[samsag12]

Karthik1100 the blue Padmini looks clean. It seems like a daily runner. I am curious to know how do you people interact with the would be FCB members. Here i am shooed away by many owners so thought what modus operandi do you people use.
BTW the color on the CNN regd. Padmini somewhat resembles to Pavan sir's friend Joy's immaculate NE.

[Karthik1100]

Sagar: Its not like all Fiatians here greet us always. But I can say at least 7 out of 10 get excited, the rest may be are happy if we leave them alone.

But frankly speaking, these days we guys hardly stop any Fiat owner and introduce ourselves as those days are gone! I can say that at least 50% of Fiat owners in Bangalore know us either through media or through mechanics. I find many mechanics referring our Club to many Fiat owners.

We are hoping that by March 2011, 80% of Bangalore Fiatians should be aware of FCB.

[Karthik1100]

Fiat 1100 Club - Bangalore : Nov 2010 Dhamaka Meet

Fiat 1100 Club-Bangalore is proud to announce the final time schedule and venue for the upcoming meet.

Date: 21st November 2010
Time: 09:30hrs
Venue: LalBagh (Double Road entrance)
Invitees: FCB members with family and friends, Fiat enthusiasts and All Automobile lovers!

We plan to do the meet very Members oriented. The outcome of the Meet should be fruitful. The final stages of the meet plan are on. The complete agenda will be out by next weekend.

As just 10% of FCBians are in TB, we have sent SMSes to all members about the schedule. Emails too will be sent shortly.

Regards,
Karthik1100

[Fiat&Me]

Originally Posted by PAVAN KADAM

One day sufficient to get it back to look original, provided you FCB guys give me the necessary spares.

Off-late, i am seeing more and more of old Fiats on road, this was not the case 3 yrs ago.

Exactly said. Since last 4 years I am regular visitor of Bangalore ( Approx. More than 100 times). I am also seeing comparativly more Padminis/Fiats on road at various places like Jalhalli, Indiranagar, CV raman nagar, Seshadripuram, Mekri circle, Yeshvantpur etc. Most of them are either restored or maintained in good condition. I think this is because of full efforts of FCBians and FIAT lovers. Now no Banglorean will ever sell his fiat. Rather he will retain Fiat and buy a new car.

[samsag12]

Originally Posted by Karthik1100

Sagar: Its not like all Fiatians here greet us always. But I can say at least 7 out of 10 get excited, the rest may be are happy if we leave them alone.

But frankly speaking, these days we guys hardly stop any Fiat owner and introduce ourselves as those days are gone! I can say that at least 50% of Fiat owners in Bangalore know us either through media or through mechanics. I find many mechanics referring our Club to many Fiat owners.

We are hoping that by March 2011, 80% of Bangalore Fiatians should be aware of FCB.

Oh i forgot that now FCB doesn't needs any introduction in Bangalore. Good to know that mechanics too are referring Fiat owners to the club, here the mechanics do only one job after seeing a Fiat, Kabaadi ko bula ke daam lagwa do sahaab aur purani 800 (Maruti) khareed lo.
I really get pissed off every time i hear this. But its our clubs which are fully dedicated to the rescue of Fiats. So no worries, i think.

[GreenDay]

Some Fiats being used as daily use cars near my house.

[PAVAN KADAM]

Hi Guys,

I have something to inform all you guys.

As the whole of FCB knows about a certain place called "PREMIER LAND"

Myself and Karthik (Funkykar) and Arun1100 have a first hand information about this shop. We initially felt this is THE SHOP for our beloved Premier's..........!

But, i am sorry to say, we have all gone wrong

I had got Joy's 118NE serviced at this shop at a whopping expenditure of 20K, 4 months and 1200 kms, i am seeing all the BLEMISHES. What i thought was a clean job, now certainly looks like a simple patch up job and only a money making enterprise.

We entrusted the shop to perform the following, let me explain my views.

1) Suspension Overhaul (Front & Back) :

a) We got the complete Bush kits and asked him to replace them, what i noticed now, Only 50% of the Bushes are replaced and the rest are unused and in the box, Suspension is just OK and nothing great. The charges for the same are 8K which is not justified inspite of we giving the spares.

2) Steering Box Overhaul

We had a very negligible ply in the steering, But this shop recommended we need to do it. And also since Joy (AirBusDriver) is very particular about the steering feedback, we gave a go ahead, charged a 3.5K for the same, 1200 kms later, the trouble still persists. Infact , i was adviced by BEHRAM DHABAR SIR to do it myself, I got it done, but off late i am experiencing a "KHUD KHUD" noise while driving on Bad Roads.

3) All Oils and Lubricants replacement

Was charged around 4.7K for the same, well i cannot comment on this job, as its the most simplest thing to do and anyone could have done the same at 2K.

