Good car in hands of cons. Review on Skoda Fabia - Petrol

This is my first review. I want to tell you that we are first time buyers and don’t have much experience in car buying and all what I am writing is purely based on my personal experience and perception. Please don’t feel offended in case you don’t like any of my opinions.

It all started with thinking of having a vehicle to commute to my work location. Average distance traveled will be 20-25 km. I recently shifted to Pune and was confident that in this place it will be difficult for me to drive 2 wheeler. :)

I decided budget between 4 to 5 L. Started looking for a hatch as it seems sufficient for family of 4. (parents and near future wifey). Wanted to go for Sedan, but can’t find any sedan in that price range except Indigo CS which my office mate asked me to avoid for lack of enough power.  I am not at all a feature freak but I certainly need a spacious, safe, good looking and reliable car. I gone through following vehicles:

i20 Era, Magna:

Pros: looks, Hyundai A. S. S. and lots of features

Cons: I20 comes with a era version (price 5.2L) but kothari dealer from Pune says that they don't sell it without giving much explanation. I persuaded them on this but no use. The next version magna comes around 5.6 and hence I dropped the idea for it. Because I believe then that I can get a Manza or Etios in the same price range which is in a different segment.

Ritz LXI:

Pros: Looks, Maruti A. S. S

Cons: again looks

My gonna be wifey didn’t like its looks and actually hated it. So dropped idea finally.

Swift LXI: Swift is too common.

Indica Vista aura+:

Pros: huge rear leg Space, price, feature rich

Cons: boot space is a bit less compared to punto, polo or fabia, taxi image

Polo trendline:

Pros: Looks, most comfortable seats.

Cons: I can’t bear 6 months waiting period.

Punto active:

pros: build quality, looks and FIAT brand

Cons: Cramped rear leg space and huge turning radius.

Fabia classic:

pros: build quality, space, driver air bag for safety, looks are similar to Swift, from certain reviews looks reliable,

Cons: No power windows in classic version.

Figo:

pros: good leg space, low price, feature rich, good boot space

cons: low height, my wifey hates the look and I thought build quality is not that good.

So overall I thought Fabia is fit to my requirement. The other candidate in second was Indica Vista.

I booked Skoda Fabia classic model (red color) on 3rd November from Asset Auto, Bhandarkar road, Pune, Maharashtra. I was very happy after the booking as sales people(Mr. Garewal) promised me to deliver the car before  my marriage as I had planned.

The delivery date told to me was  30th  November 2010. But after 22nd November when I contacted for the casual inquiry, I was told that the car which I had asked for cannot be delivered on the decided date (they didn’t even bothered to update me about it )and they were insisting me to go for Ambiente version (A different version than I asked for). I visited dealer’s office on 24th November to meet sales manager (Mr. Jewel) and repeated to him that I want the specified car model only and nothing else!

The sales manager told me that he will contact me on the next day. But I didn’t hear anything from those guys.

On 29th November those guys contacted me and again were forcing to take the different model of the car as they cannot provide me the version I had asked for.

Anyway now I have made up my mind and want to cancel the booking. I just want to tell Skoda that I had decided to go for this car as I had trusted your brand “Skoda”. But your con dealers are not doing any good and only making bad impression about Skoda. I feel a bit good when I think about canceling the booking as I don’t have to deal with these people anymore who don’t keep their promises. Many of my friends had warned me not to go for your car due to the kind of service you provide, now I am convinced they were right!

It really seems now a dealers review but can’t help. :)

I therefore want now to go for Vista auta version now. I am getting immediate delivery and quite happy about it. The problem with Vista was taxi image and lesser boot space, but I think I can go with it J

Thanks for reading my review.