2016 Chrysler Capital Bonus Cash - $1,000

Puts the car at $11,778 + TTL which is...unbelievable.

But then I stumble on this today:

http://www.chrysler.com/hostd/window...CFFFH9HT502973

After someone mentioned C&D claims up to a 19% drop in MSRP for some 2017 500 models

Attempting to account for the non-discountable fixed costs (delivery, etc.) should put a stick shift Abarth at about 16.5% off msrp or $18,866 plus destination ($995) = $19,861 using the same discount factor on the automatic model in the flyer. As of now, I've had two dealerships confirm up to $7,790 of incentives & discounts possible off a 2016 MSRP... Assuming those incentives would, at some point in the future, apply to a 2017 model would put the car at $12,071 + TTL. Which is within spitting distance of the 2016 at an absurdly theoretical $11,778.

My point being.. would a brand new 500 Abarth be worth $13,100 out the door? For that money, I think so.. I fit in the car, I dig the quirkiness and in the celeste blu it's a fun retro package for some shoddy italian engineering

Of course, dealerships aren't playing along, best price I have currently is $15,780 + TTL... Anyways, maybe others have better luck with their dealerships or in the future if there is an MSRP price drop. Could be a fun pickup.

[guybo]

This car is such a peice of shit they are trying to give it away. You can use all the money you save on repair costs.

Just because something costs less, doesn't always make it a bargain. Look into vehicle reliability of this car for the past few years, it has consistently ranked as one of the least reliable vehicles since it reached America's shores. But it sounds pretty good even at stock (Abarths anyway)

[Re_Invention]

Jesus tap dancing Christ on a stick no one is forcing you to buy it, just a tip for those considering it. Let's get some beer with that salty attitude.

Most folks on this board aren't naive and would look at it as a toy and expect it to be as reliable as a ten year old broken condom. Look at the Fiat forums and it's a mixed bag, some die at 30k stock and some go 120k modified with track use, all with shoddy build quality and constant codes being thrown regardless of age or use. I'm not pandering to uninterested soccer mom's here.

[Who8myrice]

True car is 3rd party. they will show discounts but you need to call deslership to confirm the real Msrp and incentive.
I noticed that true car will show starting Msrp on cars instead of real Msrp with options that always comes with it

[strat61caster]

Even at ~$19k just shy of invoice that is bar none likely the best fun/$ value that's ever existed in a new production car.

[DAEMANO]

I owned a 2013 500C Abarth (Convertible) 5MT for 3 years. I only got rid of it because I couldn't have two tiny cars in the household anymore. Still, I drove it hard for multiple 600+ mi road trips and guess what...

NOT A SINGLE ISSUE

Dumbasses (disrespect totally intended ) who know nothing first hand about the car, parrot experiences from other people back in the 70's and 80's. That was 40 years ago. Get over it people.

Look, certainly when squeaks and rattles of a car who's brand only features only inexpensive cars are summed with major mechanical failures, reliability reports look not great. However, the same would be said for Scion if the only other car Scion sold was the xA and xB. Still, I would buy another FR-S repeatedly because it's such a fun car, and my problems with it have been minor considering its' price.

With that being said, my Abarth convertible was easily closer to "bulletproof" than my FR-S. Especially for what I put it through.

So... If you can get a 2017 500 Abarth for $12,071 ignore the ignorant and run, don't walk, and buy that mofo. It's an inexpensive mature platform that is FUN and worth every dime.

[Re_Invention]

Originally Posted by Who8myrice

True car is 3rd party. they will show discounts but you need to call deslership to confirm the real Msrp and incentive.
I noticed that true car will show starting Msrp on cars instead of real Msrp with options that always comes with it

I'm not saying TrueCar is the gospel but it's a good start, especially since they've had a shift in focus on dealer network profit, meaning, that's the number you'd want to start the negotiation from. With a lack of transparency outside social networking, it is impossible to accurately track exact discount values, especially considering location, market timing, sales timing, etc. The MSRP is what it is: add the options if you'd like, cross reference with the inventory available at the dealers in your area and how they are built. The invoice and holdback and fixed cost(s) is publicly available data. Whatever a dealer wants to add on top of that is their choice and negotiable. What a dealership will discount a car before incentives is the dealerships prerogative, as well. As far as I know, FTC doesn't regulate set pricing unless there's a manufacture/dealership advertised ceiling or floor price. In other words there is no penalty to a dealership to sell a car for $1 if they should choose to do so. [Extra]Ordinary accounting (tax purposes/revenue loss/damage write off/etc.) can provide annual benefit at the end of the year for most product and manufacture/regional distribution to dealership programs can provide extra padding. It also isn't uncommon for harder to move product to get bigger kickbacks on more favorable allocations for future profit margins. Better that than it go to auction, in many cases anyway, or wait for the sweetheart trade.

