Hi there....
I just got a Fiesta Diesel ZXI. I have written a review on how I tested Octavia TDI and Fiesta and preferred the latter. No doubt its a great car, but then there is a POOR after sales service to go with it. It really makes you suffer. In fact, many persons I talked with (after purchasing the car), told me that they wanted to buy a FORD product, but dropped the idea as soon as they heard the poor after sales service.
I will describe a pathetic incident with one of ford dealers - this was my first free service and I was being fleeced .. literally... being talked into changing oil filter and engine oil at 1500 Kms... Imagine...
I will complete this review soon.. Have written to Ford India and also mailed pathetic state of affairs to Ford USA and UK.
Beware of such cheats! Be there (beside your car) when u get your it serviced..... will complete the story soon.
Dr. Gagandeep
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The story continues.....
Well what I wrote so far happenned last year (Sep06). I complained regarding the oil change recommendation at 1500 km mileage - Amin Ford [Baroda] apologized. Relationship got better, until mid 07 when there was a slight debate over insurance claim. The works manager yelled so badly over a small issue (talk about basic moral science). However, the person was too petty to debate with, I simply got the denting-painting done and disappeared [what had happenned that a bike hit the front door, nothing happenned to bike or its rider, but the front door metal TORE like paper - I believe Fiesta has followed suit with Honda City in providing cheap quality and light metal on the body to improve efficiency]...
My car is one year old and I am still smiling. Average - 15+ with AC in cuty, 20+ on highway, average can go upto 25 if you do not use AC and drive at 80-90 kmph. I visit the fuel pump once in 4-6 weeks. Impressive performance. The car is vary agile on the road, wonderful suspension.. but in case you hit it - well then its gonna be a sad story since the material used on the bumper & body is not sturdy at all !!! (though the overall passenger safety is good).
I happened to visit Planet Ford in Pune. The workshop looks so neat and clean and as compared to other workshops, its a 5 star appearance! They took from 9 am to 6-15 pm to service and repair the car, but the overall quality of repair and work was simply excellent. I have written to Ford to enforce such functional and infrastructure changes across all the workshops in India.
I think its been a good investment. Suggestion - goto Ford workshops only, extend coverage to max. There was a problem with power window lift, which was replaced free of cost in extended warranty. Comes at a small charge of 11.5K for 2 years and DEFINITELY worth it. I think Ford cares for its customers.
Dr. Gagandeep Singh