Can FIAT Re-Establish Itself in India?

[mumbaikar]

Skoda Fabia and Fiat Punto are one of the best hatches around.. nothing handles like these European hatches. They have a tank like built, good interiors etc,etc..
BUT THE ONE BIG TURN OFF IS THE A.S.S.
THESE ARE EXCELLENT PRODUCTS BACKED BY POOR A.S.S.
FIAT needs to get separated from TATA in the first place, create their own identity. The market wil definitely embrace them. Currently it looks more like a parasite just attaching to TATA for its basic needs. May be it thinks a couple of prospective indica/indigo buyers would spare a look at punto/linea and buy them instead of the TATA cousins!
after all this, I might just end up with a Swift

 

[jayadev]

after all this, I might just end up with a Swift

Literally ,I am tired of hearing Suzuki swift D being magical car with no issues whatsoever.

just for an info, swift have equal niggles as rest the cars in the same segment have but some comments from owners make me feel it have more than rest.Neither it is much cheaper than rest of the brands nor it has certain exclusiveness.

The only goodthing concerning Maruthi is you can find service centres at every nook and corner of India but that doesn't means availability of spare parts and servicing is top end at every place.Tthere are lot of issues as well, but it is better not to talk about it endlessly.
My first preference obviously was Suzuki swift but now I ride Fiat Punto and I am glad that I own Fiat punto, not the swift for many many reasons.

 

[JazzSelect]

Recently i have seen lot of Punto's on road but sales figure is not as per expectation due to stock clearance.

Tata-Fiat A.s.s is not bad at all. I got second chance (before first servicing) to visit them. I'll update details in my ownership thread. I realized one thing if your first car is/was of MSIL then you may be fustrated at Tata-Fiat A.s.s. MSIL service station feels like a heaven whereas Tata-Fiat service center like a hell. But my suggestion is if we adjust according to them (Tata-Fiat) then you'll be more happy rather than always fustrating due to bad A.S.S. Keep patients and enjoy your beauty (Punto/Linea).

My sister has 1.5 years old swift and rattles from everywhere. It totally depends on how you maintain your car.

 

[Surfer]

My sister has 1.5 years old swift and rattles from everywhere. It totally depends on how you maintain your car.

Quite agree, My friend drives Swift from 3 years, 80k kms on odo, Not serviced for more than 35k kms and still its feel new and no niggles!

 

[Umang]

Literally ,I am tired of hearing Suzuki swift D being magical car with no issues whatsoever.

just for an info, swift have equal niggles as rest the cars in the same segment have but some comments from owners make me feel it have more than rest.Neither it is much cheaper than rest of the brands nor it has certain exclusiveness.

well buddy if swift breaks down there will be service center and good people to repair it..but what abt FIAT???

 

[shailinder]

My sister has 1.5 years old swift and rattles from everywhere. It totally depends on how you maintain your car.

Quite agree, My friend drives Swift from 3 years, 80k kms on odo, Not serviced for more than 35k kms and still its feel new and no niggles!

No service from last 35K kms and still no issues. Whereas, as per Jazzselect's statement above if you keep you MS product well maintained then there will not be any issue.

Your agreement statement is not in order the statement jazzselect have made. Because his sister's 1.5 year old Swift rattles a lot.

 

[basis]

I just got a news that FIAT Punto's spares are cheaper than Hyundai i10's spares

This is the official news from FIAT employee & he said he will send me the report soon! so waiting on it :)

yes, very much true...you cannot compare FIAT and and Hyundai... (the worldwide failed brand)

 

[basis]

Re: Future of FIAT in india, Fiat India sales hit rockbottom?

I dont think anything surprising in it. they are clearing out stock as of now. with 300 puntos in plant storage so next month we can expect lesser figures.

I think thread starter is not aware of fresh launches from Fiat by the beginning of 2012.

with present sales one can benefit maximum discounts to own a brand new Fiat car.

What the new models of FIAT comming in 2012?

 

[Umang]

yes, very much true...you cannot compare FIAT and and Hyundai... (the worldwide failed brand)

well buddy on what basis u say hyundai is worldwide failed brand??

 

[Surfer]

Your agreement statement is not in order the statement jazzselect have made. Because his sister's 1.5 year old Swift rattles a lot.

I want to say I am agree on -

It totally depends on how you maintain your car.

