My passion for this car has multiplied . Review on Fiat Grande Punto

After going through lots of reviews I went ahead and got my Fiat Punto- Active in Jan 2010, it has been a real pride and charm in owning this car. Given below is the experience so far with my car in phases to put across the most practical review possible, hope this would help.

Buying experience

I had made up my mind on Diesel considering the fuel cost & owing to the idea that I would be using my car mostly for long drives and city drives which would be of minimum 40 km one way. I listed down the available diesel hatchback available - Maruthi swift, Hyundai I20, Indica Vista and Fiat punto -( micra, polo, figo was not launched at that time). Hyundai I20 diesel was way to costly, Vista I did not like the poor quality, swift I think is a good car but the showroom response was way too arrogant & more over uses a fiat engine with LDI model virtually comes with nothing else other than the basic car not even the digital clock more over has horrible waiting period.

Finally I ended with Punto - I was been scared by my friends about the poor service( later on I did had faced the same) but I did wanted to step in to the showroom and check out this italian beauty - after stepping in to the Tata showroom in Velachery Chennai again I had to face distraction provided by the Tata sales man asking me to by indica vista with fiat engine rather than going for punto which they said will face service issues, low mileage and would be costlier than vista but I went ahead with my instinct and bought her, you need to have a brave strong heart to buy this car after entering TATA showroom as they would do all brainwashing to make you buy a Tata car instead .

Well the day I got the delivery of the car was no better than the buying experience – had to wait almost 4 hours to see my car rolling out – still I remember that the entire staff of the showroom was busy with Tata car customers I was left with one sales guy allotted for Fiat who had to share the mechanic boys who were predominantly busy with Tata vehicle delivery, I had to show my temper to get things moving – I was not explained about anything about the car not even about what’s provided in the boot or any specifics with regards to usage.

Driving Experience

The car gives charming driving experience, I had forgotten all the bad experience that I had while buying this car. Steering with red fiat logo gives very rich look & is very inviting. Handling is good, pickup is not instant but once you get in to 2nd gear it really starts firing up, it has good suspension but you need to have the right air pressure maintained else the rear passenger might feel uncomfortable. I had taken it for long drives( Chennai – Madurai return total – 900 km)( Chennai – Tutucorin – 800 km one way)(Chennai – Ooty) multiple times at least 10 times in last two years – never had any problem, it just drives smooth and my love for this car has just kept growing.

Interior & Exterior build Quality

Engine is very smooth even after 2 years & clocking 35000 KMs the engine feels new & mileage has gone up after third service.

Interior is ok but not great – I have the active model so is all black inside – have installed Blaupunkt audio system with Bluetooth which works better than the company provided one’s. You do get some not so great plastic feel but it is better than swift and others.

Glow box was a pain used to open up often but got it fixed.

AC - Not so great no effect in summer or day time - its still a prob even after 3rd service but I don't know about the 2012 model company claims its been fixed.

Exterior is real beauty even now after 2 years there have been so many new models launched but still it grabs attraction where ever I go. Exterior build is good & strong I can say this coz once I ran over the divider on my right with full force the door & right side of the bonnet got fully crushed but nothing happened to me not even a scratch.

I have a medium gray colour which gives a executive look. I went for active model as I did not wanted automatic locking – manual is far more safer, more over you get front power windows in basic model itself.

Mileage

Gives good average .

City – 16 with full time AC. Highway – 19 to 21 with full time AC.

Service Experience

This where the Pain starts - This first 2 service was good I had no issues just had to spend 6000 for my 2nd service and you just have to service it once a year which is very relaxing. Its for the third service(Nov 2011) where my car met with the accident on the divider I had to leave the car for 2 months just to get a basic suspension part replaced - now im having problems replacing my right rear view mirror its been 3 week since I raised the requirement I have not got the part yet. I have to tell you this - if you have any issues with respect to engine or inside bonnet they get it done very quick but god for bid you have any issues with exterior parts or inside cabin they make u suffer, this is because tata uses same engine for vista so engine service is good but anything only specific to fiat is a pain.

The service guys in Tata even started telling me that tata is reviewing their contract with fiat so there will be huge delays in getting parts from Fiat - this is something I fail to understand. why do fiat trust Tata, they just have this tie up with Fiat to get their engines for tata cars and in return they provide horrible exp to fiat customers.

Hope Fiat will realize an come up with own service network.

Final Conclusion

Even though I faced issues with service, I still very much love this car its a real value for money and would recommend to others - I hope the 2012 models would have addressed some of the issues. Fiat should make sure that all tata service centers have parts in adequate quantity or there should be a service cell provided for customers to reach out to fiat directly to order parts so that the tata service guys dont play fool with fiat customers.

Fiat cars has to be owned not bought.