[Vid6639]

Originally Posted by noopster

Can you specify what these engine issues are? Did you have the CRDI engine? I always assumed it was a workhorse. In any case if there was a genuine issue, you should have fought it out rather than cave and sell the vehicle!

Noop, check the Ecosport review thread. Harpreet has documented his issue and the whole saga of dealing with Ford. This is pretty much a last resort.

[IshaanIan]

Originally Posted by harpreetsubhi

Mod Note: Moved post here from the Vento Official Review thread where it should receive more objective responses.

Hello All

I recently sold off my Ford Ecosport (8 month old) due to some engine issue, which Ford never realized as an issue.
Now I'm contemplating buying among the two :
Vento TDi - Highline - Approx 60K discount in Faridabad - On road : 10.78L without extended warranty.
Honda City Diesel - SV Variant - On road - 10.65L on road with extended warranty.

Need advise from all experts on this. So please pour in your comments.

Regards
Harpreet

Firstly, please give us some more details on your experience with the EcoSport. This sounds absolutely shocking

Now if you are looking at a car in the C2 segment I would advise you to wait; the space is just beginning to heat up with the imminent launch of the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz, Ford Fiesta facelift and VW Vento facelift. You definitely don't want to miss out on any of that or the discounts that may be offered on existing stock, then.

Cheers and good luck!

[iliketurtles]

I second noopster in saying that the true VW experience begins with the Jetta. The Vento, while a good car in its own right, shouldn't be your pick. There's a lot going for it, which has been elaborated on here, but the newer nature of the City plus the fact you're looking to keep it for 8 years means that the Honda should be a no-brainer.

Yes, the Vento too can prove to be as reliable over that period, but Hondas are more of a sure thing in that regard. Give that you've had your fingers burnt by the Ecosport you should put the utter reliability of the City over the fun nature of the Vento.

[sunilsoft]

Need advice on Buying Skoda Rapid Ultima Elegance. Comes with 5 year maintenance package, one year Insurance, projector headlamps, navigator, leather package. 5 year loan at 7.99 % interest. or Should I go for vento Highliine which has Rs. 80000 discount.

[harpreetsubhi]

Originally Posted by sunilsoft

Need advice on Buying Skoda Rapid Ultima Elegance. Comes with 5 year maintenance package, one year Insurance, projector headlamps, navigator, leather package. 5 year loan at 7.99 % interest. or Should I go for vento Highliine which has Rs. 80000 discount.

Hello Sunil
In particular both the cars are the same. But I have found that Skoda has poorer after sales than the VW.
But that may be a particular trait of the Faridabad dealership. In Faridabad even the pre sales is absolutely pathetic.
I would trust VW more. Even I'm in a fix to choose between Skoda, VW and the City. Currently City seems the front runner.

[iliketurtles]

The Skoda Rapid is a very decent car, but you should check up how Skoda's service is in your city. Getting the car home is one thing, living with it quite another and the after-sales experience is a big part of the latter.

I'd pick the Rapid over the Vento provided I'm sure that the after-sales and service experience from Skoda has good reviews where you stay. Do check that out before taking the plunge.

[sunilsoft]

Originally Posted by iliketurtles

The Skoda Rapid is a very decent car, but you should check up how Skoda's service is in your city. Getting the car home is one thing, living with it quite another and the after-sales experience is a big part of the latter.

I'd pick the Rapid over the Vento provided I'm sure that the after-sales and service experience from Skoda has good reviews where you stay. Do check that out before taking the plunge.

What I have heard about Krishna automobiles in Chandigarh is 80 to 90% positive reviews about their service and only things that are holding my decision are dead pedal and power folding mirrors.

[desdemona]

Originally Posted by harpreetsubhi

Hello Sunil
In particular both the cars are the same. But I have found that Skoda has poorer after sales than the VW.
But that may be a particular trait of the Faridabad dealership. In Faridabad even the pre sales is absolutely pathetic.
I would trust VW more. Even I'm in a fix to choose between Skoda, VW and the City. Currently City seems the front runner.

Hi Harpreet. Did you get a chance to check out the new Linea? What did you think? Did you find the diesel under-whelming?

