(A repost from FCI group)
My Fiat Petra… Three years & 25000 KMs ownership report.
Profile:
• Car: Fiat Petra 1.6 GTX (I call it EL, ELX somehow does not do justice to image of the car) bought in June 2004.
• Engine & Fuel: 1600cc, naturally aspirated, DOHC, 100PS, Petrol.
• Transmission: 5 speed forward and single speed reverse.
• Tyres: 185/65/R-14 Michelin XM1 energy (stock 175/65/R-14) on Aura alloys. Recently changed from Goodyear Eagle NCT-5.
• Color: Silver
• Dealer: Fortpoint Thane
• Price: 5.40 Lacs on road.
• Accessories: Black Italian Leather (Fiat original) seats, Top end Piranha DX security system with keyless entry and immobilizer. Body colored side skirts, OEM Spoiler with LED Stop lamp.
• Performance Mod: Nothing except stock K&N filter, don’t really need anything else on road except some adrenaline.
• ICE: Sony CDX V5800 HU, Sony explod 3-way 6x9 speakers at rear, Sony explod 2-way 5.5 round speakers in front, Fiat OEM concealed tweeters (Kenwood) in both ORVM housing, 4 channel Sony amplifier with 12” Sony subwoofer. Necvox 5.5 inch LCD screen.
• Warranty replacements: Power steering rack (
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/long-t...siveness.html), Clutch master cylinder (during first service).
• Service & spares: Fairly good service from both Fortpoint Thane as well as Samyak Motors Delhi. Never faced an issue with spares. But yes had a tough time with power steering rack replacement issue, mainly to convince on a faulty part and not with availability.
• Expanses incurred: Normal service every six months costing INR 1000-1500. One injector replacement for INR 4000 blown during last service. New Tyre replacement at 25000 KMs cost: 14400 (for set of 4, not because earlier tyres were worn out but more due to peace-of-mind issue)
• Major trips: 3.5 times Mumbai-Delhi-Mumbai trip, recent Uttaranchal trip (1000 KMs in hills), Delhi-Lucknow and several weekend getaways from Mumbai to Panchgani etc.
• Issues: Never had any (touch wood!) except power steering issue and two sidewall cuts on Goodyear NCT-5 (I think this is related to some defect with NCT-5s design).
• Ownership experience: Delighted owner. Plan to keep car as long as I can.
Just realized looking at the odometer that she has completed 25000 KMs with me…seems like yesterday that I went over to Fortpoint to pick her up after all the initial grind.
The car is very close to my heart. I have done almost four Mumbai-Delhi-Mumbai trips in the car (fourth time did not go back to Mumbai). I have off-roaded to Kedarnath forest reserve and grueling land slide damaged roads of Uttaranchal (I know my travelogue is long due now…)
Never had any stalling in middle of road. Enjoying no claim bonus since last 5 years (3 years on Petra and two from older sold-off car), no scratches except envy scratches. Car still drives like a dream, especially after recent upgrade to Michelin energy it is completely silent on road you can enjoy the music without any noise interruption. The responsiveness is ultra crisp.
It is an excellent car, I have no plans to sell it and I am sure I would enjoy many more long drives on this car. I would have loved to drive to Leh & Kargil with follow fiatclubindians but cant take time off again from work this quickly.
Bottomline: I love my Petra.
Cheers!
-Rishi