After extensive comparison between Santro/Wagon/Palio, I choose for Palio NV sport model.
Once finalized the model I wanted to check the creditability of Fiat's only dealer in Bangalore Sundaram motors, and this is where to my utter surprise came to know the A S S from Sundaram Motors Bangalore is very very bad. (Check some of the newsgroup material attached later-on)
Thought I call them yesterday (a lady salesperson forget the name) and ask them about the issues on their A S S I saw on internet, first they tried to convince me that they have improved a lot recently, so read her out some of the last week messages about bad A S S. Now she requested please talk to my manager and informed him about this, I agreed (thinking looks like they are trying to improve their A S S and he will at least try A S Sure me of good A S S) after putting me on hold for 2 minutes, she said manager's line is busy and he will be calling me in 5 minutes.....
And wow I'm still waiting for the call, I wonder if manager is also well aware of the things and having no explanation on these messages...
Today I went to their Kormangla showroom to see Palio Sport, but to my surprise there was only one palio standing for display and that also having a registration number stick to it (guess it's sold one). The response from salesperson was very okay like doing formality and no enthusiasm to sale palio like santro and wagonR people shows...
I am talking specifically about Sundaram bangalore A S S not about others in the country as I have seen some review about Mumbai and Hyd dealers for their good A S S.
Now this suggests two things...
Fiat is closing their operations in india...
or
Bangalore dealer is not at all interested in selling palio.
Well it's very disappointing for me to not buying palio just because the only dealer in Bangalore is having scary reputation for the A S S. I sent a mail to FIAT India also. Share your experience in comments only if you have bought palio from sundaram bangalore and faced problem or happy buyer...
Here are some mails floating on net for bad services of Sundaram Bangalore....
(Compiled from PalioUsersIndia yahoo group and https://indiacar.com message group)
--- In PalioUsersIndia@yahoogroups.com, ''Philip, Finney''
wrote:
> Hi Suvrendu / Anoop / Guys from B'lore,
> Its a good idea to meet-up once in a while (say once in 3 months)
and discuss the
> issues we have with the Car, Dealer, Workshop etc.
> We can then compile all the Issues and firstly appraise the Dealer
and then Fiat India by email.
> Guys, lets take some pain & safeguard our investment before its too
late!
> Regards,
> Finney
Hi all,
I'd like to share an incident about quality of service at Bangalore
service shop.
When my car returned after 2nd service, I noticed that air dam (which
is very clearly noticeable in NV) is missing. In addition, blower fan
was making some noise every time I start the car (I had informed this
problem but wasn't fixed after service). After I took the case up
with Mr. Kulkarni (works manager), he promised to have this resolved
at the earliest - within two days he was to call.
When I didn't hear from him in the period, I called him back and was
surprised to know that he has no recollection of our conversation or
the problem with the vehicle. I had to escalate to one Mr. Sudip
George (Marketing - Fiat/Sundaram - I'm not sure) further to which I
received a call from the service shop to pick up my car to resolve
the problem.
Not attending to the problem didn't surprise me much because it can
happen at times, with anyone. However, Mr. Kulkarni's ignorance
really annoyed me. He didn't seem very serious abt the issue either
which just triggered me to escalate.
I'm hopeful that they will do attend to my problem soon else I'll be
calling Fiat guys soon. I hate to do it, will if I have to.
Hope people have had better experience with the Sundaram service team.
Cheers,
Girish
Hi
I completely agree with other guys about their complains about fiat
services (read it as Sundaram Services) in bangalore.
Looks like fiat india either ignoring the bangalore customers or they
don't want this great base to be capitulated.
I have my own problem where as after two months I have not received
my RC book and they never call or update, everytime I only had to
call them.
My request to mumbai guys, can anyone of you reach out to fiat india
to some senior guy and inform him about this please?
This will be of grt help to all of us.
Thanks
Suvrendu
From: vishnu s.r. <VSR_RAO@Y...>
Date: Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:13am
Subject: Re: Fiat Services Very Very poor in bangalore-Mumbai guys can help
Same experience here......, Went to them for some
minor electrical problem, After I got back the car, It
was shocking to notice that the wheel alignment is
gone and car was dragging to one side. Again I
reported back the problem,
As for my bad luck , their wheel alignment m/c was not
working ....Even the personnel there were grumbling
that they have been packed off that obscure location
in Rajajinagar in haste....That means they did some
circus and try to convince me that things are
okay......Finally after persisting 2/3 times, They
agreed to take it up and solve the issue....Still I am
not 100% happy with the balance, But I know this is
the max I can get from them......
Please note , Every time I called Mr.Kulkarni......I
had to introduce myself and explain the problem I am
facing........
We have made the choice ...We have to live with
this........
In fact, yesterday I met a FIAT guy in Sundaram and
have updated him about these problems.
He A S Sured that the sundaram bangalore team has been
changed and things should improve with the pA S Sage of
time, As for a competitor for TVS in Bangalore, FIAT
is looking at the numbers . As the no. of cars
increase , they will be going for one more dealer....
Till that time, Its back to Sundaram..........
Thanks
Vishnu
Due to the bad A S S from one and only one Fiat dealer Sundram Motors in B'lore, I am changing my decision not to buy Fiat Palio, even though it?s a great car in its segment. I almost got to the point where I had to submit my cheque to the dealer ? the written cheque is lying in my drawer today. Just a day before I talked to couple of the owners and heard horrible stories about A S S? like one should talk to the sales rep there w/ respect so that they don?t bother you w/ A S S. Went through yahoo Palio India user and show some messages where Palio user from B?lore is planning to file a case against fiat/Sundram. One of my neighbors got his car back in 8 days after minor repairs, he was told he will get the his car back in 1.5days. There is only one workshop in B?lore (where more than oil change can be done), which is at the end of the city-Rajaji Nagar so even for 10 min. job one has to spend the entire day or part w/ the car for the day. One of the factors on my decision is continuous/frequent discontinuation of models from Fiat (118 NE, Uno, Siena, Palio earlier versions). We buy cars for use/comfort not to get into filing case etc. I do feel at loss just because of bad A S S from the dealer playing a BIG role in decision-making.
What are my options now? Is going for Zen/Alto/Corsa/Esteem advisable, my budget is around 5.5L and need it for city driving for a family of 4.
