lbowroom

Although I really liked my C450 the 9 months I owned it, my new commute has brutal traffic. I would sit for over an hour to go 30 miles, all the while being passed by little clown cars with Clean Air stickers in the carpool lane. So I joined the party.


CarMax gave me $42,000 for the car I paid $49,900(55,600 msrp) for. My job has free EV charging so I pay nothing for my power. My entire out of pocket for the 3 year lease is $5500. I'll likely save that in fuel and maintenance costs. Basically, free car. In addition, it's actually fun to drive! Wife has a GL350 so we're good on family travel.

hans007

i have coworkers who have done the fiat lease thing and kept their other cars because the fiats were practically free if you count gas.

If you are in the LA area did you get it from that dealer in orange county that was leasing fiats out for something like $2500 down and $80 a month?

lbowroom

Yes, OC Fiat. The 2016's were getting blown out and are now gone. The currently advertised lease for the 2017 models is $2999 down and $99+tax for 36 months at 10,000 miles. Contingent on a lease conquest $1000 if you lease a non Chrysler/Fiat vehicle. $2500 comes back to you in the form of a rebate from the state.


I got the "sport" that's $500 more. I didn't qualify for the $1000 lease conquest and I got 12,000 miles/yr. I only put down $675. Payment comes to $224+tax.

DBOC205

3 grand down and 100/mth to get a new car??!! - <whistle> Oh man - you guys are blessed in consumerville! I'm moving to America.

lbowroom

And don't forget, $2500 of that $3000 comes back to you in a rebate.


The result of a federal mandate for car companies to sell a certain amount of electric vehicles in the US. Fiat chief has been quoted as saying he hates electric cars and will only make as many as necessary.

Xtrema

Unfortunately it's only California I presume where I think there is state law in mandating 15% vehicle sold in state has to be ZEV/PHEV by 2025.

Given FCA doesn't have any hybrid lines, they are giving away 500e to stay in business in California.

Each 500e sold in California cost FCA $14K in losses just so they can keep selling other cars in Cali.

While American leases are cheaper in general (compare to Canada or Europe), this cheap 500e is a total result of government pushing us toward green energy. Nobody want to be barred from the Californian market.

GerritKw

With the C350e you would have gotten a good compromise.

Xtrema

for $100/month and almost no down, I would just get the 500e for daily and keep the c450 for weekend.

The 500e is almost a free car. You are talking about a cup of venti latte a day to run it since electricity is free for op.

Wookii

500e is a perfect little car to daily in LA. Gotta love that white hov sticker. Our 500e lease is up in 4 months.