Fiat holds prices down, some at 1999 levels
27 November 2002: Fiat Auto Ireland has set out its recommended on-the-road prices for 2003, and the prices of some of its most popular models are virtually unchanged from the prices of four years ago.
In 1999, Open Book recommended on the road prices for the 899cc Fiat Seicento started at the equivalent of E8,762. For 2003, prices for the Seicento (now with a more powerful 1100cc FIRE engine, a CD player and Driver’s airbag) will start from E8,995. That’s an increase of only E233 over four years!
Recommended on the road prices for a Fiat Punto 1.2 3dr started at E11,421 in 1999. Now prices for that car start at E11,495.That’s an inflation rate of 0.7% over four years.
Open Book prices for the Fiat Punto 1.2 5dr started at E11,802 then. For 2003, the recommended price for this car is E11,995, an increase of only E193 or 1.6 % inflation over four years.
The recommended on-the-road price for a new Fiat Stilo 1.2 16v 6 Speed 3dr is E16,495 and for the Stilo 1.2 16v 6 Speed 5dr is E17,195. Standard equipment inclides ABS with EBD, Dualdrive Power Steering, 4 intelligent airbags and CD player.
"In these cases it can be seen clearly that Fiat Auto Ireland is far better than the Minister for Finance is at controlling inflation, "Michael Howe, Managing Director of Fiat Auto Ireland. "The money a buyer will save might fund their insurance for a year or pay a major portion of their petrol costs.
Special finance programmes available to buyers of these cars from Fiat dealers, with Permanent TSB Finance, allow a buyer for a new Punto 3dr to purchase the car with a deposit of E2,125 (or trade-in of equal value), 36 monthly instalments of E199 and a final payment of E3,995. The APR is 9.2% and the HP price is E13,385.