Fiat Linea 1.4 FIRE Emotion Pack | Reviews - Owners & Users

#1 02-Nov, 2009 12:27 AM

VahanPujari

VahanPujari

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It all started last year. In fact, sine 2007 when my 2003 Ford Ikon completed 4 years. However, since last 2 years that humble car which had wonderful Steering (HPS), Ride & Handling, Maneuvering abilities delayed my car upgrade for the stadards it set.

Come 2009 & I decided enough is enough. Ikon had served me well for 5.5 years for over-90,000 kms with a spotless ownership experience but its time to move on. So, the shortlisting process starts. The cars in radar were ANHC, Verna, SX4. Fiesta was not considered as - 1) Wanted to try something other than Ford, something even better (if found), 2) Did not like Fiesta dated looks, 3) old platform. (However, if not found anything better, it would have been Fiesta for sure coz of my earlier Ford exp)

While I had driven all 3 cars earlier but detailed TD's were necessary. Did 2 TD's for each car:

SX4 felt heavy in driving. Ride & Handling leaves a lot to desire. EPS steering is very light & without feedback. Maneuvering abilities are strictly limited. However, its a VFM package & I always respect it for the new equipments it brought (like Steering Mounted controls) in India in this seg.

Very good power coupled with very light EPS steering coupled with abscence of Airbags & worse Ride & Handling makes Verna a Dangerous proposition. Also,its looks were dated to me.

Since 2006-07, whenever I thought of upgrade, it was always Honda City. Did 2 TD's of ANHC. ANHC was good. But thats not enough. Its not that great that it should be with a premium tag attached. I found nothing great while driving it. Equipment levels are even lower/ lesser than a DZire. No Alloys, No Climate Control & abscence of many many other equipments in a "premium" sedan costing Rs. 2 Lacs more than its counterparts. Naah.

Never considered a certain car called Fiat Linea (Perception, may be).During my telecon discussion with my friend at Ahmedabad, he suggested me to have a look at it. And I always give highest weightage to his words when it comes to Automobiles. So, in comes & enters Fiat Linea in the fray. And how !! First looks & I instantly fell in love. That Masserati like nose, Audi like grill, curvacious design. Awsome. Again TD'ed it twice & liked it immediately. Class-leading Ride & Handling, HPS steering with excellent feedback, Maneuvering abilities, stability, Excellent Brakes, Linear Power delivery, Typical Italion Petrol Engin growl. Wow!

Bought 1.4 FIRE (Petrol) Emotion Pack Flamenco Red Linea in Apr'09. 6 months & 10,000 kms on ODO approaching. During the course of the thread, I'll try to share my experiences & my dates with this Red Hot beauty with FIRE . Till then drool over some pics of the beauty:

Amit.... "Fiat-Injurious to the health of the Eardrums"

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#2 02-Nov, 2009 05:04 AM

Binoy.Thomas

Binoy

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Nice preview there, waiting for the detailed reports on the drive and sales experience!

What happened to the mudflaps?

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#3 02-Nov, 2009 03:46 PM

amitraisinghani

Amit Raisinghani

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Hi Amit. Good review there. I am sure you will keep the Linea expereince going here.

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#4 03-Nov, 2009 06:38 PM

VahanPujari

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Sales Experience was quite plain & nothing to write about. Got delivery in Apr'09 within 20 days of booking (3-4 days later than promised - ok). Delivery process was very simple, Dealer was not quite excited of selling Linea to me

Driving Experience is fantastic. 6 Months & almost 10,000 kms, I still become a kid while grabing the keys for eagerly wanting to get hand on the steering

Ride Qualities are simply superb & class-leading in the segment. I never feel when I reach 160 kmph on highway - butter smooth ride.

Handling Qualities are also class-leading. Throw her into the corners & Linea will come out as winner against every car in the segment & even ahead some higher segment cars.

HPS Steering is quite a thing. Precise & gives confident that the car moves exactly where you want her to. You feel a good steering feedback also.

....Continue....

Amit.... "Fiat-Injurious to the health of the Eardrums"

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#5 03-Nov, 2009 06:39 PM

VahanPujari

VahanPujari

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Posted by Binoy Thomas

What happened to the mudflaps?

Some pics posted above are earlier ones when mudflaps were not fixed.

Amit.... "Fiat-Injurious to the health of the Eardrums"

Last Updated: 03-Nov, 2009 06:40 PM, by VahanPujari

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#6 03-Nov, 2009 06:47 PM

VahanPujari

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On Engine power in Linea, it took me some time to get used to combo of long play clutch/1st-2nd short gears. After that there is no looking back. Without any trace of arrogance, I can say that I leave powerful cars behind while starting from traffic signals in 99% cases (and I’m no rash driver) (Doesn’t mean it’s the fastest but she fulfils my requirement of live / fast driving). Following is from my log – criticism first & then realisation.

