StephinScotland
New member
Bought a Panda 4x4 brand new in January 2006 at Donald Mackenzies in Inverness (DON'T GO THERE!!!)
The boot lock broke in June 2006 and was replaced under warranty (- which should be an absolute certainty rather than something that you can be proud of... )
Brakes started squealing in spring 2007, I handed it in to get it checked - couldn't find anything but I was charged £60.
In October 2007 I discovered that the front tyres were worn down so badly on the inside that it wasn't safe to drive - again to the garage, new tyres for the front plus the second year service - £300.
Spring 2008. The brakes have been squealing all the way through and by now a constant screach is to be heard on every ride longer than 15 minutes. I can't face it anymore and take the train wherever I can.
Then a puncture and as Mackenzies don't do tyres I brought the car to an independant tyre sprecialist. "Did you know that your brakes are so badly worn that you will have to replace the pads as well as the discs all round?"
That car had been to the Fiat dealer twice in the 12 month before that, nobody ever picked up on anything and now I need to replace the lot???
Oh and guess what, the boot lock broke in February or March. I was too busy to bring my car to that dealer every other month and put up with it for a while.
MacKenzies then fixed the brakes and without telling me also fitted a new boot lock - not under warranty. £280 brakes plus £140 for the boot lock.
No, no warranty, the 2 years Fiat warranty is expired and the 3rd year dealer warranty doesn't cover it (Well, is ANYTHING covered by this 3rd year's warranty???)
I was furious and refused to pay the boot lock. Opened a case at Fiat UK but I was so pissed off with the car that I sold it. On top of the monthly rates to pay it off I paid over £800 on repairs and parts for a brand new car, it was crap on road and fuel consumption was astronomical for such a small car. And I didn't want to star putting money aside for the next boot lock in 1.5 years...
And Fiat UK tell me that NOW, that I am no Fiat customer anymore they cannot do anything regarding the boot lock and I would have to pay for that thing as well.
Whatever you do, DO NOT MAKE THE MISTAKE TO BUY A PANDA 4X4 AND CERTAINLY NOT AT DONALD MACKENZIES IN INVERNESS!!!!!:bang:
The boot lock broke in June 2006 and was replaced under warranty (- which should be an absolute certainty rather than something that you can be proud of... )
Brakes started squealing in spring 2007, I handed it in to get it checked - couldn't find anything but I was charged £60.
In October 2007 I discovered that the front tyres were worn down so badly on the inside that it wasn't safe to drive - again to the garage, new tyres for the front plus the second year service - £300.
Spring 2008. The brakes have been squealing all the way through and by now a constant screach is to be heard on every ride longer than 15 minutes. I can't face it anymore and take the train wherever I can.
Then a puncture and as Mackenzies don't do tyres I brought the car to an independant tyre sprecialist. "Did you know that your brakes are so badly worn that you will have to replace the pads as well as the discs all round?"
That car had been to the Fiat dealer twice in the 12 month before that, nobody ever picked up on anything and now I need to replace the lot???
Oh and guess what, the boot lock broke in February or March. I was too busy to bring my car to that dealer every other month and put up with it for a while.
MacKenzies then fixed the brakes and without telling me also fitted a new boot lock - not under warranty. £280 brakes plus £140 for the boot lock.
No, no warranty, the 2 years Fiat warranty is expired and the 3rd year dealer warranty doesn't cover it (Well, is ANYTHING covered by this 3rd year's warranty???)
I was furious and refused to pay the boot lock. Opened a case at Fiat UK but I was so pissed off with the car that I sold it. On top of the monthly rates to pay it off I paid over £800 on repairs and parts for a brand new car, it was crap on road and fuel consumption was astronomical for such a small car. And I didn't want to star putting money aside for the next boot lock in 1.5 years...
And Fiat UK tell me that NOW, that I am no Fiat customer anymore they cannot do anything regarding the boot lock and I would have to pay for that thing as well.
Whatever you do, DO NOT MAKE THE MISTAKE TO BUY A PANDA 4X4 AND CERTAINLY NOT AT DONALD MACKENZIES IN INVERNESS!!!!!:bang: