For all the noise, how is Fiat really doing?

I owned Maruti Suzuki Omni for 12 years and Versa for 5.5 years.  Now, I have my Fiat Linea.  Already, I visited Concorde Motors twice for small niggles, the latest being for checking the ac drain tube which got disconnected resulting in wet floor area of the driver and right rear passenger.  The mechanic completed the job of connecting the drain tube securely, cleaned the tube with compressed air and vacuum-cleaned the entire floor area, all in 15 minutes.  I am totally satisfied with friendly and prompt service of Concorde Motors.  Even in case of my previous vehicle, Maruti Suzuki Versa, the ac compressor and its thermostat switch went kaput within one month of purchase.  I had to wait for more than 2 weeks for replacement as the spares were not readily available.  So, the problems are common to all brands/models, including the market/segment leaders.  Fiat-bashing will not deter the informed buyer from buying Fiat products.  Period.

Seems you are prejudice and totally biased towards FIAT. How can you say no ther manufacturer gives a car with better build and ride other than FIAT. Compare Fiat models with Maruti in the same segemnt. Punto (diesel) and Swift (VDi). Dont you think Maruti have done some thing exceptional so they are at present the king of the roads. And in the current market the share of FIAt is just like a drop in the ocean. You make any product and some how you will find some buyers. But afterall, performance, ASS etc. matter in the long run. There a very few fans of Fiat I dont know why, they are so sad for Fiat no doing well in the market compared to other manufacturers. Still they are showing fake happiness with the units sold by the Fiat. But the truth is at present there is no ground for Fiat in the market untill they change their attitude, stretegy and line of action. Its an uphill task for any manufactuer to root out Maruti. You know, previously there were only few models like 800 and Esteem and Omni (Van). But as soon as other car companies jumped into the market, Maruti spontaneously changed their strategy and came out with so many other models with better services, (which was not done by Amby and Padmani). So sorry, its nothing only but a day dream for other manufactuers to challange Maruti. As we all know Maruti's current sale is about 50% (its a huge figure), though it is slightly coming down, but in the near future there is no threat from any manufactuer to Maruti .. (specially from Fiat).. So keep on going..

I remember when Swift was launched, there was not any howl and bawl. It simply and gradually occupied the indian roads. And now its running and proving its name correct.   

Is Bala prejudice ?

Have you driven Punto? If yes, and if you have little bit knowledge about buit and handling, you will never repeat your sentences.

Yes Swift is the king of the road, so was Amby sometime back. It doesn't mean they ruled for ever. The sales depends on so many other factors, which you have correctly mentioned, but to compare car per se, Punto is much ahead of Swift.

Yes, I will always repeat what is truth and is seen by everyone. I am saying white to white. No doubt Swift is king of the Roads, so was Amby.. But there is way difference between Swift and Amby. But there is not much difference between Swift and Punto, then why punto is lagging behind so badly. And I will also repeat that Punto is not capable of being king of the Road, till FIAT brand is embossed on it. Truth is bit harsh. Fiat is trying to become alive again. But you know dead cannot live again. For living again one has to take birth again with different name. One thing you can take a note of. Amby currently selling about 800-900. Punto slightly ahead with 1200. So both are on the same line once they were long ago in 70s and 80s. And Swift with 8,000 and Swift DZire with 6,000. Are you in a position to compare these figures.    

Please note here Punto means FIAT. Anything I say about punto is about FIAT. I have no problem with Punto. Its the longest about 3900 mm and most spacious hatchback with nice looking cool design alongwith lots of other features. Only mini drawback is low quality interiors in base model both in Petrol and Diesel. And the Main drawback is its Brand.

Yes, carry on guys!

You answered your own question on why Punto is lagging behind Swift. It's the Fiat brand. For all the talk of low rent interiors, how much better are the interiors of the Swift? Not so much better that it sells 9000 units to Punto's 1500 isnt it? Funny part is if the Punto was a Maruti Punto or Honda Punto, no one would talk about low quality plastics and the car would have a 12 month waiting period! What I feel is that people are talking too much about the low quality plastics and completely ignoring the first in India features like Blue&Me , extensive My Car features and long service intervals. If Maruti / Honda had these features on their cars, no body would talk about interiors and everyone would gaga and hail Maruti for taking the Indian customer seriously and giving him what is given internationally. Surely these features are not things that you can ignore but it's happening almost like someone just wants to focus on this particular issue and ignore everything else about the car.

Sure there are many blind fans of all car makers and most cars have the 'this car is the best' reviews floating around but I have seen that most Linea and Grande Punto ownership reports are very balanced with both good and bad about the brand, car and service back up. There is also a problem of many non-Fiat owners not having a open mind. If a Punto owner talks about good service he recieved, he is called biased and fanboy so it kind of works both ways. It happened with me too. I had posted my ownership report with pictures of poor finish in the interiors and poor quality plastics and parts in my car and yet I was called a fanboy. Heck, I even posted about the broken rear parcel tray in my Punto but say good things about service or the product and you get called blind fanboy. Besides, not a single Linea or Punto owner says that the car is great in performance , everyone agrees that bigger engines are needed, everyone agrees that better interiors are needed , everyone agrees that better and consistantly good service is required but the moment the owner talks about the best in class ride and handling and steering he is called biased. I feel if people read the typical fan boy review then they should be reading the normal owner' review too.

A big reason why there are so many expectations from Fiat and why the brand managed to get a few fanboys is the Palio GTX. Even today it is the only hot hatch in india. The car set performance benchmarks in 2002 and these benchmarks still hold. That's why you see so many people going ga ga over these cars.

Did anyone see the latest Overdrive show on CNBC? To a question on whether one should buy the Indigo CS or the Punto, the 'expert' said buy the Ritz. Among the resons listed for it being better they said it has better ride quality then the Grande Punto.

Great Discussion guys. That too with lot of concrete in it & no nonsense.

Yes, thats sure that RitZ is better in driving, handling and well balanced car. And surely good enough than Punto and Swift. But customer dont like about it is its design. Though its speciaous, but looks like a toy car too small. Otherwise sale figure shows its doing good in market. But now its loosing ground to Swift, I-10 and I-20. Sales of Ritz are coming down gradually. Previous months  figure (since inception) for RitZ are 8,000 - 6000 - 6000 - 5000 - 6000 - 4800. After a lots of sale, now I think, people are thinking about its exteriors and design.

Narendra, the Ritz maybe a brilliant car and better then Punto in certain things but saying that it's better then Punto in driving dynamics is going too far.

As for sales, how many units would the Ritz sell if it was Fiat Ritz, Ford Ritz or Chevrolet Ritz or Tata Ritz?