Non-availability of Punto Spares??

Hello everybody,

I am a newly qualified cardiologist. I practice in Pune. I have been reading this forum and using the website for over a year now, simply because I wanted to choose a car. My career is budding and I chose the Fiat Grande Punto 1.3 emotion pack. I am very satisfied with its build quality, ride comfort, fuel economy, but for the availability of spares. I had given to a private dealer for having sun-control films pasted to the windows. There it met with major damage to the front fender and undersurface. The car was given to the workshop 2 weeks ago, insurance survey is also over, yet there is no sign of any spares being available. I sent multiple mails via the Fiat India website, but apart from an automated reply it hasn't generated anything. I also called up the regional service manager in Mumbai, but to no avail. Hence I thought of expressing myself. For those who are in love with Fiat like me, refrain from buying this companies products.

Dr. Kedar Kulkarni.

Doc, Welcome on your late outing!

Looks like being a cardiologist, you do everything "Dil se..!" - hence this direct call to bycott Fiat!!

Let us not condemn the company which was not anyways known for service. That is the reason why Tatas now handle their service - With Fiat's own network, people would not touch them with a barge pole! That said, I have not heard about this type of issues with Fiat earlier.

Hope your problem gets addressed within a few days. Keep in touch on the forum!

Welcome Kedar to CW!

Sad to hear about your plight, the shortage on Punto spares(even the linea) has been driving many a customer 'up the wall'. Hope you do get a favorable resolution to the problem.

Approach the dealership for a courtesy car, that might speed up the repair(just a thought).

Try to push Authorized Service Center people rather than the corporate guys. Tell them if you dont get your car back soon you would approach media (Say your relative works in xyz news).

HEllo Doc,

Just try being polite to the manager and try knowing the facts

[rather than opting to be rude and not coming to know the facts],so as to how much more time he may think its gonna take and stuff...

Probably things might not be in his hands...

Remember,you can convince more people towards an objective when you are more humble...

I would suggest to be little more patient and listen to what the manager has to say...

We dont expect him to hold your vehicle for any reason even as remotely as enmity...

Just do let us know what was your experience with this approach...

punto is a new car and why do you need the spares so early??when did you buy your car?and which specific spare part/parts you are looking for?

Abhishek, spares required due to major damage caused...

Kedar, sorry to hear about the damage/delay.  Please do update. Thanks.

I called the Mumbai office and spoke to one Mr. Sadique Ansari, he also promised to revert to me with the details. But that is yet to happen. The repair workshop and the Mumbai office both were on Diwali Vacation for the past four days, so I also was quiet.

Well as far as the being polite thing is concerned, I have honed it in myself to be polite after training in the Government hospital setup for the past 15 years. Yes that's the time one takes to start MBBS and end DM with couple of years wasted in between.

My approach, I think, is to wait and watch, no other option really. I am going around in my old Alto, which I was planning to sell, but now that will have to wait till all this over.

I will try the "knowing the media" option but I wonder how much they will buy that? The people's attitude at the BU Bhandari workshop makes you think as if you are in some Government office... RTO, court, election card application etc.

Lessons learnt: Never trust anybody and drive very very carefully. No more Valet parking. 

i am extremely sorry for missing out on that part....very unfortunate thing to happen.

Sorry to hear of the unfortunate accident and the subsequent experience. What are the parts that cannot be procured as per the workshop ?

Please try sending an e-mail to Mangesh.Kodalkar@fiapl.com, he's the customer service manager in Fiat. Pointing this thread to him should also help.

Also consider copying to Fiat India CEO, Rajeev Kapoor at ceodesk@fiapl.com.

Keep us updated, and wishing for a speedy resolution to your problems !