Now that we are on a new page, I'll try to put down the service experiences till now. A lot happened quite some time back, so I may not remember things precisely, but I'll try.

I think it would also be fair for me to share the relevant stuff, while keeping some details to myself, iftalking about them is not in the interest of The VVS. For anyone who thinks this is unfair, please note that a lot of people never really start ownership reports or share very little. A lot many, who just read/take in information without even being seen!

Some call this the first service. Probably Chevy too. I guess this would only be to make it simpler in terminology for the average user and also to be able to say that there are three free services and not two.

The purpose seems to be to check if there has been any goof up in the manufacturing. To get the car up on a lift, to check for any leaks. Better to catch them now, even if they are one in a few hundred, than have a new car fail and bear costs of spoiling the company's reputation.

This was really just a very basic checkup and a car wash. Took about an hour and a half, IIRC. Nothing was charged. There is nothing much to report really.

Overall the staff was courteous and professional. But not those overly-professional types, if you know what I mean. What I liked about GM A.S.S. is that semi-formal/professional demeanor.

Some companies are highly rule driven. This also often leads to a lot of rigidity in what staff can and can't do. Too many rules and too much fear of not going about things based on those. Then there are companies which are more flexible and give more space to staff, which some may see as less professional, however it may just be what the company chose.

I personally prefer that semi approach - a bit friendly, a bit flexible - to be able to check one's car once in a while, to chat up with the guy working on the car the odd time (to manage to click that odd picture ;) ). GM seems to have that semi approach, but of course it would change from workshop to workshop, manager to manager, rapport to rapport!

In general, I also see this checkup as an opportunity to see what the workshop looks like. To get a feel of the work environment, staff approach, competence and equipment levels; to confirm if one wants to get one's car there for the first 'real' service.

While I was at the A.S.S. the Service centre manager was quite a friendly chap and we formed a bit of a rapport. Had some talks with him and with a few of the service guys, including the mechanics and Floor works manager. Used this opportunity to find out more about the car.

Some points from those chats.

• Misc stuff
  .
  • All of them were very highly appreciative of the Optra Magnum.
  • That there were no major complaints from the car in all their time with the A.S.S.
  • Casually said that they have seen major repair work being done on other cars like Cruze and Captiva oftener than on Magnums. Pointed me to examples of the same in the workshop.
    .
• Overall, even with a prior casual interaction with a person from GM - he was very appreciative about the car. That it was a very wise choice and a very practical car. That even the dealers themselves were unsure why such a good car doesn't sell better.
  (I guess if they studied T-Bhp, they could find some answers ;) )
  .
• Engine life
  .
  • None of them really seemed to know!
  • The only case they came across where an Optra's engine had failed, was at some 1.7L odd kms, which was a taxi and they thought it was due to improper usage.
  • Sir, Do lakh tak to tension bilkul mat lo (Sir, don't worry at all upto 2 lakhs). Beyond that, they didn't say that it didn't have life - they simply didn't know, as they hadn't had cases of engine work!
  • The mod friendly nature of the Mangum's engine seems to corroborate with this.
  • This was engine failure thing was checked with many of the staff (including the better versed ones), with similar replies. I really wouldn't say that it could have been an orchestrated story.
    .
• Suspension repairs - Expensive?
  .
  • No clear answers were given.
  • General idea conveyed by 2-3 of them was:
    • Keep tyres properly inflated
    • Respect the car over very bad roads
    • The suspension should not give trouble for very very long.
      That they had not had significant complaints about the suspension.
  • If I have to take a speed breaker of other even change of road surface, I generally try that both the tyres meet it together. Simply put - keep the car straight, when you hit a speed breaker if not very slow. From what I understand, this reduces the stress on the suspension by a very big margin. Ideally, of course, take it slowly.
    .

Just in case I recollect other such stories, I'll add to the thread later.

@Mods, I had thought that it would be over half an hour from the previous post, by the time I post this, so started a new post (for better organization also). Seems I finished earlier, but may be better to keep this separate anyway, as this is better organized.

Edit: Wanted to add the 10k experience now, but it seems it will be a bit later. Also a note on the change noted after the service and stuff on wheel alignment and balancing.