[aaggoswami]

I agree with you that they were very good packages. My father was very keen on buying Petra in Oct '05, petrol or diesel. But the fear of A.S. & S. kept him away from buying this car along with the availability of spares and cost. He liked the car and felt it was better than most of the car till Corolla segment.

I dont think that Fiat will have luck this time also. India is a very, very unique market. Here owning and maintaining a car is not as easy as lets say in USA. Here if once they get things wrong, people wont trust them with their money. Fiat has got the best products for India, but now they are too late.


A few more points.
1) Only pricing cannot get the things right. They have to first improve image and this will take a very long time. Moreover, the tie up with Tata has helped, but it has to get better and smoother.

2) New interiors are welcome, but then present Indigo/next gen Indigo and Logan have more space and almost as good inteirors. People will prefer these two cars over Siena.

3) LPG and CNG availability is an issue and people will gun for diesel. Palio sales are now better thanks to MJD.

4) Logan is much more spacious, so it is better VFM package and has three engine options. Diesel is the preferred one and it has better image than Siena/Fiat.


In all, rather than reviving an old car, they must bring in the Linea fast with a proper 1.3JTD in 90 bhp, 1.6 JTD and 1.9 JTD ( yes three diesel engine options ) With the 1.9, Jetta, Laura will be history if this car is marketed properly and priced upto Rs. 10 lakh. Can take the fight to G3HC also. IMHO, the Fiat 178 platform is now getting old and there is no point in extending the life span. Bring in a new one.