Happy Birthday!
My TurboKat turns five years old today.
Now, I know I haven't used that name ever since page one of this thread, but somehow felt like reviving it. Five years is good enough time for a car to start the next fresh innings, so as these things go - time to revive up some good old memories.
Funny thing though - When we booked the Swift, my plan was to retain the car for only five years. Whereas wife didn't see any sense it selling a car all too soon, and suggested we should retain it for 15! Now, 5 years with the Punto, it feels not so different from what it was during the day of delivery, except for some minor scar marks on her body to reveal her true age. That, I promise, would be corrected soon enough. Good enough for that 15? Only time will tell.
For the beauty this car is, it deserves to be kept in top cosmetic shape. I still feel the urge to look back at the car after parking it - never getting tired of those timeless lines devoid of any quirky touches.
5 of my favourite photographs of the car -
See what I did there? 5 year old - 5 favourite photographs. I'm playing around with the number five. Although that might sound cliche'd, still continuing on that same note -
Here are the top 5 things I like: - Simple and stunning design. Still love it, day in and day out. Aged gracefully IMO.
- Solid build quality, inside out. The body and the paint looks and feel much better than other cars of similar age. Interior has also help up well with time.
- Brilliant highway machine, with a superb suspension, raised ground clearance, wide tyres and confidence inspiring brakes.
- Upgraded ICE is just to my taste. Love it. Punto dashboard and layout turned out to be a blessing in disguise for staging.
- Very reliable till date with no major niggles and issues. Service costs have been reasonably cheap as well.
Here are the top 5 things I don't:
- Two issues faced include Microsoft Blue & Me system that conked off, but after 1.04L kms of service & a/c console replaced under warranty after 50k kms.
- Power could have been better off the line. Outright performance doesn't justify the 90hp on-paper performance figure. However, she is very capable in the turbo zone, specially higher gears.
- Service centers are always a concern. And no, travelling 200 kms for good service doesn't make the situation any better.
- Not very spacious, and is beaten by a huge margin by the other sub-4m car in our garage - the Xcent.
- Has become outdated when it comes to features. No reverse camera, no parking sensors, no automatic transmission, no automatic mirrors, no keyless entry, no 1L bottle holders, not enough charging sockets, no rear a/c vents, no ESP, no touch screen headunit etc as compared to modern cars.
Issues faced + Service Experience #22 - Clutch replacement, brake pads change & General Service @ 137500 kms.
Service Satisfaction - ****-
Service Centre - True Sai Motors, Salem. Clutch Replacement -
After 1.37L kms, the clutch was starting to show its age. I bet I could have used it without any issues for another 10k kms as it had no shuddering whatsoever, but the whole thing was starting to play on my mind and confidence. The bite point was way too low these days, and if depressed without proper concentration would result in ackward gear shifts and sounds of protests from the first and reverse gears.
Why another trip to Salem? Well, True Sai might be as disappointing as the others when it comes to billing, but there sure do the best job. Haven't seen such attention provided in other FIAT authorized workshops. Plus, upon booking the appointment - they promised all the parts were in place and the work would be completed within a day. Was time for another good long drive, then -
Specially because I wanted the car back in top mechanical condition before it's birthday today. The actual plan was to get it detailed as well, but that will need to wait as I am bankrupt since the bike purchase.
The Clutch Plates -
Release Bearing Looked straight out of Titanic wreck! Brake Pads - They seem to always have 1500 kms of life left in them!
Last service also they had only 1500 kms of life left in them as per the service technicians, and after 8000 kms - this service also the service center is sure they will last only another 1500 kms. But anyways, I wanted to get it changed this time around as it surely wouldn't have lasted till the next service.
Billing -
After keeping a keen eye, and knocking off some expensive but useless items from the bill like Outside Machining Charge (Rs 400/-), Smart Diagnosis (Rs 320/) etc, they still managed to get some useless items into the bill. Have classified those items under the 'Charity' section. I never fought with them for any items, only asked them to explain the work done to have the item included in the bill. They were completely unable to explain the above two items and promptly excluded it.
Anabond? Was explained as wheel balancing sticker glue, only to realize later that I didn't do wheel balancing with them. Then they came back saying the bonnet cladding was loose (as I reported), which they had to stick with Anabond (to the damping material I had added after market). Fair enough for Rs 20/- Putty blade? Well, that was for cleaning brake discs and pads. Fair enough for Rs 30/- Hand Gloves? Very good indeed. Infact, I wouldn't mind buying it and giving them - if only those were used during the service. Hope these minor amounts help the service networks survive. Charity amounts then!
But then, they added consumables twice in two pages of the bill. That was a rip-off that I failed to notice completely.
Anyways, the car feels as good as Day 1 and was a joy during the return drive. Thats what finally matters.
The only good thing about travelling a long distance for service. Good empty roads as far as eye can see -
Clutch replacement in progress. Funnily, I never recollect having seen more darker colours than white in any service center -
Loved this new colour of the Punto Evo -
Parting shot, taken on mobile, on the way back from service. So this is how she looks after 5 years and 1.38L kms -