I ask since I am keen to hear your impressions of DRS Fiat, Faridabad. They have just opened a service centre in Gurgaon, which i visited a couple of days ago, and was impressed, somewhat. Am keen to hear of what this dealer's like with sales, TDs etc. Since they will also be soon opening a showroom here too.

Also, i want to urge you once again to keep an open mind, DESPITE your poor experience with Ford, hard though that must be!

[harpreetsubhi]

Originally Posted by desdemona

Hi Harpreet. Did you get a chance to check out the new Linea? What did you think? Did you find the diesel under-whelming?

I ask since I am keen to hear your impressions of DRS Fiat, Faridabad. They have just opened a service centre in Gurgaon, which i visited a couple of days ago, and was impressed, somewhat. Am keen to hear of what this dealer's like with sales, TDs etc. Since they will also be soon opening a showroom here too.

Also, i want to urge you once again to keep an open mind, DESPITE your poor experience with Ford, hard though that must be!

Hello Desdemona

Oh yes, I got a chance to get behind the wheel of New Linea Emotion. Here are my observations about the car :

1. Absolutely Excellent build quality. A typical European trait.
2. Excellent road handling.
3. Wow interiors - you have every thing in the car - from voice activation to ABS/EBD in the top variant - really impressed by new interiors.
4. 16" Alloy wheels look fabulous.
5. Superb GC of 185mm.
6. An absolute soft clutch pedal - So life in city traffic won't be painful.

The only thing which I did not like was the diesel motor behavior. The car which was offered for TD had already done 5000 kms. So I was expecting the car to have shed off the initial tuning lag of a new diesel car. But somehow I did not find any exponential acceleration in even the 3rd gear. The drive was absolutely linear. The turbo lag was very much there in the 1st and the 2nd gears, like the same 90BHP DDiS motor driven Ertiga. In that matter it lagged behind even the 90BHP motor of Ford Ecosport.

The dealership experience was very good. These guys are very focused and hence buying a car from them would be a very nice experience. They are absolutely polite and nice behaving guys. That said they are not arrogant like the Skoda Faridabad/Classic Honda Faridabad sales team.

When I raised questions about poor after sales record of FIAT, these guys tried a lot to convince me about the radical change in FIAT that has taken place post the FIAT - TATA breakup. According to them FIAT is super focused on the post sales part, as FIAT knows that is what made bite the dust even though they have one of the best cars. Moreover they also emphasized that this is the final chance for FIAT to succeed in India - so FIAT does not want to let any stone unturned as far as ownership of their vehicles is concerned. Overall my experience with DRS Fiat was absolutely fantastic.

[ramzsys]

Originally Posted by RiGOD

But after going though various posts in this forum, I'm actually concerned about the model being phased out soon and availability of spares being a problem. Is Amaze Diesel a better choice?

BTW I liked the stability of Classic better that Amaze while TD'ing.

Classic shares a lot of parts with the Figo, so the concern about parts availability can be downplayed.

Amaze diesel is in all ways an inferior choice except for the power numbers. Classic power can be described as 'just adequate' for a sedate driving. Enthusiasts will be whining a lot about the power.

Otherwise, it is a pretty durable chassis mated to a reliable(although slow) motor.

[OneToughRider]

Originally Posted by harpreetsubhi

Hello Desdemona

Oh yes, I got a chance to get behind the wheel of New Linea Emotion. Here are my observations about the car :

1. Absolutely Excellent build quality. A typical European trait.
2. Excellent road handling.
3. Wow interiors - you have every thing in the car - from voice activation to ABS/EBD in the top variant - really impressed by new interiors.
4. 16" Alloy wheels look fabulous.
5. Superb GC of 185mm.
6. An absolute soft clutch pedal - So life in city traffic won't be painful.

The only thing which I did not like was the diesel motor behavior.

Excellent review Harpreet, I was wondering why there are less reviews or feedback about this hot upgraded sedan which lacks road presence even now. Is it overpriced? I assume will give tough competition to VW Vento!

Diesel motor you mentioned might be because of a test drive vehicle. FIAT dealerships across NCR I'd been to keep their test ride vehicles in poor condition.

[harpreetsubhi]

Originally Posted by OneToughRider

Excellent review Harpreet, I was wondering why there are less reviews or feedback about this hot upgraded sedan which lacks road presence even now. Is it overpriced? I assume will give tough competition to VW Vento!