The incentives do not come out of dealer profit margin - consider them vouchers that the dealership will redeem to be made whole. That's not even to say the advertised incentives match 1:1 to what the dealership may receive in terms of benefit, in other words, your $500 customer cash may end up being $501+ to the dealer once all said and done. I'm not sure that's something consumers are privy to. Nonetheless I, too, am skeptical on the aggressive TrueCar incentives and think there's a doubling or misappropriation of incentives to drum interest. A bait and switch. Normal tactics but there's always room to negotiate on a hard to move product. That being said, the best I've gotten in writing is $15,820 + TTL for a brand new 2016 500 Abarth with some wiggle room to spare as the rep put it. Anyone who would qualify on the above incentives and is interested in that price, feel free to PM me for the contact details. I think that's a great deal in an of itself but still too rich for my blood for another toy. So, I'm just sharing the news since it is an enthusiast car and this is an enthusiast forum with automotive like-minded individuals.

F*** me for sharing, right?

Daemano - I've read your posts on the car, glad you enjoyed it (do you post on Vortex, too?)

[synchromesh]

I wrote about this 10 years ago, but when Cerberus helped purchase Chrysler they, believe it or not, offered lifetime drivetrain warranties to customers.


To be honest, I wouldn't mind a 300C as a courtesy car. I had no choice but to talk about one at the Denny's parking lot to a guy and his dad with a stroller last week.

[Mr.ac]

For about sub $14k for a brand spanking new car? Sure. Why not?
That is if you like FWD, a small car, less hp than the 86. And bare bones interior.

The next cheapest car for that price range is the Jetta. Nothing fancy there either. But I'll go with the Jetta cause it's better over all.

[Who8myrice]

I would not use true car as starting negotiation point. True car saving is given by dealership them selves, they will include all the incentives and discounts, to say true at gave me xxxx amount so I am going to offer few thousand less is not realistic.
Once you do research on certain car you will understand the sale price. I have never seen one dealership offer thousands less at this point, you are fighting for pennies at this point.
For example, Toyota and Honda does not offer below invoice on advertisement. They will only put ad for lease. But it is common practice for them to sell cars below invoice.
When you do truecar on them, you will only see invoice+Rebate.
Call few local place and ask for best price.
But to add damn man that is crazy price for nice car, I met few guys with fiat at local track and they look really fun

Forgot to add, hold back is joke now, most deals are way below that these days. I met a saleman from fiat and he said they get paid on flat, no matter what the selling price is they get paid same so they don't care

[weederr33]

I say do it. Despite the nay sayers I think it's a cool ass little car.

[DarkSunrise]

Seems like a fun toy, especially at that price. If it breaks, that's what the new car warranty is for. If you don't like it, you could sell it and not lose much given the price you paid.

The Abarths seem to have a lot of character with the rowdy exhaust note and visual flair.

[kodos78]

I had my 500 Abarth (2013) before I decided I needed to get back to a RWD coupe (BRZ). The Abarth had about 50,000 miles when I sold it. Not a single issue. It was fun and a blast to drive. For those kinds of prices I would definitely think about getting into one!

[OnkelC]

I am looking into a new hatchback at the moment and was able to test drive the new Abarth 595 competizione this week:







Impressions:
Best exhaust EVER! (Record Monza)

But that's about it. The gearbox is wobbly and the seating position is awkwardy high.
The engine is not that exciting. I liked the Fiesta ST which I test drove a few weeks ago much better.

This will NOT be in the pool for a new car for me.

EDIT:
the car in question:
http://www.abarthcars.co.uk/abarth-595-competizione