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jagspabla · 16th May 2007, 18:09

I recently completed 2K KM on my Palio and thought I'll share the experience and my love for the car.
1) Booking and Delivery
I booked the car with Pandit Auto around end Dec 2006. I was promised delivery by 15th Jan. I called the showroom on 14th but was told there have been delays and now I will get the car on 18. Thus started a nightmare. Every 5 days the delivery was extended by another 5 days. I cajoled, threatened, begged and generally tried every tactic but the Tata-Fiat people refused to budge.
These unforseen delays were due to the fact that Fiat was shifting its factory from Mumbai to Ranjangaon near Pune. But this was a known fact at the time of booking. They could have given me a later delivery date in the first place. However I suspect all their planning got awry.
Anyway I had to leave India for a month by mid feb. I was very disappointed with Fiat and Tata for these delays.
Finally by Feb end a friend took the delivery of the car for me. Man! I don't know how I kept myself for a further 10-15 days from jumping into the next flight and coming back to India! I was really really eager to get back and meet the new Italian lady in my life.
2) Initial Fittings
When I first saw it, the car had been lying in an open parking for 10+ days and therefore was covered in a 1inch layer of dust. It was so dirty that I couldn't see the road when inside, there was no ICE, no seat covers, and the wipers were not working either.
2 Days 30000 bucks and several buckets of water later this ugly duckling was a graceful swan. It had:

1) JBL Speakers, 5.25 comps in front door panels, 6X9 rear in parcel tray.
2) Kenwood Audio System with USB drive
3) Kenwood Steering Mounted Remote System for the audio.
4) Seat covers
5) Sun proof film on the windows
6) Floor Mats
7) Body Cover
8) DuPont paint protective polishing

Problems:
1) WHen you fill up at a gas station when almost empty, the needle doesn't go up automatically. It goes up when you turn off and turn on the car.

2) The car seems to be lifted too high from the rear tyres. As if somebody has lifted it from the rear. But this gives it a more aggressive look and I like it.

3) Running Before 1st Servicing.

- 1 Trip Pune Mulshi Dam
- 1 Trip Pune-Paud-Mulshi-Paud-Pavna Dam-Lonavala-Pune
- 1 Trip Pune-Mulshi-Tamhini-Shrivardhan and back
I had completed 1400+ KM in less than a month I got before I had to go back out of the country.
The car was sluggish in the city with AC full on, but very stable on the highway and with excellent ride quality. I believe nothing matches the smoothness of the ride in this segment.
Pros:
- Looks! Its a stunner.
- Feels sure and sturdy like a rock.
- Ride Quality.
- Low cabin noise
- Biggest boot ( I think) in the segment.
- Very Adequate space, Seats 5 well.
- Instant cooling AC.
- I love the shape of the twin headlights.
- Also the meaty sporty steering wheel.
- Take it anywhere. I've used it almost like a SUV.

Cons:
- Mileage Very different form my old M800. ( Expected but still hurts).
- Low Ceiling (I'm 6 feet and a Sardar so add 1-2 inches more)

All in all this car is sheer comfort and pleasure. However when going uphill with AC on you do wish for a couple of hundred more CC's under the bonnet.
But on straight highway stretches this car comes into its element. Its superb in handling rough was well as smooth roads with minimum of bumps,jarring, noise and shaking.
In all this time I kept the car below 80 KMPM (mostly) and 2500 RMP on any gear as running in period although Tata-Fiat didn't recommend anything of the sort.

4) After first servicing.

- 1 Trip Pune-Mahabaleshwar
- 1 Trip Pune - Mulshi Dam

At 1500 KM the car came back from its first service. Sadly I had to go out of the country the same day for a month. So I missed my car thoroughly and drowned myself in work for the next month. When I came back the car I found was very different from the one I left behind! THIS CAR IS A BOMB!
Its pickup improved considerably and even with AC on you don't feel any sluggishness. The service station must'ave tuned and tweaked the engine. The average is the same( I think 11-13 in city- bumper to bumper though didn't scientifically measure it) but the pickup's significantly better. It no longer feels out of breath and as I can rev up the engine more now it really feels like a beast under the bonnet. OK I agree, this is not a performance engine and I'm not that exposed to performance engines myself, but still it feels really good!

So this is my report.
Verdict: Does the average hurt? Yes
Is this car worth it: Any Day! This car's got it! Love it to bits!

