New Petra 1.6 ELX

prabuddhadg · 14th October 2006, 10:28

Hi guys, after months of deliberation and a lot of inputs from many of you, I have finally booked the Fiat Petra 1.6 ELX with Anuroop Goregoan. I am selling my current 800 DX and have received part of the money. Once the rest of the money comes in, I shall complete my down payment and hopefully within another week, the new car will be mine.
I have pm'ed many of you for your inputs and I would like to thank all of you for helping me choose this car.
It is a darkish shade of grey, called Moon Mist Grey. Fresh stock. After much nagging, the dealer has arranged the fifth alloy.
Not much of a discount; I get about 30k from the dealer. Some miscellaneous knick knacks like teflon coating and mud flaps.
I have made some feeble attempts at bargaining with the banks. What I found is that many banks try to take anyone and everyone for a ride. Rates offered to me varied from 13%(!) to 9.5%. In addition, some banks even offer discounts on the down payment. So, if you are going in for finance, speak to a number of banks and only then decide. Depending on the model, some banks offer upto 4% of the loan amount off from the down payment.
I must confess here, that I am doing all this with a twinge of remorse, somewhere deep inside. I know how most people sneer at the 800. My car is the smallest car in the office parking lot and on many days the only one. But still, the thought of selling this car is making me so sad, I often think of keeping it in one corner of the driveway.
That though is not an option. So, as in life, with happiness, there will be sadness. That is life.
So, when anything progress happens, I will post again. Thanks for the help once again, guys.

typeOnegative · 14th October 2006, 10:50

Congratulations mate.

My wife and I have not sold our 800. It still is lying around. Got our selves around to selling it. Enjoy your new ride.

manikjeet · 14th October 2006, 15:01

I can actually feel what you are currently feeling mate. i had the same kind of felling when i had to sell my esteem, ikon and more recently my m800.

but the new car smell makes u forget it completely.I click some pics of my previsious cars to remind me how much fun we had when we were together

Anyways mate cong. on the new car ENJOY

MANIK

finneyp · 15th October 2006, 15:11

Many Congrats Prabuddha on your great choice of Petra 1.6!
Am sure you would enjoy driving & owning this Italian beauty!!!

prabuddhadg · 16th October 2006, 13:00

Thanks guys for the wishes. Now as soon as I pick up the car, I shall post further feedback.

Samurai · 16th October 2006, 13:10

Relocating this thread since it is not a What Car query.

sivadas · 16th October 2006, 13:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by prabuddhadg

Thanks guys for the wishes. Now as soon as I pick up the car, I shall post further feedback.

Congratulations Prabudha. Enjoy!!

prabuddhadg · 16th October 2006, 14:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samurai

Relocating this thread since it is not a What Car query.

It isn't? I thought because Team Bhp had helped me decide What Car, that was where it belonged. Anyway, the moderators know best. Sorry for the bother. And thanks for setting it right.

yeis · 16th October 2006, 16:04

Congratulations. Indeed, quite bold decision.

prabuddhadg · 16th October 2006, 17:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by yeis

Congratulations. Indeed, quite bold decision.

WHAT do you mean? Trying to scare me? Jokes apart, I think it is a good car, but not marketed well enough.

yeis · 16th October 2006, 18:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by prabuddhadg

WHAT do you mean? Trying to scare me? Jokes apart, I think it is a good car, but not marketed well enough.

Certainly I didn't. I am happy that you are not considering resale as the top criteria and going in with the qualities of car. There is certainly no flaw in the car and you will enjoy the car at fullest. I said bold decision considering the fact that you are well aware with the resale of Petra and still going for this car.

prabuddhadg · 16th October 2006, 20:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by yeis

Certainly I didn't. I am happy that you are not considering resale as the top criteria and going in with the qualities of car. There is certainly no flaw in the car and you will enjoy the car at fullest. I said bold decision considering the fact that you are well aware with the resale of Petra and still going for this car.

That is in fact a result of my experience with my present 800. I bought it new in 2002 and have driven it extensively in Bombay. In fact, I have driven it almost every day and have covered over 55000 km. I have looked after it well. I have spent long hours with it. Basically, its been like a good friend to me.
Over the years, I noticed that its engine improved with use. For instance, earlier on, while it made a lot of noise if I tried 50kmph+ on the second gear, now it does 60 comfortably (I hate to try further).
But the rest of the car is not keeping pace. The suspension needs work. Body is beginning to rattle. So, when the engine is at its best, the rest of the car is past its prime. I am an old fashioned guy who believes in long term relationships, and to me there could be nothing as satisfying as a car to drive and have around for years. So, the Petra. Iknow my theory has its flaws, but then... as they say, The mark of a true gentleman, slightly flawed.

shbhrao · 17th October 2006, 09:28

Prabhuddhadg

Congratualtions. I too own the same model black ( I call her the panthera) and it's indeed a pleasure to drive the car especially on freeways. I love it when it is the first one to race ahead after stopping at signals and can overtake any car when speeding:-) and yet remains rocksteady. I out in 44kms daily and ever since I have started driving on the palm beach and using 5th gear most of the times she has given me an avg of 11kms/litre.

prabuddhadg · 17th October 2006, 11:31

[quote=shbhrao]Prabhuddhadg

Congratualtions. I too own the same model black ( I call her the panthera) and it's indeed a pleasure to drive the car especially on freeways. I love it when it is the first one to race ahead after stopping at signals and can overtake any car when speeding:-) quote]
Hope to see you some time at a signal.

prabuddhadg · 30th October 2006, 16:47

Just to bring you guys up to date on my new car deal- things are at a stand still. I have got into a deal with ICICI bank through a franchisee, since Anuroop (the dealer) did not offer a suitable deal. Now, this franchisee asked me to make the entire down payment through them, i.e., the dealer would receive the payment from the franchisee. So, I paid the franchisee, and waited.
Now it transpires that the franchisee is trying to take the dealer discount by not passing on the entire agreed sum to the dealer. So, the dealer is refusing to release the car though I have made my payment and ICICI bank has confirmed the loan amount.
Today, I had an argument with the franchisee, and I have told him I will cancel the deal, pay a penalty to ICICI bank and still be better off if I go to State Bank or HDFC Bank, (which is actually true; I was working on an excel sheet I had prepared for comparing deals).
So, its lying in limbo as of now. Any further update, you guys will be the first to know.

