Car to the Max. Review on Palio - Petrol

I have a Fiat Palio ELX PS, which I bought in June 2002 and have already done 22,000 kms. At the time when I was to buy the car, there were many negative reviews regarding the car - especially regarding the mileage, dealer service, etc. Let me share my experiences with the car: Build Quality I feel that the build quality is among the best in its class. The car feels solid and the doors close with a reassuring thump. The heavy weight of the car is very reassuring especially when driving at high speeds and on highways. The car is built to European safety norms and certainly feels safe inside. Mileage This is one issue on which the car has been the hardest hit in the public domain. However, my experience has been quite to the contrary. I have been consistently getting 11.5 - 12.5 kmpl with the AC on and 14+ kmpl with AC off on Delhi roads. I have noticed that using IOC Premium petrol (vis a vis regular petrol) increases the mileage by about 1-1.5 kmpl, thus justifying the additional cost. This mileage is pretty decent when you consider that you are having a 1200 cc engine - and is not very different from what you would get on a Santro 1.1 (which is a far lighter and smaller car). Handling Driving the Palio is pure bliss (with a power steering). The car handles really well and gives no nasty surprises at high speeds as well as under sudden braking or cornering. The suspensions are fantastic and you can drive very comfortably on rough roads without feeling anything inside. As far as speed is concerned, I have driven the car at its limit - 135 kmph and found that the car was as stable as it is at 60 kmph. Service Though this has been a major grouse with many customers, I have thankfully not experienced any problems - I have been giving the car for servicing to Vivek Auto and of late to Samayak Motors in Delhi. The parts seem reasonably priced - though they may not be the cheapest in the market. Update: (16 Aug 06)Since March 2005 I have been in Pune and have got the car serviced from Ashwamegh Auto. I find the team at Ashwamegh extremely cometent and proactive and I am extremely happy with the service. Other points The ac is really powerful and cools fast. My only grouse about it is that it does not seem to have a moderate setting once the car has cooled - so I have to keep turning it on and off manually. My recent experiences in the torrential rains has been that the car handles all potholes and standing water with ease. The car hardly needs any servicing - you need to take it to the garage only every 7,500 kms. Overall Verdict For the price the Palio is the best value for money. It is definitely a car in the league of the Accents and Corsas, but without the boot - the way I see it - with those cars you pay almost a lakh more to get a boot. Comparing it to the Santros and Altos is absolutely unfair, since it is in a different league. Do opt for a power steering, since it is a heavy car and the power steering helps you to squeeze into the ever shrinking parking spaces around town without having to develop your biceps. I feel that the 1.2 is better value for money than the 1.6 - given the higher purchase price and running costs (mileage) of the 1.6.

Update 22 Sept 2005 - 55,000 kmsSince my review above, my Palio has completed 55,000 kms. and is still going strong. I have driven the car from Delhi to Pune without a hitch, driven through 2 feet of water in the Mumbai floods and have never had any problems to date. Servicing is the usual oil filter change, apart from the coolant refilling done in March 2005 - I believe in any car A/c this is required anyways after about 3 years.I have changed tyres at 45,000 kms. and chose to switch to broader Michelin Certis tubeless tyres and Aura alloys and this has improved the ride and handling. I hope to keep my Palio well past the 100,000 kms. mark.

Update: 16 Aug 2006 - 68,000 kms

My Palio continues piling the miles with scores of runs to Mumbai on the Expressway - at least twice a month and a trip to Coorg last Decemeber, where I drove on almost 100 kms. of bad to non-existant roads. At 67,500 kms. service Ashwamegh Auto, Pune recommended a change in the front swing arms which were worn thanks to the terrible roads the car has endured. Cost of both swingarms of Rs. 4,200 seems reasonable for a car that has travelled so much. The back parcel tray makes some noise since the rubber holding them has been worn, but otherwise the car is as good as the day it was bought. The interiors seem to be wearing suprisingly well, with no problems in any switchgear, power windows or seats. I consistently get a mileage of between 12.5 - 13 kmpl in city traffic, though I do not encounter much of crawling traffic on a daily basis and get a mileage of 14.5 on my Mumbai trips, which combine 92 kms. of expressway + 50 kms. of city traffic at both ends.

The Michelins that I have changed at 45,000 kms. seem to be doing quite well, with no significant signs of tread wears - of course I rotate tyres and have a wheel alignment done every 7,500 kms. I am now looking forward to a trip of the Konkan in November with my Palio.

The car has so far gone to Agra, Jaipur, Mussorie and Neemrana while I was in Delhi, then done a trip from Delhi to Pune. From Pune I have done a number of trips to Mumbai from Pune (at least once a month) apart from frequent weekend trips to all the places around Pune such as Sinhagad, Mulshi, Panshet, Lonavala, Mahabaleshwar, etc. and a trip to Coorg. In December I am planning to drive down to Goa and Mangalore, so watch this space.

Update: 26 Jan 2006, 75,000 Kms.

Well, as I had written earlier, did a trip of the Konkan coast, Goa and Karwar in December, clocking 1,300 kms. in all. Apart from that have done frequent trips to Mumbai. Car still going strong - just completed my 10th service - cost was just 1,300 bucks for oil, fuel & oil filter, service labour and a few screws. Just one problem that I had around 70,000 kms. was that my AC piping behind the dash had to be replaces due to corrosion which was caused by water condensation wetting the accumulated dust inside the dashboard. I thought it was a most unusual problem, but it was repaired without any major hassles - though it cost me about 8K. Moving nearer to the 100,000 kms. mark, so watch this space ...