Fiat 500

Place your bids as buyers go 500 crazy

Paying over the odds to get into a new 500? Some eager buyers are...

Auto Express Car Reviews

06th February 2008

The Fiat 500 has only been on sale officially for a fortnight, but already it’s selling like hot cakes. And it’s not only the Italian maker that’s cashing in on the supermini’s popularity – some shrewd buyers are putting their orders up for auction!

A ring round of Fiat dealers has revealed that the entire UK allocation of 4,500 cars has already been snapped up. There’s now a waiting list of up to 12 weeks for customers placing orders, according to Steve Burrows, owner of Middleton Garage, Bognor, West Sussex. He added: “It could be as long as four to six months. The only way to get one earlier is to be flexible on the spec, and hope someone cancels their order.”

Alternatively, potential buyers can visit eBay. A number of right-hand-drive examples have found their way on to the popular website and are being sold at a profit. This is almost unheard of for a mass-produced hatch – but great news for its residual values in the used market.

Some Fiat dealers are now even resorting to placing classified ads on eBay, offering the car at list price.

With its mix of economy, vintage styling and a range-topping price tag that’s still £900 less than an entry-level MINI, the 500 has clearly set its sights on stealing sales from its rival retro hatch.

What’s more, it seems to be working, according to one Fiat dealer. Andrew Singleton of Moss Rose Motors in Macclesfield, Cheshire, said: “It’s absolutely crazy. I have never seen so many MINIs parked outside our showroom while the owners check out our new 500!”