Diesel motor you mentioned might be because of a test drive vehicle. FIAT dealerships across NCR I'd been to keep their test ride vehicles in poor condition.

The reason for their poor sales show is because of two reasons. One is the historical reason and the other is competition.

People have lost trust in them. Over the years they have not been able to impress people with the after sales department. Year on year they have taken wrong strategic turns and hence have lost total trust of the customer. FIAT is trying hard to change that, but things damaged in long can't be corrected in a jiffy. They will have to keep on working on this - even though there dealers/balance sheets continue to show RED marks. They have no choice now - but to keep marching ahead - with full eyes on customer ecstasy.

Second reason is the competition. In the cost bracket they offer, there are plethora of reliable, beautiful and powerful products available in the market. Therefore there dreadful past adds to the woes and hence people switch over to other products.

Even I wonder, how would they do a turn around of this business with such low volumes.

[desdemona]

Originally Posted by harpreetsubhi

Even I wonder, how would they do a turn around of this business with such low volumes.

(a) through sales of the upcoming new Punto which has been selling smartly and increasingly for the last 5-6 months (800+), with the exception of May
(b) through sales of the Avventura crossover
(c) through sales of the Tata Zest and Bolt, in which Fiat has something like a 50% share. I believe both these cars will be hits.
(d) through sales and exports of engines to Suzuki etc

The Tata-Fiat facory JV is profitable, unlike the oprations of almost all the non-Maruti, non-Hyundai firms, who are sitting on huge accumulated losses (eg., Honda, Ford, Chevrolet).

And therefore, IMO there is no reason to worry about Fiat in India: Fiat-Jeep-Chrysler is doing great in the US, doing well in Europe and Brazil, and so there is a big push in China and India, from the CEO, Sergio Marchionne Jeep will be launched next year, and then made in India starting 2016.

The new Linea is a sumptuous automotive treat, btw, especially in T-jet petrol avatar. And over the years many Linea-s have been sold, and so if there are fears about its servicing because its sales are (wrongly!;-)) low, those apprehensions are totally unjustified.

[OneToughRider]

Originally Posted by harpreetsubhi

The reason for their poor sales show is because of two reasons. One is the historical reason and the other is competition.

Harpeet, I stayed in Bangalore and seen umpteen Linea(s) and Punto(s) and few 500ds on road. If my speculation is not wrong, FIAT + FORD combined surpasses the number of Hyundai(s) in Bangalore itself. So where this sales figure an issue, I am not sure. May be that's the case in North or Delhi-NCR in particular.

Originally Posted by desdemona

And therefore, IMO there is no reason to worry about Fiat in India: Fiat-Jeep-Chrysler is doing great in the US, doing well in Europe and Brazil, and so there is a big push in China and India, from the CEO, Sergio Marchionne Jeep will be launched next year, and then made in India starting 2016.

The new Linea is a sumptuous automotive treat, btw, especially in T-jet petrol avatar. And over the years many Linea-s have been sold, and so if there are fears about its servicing because its sales are (wrongly!;-)) low, those apprehensions are totally unjustified.

[harpreetsubhi]

Originally Posted by desdemona

(a) through sales of the upcoming new Punto which has been selling smartly and increasingly for the last 5-6 months (800+), with the exception of May
(b) through sales of the Avventura crossover
(c) through sales of the Tata Zest and Bolt, in which Fiat has something like a 50% share. I believe both these cars will be hits.
(d) through sales and exports of engines to Suzuki etc

The Tata-Fiat facory JV is profitable, unlike the oprations of almost all the non-Maruti, non-Hyundai firms, who are sitting on huge accumulated losses (eg., Honda, Ford, Chevrolet).

And therefore, IMO there is no reason to worry about Fiat in India: Fiat-Jeep-Chrysler is doing great in the US, doing well in Europe and Brazil, and so there is a big push in China and India, from the CEO, Sergio Marchionne Jeep will be launched next year, and then made in India starting 2016.

The new Linea is a sumptuous automotive treat, btw, especially in T-jet petrol avatar. And over the years many Linea-s have been sold, and so if there are fears about its servicing because its sales are (wrongly!;-)) low, those apprehensions are totally unjustified.

Is Avventura available in India ? :what:

I never knew that Avventura is available in India.