Fiat Grande Punto Multijet Emotion PK

Sorry to hear the bad news, amitraisinghani.  

After hearing such horror stories, we decided to do watch & ward duty on rotation basis, guarding our Fiat Linea in public places, during our recent trip to Mumbai.  Slowly, this epidemic is spreading in Bangalore too.  Nowadays, I find a lot of cars sans logo/badges/monograms.  

In bangalore too, let me be very careful. I just love Fiat logo.

VP, the problem was while changing FM stations using steering control's all stations from memory 1 to 5 changed properly. Memory 6 was being skipped and system jumped to memory 1. A back press resulted in it going back to memory 6. Another press it used to go to memory 5. After that it used to get locked in a loop and move between memory 5 and 6 irrespective of whether you used the up or down buttons for changing channels.

Oh, yes. Now I remember. It was quite sometime back that you mentioned this. How was the service camp experience? Have you got 2nd service done?

VP, second service should be done on March 26. Car is at about 14,4xx kms now.

Service camp expereince was really good. The technicians were very helpful with the steering mounted problem. When he couldn't solve it he summoned the Tata officials who though not well versed with Fiat's asked him to do the proximity alignment of the car. As I said, that still didn't solve the problem. The car was then washed, vaccumed and when I was ready to go, the technician and tata officials got the Fiat guy and asked him to check the car. They clearly told him that even if he can't solve the problem now, he has time as my second service is nearing and the car should be back to the dealer in 10 - 15 days so Fiat has some time to arrive at a solution for this. When the problem got sorted out, they called the technicians and told them how it got sorted out just in case other cars report this issue. On the way out, they asked to keep checking and if the problem recurs I was asked to complain about it during second service.

The job done has been very good. All the filters were cleaned, the car seems sprightly and ready to lunge and the pollen filter was also cleaned resulting in the A/C cooling more effectively. In short the service camp may have been more of a brand building exercise but they ensured that the cars were really checked out and worked upon.

I am happy with the expereince.

Good to hear all these better experiences with Fiat. As I am planning for one, this boosts the confidence in going for a Fiat car. Confused over Fiat Linea/ Indigo Manza & I will take some time to sort this out.

One question to all Fiat enthusiasts reading this. As I am planning the buy somewhere in April end/ May, is there a chance that the 1.6L MJD version being launched around the same time. If required I can wait for a month or two more (as it will be worth).

I think 1.6L MJD is not confirmed yet. T-Jet petrol is confirmed for July launch.

If you are planning for Petrol, waiting till july make sense, or if you are planning for MJD, you should go and buy one.

Amit

Where did you go to for free service camp? Fortune, Nerul?

My experience at Tata, Worli A.S.S. was ordinary though my main objective to meet Fiat Corporate Quality Officer is served. I introduced Ashay also to him.

My experience with the FIAT free service camp was pretty good. I would say that it was on par - if not better than - that with Maruti and Hyundai I had before with my previous cars.

They fixed the problems that I reported - inability to access phone book or last calls etc in Blue & Me though the phone is connected.  Also fixed the rear quarter glass chrome beading. I had certain other minor problems - (like more air leakage from one of the wheels - as that wheel had hit a median once while I was taking a U turn) - which they politely said they will address them in my first service which was anyway due in another month.

The corporate Quality guy had a long discussion with me collecting feedbacks and inputs and was meticulously noting them down. (I was pleasnatly surprised to note that they had already addressed certain problems like - putting a sticker indicating tyre pressure in the driver door in both ps and bar, rear quarter chrome beading issue solution etc)

I found that many of the Fiat owners were quite happy with their cars - during my casual discussions with others.