I am a proud owner of a Fiat Palio for 4 years now. And can easily say it is value for money in a metro. Its space, comfort, handling everything is of highest quality, except the fact that it’s a Fiat car. I am sure now that fiat has worst dealer and service network in India. And I never recommend this car for a non-metro because getting service there is almost a nightmare.
You will be surprised to know that dealers and their agents do a black-marketing for spare parts!!! I have a first hand experience of that. One of the plastic parts got broken in my car, due to which I was not able to put my car in back gear. I went to the dealer close to my place and he told me this part is of 450/- but they don’t have one. So I have to wait for 2-3 weeks. Imagine driving a car for 3 weeks when u can’t use the back gear. It’s impossible and that meant I could not drive my car for 3 weeks. When I was leaving the place a mechanic of this “Authorized workshop” approached my saying he can replace the part at my place but this service will cost me 1000/-. and it will take around 1/2 hr to finish the job. So the part that was officially out of stock was available if I had bribed the mechanic.
I went to another palio dealer in Delhi. He said he has the part and it’s price in 450/- but they will charge 500/- labour charges as this part is very difficult to replace; they have to open everything and it will take 5 hours. I just could not believe that he is asking for unjust money (500/-) in another form as I knew it shall take no more than 1/2 hour.
So guys this is the way these fiat dealer cheat on you. So buy a Fiat Palio only if you have 2-3 dealers in your city. Otherwise these cheaters really make your experience bitter.