The 1.6. How I bought a Fiat car

arajand · 30th May 2008, 01:18

Hi,
Before I start off about my car, a little bit about me. You see, what car you buy is linked to who you are (or who you want to be). I am a resident pathologist, currently in AIIMS. I am in Delhi for the past 6 years, I am from Bangalore originally.

A car-buying story can be told in so many ways, but our story has one beginning. A car is a must in Delhi. Or so it has become, if you have a small kid and you haven't taken any holidays for a long, long time. 17 years of riding bikes of various types on Bangalore and Delhi streets was enough , I was getting a bit bored on the road. And more and more irritated by the sun, the rain, the winds, the dust, the people (especially the spitting type). Some of you might be surprised - after all, why should anybody justify a car purchase? But lots of people think this way. That probably explains why Bangalore is overflowing with two-wheelers, for example.

Initially I had decided to buy the Sx4. The first Maruti with looks worth writing home about, with ABS and airbags. I thought that if I managed the finances 'deftly', I would have a big car in my hands at the end of 5 years. The Great Indian Sedan Dream. Then comes T-BHP. I read excellent reports on the SX4 (sathya_nars, amit, itnerd, randomgyan and others). But the final authority (wifey) did not approve. This, after one-and-a-half month of getting loan documents ready and submission to State Bank of Mysore, after loan application rejection by State Bank of India (SBI). The cold feet developed after months of saving up for the margin money!

I used this new-found opening to hit for the 1.6. Why? One thing I found about the Fiat car owners is that they love their cars. Among other things, it's sort of like deriving pleasure from self-flagellation. Love your Fiat even if your Tata/TVS service station tortures you. In all my riding about in Bangalore, I liked my Hero Puch the best. The bike would die on me every time it rained, then require hundreds of kicks to start. All this when my girlfriend was with me. But it would let me be the fastest on Super Talkies Road, beat RX100s at traffic light drags, do wheelies without being asked for and look good all the same.

I saw a bit of the Hero Puch in the 1.6. After 7 years of a staid Splendor experience, I wanted a fun car.

Anyway, I booked my vehicle at Vivek Automobiles, Mathura Road after visiting Sanya Automobiles, Defence Colony. I took a total of three test rides, once even in the Palio 1.1 (the sales guy at Sanya took me around in it, saying "sir, woh gaadi bhi aise hi hai, toda sa engine powerful hai"). I was told of a waiting period of 10-15 days but there was no sight of the vehicle after 20 days. Then some phone calls. The vehicle arrived on the 26th of May, and I went with family in tow on the 27th for delivery.

Now the fun starts. During the PDI, (me with the TBHP list), the sales person and I simultaneously notice a screw-top driven into the rear right tyre. The sales team swings into action immediately and before I could realize what was happening, I had agreed for the vehicle to be driven to a nearby puncture shop for the tyre to be fixed. We drive 3 kilometers from the showroom and the punture-walla pulls out a huge screw from the tire and hastily fixes the puncture. We drive back and take delivery, but the insurance papers are not ready (they are ready but the office closes at 7 pm), the registration is not ready (some Form 34 thing). My friend and I question the dealer about the warranty coverage and the fact that we are being handed a defective already punctured tyre. But he replies that a puncture can happen anytime and it doesnt mean that a tire replacement would be necessary. And the idea that after all the puncture was discovered by the sales person himself plays on my mind; we are all tired and exhausted by then so we just take the car and leave.

A day later (29th), I reach the Institute campus in the morning and the same tire has run flat. I was so pissed off with myself, for having picked up the vehicle in the state it was.

. Here I am, with a flat in a vehicle which is not registered in my name yet, with no insurance documents. I had messed up the essentials! I called the sales person immediately and told him that I would needing a replacement for the tire. I also called Mr. Rahul Jain, Area Sales Manager based in Gurgaon, whom I had kept abreast of all developments during the entire booking process and informed him of the situation.

