I was as stunned by the looks of this car as most others are. But seeds of doubt have begun sprouting.
Issue 1 - mileage: with auto mag Zigwheels having quoted the mileage of the 1.3 diesel as low as 12 kmpl and the petrol 1.4 as 9kmpl, I'm downright sceptical about the value of this car.
Issue 2 - interiors : the grande punto has been in use abroad and you can easily find many reviews on the net. While most expert reviews hail the punto as a VFM car, there are innumerable user reviews that agonize over badly fitted interiors like glove box lid, door handles that come off or stop working, and power windows that get jammed. Nagging little problems that take away the pleasure of driving. Add to it Fiat's poor service network and you begin wondering if you'll be holding a broken trophy in your hand sometime later.
Issue 3 - power of the engine : i'm looking out for the 1.2 Active model which gives 68 bhp of power. Considering the Grande weighs 1140 kgs, this will most likely make for a not so swishy ride. But i'm not a very spirited driver and i prefer the luxurious feel of an easy drive. More so the other car in the same budget and comparable space is the Getz prime 1.1 option, which gives 67 bhp, albeit for a lighter frame. I can say that the low power doesn't bother me much as of now. In fact i like that the max torque is peaked at 2500 rpm, and the pick up wouldn't feel that bad unless i'm trying to overtake a sports car! But nevertheless, i will be a little complexed on a high way.
Issue 4 - lack of buyer enthusiasm (?) : well its been almost two weeks since the launch of the grande and the dealer tells me that he's only today handed out the first punto to a buyer. They're quick to add that there's a great response and they're booking almost three everyday, but frankly, i've already spotted a couple of Honda Jazz 's in Delhi. And not a single Punto! The reviews on this site just refuse to grow though i check them out everyday. I thought we could get some first hand mileage figures here but that seems a long way coming. Could it be that barring the trickle few of us, there are hardly any takers for this car?
I do hope my doubts are rested with time and this car turns out to be a winner like it purports. But only time will tell if it will be so!
Update: tomorrow is 1st july and most new cars will start being delivered tomorrow. please please guys, come on and give us the mileage figures on this car. I know it can and will give good mileage but i just want to hear it confirmed!!!
UPDATE AGAIN (18/07/09): GUYS THE VERDICTS ARE FINALLY OUT! THE GP IS A WINNER!
ISSUE 1 - mileage problem resolved. the 1.2 fire is giving over 14 kpl. This is confirmed by a few friends who have already taken it and few reviews on sites like www.team-bhp.com
ISSUE 2: Again, the hypnosis of the GP is such that these things really take a backseat. The envy of other road mates will make you feel at the top of the world.
ISSUE 3: People who have bought any of the models are quite happy with it. In fact, its soon becoming a rage! I hope it will soon leave the Swift biting dust.
ISSUE 4: I was probably too hasty to come to this conclusion. From what i am seeing the number of posts on this site has shot up to 30(AS ON 17 JULY) and the discussions have heated up. Lots of replies and queries are popping up. Way to go Punto!