Team-BHP - Fiat Grande Punto : Test Drive & Review

Quote:

Originally Posted by akm225 (Post 2784673)

My dealer calls me up and tells me that since the Punto Sport has now been launched; I have no choice but to go for the Punto Sport and that I need to pay the extra amount.

Which dealer is this? Sounds like KHT Motors in Whitefield.

If this is how they are treating you, you should dump the idea and not buy a Fiat. This dealer attitude is unacceptable.

I had a terrible experience with KHT Motors when I picked up my Fiat. Terrible to the point that, if it was any other customer they would have dumped the idea of buying a Fiat. Fiat India were initially offering a cash discount of Rs. 75000 on the Tjet Plus. This was when I made the booking mid November 2011. A week later I had learned that the cash discount had increased to 1 lac rupees. When I followed up with my sales in charge, he agreed to the updated discount but said that it was for cars from the January-February 2011 batch whereas the cars with Rs. 75000 discount were from May June 2011 batch. This was a big fat lie as I cross checked with Prerana Motors and they said that was incorrect, I could have any batch of car I wanted and the discount will be 1 lac rupees. I cancelled my booking with KHT Motors and rebooked with Prerana in Lalbagh. I had to take a loss of Rs. 2000 as booking cancellation but at the end of the day, it was worth going to Prerana. They were professional and did not say "NO" to anything I wanted.

^^
To some (or larger) extent the blame lies with Fiat too. It was them who would have instructed the dealer to push for Sports version so as to improve the dealer and Fiat's margin (remember Sports doesn't come with discounts yet). It is like taking chance with unsuspecting customers and if some smart one comes then play out the drama which was planned well in advance.
Fiat is having 2010 manufactured cars still lying in their stock and still they are acting funny. Trying very hard shooting themselves in the foot.

Quote:

Originally Posted by carwatcher (Post 2789683)

Fiat is having 2010 manufactured cars still lying in their stock and still they are acting funny. Trying very hard shooting themselves in the foot.

If this is the case, why don't they give more discounts to sell off the remaining stock?
The Punto Sport in limited numbers (250), will they sell all 250? Remember when Fiat introduced S10, they could not sell all of them and eventually they have to sell it off in second market (due to contract with Sachin was expired).

dream wish is that they sell Punto Sports diesel with more discount, so that I can buy one :D 6 months or a year down the line...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ford5

If it was not for die-hard Fiat nuts Fiat wouldn't be here this long.

That's what I used to think and argue with FIAT'ians. However, I do realise now that FIAT is here because of good products. Good products that lure people who become 'FIAT nuts' later on.

And yes- sadly, only the products are good. Everything else went wrong somewhere down the line.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ford5 (Post 2790491)

Fiat oh Fiat. Wish you were on team-bhp.

I can assure you 100% that Fiat is already there on T-BHP and I also feel that their decision to start their independent dealership (which is a No-brainer) has been influenced by T-BHP to some extent (if not large).
I strongly believe that No manufacturer can afford to ignore this forum for having a feel about the typical Indian customer psyche.

Quote:

Originally Posted by carwatcher (Post 2790749)

I strongly believe that No manufacturer can afford to ignore this forum for having a feel about the typical Indian customer psyche.

I dont think the manufacturers take this forum seriously. If they did, then some vehicles would not have come to the market in its present avatar.

Just that TBHP has a lot of rants and the public can read about it if they feel the need to.

Quote:

Originally Posted by headers

Team BHP also has a lot of raves :)
It does not matter if the manufacturers don't take the forum seriously. What matters is whether public do, and they do. If we help people by sharing our experience, they will know which car to buy, which does affect the manufacturers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by headers (Post 2790972)

I dont think the manufacturers take this forum seriously. If they did, then some vehicles would not have come to the market in its present avatar.
Just that TBHP has a lot of rants and the public can read about it if they feel the need to.

This has been point lot and lot of times by various members that why should they:
Our No. is not that large (not too small either) same like middle class voters which are not taken by politicians seriously (to make matters worse they don't come out to vote either).

Also see the quality of posts now a days.
Majority of the people expecting and demanding discounts on day one of launch.
Expecting, demanding and advising others for Rs. 5 lac discount for a small scratch done on car before delivery. If I were a dealer/manufacturer, would politely decline the sale.
People taking kids to showrooms (nothing wrong) and when they can't control and if the sales staff politely requests to comply, start accusing him of misbehaviour. Tell me how you feel when someone like this do this in your car or drawing room.
There are numerous posts and instances like this posted day in and day out nowadays and often you wonder that is common sense too uncommon and that's why I used the words "typical Indian customer psyche" in my previous post.
All I can say is Our Respect is in our Own Hands and it applies to T-BHP and T-BHPians too.
Freedom of Speech shouldn't be taken too far so as to create problems for others.
And be assured that each and every post is read by manufacturers and millions others, so think before posting anything on T-BHP (reminded time and again by Modeartors)

Quote:

Originally Posted by nvssudheer

Why is the new Oceanic Blue virtually absent on the roads? Never seen a Punto or Linea in that shade. Is the colour a flop or they are not delivering it?

I saw one Linea in OB colour today. When I passed it, it turned out to be a test drive car :)

There is one OB Punto in RMZ Ecospace that I spot often. I do think the colour is a flop. The bestselling colours on Linea seems to be Flamenco Red / Tuscan Wine, White and Silver.

Electric Blue and Foxtrot Azure seems to be flop colours on Punto.