Any advice?

Hi there, I am close to my wits end. Just before I write a letter to FIAT UK and send a copy to Toomey Fiat (What's the point) I thought I would ask the people in the know. (As it seems my garge 'know nothing).

After both windows not going up when I bought it they were repeared the second time I took it in.

Greasey, sticky silicone was used, staining the door & window seals, and had managed to split the gator around the gear stick. It had also used approx. 3/4 - 1 litre of oil in around 2,000 miles. They arranged to repair the gator and clean the seals.

On pickup, no repair - part cleaned. "Sorry sir we need a new gear knob as the gator won't go over the knob".

A week or so later "while you wait" repair was offered. As I waited . . .an engineer came out and said "We're very sorry, but in taking the gear knob off, we snapped your gear stick". Fortunately a day later and repair Ulysse was shinny and bright. The sticky seals faded, but still visable. A shinney chrome gear knob and gator, not the brushed metal gear nob that was lived there. I thought, don't want complain it's fixed, no more problems . . . I was wrong.

The fridge air con, must have been disturbed because I know have warm cans, warming than when they went in. Another litre of oil gone. "That's they way they bore the wholes?" was the explanation.

Any then the drivers seat. After 3500 miles the fluffy wornout look of an old car with the foam mis-shaped and crumbling under the car seat.

"We'll get a new cover?" - Is that right, a cover not the whole seat.

The Black Ulysse 2.0JTD has just acheived 4000 miles on a 54plate, Purchased 27 October 2004. Was this the Friday built fiat or is it just coincidence that I feel like Mr Victor Meldrew, as something else goes wrong - I DON'T BELEIVE IT.

Your words of wisdom would really help. I lked the Fiat, I wonder now, whether the Citreon or Pug. would of been a better option.

I know what most of the replies will come back saying........find another dealer.

The repairs are only as good as the mechanics they employ.

I sent a letter to Fiat (to the customer services mangager) tactfully telling them how many gramatical and spelling errors there were on the "Thanks for buying your new Fiat and your warrenty is for so long letter" that is sent to all Fiat owners. I never got even an acknowledgement. They could change that by sacking the manager and his secretary easy but replacing a dealer maybe more difficult. I wouldn't hold your breath.

Paul