Note from mod: Do not use more than two smileys per post. Make sure you go through the announcements section before posting

16th May 2007, 18:09	#1 (permalink)
jagspabla Newbie Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Kuala Lumpur Posts: 21	Fiat Palio 1.2 NV 2K KM Report I recently completed 2K KM on my Palio and thought I'll share the experience and my love for the car. 1) Booking and Delivery I booked the car with Pandit Auto around end Dec 2006. I was promised delivery by 15th Jan. I called the showroom on 14th but was told there have been delays and now I will get the car on 18. Thus started a nightmare. Every 5 days the delivery was extended by another 5 days. I cajoled, threatened, begged and generally tried every tactic but the Tata-Fiat people refused to budge. These unforseen delays were due to the fact that Fiat was shifting its factory from Mumbai to Ranjangaon near Pune. But this was a known fact at the time of booking. They could have given me a later delivery date in the first place. However I suspect all their planning got awry. Anyway I had to leave India for a month by mid feb. I was very disappointed with Fiat and Tata for these delays. Finally by Feb end a friend took the delivery of the car for me. Man! I don't know how I kept myself for a further 10-15 days from jumping into the next flight and coming back to India! I was really really eager to get back and meet the new Italian lady in my life. 2) Initial Fittings When I first saw it, the car had been lying in an open parking for 10+ days and therefore was covered in a 1inch layer of dust. It was so dirty that I couldn't see the road when inside, there was no ICE, no seat covers, and the wipers were not working either. 2 Days 30000 bucks and several buckets of water later this ugly duckling was a graceful swan. It had: 1) JBL Speakers, 5.25 comps in front door panels, 6X9 rear in parcel tray. 2) Kenwood Audio System with USB drive 3) Kenwood Steering Mounted Remote System for the audio. 4) Seat covers 5) Sun proof film on the windows 6) Floor Mats 7) Body Cover 8) DuPont paint protective polishing Problems: 1) WHen you fill up at a gas station when almost empty, the needle doesn't go up automatically. It goes up when you turn off and turn on the car. 2) The car seems to be lifted too high from the rear tyres. As if somebody has lifted it from the rear. But this gives it a more aggressive look and I like it. 3) Running Before 1st Servicing. - 1 Trip Pune Mulshi Dam - 1 Trip Pune-Paud-Mulshi-Paud-Pavna Dam-Lonavala-Pune - 1 Trip Pune-Mulshi-Tamhini-Shrivardhan and back I had completed 1400+ KM in less than a month I got before I had to go back out of the country. The car was sluggish in the city with AC full on, but very stable on the highway and with excellent ride quality. I believe nothing matches the smoothness of the ride in this segment. Pros: - Looks! Its a stunner. - Feels sure and sturdy like a rock. - Ride Quality. - Low cabin noise - Biggest boot ( I think) in the segment. - Very Adequate space, Seats 5 well. - Instant cooling AC. - I love the shape of the twin headlights. - Also the meaty sporty steering wheel. - Take it anywhere. I've used it almost like a SUV. Cons: - Mileage Very different form my old M800. ( Expected but still hurts). - Low Ceiling (I'm 6 feet and a Sardar so add 1-2 inches more) All in all this car is sheer comfort and pleasure. However when going uphill with AC on you do wish for a couple of hundred more CC's under the bonnet. But on straight highway stretches this car comes into its element. Its superb in handling rough was well as smooth roads with minimum of bumps,jarring, noise and shaking. In all this time I kept the car below 80 KMPM (mostly) and 2500 RMP on any gear as running in period although Tata-Fiat didn't recommend anything of the sort. 4) After first servicing. - 1 Trip Pune-Mahabaleshwar - 1 Trip Pune - Mulshi Dam At 1500 KM the car came back from its first service. Sadly I had to go out of the country the same day for a month. So I missed my car thoroughly and drowned myself in work for the next month. When I came back the car I found was very different from the one I left behind! THIS CAR IS A BOMB! Its pickup improved considerably and even with AC on you don't feel any sluggishness. The service station must'ave tuned and tweaked the engine. The average is the same( I think 11-13 in city- bumper to bumper though didn't scientifically measure it) but the pickup's significantly better. It no longer feels out of breath and as I can rev up the engine more now it really feels like a beast under the bonnet. OK I agree, this is not a performance engine and I'm not that exposed to performance engines myself, but still it feels really good! So this is my report. Verdict: Does the average hurt? Yes Is this car worth it: Any Day! This car's got it! Love it to bits! Note from mod: Do not use more than two smileys per post. Make sure you go through the announcements section before posting Last edited by tsk1979 : 23rd May 2007 at 21:19.