I bought a brand new FIAT Punto 1.4 16v Eleganza 5-door and picked it up March 1st. I paid just over £11K in cash.
I'll list the problems;
Wing mirror cracked - this happened when using the electrical adjustment controls and the mirror just cracked. AMC, Chelmsford wanted to see the car in case I had damaged it against a car or somthing otherwise it wouldn't be covered by warranty. Fair enough I thought although I was a bit aggreived at having to take a day off work.
Carpet/trim hanging - this was repaired at the same time as the mirror.
Clutch pedal ruber kept slipping off - not really a major problem but can be a tad worrying when you foot slips off the clutch and the car starts kangerooing towards a junction! This was also replaced at the same time as the wing mirror.
Chunk missing from dashboard - near where the airbag key is, there is a small chunk that looks cut out from the dashboard. It is not caused by human intervention as unless I used a knife there is no way I can cause that damage. This has been inspected by two engineers at AMC who say it needs replacing but a third inspection has to be done by the FIAT man. The trouble is he is rarely at AMC and they want me to go down there at a whim (as they are never sure when he will arrive) but I don't know about anyone else but I work in London and my job doesn't allow me to just leave at a whim. Not to mention that I am 1.5hrs away from work and cannot leave and go back.
Car not starting - key not turning in ignition barrel. Steering lock not on either but acting like it is, starts eventually after much jiggling around.
Car starts and misfires - this is a worry as it's only a month old.
Power steering groaning - gettig bored of listing these now!
Car seems sluggish - I don't know if this is me but the car seems sluggish, more so than my old 1.2 8v Punto. It's also seems a bit juicy and I don't use the aircon as I know that eats fuel.
Apart from the above catalogue of errors, the after sales service at AMC, Chelmsford is shocking. There is one guy there who seems sympathetic but sympathy doesn't fix my issues. I was told that the wing mirror problem was human error as I must have hit something, and the dashboard issue is still unresolved. Why do I have to go down visit them again. I work all week but have been told that they cannot do it Saturday's as they only do services on Saturday. Why can't this FIAT man visit me? Why does he have to inspect it at all when two engineers have already inspected it and stated that it needs replacing and is a fault?
Now I phoned the manager this morning and after about 3 hrs I am still told he is in a meeting. I work in a bank and even we don't have meetings for three hours!
Basically I am not happy, it seems they got my money and that's it. Also when I said about the starting issue this mornign, I was told that I have AA cover and call them.
Feel like just giving the car back and getting something else, banging my head against a brick wall :bang:
I'll list the problems;
Wing mirror cracked - this happened when using the electrical adjustment controls and the mirror just cracked. AMC, Chelmsford wanted to see the car in case I had damaged it against a car or somthing otherwise it wouldn't be covered by warranty. Fair enough I thought although I was a bit aggreived at having to take a day off work.
Carpet/trim hanging - this was repaired at the same time as the mirror.
Clutch pedal ruber kept slipping off - not really a major problem but can be a tad worrying when you foot slips off the clutch and the car starts kangerooing towards a junction! This was also replaced at the same time as the wing mirror.
Chunk missing from dashboard - near where the airbag key is, there is a small chunk that looks cut out from the dashboard. It is not caused by human intervention as unless I used a knife there is no way I can cause that damage. This has been inspected by two engineers at AMC who say it needs replacing but a third inspection has to be done by the FIAT man. The trouble is he is rarely at AMC and they want me to go down there at a whim (as they are never sure when he will arrive) but I don't know about anyone else but I work in London and my job doesn't allow me to just leave at a whim. Not to mention that I am 1.5hrs away from work and cannot leave and go back.
Car not starting - key not turning in ignition barrel. Steering lock not on either but acting like it is, starts eventually after much jiggling around.
Car starts and misfires - this is a worry as it's only a month old.
Power steering groaning - gettig bored of listing these now!
Car seems sluggish - I don't know if this is me but the car seems sluggish, more so than my old 1.2 8v Punto. It's also seems a bit juicy and I don't use the aircon as I know that eats fuel.
Apart from the above catalogue of errors, the after sales service at AMC, Chelmsford is shocking. There is one guy there who seems sympathetic but sympathy doesn't fix my issues. I was told that the wing mirror problem was human error as I must have hit something, and the dashboard issue is still unresolved. Why do I have to go down visit them again. I work all week but have been told that they cannot do it Saturday's as they only do services on Saturday. Why can't this FIAT man visit me? Why does he have to inspect it at all when two engineers have already inspected it and stated that it needs replacing and is a fault?
Now I phoned the manager this morning and after about 3 hrs I am still told he is in a meeting. I work in a bank and even we don't have meetings for three hours!
Basically I am not happy, it seems they got my money and that's it. Also when I said about the starting issue this mornign, I was told that I have AA cover and call them.
Feel like just giving the car back and getting something else, banging my head against a brick wall :bang:
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