14th October 2006, 10:28	#1
prabuddhadg BHPian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 812 Thanked: 81 Times View My Garage	New Petra 1.6 ELX Hi guys, after months of deliberation and a lot of inputs from many of you, I have finally booked the Fiat Petra 1.6 ELX with Anuroop Goregoan. I am selling my current 800 DX and have received part of the money. Once the rest of the money comes in, I shall complete my down payment and hopefully within another week, the new car will be mine. I have pm'ed many of you for your inputs and I would like to thank all of you for helping me choose this car. It is a darkish shade of grey, called Moon Mist Grey. Fresh stock. After much nagging, the dealer has arranged the fifth alloy. Not much of a discount; I get about 30k from the dealer. Some miscellaneous knick knacks like teflon coating and mud flaps. I have made some feeble attempts at bargaining with the banks. What I found is that many banks try to take anyone and everyone for a ride. Rates offered to me varied from 13%(!) to 9.5%. In addition, some banks even offer discounts on the down payment. So, if you are going in for finance, speak to a number of banks and only then decide. Depending on the model, some banks offer upto 4% of the loan amount off from the down payment. I must confess here, that I am doing all this with a twinge of remorse, somewhere deep inside. I know how most people sneer at the 800. My car is the smallest car in the office parking lot and on many days the only one. But still, the thought of selling this car is making me so sad, I often think of keeping it in one corner of the driveway. That though is not an option. So, as in life, with happiness, there will be sadness. That is life. So, when anything progress happens, I will post again. Thanks for the help once again, guys.
	() Thanks

14th October 2006, 10:50	#2
typeOnegative Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Vikhroli, Mumbai, India Posts: 1,503 Thanked: 27 Times	Congratulations mate. My wife and I have not sold our 800. It still is lying around. Got our selves around to selling it. Enjoy your new ride.
	() Thanks

14th October 2006, 15:01	#3
manikjeet Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: chandigarh Posts: 1,618 Thanked: 295 Times View My Garage	I can actually feel what you are currently feeling mate. i had the same kind of felling when i had to sell my esteem, ikon and more recently my m800. but the new car smell makes u forget it completely.I click some pics of my previsious cars to remind me how much fun we had when we were together Anyways mate cong. on the new car ENJOY MANIK
	() Thanks

15th October 2006, 15:11	#4
finneyp Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2,716 Thanked: 319 Times View My Garage	Many Congrats Prabuddha on your great choice of Petra 1.6! Am sure you would enjoy driving & owning this Italian beauty!!!
	() Thanks

16th October 2006, 13:00	#5
prabuddhadg BHPian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 812 Thanked: 81 Times View My Garage	Thanks guys for the wishes. Now as soon as I pick up the car, I shall post further feedback.
	() Thanks

16th October 2006, 13:10	#6
Samurai Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bangalore/Udupi Posts: 25,828 Thanked: 45,518 Times View My Garage	Relocating this thread since it is not a What Car query.
	() Thanks

16th October 2006, 16:04	#9
yeis BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 238 Thanked: 4 Times	Congratulations. Indeed, quite bold decision.
	() Thanks

17th October 2006, 09:28	#13
shbhrao BHPian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Mumbai Posts: 60 Thanked: 0 Times	Prabhuddhadg Congratualtions. I too own the same model black ( I call her the panthera) and it's indeed a pleasure to drive the car especially on freeways. I love it when it is the first one to race ahead after stopping at signals and can overtake any car when speeding:-) and yet remains rocksteady. I out in 44kms daily and ever since I have started driving on the palm beach and using 5th gear most of the times she has given me an avg of 11kms/litre.
	() Thanks

17th October 2006, 11:31	#14
prabuddhadg BHPian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 812 Thanked: 81 Times View My Garage	[quote=shbhrao]Prabhuddhadg Congratualtions. I too own the same model black ( I call her the panthera) and it's indeed a pleasure to drive the car especially on freeways. I love it when it is the first one to race ahead after stopping at signals and can overtake any car when speeding:-) quote] Hope to see you some time at a signal.
	() Thanks

30th October 2006, 16:47	#15
prabuddhadg BHPian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 812 Thanked: 81 Times View My Garage	Update: trouble with financier Just to bring you guys up to date on my new car deal- things are at a stand still. I have got into a deal with ICICI bank through a franchisee, since Anuroop (the dealer) did not offer a suitable deal. Now, this franchisee asked me to make the entire down payment through them, i.e., the dealer would receive the payment from the franchisee. So, I paid the franchisee, and waited. Now it transpires that the franchisee is trying to take the dealer discount by not passing on the entire agreed sum to the dealer. So, the dealer is refusing to release the car though I have made my payment and ICICI bank has confirmed the loan amount. Today, I had an argument with the franchisee, and I have told him I will cancel the deal, pay a penalty to ICICI bank and still be better off if I go to State Bank or HDFC Bank, (which is actually true; I was working on an excel sheet I had prepared for comparing deals). So, its lying in limbo as of now. Any further update, you guys will be the first to know.
	() Thanks