 

[point_city96]

Literally ,I am tired of hearing Suzuki swift D being magical car with no issues whatsoever.

just for an info, swift have equal niggles as rest the cars in the same segment have but some comments from owners make me feel it have more than rest.Neither it is much cheaper than rest of the brands nor it has certain exclusiveness.

Agree partially,but some people do consider the resale value.I have to say swift has got some mouth watering resale value even now(I meant the old one).About the niggles,I think swift will have lesser number of niggles and a swift with a lot of niggles will be a rare case.
I have seen people saying on elsewhere that the new swift d the most fun to drive diesel hatch.

The only goodthing concerning Maruthi is you can find service centres at every nook and corner of India but that doesn't means availability of spare parts and servicing is top end at every place.

Agree.

 

[jayadev]

I have seen people saying on elsewhere that the new swift d the most fun to drive diesel hatch

If you have patience then wait and see when another upgrade for swift show up, then those same reviewer will be talking about issues being addressed in present model .and it goes on.

Dont you feel in India if any reviewer says anything against such a mass moving car then his job can be at stake. media moves with people ,they serve what people want to hear they can never dare to speak what people don't want to hear else who is going to listen?

I am not saying swift is bad car neither comparing against punto.
but I am saying about such statements which will attract lot of interest, which are intentional and deliberate attempt for results.

I bought my car (punto)not for a drag race. I love its comfort,plaint ride and features. so I am happy.

If I need to push it on higher extremes I got plethora of options with bit of extra expenditure we all know punto is very much capable and potent car which is proven fact.

For me swift stands no chance against dynamics of punto except some figures in paper.

 

[shailinder]

If you have patience then wait and see when another upgrade for swift show up, then those same reviewer will be talking about issues being addressed in present model .and it goes on.

Dont you feel in India if any reviewer says anything against such a mass moving car then his job can be at stake. media moves with people ,they serve what people want to hear they can never dare to speak what people don't want to hear else who is going to listen?

I am not saying swift is bad car neither comparing against punto.
but I am saying about such statements which will attract lot of interest, which are intentional and deliberate attempt for results.

I bought my car (punto)not for a drag race. I love its comfort,plaint ride and features. so I am happy.

If I need to push it on higher extremes I got plethora of options with bit of extra expenditure we all know punto is very much capable and potent car which is proven fact.

For me swift stands no chance against dynamics of punto except some figures in paper.

I agree with Jayadev. It does not matter what people says because Swift still sells like hot cake and re-sale value also holds good demand (at least DDIS). As far as Punto is concerned, again it is not a bad car and people generally do not buy cars for drag races. Problem with Fiat is, their image and A.S.S issues. Which I do not know much but people talk about it. Again whether they had experienced it or saying just because someone passed on that message, i do not know.

 

[point_city96]

Even I was suprised.I remember a time when people were praising the figo,but now its popularity decreased as in the case of vento also.I have a swift at home and I know what jayadev means.I love the beat more than the swift,i don't now why.I think I have paid rs90(at the service station) in almost one year of ownership with beat that too it it was some bumper clipping,thanks to the 3year maintenance package.
Even after these instance the punto fan boy ism still doesnt leave me and i am very happy.

 

[silverstreak]

In my opinion this should be FIAT's line up
Linea TJET Active Dynamic Emotion and TJET+
Linea 1.6 MJD VGT (~115ps and 275nm) Active Dynamic Emotion and 1.6MJD+(same features as TJET+)
Add Dualogic Semi Automatic Transmission to both the TJET and 1.6 MJD

Punto 1.3 VGT Active Dynamic Emtion and Emotion+
Punto 1.4 Dynamic Emotion Emotion+ (retune the engine for tad more torque, Punto 1.4 is a highly underrated car and has very good performance)
Punto 1.4 TJET as Punto Sports and another variant similar to the autoexpo one Punto Sportz+
Maybe add the Dualogic to the top end variants.

Palio with new interiors or some other entry level hatch with the 1.3 MJD FGT and a 1.0-1.2 cc petrol with ~70-80 hp power

IMHO, so many variants only confuse the buyer!

Adding to this, I strongly believe FIAT should start manufacturing the TJET engine in India which would reduce the cost to a large extent and make the Linea TJET a steal.
Sooner than later, they must also manufacture the 1.6MJD in India so that it can be pitted directly against Vento and does not enter the corolla/cruze segment.
The 1.6MJD with dualogic in any case would be ~10-10.5L ex-showroom.

what a wonderful idea the 1.6 lt diesel let'a assume belting out 120bhp now would'nt that be smart