Jul 27, 2006 11:59 AM
6871 Views
(Updated Jul 27, 2006 12:06 PM)
I own a Tata Indica Lxi (2004) and have clocked about 19700 km so far. (My review on my car is already listed since Nov 2005 - Tata Indica Lxi, Petrol model).
In total I have had 4 scheduled services so far - and I find that Malik Car’s service quality is progressively deteriorating, especially at Tollichowki Workshop.
In my first service in Dec 2004, they had experienced technicians who carefully looked at the car, investigated the reported faults and jotted them down in their job card. For. e.g adjusting the fan belt tension so that the car does not squeal after starting the engine, repairing a faulty lock in the back door (hatch), etc....these were done over and above the regular servicing and I was satisfied with them.
Then in 2005 I had an accident and came in for repairs. These people repaired and serviced the car, and I was out on the road after a week.
I found out two things : The steering was pulling to the left, and even after going over a medium bump/hole in a road (which causes a minor jerk to the car), the car used to turn to left by about 15-20 degrees!! I had to compensate immediately with the steering and turn right to balance it again. This was just after I received the car after the accident. Mind you, they had done wheel balancing as per their specification and this happenned even after that.
I then looked hard at the rear right wheel and "felt" (6th sense or whatever you call it) that the wheel alignment did not seem to be ok. I sent the car again for second time wheel balancing and this time they detected a major flaw - the wheel’s corresponding "trailer arm" was twisted due to the accident earlier!
I had to get that trailer arm replaced which cost me additional Rs 3.5k +...this was not covered by insurance.
That was in 2005. I wonder what kind of wheel balancing they did on the first time??
Last week I got the car back after the fourth service and additionally got the left hand side mirror assembly replaced. The faults were these :
Mirror cover was NOT spray-painted properly - they apparently did not spray-paint the insides, and some idiot had put his thumb impression on the wet paint on the outside - a permanent "value-addition" to the mirror. Now that is what I call gross negligence - a "least bothered" attitude.
Around 20,000 km you should get the wheels rotated (the spare wheel is fitted on the drivers side, the driver’s wheel go to the back-left, the back-left wheel goes to the front left, the front-left wheel goes to the rear right, and the rear right wheel goes back to the spare wheel in the compartment.)
This is Tata’s standard procedure and the diagram is printed boldly in the customer waiting room at the Tollichowki workshop.
To my amazement I found the wheel rotation was not done, and I found that out because I had numbered my alloy wheels accordingly by scratching them on the side before sending in for servicing.
They argued that they had done the rotation on which I caught them out by my numbering system. They were forced to do the real wheel rotation this time, and were in a sullen attitude.
So now they are even resorting to supressing the truth and misguiding you. The new technicians are an inexperienced lot (the earlier ones have either been promoted to officer level or else they left the company).
Another issue is with phone calls - they will tell you that they are getting the info on your car and shall call back in 15 min, but you can wait for 2 hrs-3 hrs, the promised call will never come. The communication standard is quite below the acceptable threshold.
All-in-all I have decided to cut off all connection with this dealer and aim to get my car serviced elsewhere in Hyderabad - there are two other authorized dealers in the city (Concorde and Autofin).
Mind you, I have no complaint about the TATA brand - I still think my Indica is a great car. But I’ll make it a point to report this dealer at Mumbai, Tata HQ.
My advice to friends : Go ahead with Indica Xeta or the Turbo Diesel or any other Tata model, but stay clear of Malik Cars.