10 days after delivery

1st/ 2nd Gears - Very short. still reserve comments till I do 1000 km & get used to synchronisation of Fiat's long ply clutch/ Brake/ Accelerator. Sometimes car zooms past in 1st & 2nd gear while some times its dead
Seat

20 days after delivery

For 1st & 2nd Gears, I realised that with my earlier car, while changing gears I'm used to release clutch & pressing accelerator suddenly instead of gradually. In Linea, doing this makes car losing the power & feels dead starting in next gear. When I gradually release the clutch & simultaneously gradually press accelerator, the power-loss issue is almost not there. will come back with further observation when I get my car back from service station

...continue....

Amit.... "Fiat-Injurious to the health of the Eardrums"

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#7 03-Nov, 2009 06:48 PM

VahanPujari

VahanPujari

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1 month after delivery

I would be wrong if I say it does not lack Power. It lacks power & this statement is not on absolute terms but on comparative terms.

I was using Ford Ikon 1.3L nxt earlier. Compared to even that car, I feel les power in Linea & Ikon 1.3L was not considered a real "powerful" car, right? In Linea, I do not feel Lack of power when I'm cruising at Higher Speed / Higher RPMs. It is felt - 1) at pick up from 1st/ 2nd gear & 2) when you are going in 4th/ 5th gear & the speed is lowered (not as low as to warrant shifting gear down to lower gear) & then again she has to pick up.

Point 2 above, in defence to Linea, I still feel my perception/ experience may get changed after some time as its possible that I may not be lowering the gear at right speed/time, probably I'll have to get used to lowering the gear at higher speed than what I'm anticipating right now.

In Mumbai traffic, there is a fight for every inch & my Ikon was not allowing any other car to raise its nose ahead from side-lane to enter into the lane I'm driving & to come ahead of my Ikon. With Linea, I've seen that happening a number times. By the time I accelerate & gain momentum, the side-lane guy leaves his lane & enters my lane as there is a gap & there is that fraction of a second time he has. Here again, in defence to Linea, it might be entirely possible that I'm driving her carefully/ cautiously than what I was driving Ikon.

....Continued....

Amit.... "Fiat-Injurious to the health of the Eardrums"

Last Updated: 03-Nov, 2009 06:48 PM, by VahanPujari

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#8 03-Nov, 2009 06:49 PM

VahanPujari

VahanPujari

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Almost 2 months after delivery

The car has grown on me. It seems she has suddenly waken up from a slumber & became silky smooth. May be crossing 1500 kms, may be the short-bursts I gave her to free her up or may be I got used to her with my driving style more aligned to Clutch-Geat-Accelerator combo/ config. But I must say that now she has surpassed Ford Ikon in Driving Plwasure, Ride Quality, Maneuvering. I'm now driving her like a toy, able to maneuver her brilliantly - here, there, left, right so on & so forth absolutely like a toy. This is the biggest pleasure for me as these qualities are very imp to me, relieves few of my worries, makes me so happy

All my earlier reservations about Power (or lack of it) has now gone out of the window. Somehow she became so silky that even the 2nd gear doesn't seem to let me feel any lack of power. And like Ford earlier, in B2B traffic, now she does not allow other cars to intrude & come in front of her lane from adjoining lane !!!
What is amazing is that in 5th Gear above 2000 RPM's, from a speed to 50 - 60 kmpl, if you press the accelerator, she just surges ahead like a jet & very smoothly. Brilliant, Brilliant.
Poise, Stability is top notch even when I throw her in corners.

The only "less power" I now feel is when I'm driving her in 5th gear & due to traffic the speed reduces (have not noted what reduced speed -may be around 40 - 50 kmph - have to check), it takes some time to recover the lost speed. This may be felt more on highways in overtaking, though again in Linea's defense, I'll have to wait for some time to check if its due to my driving style.

I had a driver earlier whom I let go when I purchased Linea as wanted to do run-in for initial 1500 kms myself. After enjoying the rides in Linea, am seriously reconsidering not to hire a driver now.

On that last line of last quote above, have still not re-hired that driver which I was forced to hire earlier because of change in my office location & resultant 2.5-3 hours drive back home in the evening in Mumbai B2B traffic. Still the 2.5-3 hours ride back home remains (till office location changes again) but riding Linea is just too good. Thats the effect of FIRE engine.

Amit.... "Fiat-Injurious to the health of the Eardrums"