I reached the service station. The dealer replaced my yet-again punctured tire with a new one, handed the insurance over to me, took Form 34 from me and fixed mudflaps.

I was helped, in all probability, because the dealer must have received a firing from the management. But after all the drama, I have what I wanted - a defect-free car at delivery (touchwood). I would still say that my booking and dealership experience was OK, because the entire experience (apart from the puncture and last-minute bungling) was fairly smooth.

Anand

musicmanaman · 30th May 2008, 06:11

Congratulations buddy, on the 1.6 purchase, I have driven a 1.6 GTX sometime back, and what a monster it was. Please keep us updated on how your ownership experience is on the same, by the way, what was the OTR price in Delhi, what colour is the car, some pictures of the same would be fantastic.

eclectix 1st · 30th May 2008, 07:02

Congrats on the newest member in your family. Please do post some pictures whenever possible.

SX4 to Palio 1.6, now thats a good jump. I can understand your hero puch analogy, as I used to have one in my PUC days in Mysore. You wont be disappointed for sure. That extra oomph factor will always be there in your life.

Be prepared to get a lot of comments like SAKKATH CAAR MAGA !!!
cheers:

sanjaymugur · 30th May 2008, 09:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by arajand

Hi,
You see, what car you buy is linked to who you are (or who you want to be).

you said it... its true..

congrats on the purchase, run-in well...

FIAT, always....

khan_sultan · 30th May 2008, 09:43

Congratulations on the purchase of the 1.6. I agree that 1.6 is a fun car. Seems like your experience with the legendary A.S.S started 'during the sale' itself and not 'after' the sale.

Enjoy the beast buddy.. nothing like the 1.6 -- on this side of 5L

Few Questions :

- What color is the car?
- Where are the pictures?

neoonwheels · 30th May 2008, 09:59

Welcome to the world of FIAT... Do post pics of your beast...

ravikn · 30th May 2008, 11:16

welcome to the world of 1.6's

Am sure you will love every bit of driving 1.6. take her for a long drive during some weekend, you will love this car more than ever before

finneyp · 30th May 2008, 11:25

Congrats Doc on your new Palio 1.6!

Enjoy driving the Italian beast!

GTO · 30th May 2008, 18:27

I like the car you bought but more than that, I enjoyed reading your post. Well-written! Congratulations on the hot hatch. How about a review of the car and some pictures?

Drive safe.

extreme_torque · 30th May 2008, 18:41

Congrats.... few people have the guts to go with their heart!

Enjoy the drive.

Rahulkool · 30th May 2008, 19:12

Congrats man .... nice write up

rao_battula · 30th May 2008, 19:53

Congratulations Buddy!!! Enjoy the drive and every bit of it.

srijit · 30th May 2008, 20:10

Nice Intro and Report post rolled into one

Congratulations on your new car. Enjoy her responsibly

ps: Any idea why SBI rejected your application?

kanwal · 30th May 2008, 20:29

waah! It was fun reading your post, mate! congratulations and welcome to fiat club. Its a very good purchase, just drive safe! I can understand the frustration (?) of getting trouble with new car but as you said..in the end, you get what you wanted. And these kind of trouble are more to do with the person whome you dealing with than the car or car comapny. I have got my car serviced at vivek quite a few times and my experience is decent. Having choosen fiat as a first car myself, it really enjoyed reading following lines from your post-

Quote:

Originally Posted by arajand

You see, what car you buy is linked to who you are (or who you want to be).

Quote:

Originally Posted by arajand

A car is a must in Delhi

Quote:

Originally Posted by arajand

One thing I found about the Fiat car owners is that they love their cars. Among other things, it's sort of like deriving pleasure from self-flagellation. Love your Fiat even if your Tata/TVS service station tortures you

Quote:

Originally Posted by arajand

But after all the drama, I have what I wanted - a defect-free car at delivery (touchwood).

CrAzY dRiVeR · 30th May 2008, 21:03

Congrats on the car. I guess its time for the pictures. Welcome to team-bhp.

