Fiat Punto & Linea 2012 Exclusive Launch Coverage (Page.6)

[THE XOVER]

Re: Upgraded Punto & Linea launch on 3rd Jan 2012

Wow they managed to sell more than 2000 units,hope new Linea and Punto will further help Fiat India to strengthen their products sales.

Buddy there is no wow in only selling 2000 units per month.Linea and Punto are simply outstanding cars and both deserve to sell more than 2000 units each minimum.

EDIT : But they only sold 1037 units last month,I don't think they have touched 2000 units for the last 6 months

 

[Sam Dinkar]

Re: Upgraded Punto & Linea launch on 3rd Jan 2012

Hi, can anyone post independant sale figure or linea and punto. why fiat not worried about punto ?

Sales figures for Nov '11

Linea: 223
Punto: 823

Just to illustrate how bad things are, the Accent sold 682 units in the same month !

Fiat please do something. Please.

 

[cherry]

Re: Upgraded Punto & Linea launch on 3rd Jan 2012

Fiat should first part away with Tata and set up their individual dealerships and after sales network, then minor upgrades like this will be icing on the cake to remind India about Fiat’s efforts and existence. Not that I’m complaining though, because is something is better than nothing.

Drive Safe,
350Z

I think they are already working on it :)

http://www.theautomotiveindia.com/forums/indian-auto-news/2579-fiat-soon-establish-independent-studios.html

 

[350Z]

Re: Upgraded Punto & Linea launch on 3rd Jan 2012

Fiat is setting up studios as more of a brand building exercise rather than opening up the individual dealerships at a mass level. Parting away with Tata or at least having separate Fiat specialist employees / sales persons who actually care and are fully dedicated towards Fiat in existing dealerships itself will be a wise move.

Drive Safe,
350Z

 

[EnfieldRyder]

Re: Upgraded Punto & Linea launch on 3rd Jan 2012

@350Z whats the point of brand building exercise when Fiat does not want to part ways in terms of dealership & A.S.S, if Tata keeps doing the same sub-standard work & treating Fiat cars like Dirt would not help them. Do we see Fiat killing themselves again?

 

[Sam Dinkar]

Re: Upgraded Punto & Linea launch on 3rd Jan 2012

@350Z whats the point of brand building exercise when Fiat does not want to part ways in terms of dealership & A.S.S, if Tata keeps doing the same sub-standard work & treating Fiat cars like Dirt would not help them. Do we see Fiat killing themselves again?

+10000000 to that. A wound would not be healed if you put a fancy sticker on it. Fiat needs to get the basics right. The Linea/Punto are not bad cars by themselves. It's the rubbish Fiat management that cannot set things right despite failing several times. It pains me to write this but I don't foresee any drastic improvement in Fiat's prospects for the next two years at least.

 

[carfreak]

Re: Upgraded Punto & Linea launch on 3rd Jan 2012

Personally feel that Fiat should have done much more to Punto. Honestly, its interior needed an upgrade compared to present standards. Better feel and addition of utilities like more cup hodlers etc would have really caught the attention of potential buyers. And for heaven sake they should move out of TATA shield

 

[JazzSelect]

Re: Upgraded Punto & Linea launch on 3rd Jan 2012

^^ Very well said

There is nothing much more to do with Punto (except interior and ICE). Bottle holder is not deal breaker. Only main concern is A.S.S. Technically its perfect car.

 

[350Z]

Re: Upgraded Punto & Linea launch on 3rd Jan 2012

@350Z whats the point of brand building exercise when Fiat does not want to part ways in terms of dealership & A.S.S, if Tata keeps doing the same sub-standard work & treating Fiat cars like Dirt would not help them. Do we see Fiat killing themselves again?

Precisely my point (Post #6). Having terrible experiences with Tata-Fiat Pre-Sales multiple times, I have lost the interest to even step in their showrooms. Forget buying one: http://www.theautomotiveindia.com/f...delhi-tata-fiat-doing-unethical-business.html

Drive Safe,
350Z

 

[EnfieldRyder]

Re: Upgraded Punto & Linea launch on 3rd Jan 2012

Has anyone sent any mail to the higher echelons of FIAT? I think someone must do something to open their eyes! else we can safely say FIAT might walk out of India yet again & this time maybe for good. TATA with their I care a damn attitude wont get them anywhere. If we look at Maruti & Hyundai & few others they are far ahead in customer satisfaction

