An experience worth sharing At times you wish to make close ones happy by providing them some convenience in life. I felt the same and thought of buying a car for my family. You do a bit of research and when you are in Shillong you tend to think of a compact and good car. You cannot avoid considering i10 by Hyundai. It is quite a popular car and the brand is decent. I did the same, I had limited information. I came across a friend of mine who expressed his experience with Hyundai’s partner- Shillong Hyundai. He had bought i20, he met with an accident and the car bumper got damaged. Generally things like bumper replacement is a day’s job or at max two, but he had to wait for months, in the meantime he had to buy another car (not Hyundai of course).
I felt that this is one odd case and ignored his experience; actually I don’t know why I switched off my brain. Perhaps I thought in this age of improved service level it has to be one out of billion cases. I shared my concern with GM Mr. Rajib at Shillong Hyundai, he laughed and said “that was just one case and don’t worry we have set things right, you will never face such issue”, and I bought it. I went ahead and bought a garnet red car towards the end of November. All of us were happy.
Around third week of December it met with an accident. There was dent on the right door and some oil leakage from engine. Generally an accident of this nature takes a week time for repair and testing but looking at Shillong’s relaxed environment you might extend it to ten days. I was surprised to see the pace of work, it took two months. Mr. Anshuman is a very able gentleman but feels that he can convince you that any repair is a big project and might take endless time. And please don’t think that just because you have bought the car from them, they would listen to you. You bought the car so you will follow up with them. And if you know all excuses, try calling them. Right from “someone went to meet relatives” to “someone not having internet connection at home” might affect your repair work. Instead of discussing things you might realize why you are talking even.
There have been talks in the past that at Hyundai service center new original parts are replaced. Is this the reason why a new car takes months for any repair? I don’t know but you cannot stop thinking. After two months they mailed me expressing that time period taken is well within limits. Are you kidding me? They could have taken more than that. I have escalated this issue to their top management. I am not promoting any other brand but maybe this experience of mine might help you in making wise decision. Otherwise you always have the option of buying an alternate car till the time your car is at workshop.
Rishikesh Kumar