30th May 2008, 01:18	#1
arajand BHPian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New Delhi Posts: 59 Thanked: Once	The 1.6. How I bought a Fiat car Hi, Before I start off about my car, a little bit about me. You see, what car you buy is linked to who you are (or who you want to be). I am a resident pathologist, currently in AIIMS. I am in Delhi for the past 6 years, I am from Bangalore originally. A car-buying story can be told in so many ways, but our story has one beginning. A car is a must in Delhi. Or so it has become, if you have a small kid and you haven't taken any holidays for a long, long time. 17 years of riding bikes of various types on Bangalore and Delhi streets was enough , I was getting a bit bored on the road. And more and more irritated by the sun, the rain, the winds, the dust, the people (especially the spitting type). Some of you might be surprised - after all, why should anybody justify a car purchase? But lots of people think this way. That probably explains why Bangalore is overflowing with two-wheelers, for example. Initially I had decided to buy the Sx4. The first Maruti with looks worth writing home about, with ABS and airbags. I thought that if I managed the finances 'deftly', I would have a big car in my hands at the end of 5 years. The Great Indian Sedan Dream. Then comes T-BHP. I read excellent reports on the SX4 (sathya_nars, amit, itnerd, randomgyan and others). But the final authority (wifey) did not approve. This, after one-and-a-half month of getting loan documents ready and submission to State Bank of Mysore, after loan application rejection by State Bank of India (SBI). The cold feet developed after months of saving up for the margin money! I used this new-found opening to hit for the 1.6. Why? One thing I found about the Fiat car owners is that they love their cars. Among other things, it's sort of like deriving pleasure from self-flagellation. Love your Fiat even if your Tata/TVS service station tortures you. In all my riding about in Bangalore, I liked my Hero Puch the best. The bike would die on me every time it rained, then require hundreds of kicks to start. All this when my girlfriend was with me. But it would let me be the fastest on Super Talkies Road, beat RX100s at traffic light drags, do wheelies without being asked for and look good all the same. I saw a bit of the Hero Puch in the 1.6. After 7 years of a staid Splendor experience, I wanted a fun car. Anyway, I booked my vehicle at Vivek Automobiles, Mathura Road after visiting Sanya Automobiles, Defence Colony. I took a total of three test rides, once even in the Palio 1.1 (the sales guy at Sanya took me around in it, saying "sir, woh gaadi bhi aise hi hai, toda sa engine powerful hai"). I was told of a waiting period of 10-15 days but there was no sight of the vehicle after 20 days. Then some phone calls. The vehicle arrived on the 26th of May, and I went with family in tow on the 27th for delivery. Now the fun starts. During the PDI, (me with the TBHP list), the sales person and I simultaneously notice a screw-top driven into the rear right tyre. The sales team swings into action immediately and before I could realize what was happening, I had agreed for the vehicle to be driven to a nearby puncture shop for the tyre to be fixed. We drive 3 kilometers from the showroom and the punture-walla pulls out a huge screw from the tire and hastily fixes the puncture. We drive back and take delivery, but the insurance papers are not ready (they are ready but the office closes at 7 pm), the registration is not ready (some Form 34 thing). My friend and I question the dealer about the warranty coverage and the fact that we are being handed a defective already punctured tyre. But he replies that a puncture can happen anytime and it doesnt mean that a tire replacement would be necessary. And the idea that after all the puncture was discovered by the sales person himself plays on my mind; we are all tired and exhausted by then so we just take the car and leave. A day later (29th), I reach the Institute campus in the morning and the same tire has run flat. I was so pissed off with myself, for having picked up the vehicle in the state it was.. Here I am, with a flat in a vehicle which is not registered in my name yet, with no insurance documents. I had messed up the essentials! I called the sales person immediately and told him that I would needing a replacement for the tire. I also called Mr. Rahul Jain, Area Sales Manager based in Gurgaon, whom I had kept abreast of all developments during the entire booking process and informed him of the situation. I reached the service station. The dealer replaced my yet-again punctured tire with a new one, handed the insurance over to me, took Form 34 from me and fixed mudflaps. I was helped, in all probability, because the dealer must have received a firing from the management. But after all the drama, I have what I wanted - a defect-free car at delivery (touchwood). I would still say that my booking and dealership experience was OK, because the entire experience (apart from the puncture and last-minute bungling) was fairly smooth. Anand
	() Thanks