 

[Sam Dinkar]

Re: Upgraded Punto & Linea launch on 3rd Jan 2012

Has anyone sent any mail to the higher echelons of FIAT? I think someone must do something to open their eyes! else we can safely say FIAT might walk out of India yet again & this time maybe for good. TATA with their I care a damn attitude wont get them anywhere. If we look at Maruti & Hyundai & few others they are far ahead in customer satisfaction

I have a friend who had lodged a test drive request for the Punto/Linea (on the Fiat website)at least seven times. Forget the test drive, his request hasn't even been acknowledged till date. Exasperated, he shot off mails to Fiat's customer grievance cell and again, no reply .

I remember when the present MD Rajeev Kapur took over the reins at Fiat, he had put a 'CEOs Corner' facility on the Fiat website where any customer could write anything and this was supposed to be read and replied personally by him (Rajeev Kapur). But even that facility has been removed now. Were the customers lodging too many grievances? Your guess is as good as mine. When will Fiat improve ?

 

[EnfieldRyder]

Re: Upgraded Punto & Linea launch on 3rd Jan 2012

A thought just shot through my mind, are we expecting too much from FIAT? the fact that VW has phenomenal sales volume compared to FIAT is nowhere near surprising! Both being European manufacturers & have considerable user base in Europe itself, while one had a walkaway success the other is still mulling on how to go about their strategy here?!?!

Its beats me to no end that FIAT is managing to kill itself again & again when they have cars that are best in their class & those that would appeal to everyone. I've seen barely a mention of FIAT in recent times & even in the Car & Bike awards of NDTV not a single entry in any category from FIAT uh!

 

[Sam Dinkar]

Re: Upgraded Punto & Linea launch on 3rd Jan 2012

I would not say that Fiat cars are the best in their class and that they hold mass appeal. Different products have different perceptions at different demographics. However, apart from lethargic engines (apart from the T-jet),poor plastics, inconsistent build quality and frequent niggles, there is nothing much wrong either with the Linea or the Punto. The only thing that needs a change is the company management. I hope that happens sooner rather than later. Fiat is right now in ruddy health, thanks to Ferrari, Maserati and the Panda and I see no financial reason why it should not go for a full assault to recapture the Indian market. Fiat, if you are listening, we are all cheering up for you, please get up and start RUNNING !

 

[hemantp]

Re: Upgraded Punto & Linea launch on 3rd Jan 2012

However, apart from lethargic engines (apart from the T-jet),poor plastics, inconsistent build quality and frequent niggles, there is nothing much wrong either with the Linea or the Punto.

What else is left there to be wrong?

Of course, I am not sure if you mention the above issues off first hand experience or...


Hemant

 

[Sam Dinkar]

Re: Upgraded Punto & Linea launch on 3rd Jan 2012

What else is left there to be wrong?

Of course, I am not sure if you mention the above issues off first hand experience or...


Hemant

I love Fiats and I want one but am as yet not too brave to own them. I know very at least ten people very closely in different parts of India who own Puntos/Lineas and a few others who own/have owned Unos/Palios and all of them have mentioned that they have been disappointed with many aspects related to their respective cars. All of them still love their Fiats, though. You may read any road test of Linea/Punto in any Indian automobile magazine and you would find that all reviewers have invariably mentioned how the engines are not upto the mark (even the 1.3 diesel is better tuned by other manufacturers !), how hopeless the fit and finish is and the less said about after sales service, the better. When I wanted to gift a small car to my father earlier last year, I put aside all my knowledge of cars and Td'ed the Punto 1.2 (the 1.4 is too thirsty) before I TD'ed any other car. In isolation, the 1.2 Punto is not a bad car at all but after driving it I went and Tded the Brio and the Ritz and all was crystal clear. The overall build quality, the panel gaps, the performance of the Maruti K-Series/Honda 1.2, the reassurance of good after-sales service, everything logically screamed "THIS IS BETTER THAN THE PUNTO". Even after all this, I thought that sod everything, if I were buying this car for myself and not for my father, I'd still have gone in for the Punto 1.2 in a flash. And I guess that's why at the end of the day, some people still buy these cars because there is something lovable about them . However, for the majority of the car buying public in our country, the lovable-ness of a car is not reason enough to put their hard earned money on it and practical factors mentioned above remain too dominating in their car buying decision (and probably rightly so).