4th June 2009, 12:14
| #1 |
| Senior - BHPian  Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Delhi
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| My CNG Linea 1.4 E+ : 46,000 kms update A brief introduction The search for a sedan began in 2009, 1 year after our Scorpio 2006 model met with a horrible accident at UNA, himachal pradesh ( we visit himachal 3-4 times in a year). My worst fears came true and with dad at drivers seat car lost complete control at a sharp turn at 60-70 km/h and toppled 3 times. We 4 came out unharmed and after that the scorpio never went to Himachal. Which Sedan to pick 1. First option was the Hyundai Verna crdi with one stonker of an engine(CRDI) Only problem with it was No AIRBAGS even in the top end model and with further calculations thought that petrol engine will suit us, i wasnt convinced about its handling too after 100-120 speeds. Went to Deep hyundai to look for it, get a quote and it was closed. 2. Sideby was a Tata-Fiat Techno auto showroom with Red Fiat badge glowing to its full glory. Dad asked me to come in and have a look. I told him that if we arent going to buy a Fiat car then why should we waste time too. Dad insisted and went inside. A Flamence red Linea was there near the entrance. Never thought Linea looked so beautiful, made rounds around the car and then said to my heart that this car deserves a test drive. The showroom guy said Demo car isnt there and he will come next day at 11 am. Waiting starts, call him at 2 pm and he says will bring the car around 4 pm  . Finally a silver petrol Linea came , had a TD and yes engine was sluggish below 1800 RPM, everything else was top notch from handling to braking and build quality.For 10-12 days, read all reviews on team bhp and made up my mind, we got the money ready and thought to book the car on 1st april (April fool's day), on 30th dad got a offer to buy a ANHC SMT 2500 kms run car for 8 lakhs. After 2 days of fight we finally settled again for Linea and booked a EMOTION PACK 1.4 LINEA SILVER on 1st arpil. Booking was smooth and my dealership TECHNO auto promised delivery by 13-14th. Called him on 6th and told him to give me chasis number as i want car by 14th or else i will cancel the booking as had to go to himachal around 5th may and had to complete run in by then. He said car has not yet started its journey. Got a surprise call on 7th to take away the car as someone was not able to make the payment of his car. I became extra vigilant and checked the car thoroughly. Paid the money next day and took the car back home. Got floor mats, mud flaps, body cover, perfume as freebies. Initial driving experience Car has now completed 2500 kms and has completed one 1200 kms round trip to hills of himachal and back. Here are my observations: Engine: Many talks have been done about the engine being poor or "underpowered" as some say. 1st gear is too short and even 2nd felt sluggish when i took the car. Once car is above 1800 RPM, its own its own and gulps speed nicely. There is not turbocharges but Linea behaves this way only. I dont know whether i got adjusted to the engine but now it feels opened up and 2nd gear onwards my Linea gives that good feeling of being pushed into the seat though very little i agree. In my Long trip car was cruising effortlesslt at 120-130 and max i touched was 155 when a Honda Ciy vtec started fiddling with me to get defeated. Even in hills, 3rd gear did the job mostly and only sometimes i had to use 2nd gear even as car was full with 5 people and boot full too. I find the engine adequately powered and those who say Linea will become a DOT IN THE MIRROR, i can just say that till chandigrah, i was at drivers seat and only a Skoda laura, honda accord and a BMW passed me whom i nicely gave way as i didnt want to hold them and even i couldnt. Suspension, Braking and Stability The best part of the car after the looks of the vehicle. The potholes are all nicely taken by suspensions though with a "thud" sound which tells you hit a pothole. Suspension setting is soft and it shows how nicely the car takes on bone jarring holes in our roads. Stability is mind blowing. 1260 kg of weight has a added advantage here and even at 155 car was sticking to the road and asked for road but there was no space. In hills, all hairpins were taken nicely which inspires so much confidence. Brakes are awesome too. I tasted ABS for first time and those who drive non ABS scorpio know what i am telling. The brakes are too good for the car and car stops without any fuss. Features and fuel efficiency Do i need to speak? There are loads and loads of them. MID, Blu n Me, remote boot opener, speed vol control (learnt yest after reading here) etc. Car is loaded to the brim. In city FE is hovering between 11-12, all with FULL AC. Best i got was 11.5 and worst was 10.1. On highways with spirited driving i managed 14.1 on tankful at chandigrah and hills returned FE ranging from 12.6 to 13.2. CONS OF LINEA Tata-Fiat A.S.S Biggest hurdle for anyone buying Linea. It will take time for people to believe in the car and the company. My experience has been good so far. Have got mutiple calls from TATA about dealers and on one complaint to Mr. Mangesh, service centre people came rushing to my house. The dealer forgot to give me code card and mixed it with other cards, then had to rush to their workshop 25 kms one side to match my card. FIAT mechanic wasnt there and they were asking instructions on mobile on how to operate tech2 scanner. Road Noise: This is a issue which is irritating me again and again. Road noise is too much over rough tarmac. People say its GOODYEAR tyres which are culprit but i dont know what is the problem. Plastic parts, Arent they too delicate? Took the delivery of the car and broke the front AC vent the same day. Service centre people said "Humbe pen se adjust kar diya uskae face, yeh theek nahi ho sakta, humein dashboard kholna hoga", came back home sadly. Seat height adjuster Whatever i do, after 2 days the seat height level comes down. Dad and me put the seat at max height level and after 2 days the seat comes down on its own. IMAGES NOW       |
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4th June 2009, 12:37
| #2 |
| Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Delhi
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| Here are the pics from my trip to Himachal and also the pictures of LINEA OEM mud flaps which i got coloured at my friend's workshop. Coloured mud flaps look good i think, the black screws are visible but later got them coloured too.         |
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4th June 2009, 12:39
| #3 |
| BHPian  Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Hyderabad
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| Beautiful car dude, great choice. Road noise is largely due to the tyres, change those if you can. Nice seat covers you got there as well. The A.S.S is a pain in the wrong place, but the car more than makes up for it, won't you say  |
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4th June 2009, 12:40
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4th June 2009, 12:43
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4th June 2009, 12:46
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| Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bangalore
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4th June 2009, 12:49
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| BHPian  Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Jaipur, RAJ
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4th June 2009, 12:49
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4th June 2009, 12:50
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4th June 2009, 13:19
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| Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Delhi
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3m sunfilm 50% visibility was fitted for Rs. 3000. Karthik, well many complain of Goodyears as noisy tyres and seems FIAT saved on cost in this department. On smooth roads there is no noise but come the hard tarmac and the groan sound continously comes in. How are you planning to do sound proofing  , i didnt understand. | |||||||
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4th June 2009, 13:41
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4th June 2009, 14:11
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4th June 2009, 14:29
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4th June 2009, 14:32
| #14 | ||
| Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Delhi
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 after help from a fellow member jaisha here.Quote:
 which was the saving grace for me | ||
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4th June 2009, 14:33
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