My beloved Fiat Linea 1.4 FIRE Emotion Pack [Fox Trote Azure] was delivered to me by Concorde Motors [India] Limited, Hosur Road, Bangalore, on 8 October 2009 evening. The on-road price worked out to Rs 8.35 lakh. I paid Rs 8.27 lakh to the dealership after getting corporate discount of Rs 8 k and cash discount of Rs 6 k. I took comprehensive insurance for Rs 8164 from United India Insurance, my present insurer for my previous vehicle Maruti Suzuki Versa, availing of 50% no-claim bonus.
The price is inclusive of 2+2 extended warranty. At the time of booking, we indicated Medium Grey colour. But, when the sales executive informed me of VIN, which had the code of EPZ, indicating May 2009, I rejected it. Since my wife also disliked that colour and preferred Fox Trote Azure [FTA], we selected FTA. The only vehicle in FTA in that lot had VIN code of JPZ, indicating September 2009, so I grabbed it. The sales executive informed me that RTO authorities visit the dealership daily, inspect the vehicles, collect the documents, demand drafts for life time tax, etc. and furnish the registration number details the next day.
The vehicles are not being sent to RTO. The tyres have September 2009 markings, so do the headlamp assemblies. The music system is of Blaupunkt brand. The tool kit contains tow ring for towing purpose. I got desmodronic foldable key with remote control [with electronic and mechanical codes] plus one duplicate manual key. The sales executive [Ghanshyam Dubey] was an excellent chap.
He regularly updated me on the latest position. He offered floor mats, mud flaps, car body cover, idol, perfume and 5 litre petrol coupon as freebies apart from corporate/cash discounts. We were given a gift box of chocolates and photographed with the vehicle after puja. The show room experience was also good. However, I must confess here that it was always over-crowded. Either they have to open an exclusive outlet for Fiat products or at least separate section so that we will have at least some privacy in our transactions and discussions. Earlier, I had TD of Fiat Linea [thrice], SX4 [twice] and ANHC [once].
I was offered a massive discount of Rs 62.5 k, very fair value for my 2004 Versa and mouth-watering freebies including reverse parking sensors for SX4 by a Maruti Suzuki dealership. Features like Blue&Me, media player with voice command, automatic climate control, rear ac vents, service interval of 15, 000 km with service due warning, speed limit warning, ‘Follow me home’, desmodronic foldable key, etc., are not available even in the market leader car, costing more than Rs 10.62 lakh.
Ultimately, Fiat Linea has emerged as the winner, hands down. Period. Some of the innovative features like opening of fuel filler flap by pulling a loop of thread from inside of boot and back-folding of ORVM towards fender were neither included in the owner’s handbook nor known to the sales executive. When I demonstrated these features, they were taken aback! I updated Blue&Me with the latest 5.4.09 version by downloading it from the Fiat website. Earlier, it did not show the mobile service provider’s name.
Now, it shows. Earlier, the phone book was automatically copied during the one-time pairing only. Now, it does every time I turn on the ignition key to MAR position at the time of synchronization. Earlier, it did not recognize my voice commands. Now, the frequency of compliance to my voice commands has increased substantially. Already, I received 3 telephone calls – 2 from Concorde Motors, Bangalore and 1 from Tata Motors, Pune – asking for my feed-back and grading of various services rendered. I also received a letter from Concorde Motors. I have given a grading of 9 out of 10 for most of the services rendered and 6 out of 10 for overall showroom experience because of its over-crowding and lacking privacy. The car is excellent. Riding, handling and braking are superb. Steering is light and power, adequate. With 5 occupants, my Fiat Linea’s engine guard/exhaust pipe guard touch crude and big road humps sometimes.
The best fuel efficiency I got was 18.1 kmpl of petrol between Hosur and Krishnagiri during our Puducherry [Pondy] trip with 3 occupants, climate control at 21 degree C, CD player, 70 to 80 kmph speed and not exceeding 2500 rpm. I am fully satisifed with my Fiat Linea's performance.
Today [8 Jan 2010] my Fiat Linea completed her 3 months. So, it's time for the first free service, although she covered 2385 km only. Last week itself, I had booked for today's slot. I was at Concorde Motors, Dairy Circle, Bangalore, at 9:15 am along with my Fiat Linea. I was welcomed by the security guard, and then, the receptionist. There was board at the entrance to the service station where the details of the vehicle proposed for today's servicing and the names of the respective owner and serivce advisor [SA] were clearly written. The receptionist requested me to sit in the customers' lounge. After few minutes, she introduced SA. After preparing the job card, SA asked me if there was any complaint, to which I replied in the negative. I told him that I wish to be present when the engine oil top-up was done in order to avoid any mix up of engine oil meant for petrol engine with that of diesel engine. He said he would inform me. Till then, I was in the lounge watching TV. I was offered tea of so-so quality.
As promised, SA came back to me after few minutes and informed me that they are going to top-up engine oil and took me to the service bay. I knew the level of the engine oil as I had checked it at home earlier. The mechanic poured about 300 ml of Selenia K synthetic oil in my presence. They also replaced under warranty Part No.0059064384 LINK-FRT STAB SHF-2 Nos. [suspension link rod] and 3205050 R/R LOWER LINK BALL JOINT free of cost. Later, SA informed me that they were faulty, hence replaced. The entire first service, including wheel alignment, was free of cost. The vehicle was cleaned and washed nicely. SA took me, showed me the serviced vehicle and explained what all the works that were done during the first free service. The only negative aspect I noticed was that the customers' lounge was always crowded. Sometimes, it was house-full. Other than that, everything else was positive only. I would rate Concorde Motors, Dairy Circle, Bangalore, at par with the best Maruti Suzuki dealership/MASS. I can easily give them 90% marks, the 10% deduction towards over-crowded customer lounge. After servicing, I have found my Fiat Linea more silky-smooth and the brakes sharper than before. Well-done, Concorde Motors, keep it up!
My Linea has already completed 47 k km, visited Bhutan and 21 states/UT of India, including Jammu&Kashmir (Srinagar, Kargil, Leh and Khardung La), and waiting to explore more neighbouring countries and the remaining states/UT of India! I am enjoying each and every minute and metre of driving my Linea.:)
