Palio 1.6 GTX long term test report - 50,000 kms

anoops · 14th February 2005, 11:44

oh yeah, my battery also konked in 2 years...thats because of my music system..my old amp used to suck a lot of power..at least thats what that guy told me...got myself an amaron now...very happy.

Samurai · 14th February 2005, 15:45

Man! That's depressing...

Every time I make up my mind on the Petra, I see one of these articles which scares me from owning a Fiat. My current car and my last two cars never broke down on me even once. If Palio can break down so many times, will Petra be any better.

The quality of Fiat spares must be really bad. I thought only the Fiat India company and their dealerships were bad. However, if the product quality itself is bad, that creates a major inhibition against purchasing Fiat cars.

cream · 14th February 2005, 22:33

wow,

not something to look forward too, since i will be getting my new palio d in a few days - (yes there are a few buyers around!!!)

though, i must say, that you seem to have had a spot of bad luck (maybe many spots) - because a few of my friends who own a palio are really very happy - yes exp to maintain - but acc to them, requires no major maintainence!

hope i have good luck

dipen · 14th February 2005, 23:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedsatya

hey Salil,
and why did ur 44951 oilc change cost u 1768 rs instead of the usual 440rs taht u mentioned.
cheers,
satya

I think in this service all the oils were changed .
Engine, Power steering oil, brake oil, coolant , etc

speedsatya · 15th February 2005, 08:38

no i dont think its these oils as he has mentioned it as engine oil.and immedaitely after this service he has changed the gear oil and brake oil.

so salil ,
can u plss explainnnnnnnn

salil_kulkarni · 15th February 2005, 12:41

hey speedsatya,

will be able to check up on the difference in prices only once i go to the service centre, cos the guys are not capable of handling my queries in person most times, so im sure they wont be able to help me with my questions on the phone. :P

speedsatya · 15th February 2005, 13:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by salil_kulkarni

hey speedsatya,

will be able to check up on the difference in prices only once i go to the service centre, cos the guys are not capable of handling my queries in person most times, so im sure they wont be able to help me with my questions on the phone. :P

:WTF: means even you did not ask the reason for the difference in price.
and whats the reason behind adding the Motoreco oil additive.

satya

salil_kulkarni · 15th February 2005, 14:02

the motoreco is an engine treatment given to the car after it crosses 40,000 kms.
I hadnt asked about the oil prices cos the bills normally go to the office directly when the driver collects the car.

GTO · 15th February 2005, 14:09

The problem with Fiat is inconsistent quality from batch to batch, and the Palio 1.6 was most affected by this.

GTO

Shan2nu · 15th February 2005, 14:12

Well, one thing i can think of is that during a normal service, when they say engine oil change they actually mean engine oil topping. But, during a major service such as the 40K or 45k (depending on the car), they bleed the engine completely off it's oil and replace the whole system with new oil.

Shan2nu

deepakhon · 15th February 2005, 14:42

I have had a Palio 1.2 NV ELX for a little more than a year, but till now, I haven't spent a rupee other than the oil changes, etc that have to be made during service. Looks like you might have got a real bad piece. That shows the inconsistent quality level of Fiat India.

RX135 · 15th February 2005, 15:16

Indeed, this is the first case I have heard of GTX giving out problems. Couple of my friends own it and they are very happy with their cars.

salil_kulkarni · 16th February 2005, 00:06

yes. i enquired with the dealer and he said that the oil is normally topped up at every service, and only at the 1st big service interval(after 40,000 kms), they bleed the engine and refill it with new oil.

bad piece or no bad piece, the bad behaviour of the people at the dealership and the inability to help a customer is completely unjustified. i will soon be emailing the very same report that i have put on here, to the main PR guy at Fiat. Although im not expecting much, i just want to know his point of view on my whole problem.

speedsatya · 16th February 2005, 07:46

guys,

what engine oil does Fiat use.is it fully synthetic oil.as 40km is too long an interval for any oil.and from the 1800rs it looks like a fully synthetic oil.
but if you use a fully syntheitc oil,i dont think u need to use Motoreco.

what say ????????