30th May 2008, 06:11	#2
musicmanaman BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: kolkata Posts: 927 Thanked: 25 Times	Congratulations buddy, on the 1.6 purchase, I have driven a 1.6 GTX sometime back, and what a monster it was. Please keep us updated on how your ownership experience is on the same, by the way, what was the OTR price in Delhi, what colour is the car, some pictures of the same would be fantastic.
	() Thanks

30th May 2008, 07:02	#3
eclectix 1st BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: BANGALORE Posts: 380 Thanked: 6 Times View My Garage	Welcome to the world of 1.6 Congrats on the newest member in your family. Please do post some pictures whenever possible. SX4 to Palio 1.6, now thats a good jump. I can understand your hero puch analogy, as I used to have one in my PUC days in Mysore. You wont be disappointed for sure. That extra oomph factor will always be there in your life. Be prepared to get a lot of comments like SAKKATH CAAR MAGA !!! cheers: Last edited by eclectix 1st : 30th May 2008 at 07:05.
	() Thanks

30th May 2008, 09:43	#5
khan_sultan Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Noida/Bangalore Posts: 4,944 Thanked: 6,469 Times View My Garage	Congratulations on the purchase of the 1.6. I agree that 1.6 is a fun car. Seems like your experience with the legendary A.S.S started 'during the sale' itself and not 'after' the sale. Enjoy the beast buddy.. nothing like the 1.6 -- on this side of 5L Few Questions : - What color is the car? - Where are the pictures?
	() Thanks

30th May 2008, 09:59	#6
neoonwheels Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Pune Posts: 2,070 Thanked: 1,882 Times View My Garage	Welcome to the world of FIAT... Do post pics of your beast...
	() Thanks

30th May 2008, 11:16	#7
ravikn BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 345 Thanked: 25 Times	welcome to the world of 1.6's Am sure you will love every bit of driving 1.6. take her for a long drive during some weekend, you will love this car more than ever before
	() Thanks

30th May 2008, 11:25	#8
finneyp Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2,762 Thanked: 401 Times View My Garage	Congrats Doc on your new Palio 1.6! Enjoy driving the Italian beast!
	() Thanks

30th May 2008, 18:27	#9
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 71,772 Thanked: 322,308 Times View My Garage	I like the car you bought but more than that, I enjoyed reading your post. Well-written! Congratulations on the hot hatch. How about a review of the car and some pictures? Drive safe.
	() Thanks

30th May 2008, 18:41	#10
extreme_torque BANNED Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Melbourne Posts: 4,461 Thanked: 5,534 Times	Congrats.... few people have the guts to go with their heart! Enjoy the drive. Last edited by extreme_torque : 30th May 2008 at 18:43.
	() Thanks

30th May 2008, 19:12	#11
Rahulkool Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 1,467 Thanked: 2,126 Times View My Garage	Congrats man .... nice write up
	() Thanks

30th May 2008, 19:53	#12
rao_battula BHPian Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Hyderabad, India Posts: 128 Thanked: Once	Congratulations Buddy!!! Enjoy the drive and every bit of it.
	() Thanks

30th May 2008, 20:10	#13
srijit BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Trivandrum Posts: 598 Thanked: 8 Times	Nice Intro and Report post rolled into one Congratulations on your new car. Enjoy her responsibly ps: Any idea why SBI rejected your application?
	() Thanks

30th May 2008, 21:03	#15
CrAzY dRiVeR Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bangalore / TVM Posts: 18,018 Thanked: 78,937 Times View My Garage	Congrats on the car. I guess its time for the pictures. Welcome to team-bhp.
	() Thanks