4) Electrical Checking, Fuse and Bulb replacement if needed

a) We were charged 2.5K for it, and literally NOTHING IS DONE, i recently spent around 2K with my electrician to get the bulbs/holders and few fuses replaced.
b) I wanted him to get the clock in the meter console done, He said nothing can be done as Half of the NE's have a defunct clock which does not work. -- On the contrary, i recently got the clock replaced with a NEW one at a known meter shop for Rs 1100/- and its working fine since 500kms
c) I wanted him to check on the wipe and wash function, said, spares not available and that thing does not work most of the times - I found them off the self for Rs 70/- a pair and was a simple DIY

5) Silencer Mounting

The silencer was hanging and making hell a lot of noise, he did not do the job saying this part is not at all available, instead tied some wire around, which eventually gave way immediately. We were charged labour for that. 3 days ago, unable to bear the noise, i go to the shop directed by funkykar and Arun1100, found them off the shelf for Rs 650/- And now they are working great.

6) Gear lever Boot

The same had cracked, was not replaced with the same lame excuse-No Spares. i found them easily and replaced the same.

7) Carb Overhaul & Complete tuning

Well the carb seems to be holding well, but certainly not tuned well, thats OK and liveable.
But the engine tuning is really BAD. The tappet noise is audible, which should not be the case, the engine gives a small missing note. Ignition coil was replaced by a cheap one, recently got a LUCAS as directed by BEHRAM DHABAR sir.
For all this we were charged 2.7K.

Well guys, this whole experience has left a sad taste because, even after this, i went to him twice, he either was not available inspite of me calling and going or the other time i met him, sent me away saying workers not available, we will do it some other time.

KINDLY STAY AWAY FOR YOUR OWN GOOD.

[Karthik1100]

Sad..

If Premier Land, then only one way you will be satisfied : Get all the spares needed and hand it over to Mr. Govindan(Owner). All the labor work needed to fix the parts will be done. This way the bill will also be cheap.

In Karthik Makam's case, the work done on his NE was front and back FULL suspension overhaul. COMPLETE Parts costed him 10k and labour was 6.5K.

The owner himself told Makam to get the parts as if Govindan gets then he will charge tax and parts rate will be high as he gets them from Chennai.

[PAVAN KADAM]

Originally Posted by Karthik1100

Sad..

If Premier Land, then only one way you will be satisfied : Get all the spares needed and hand it over to Mr. Govindan(Owner). All the labor work needed to fix the parts will be done. This way the bill will also be cheap.

In Karthik Makam's case, the work done on his NE was front and back FULL suspension overhaul. COMPLETE Parts costed him 10k and labour was 6.5K.

The owner himself told Makam to get the parts as if Govindan gets then he will charge tax and parts rate will be high as he gets them from Chennai.

Well,

I gave him the complete suspension bush kits, only 40% are used and rest not done. And inspite of that, the HUGE labour bill. It does not make sense.

I myself being a restorer, i try and make sure that the costs and time is minimised and the end user does not suffer. Here i understand its his Business, but this is daylight robbery.

I have decided to stay away from that shop from now on. Just a word of caution, you guys can best decide.

[Karthik1100]

Thanks for the info.

Anyways I always go to my trusted neighboring mechanic!

Garages like PL are for those who have some good stock of money and have no idea/time to get their cars repaired.

We guys should get such repair works done by our well known small time mechanic.

A costly learning experience.

[manishalive]

Originally Posted by PAVAN KADAM

Hi Guys,

I have something to inform all you guys.

As the whole of FCB knows about a certain place called "PREMIER LAND"

But, i am sorry to say, we have all gone wrong

.

Oh sad to hear that, good thing is use our own brains (which we have in plenty) and get the job done in our supervision.

Pawan I will give you the PDF of Fiat 1100 manual, which i found very informative. will hold good for any car too.

[DHABHAR.BEHRAM]

Dear Pavan / all - during our interaction in Bangalore, when I came to know the amount paid for the suspension, steering etc, I knew that somebody got taken but I did not want to disappoint anybody so I had kept quiet. By the way, my cousin's Maruti 800 had a major issue in the transmission for which he was quoted Rs.38500/- to correct and I did it for Rs.580/- only. Recently my daily use car (you know what it is) developed a very irritating squeak from the front right side. I solved it at zero expense in just under 5 minutes. Even if the bill would have been Rs.1500/- to remove the swqeak, the profit margin would be infinity (anything divided by zero is infinity). I can confidently state that I can "exactly pinpoint" the root cause and correct it. You guys must develop this capability. It's value to us is priceless. Others in any case won't understand.

Best regards,

Behram Dhabhar

[Karthik1100]

Thank you B.D Sir for guiding us as always.

FCB had participated in the Maruti Suzuki King of Hills - A hill climb race yesterday. I participated in my Palio Sport and a Rallyist Jayant bro's rally spec S1.

Some pics:

[Fiat&Me]

Originally Posted by Karthik1100

Thank you B.D Sir for guiding us as always.

FCB had participated in the Maruti Suzuki King of Hills - A hill climb race yesterday. I participated in my Palio Sport and a Rallyist Jayant bro's rally spec S1.

Nice pictures Karthik. By the way you and your Palio both are looking fantastic ! Complete red matching. Pleasure to see Padmini S1 still participating in racing and that to hill climbing!! In hindi this is called " Lambi race ka ghoda". After all in 1970s-80s she was winner of Himalayan rally.

[funkykar]

FCBian Mr.Ashok's Fiat 1221!

He mailed these pics to us. Enjoy!