Floyd de Souza · 16th February 2005, 18:44

Hi guys..I too wanted to post a longterm report on my S10 purchased in Sep03..and as the discussion is on the "experience", let me tell u that it is a mixed bag of feelings. To summarise : Car-excellent Quality-lousy and inconsistent..my running is not much..just 6000k over the last 11/2 yrs which includes a long drive to Sakleshpur(via Mangalore on Mangalore-Bangalore NH48). I had no problems at all the drive was a dream and there can be very few cars as good on the highway. Now I am saying lousy because..during this period, the car has been to the Shaman w/s 9 times i.e once in 2 months(right now it is at the w/s for suspension work at 6000km???). Cost estimated at 3000/-. I had just given my car for regular servicing and brake work etc on Jan 20..bill 4000/-(includes polishing 850/-). But you wont believe when I tell you that I got the car through someone very senior in Fiat which they are aware of but still care a ****...Most of the time the problems that crept up were repetitive which shows that either the technical ability of the w/s personnel is useless or the spare parts quality is bad..so I would say after sales-bad.
I too know many Palio owners(1.6 & 1.2) who are very happy with the car..so its just that the quality is inconsistent. I hear that the new cars are much better and hence Fiat has moved up in the JDPower IQS. They should have put up a new factory at Ranjangaon and closed down Kurla. I also heard that some of the service staff are hand in gloves with the dealers in putting false warranty claims etc. The people too need to be changed. But I think things will improve after the just concluded deal with GM...and hopefully there will be a management change here. So there isnt need to panic as India is key to Fiats longterm strategy.But yes there is a long way to go and the journey will be hard for Fiat. I think those who love Italian cars should continuing patronising Fiat. I think I have written too much.

14th February 2005, 11:44	#16
anoops BHPian Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: bangalore Posts: 183 Thanked: 3 Times	oh yeah, my battery also konked in 2 years...thats because of my music system..my old amp used to suck a lot of power..at least thats what that guy told me...got myself an amaron now...very happy.
	() Thanks

14th February 2005, 15:45	#17
Samurai Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bangalore/Udupi Posts: 25,831 Thanked: 45,596 Times View My Garage	Man! That's depressing... Every time I make up my mind on the Petra, I see one of these articles which scares me from owning a Fiat. My current car and my last two cars never broke down on me even once. If Palio can break down so many times, will Petra be any better. The quality of Fiat spares must be really bad. I thought only the Fiat India company and their dealerships were bad. However, if the product quality itself is bad, that creates a major inhibition against purchasing Fiat cars.
	() Thanks

14th February 2005, 22:33	#18
cream BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: mumbai Posts: 159 Thanked: 3 Times	wow, not something to look forward too, since i will be getting my new palio d in a few days - (yes there are a few buyers around!!!) though, i must say, that you seem to have had a spot of bad luck (maybe many spots) - because a few of my friends who own a palio are really very happy - yes exp to maintain - but acc to them, requires no major maintainence! hope i have good luck
	() Thanks

15th February 2005, 08:38	#20
speedsatya Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: bangalore/manga Posts: 3,169 Thanked: 738 Times View My Garage	no i dont think its these oils as he has mentioned it as engine oil.and immedaitely after this service he has changed the gear oil and brake oil. so salil , can u plss explainnnnnnnn
	() Thanks

15th February 2005, 12:41	#21
salil_kulkarni BHPian Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Turin, Italy Posts: 173 Thanked: 4 Times	hey speedsatya, will be able to check up on the difference in prices only once i go to the service centre, cos the guys are not capable of handling my queries in person most times, so im sure they wont be able to help me with my questions on the phone. :P
	() Thanks

15th February 2005, 14:02	#23
salil_kulkarni BHPian Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Turin, Italy Posts: 173 Thanked: 4 Times	the motoreco is an engine treatment given to the car after it crosses 40,000 kms. I hadnt asked about the oil prices cos the bills normally go to the office directly when the driver collects the car.
	() Thanks

