Fiat Grande Punto Multijet Emotion PK

I bought my first Fiat, a Palio S10 on October 23, 2003 with a lot of apprehensions. Fiat, globally was bleeding to bankcruptcy and Fiat India was in the doldrums with many people asking when and not if they would close down and pull out of India. Despite a lot of relatives and friends advising me against buying a Fiat, I went ahead for it.

The car delighted me, the engine, ride and handling at the price point was something I had never expereinced and the build quality was just awesome. Controrary to popular perception, Fiat after sales impressed me with their professionalism and enthusiasm, I stuck to regular servicing from Anuroop Goregaon though I lived about 35kms away in Chembur. In March 2005, I moved to Canada and despite my family telling me that they would sell off the car, I protested against that move. Heated international phone calls followed and family relented. By a twist of fate, I came back to India in September 2006 - about 1 year and 6 months later. I was warned that the Palio was barely driven and it was in bad shape. Expecting the worst, I took the keys of the car and went down to see the 'bad shape' first hand. Paint had broken out in patches and the interiors had fungus all over and it was stinking in there! Expecting even worse with the mechanicals, I put the key in and twisted to start the car.

It started. As smooth as butter on first crank although the alternator light stayed on. I started to drive it and it moved smoothly, as smooth as it did on octber 23, 2003! I had a new found respect for the car and the maker. The car was driven to Anuroop, 35 kms away with the alternator light on and it stayed there for the next 4 days as they worked to get it in good shape. The alternator was serviced, car was washed, polished, interiors cleaned, vacummed. On the engine front, they changed the engine, gear and brake oil alongwith all filters. That's it! Everything else worked perfectly. Even the A/c was a chiller.

I drove the car for a total of 75,000kms till June 2009 when I sold it for a VERY good price. So much for Fiat's pathetic resale. When the S10 went, I had tears in my eyes but there was something postive and new to look forward to.

This background was given so people understand that I bought the Grande Punto because the Palio was a supremely reliable car, when I sold it, it went with all the orginal bulbs! Heck, even the interior light bulb was the one that came with the car.

My next car had to be a Fiat and for bloody good reason too. Two test drives, one each at Fortune Nerul and Powai and I booked my new Grande Punto.

The Grande Punto story begins.

Booking to Delivery:

After a pathetic expereince at Sharayu Hyundai for the i2o, I decided to book the Punto from Fortune, Nerul.

- Booked the car on June 24. Salesguy says RTO issue is pending and delivery should be done in 10 days.

- Start looking for finance. Finance with Kotak is almost finalised on June 27. Kotak calls and asks me when delivery is due. When they are told, 10 days, they say Wasan is offering ready delivery. Foxed I call up Fortune and even bofore i says Wasan, salesguy asks me the status on my fianance as the car is ready for delivery!

- I swing into action and get Kotak guy to visit me on a sunday. Documentation is done on June 28.

- June 29: Kotak guy calls at 12 mid-day and says finance is done and dealer should recieve the approval letter by 4pm. That somehow doesn't happen.

- June 30: I put my down payment. Dealer says delivery will be on saturday. At 4pm, Kotak calls and confirms that cheque is ready and approval letter has been faxed. Dealer confirms the same on the phone. But, now Fortune does a volte face. Says RTO issue is still pending and delivery may not happen on saturday. I remind him of our conversation on June 27 and he says car is ready but due to RTO issue he can't deliver. Very sly!

- July 2, thursday, I call the dealer and he says RTO issue will be sorted out by 'tomorrow or Monday'.

- July 6, Monday, 2pm: I call dealer. 'Tata guys are at the RTO. We should get the approval by 4pm' he says. The day is over, no call from dealer.

- July 7, Tuesday, 12pm I call dealer. RTO issue still pending he says. I blast out now telling him he mislead me. Salesguy says Tata guys are in front of me and tells me I can talk to them if I want. I refuse. Why should I talk to anyone?! Dealer says it should be done by tomorrow.

- July 8, Wednesday, 11am: I call Fiat's Mumbai office at Chembur and speak to the Linea product manager, Ashish. He confirms that there is a RTO issue and though he doesn't have full details of the problem as he doesn't deal with Punto, he confirms that RTO issue will be cleared on July 10. As per him, dealers have been told the same thing and if the dealer is promising me a date before July 10 then he is sorry for that.

- July 10, 5pm Friday: Dealer calls and confirms that RTO issue is cleared. Bang on the date Fiat said it would.

- July 11, 11am, Saturday: I reach the dealership for some paperwork and also check out the car. Salesguy is not at work but someone else takes care of me. I am told delivery will be on Sunday. I ask if registeration is done and they confirm it has. I ask them why wait till Monday for delivery? Why not tomorrow? Dealer says half of his dealership is closed. I tell him half of your dealership is open then what's the problem!? Finally, dealer says delivery will be done on Sunday.

- July 12, Sunday, 1.30pm: Me and my friend Sanjeev reach the dealership and the car is being readied for delivery. We spend about an hour with the detailer's showing him areas to pay attention too.

Finally at 2.34pm on July 12, I crank my Punto to life and we drive out.

PS: How do I post pictures on this thread?

Hi

My Punto

Create new album using this link

Do post pictures of your punto.

Wish you happy motoring

Congrats on the buy Amit, n which color did u go for?? or did I miss it somewhere in your looooong post.

please do upload pics. All the best with your new car.

CONGRATS,

but you could have upgraded to a sedan-linea

I already have a SX4 Zxi.

@ Bhardwaj, Thanks for the link but you have posted pictures in your ownership report. I would like to do the same. How do I do that?

Hi

First upload the pictures in the album

copy the picture from the album and paste it here

Check out some pictures of my car. More will follow.