15th February 2005, 14:09	#24
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 70,546 Thanked: 300,788 Times View My Garage	The problem with Fiat is inconsistent quality from batch to batch, and the Palio 1.6 was most affected by this. GTO
	() Thanks

15th February 2005, 14:12	#25
Shan2nu Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Hubli - Karnata Posts: 5,533 Thanked: 125 Times View My Garage	Well, one thing i can think of is that during a normal service, when they say engine oil change they actually mean engine oil topping. But, during a major service such as the 40K or 45k (depending on the car), they bleed the engine completely off it's oil and replace the whole system with new oil. Shan2nu
	() Thanks

15th February 2005, 14:42	#26
deepakhon Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,441 Thanked: 65 Times	I have had a Palio 1.2 NV ELX for a little more than a year, but till now, I haven't spent a rupee other than the oil changes, etc that have to be made during service. Looks like you might have got a real bad piece. That shows the inconsistent quality level of Fiat India.
	() Thanks

15th February 2005, 15:16	#27
RX135 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: pune Posts: 2,106 Thanked: 75 Times	Indeed, this is the first case I have heard of GTX giving out problems. Couple of my friends own it and they are very happy with their cars.
	() Thanks

16th February 2005, 00:06	#28
salil_kulkarni BHPian Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Turin, Italy Posts: 173 Thanked: 4 Times	yes. i enquired with the dealer and he said that the oil is normally topped up at every service, and only at the 1st big service interval(after 40,000 kms), they bleed the engine and refill it with new oil. bad piece or no bad piece, the bad behaviour of the people at the dealership and the inability to help a customer is completely unjustified. i will soon be emailing the very same report that i have put on here, to the main PR guy at Fiat. Although im not expecting much, i just want to know his point of view on my whole problem.
	() Thanks

16th February 2005, 07:46	#29
speedsatya Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: bangalore/manga Posts: 3,169 Thanked: 738 Times View My Garage	guys, what engine oil does Fiat use.is it fully synthetic oil.as 40km is too long an interval for any oil.and from the 1800rs it looks like a fully synthetic oil. but if you use a fully syntheitc oil,i dont think u need to use Motoreco. what say ????????
	() Thanks

16th February 2005, 18:44	#30
Floyd de Souza BHPian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 320 Thanked: 225 Times	Hi guys..I too wanted to post a longterm report on my S10 purchased in Sep03..and as the discussion is on the "experience", let me tell u that it is a mixed bag of feelings. To summarise : Car-excellent Quality-lousy and inconsistent..my running is not much..just 6000k over the last 11/2 yrs which includes a long drive to Sakleshpur(via Mangalore on Mangalore-Bangalore NH48). I had no problems at all the drive was a dream and there can be very few cars as good on the highway. Now I am saying lousy because..during this period, the car has been to the Shaman w/s 9 times i.e once in 2 months(right now it is at the w/s for suspension work at 6000km???). Cost estimated at 3000/-. I had just given my car for regular servicing and brake work etc on Jan 20..bill 4000/-(includes polishing 850/-). But you wont believe when I tell you that I got the car through someone very senior in Fiat which they are aware of but still care a ****...Most of the time the problems that crept up were repetitive which shows that either the technical ability of the w/s personnel is useless or the spare parts quality is bad..so I would say after sales-bad. I too know many Palio owners(1.6 & 1.2) who are very happy with the car..so its just that the quality is inconsistent. I hear that the new cars are much better and hence Fiat has moved up in the JDPower IQS. They should have put up a new factory at Ranjangaon and closed down Kurla. I also heard that some of the service staff are hand in gloves with the dealers in putting false warranty claims etc. The people too need to be changed. But I think things will improve after the just concluded deal with GM...and hopefully there will be a management change here. So there isnt need to panic as India is key to Fiats longterm strategy.But yes there is a long way to go and the journey will be hard for Fiat. I think those who love Italian cars should continuing patronising Fiat. I think I have written too much.
	() Thanks