Technical Euro6 1.2 Throttle Response, Hill Start Issues & Watchdog report
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Technical Euro6 1.2 Throttle Response, Hill Start Issues & Watchdog report
Find another dealer?
Further update from me everyone.
My 'upgrade' diesel 1.3 is now in the country and I should be taking delivery of it by the weekend. The same day that I heard from the dealership to confirm this I also had a phone call from my case manager at the finance company.
She wanted to let me know that the car was now in the country, which of course, I knew. She also wanted to point out that she had received an email from Fiat regarding my case. They wanted to know whether, given how passionate I had been regarding my original car, whether I would now consider receiving that one - complete with 'fix' - and some compensation. Instead of the diesel. Which I have been paying for and waiting on for nearly 3 months now.
Now, those of you who know my case will probably guess my reaction to this. Needless to say my written response, once I learnt what the level of compensation was (£400), was more polite than my off-the-record phone call conversation. I believe I may have used the word derisory. You can do the maths. Upgraded diesel model with £1400 extras vs original 1.2 petrol 500 and £400. Er, right.
Fiat it seems wants to continue insulting customers at every turn. They do not seem to be learning ANY lessons in customer service at all.
An interesting point to note: my partner took delivery of a brand new Nissan Leaf at the weekend and I took him to the Swindon branch (Fish Brothers - super dealership. Highly recommend them). Anyway, we returned to Somerset via Gloucester and whilst in town, popped the car on charge at the Nissan dealership there (Wessex). Those who are familiar to Wessex will know that there is both the Nissan and Fiat showrooms side by side.
My partner needed to find a member of staff to assist him and initially went into the Nissan side. It was packed. However, all staff were busy and he thought to pop next door into the Fiat showroom. It was empty. Completely empty.
My partner had been considering purchasing the Panda 4x4 for some time. Even test drove one. However, given how badly the dealership handled his enquiry (with no surprise, given how terrible Huttons of Weston-super-Mare are), combined with other factors, made him take his money elsewhere.
I think Fiat are in big trouble. The knock-on effect of this fault, exacerbated by their ineptness to deal with this problem appropriately and timely, has killed customers faith in the brand.
I have to say that once I reach the point on my agreement where I can hand the keys back (September 2016), unless I seriously bond with this diesel model, it will be returned and I will NEVER go near another Fiat ever again. They really do need to wake up and smell the expresso: they made a dud car. They went into denial. They didn't fix things. They blamed their customers. WRONG. WRONG. WRONG.
My 'upgrade' diesel 1.3 is now in the country and I should be taking delivery of it by the weekend. The same day that I heard from the dealership to confirm this I also had a phone call from my case manager at the finance company.
She wanted to let me know that the car was now in the country, which of course, I knew. She also wanted to point out that she had received an email from Fiat regarding my case. They wanted to know whether, given how passionate I had been regarding my original car, whether I would now consider receiving that one - complete with 'fix' - and some compensation. Instead of the diesel. Which I have been paying for and waiting on for nearly 3 months now.
Now, those of you who know my case will probably guess my reaction to this. Needless to say my written response, once I learnt what the level of compensation was (£400), was more polite than my off-the-record phone call conversation. I believe I may have used the word derisory. You can do the maths. Upgraded diesel model with £1400 extras vs original 1.2 petrol 500 and £400. Er, right.
Fiat it seems wants to continue insulting customers at every turn. They do not seem to be learning ANY lessons in customer service at all.
An interesting point to note: my partner took delivery of a brand new Nissan Leaf at the weekend and I took him to the Swindon branch (Fish Brothers - super dealership. Highly recommend them). Anyway, we returned to Somerset via Gloucester and whilst in town, popped the car on charge at the Nissan dealership there (Wessex). Those who are familiar to Wessex will know that there is both the Nissan and Fiat showrooms side by side.
My partner needed to find a member of staff to assist him and initially went into the Nissan side. It was packed. However, all staff were busy and he thought to pop next door into the Fiat showroom. It was empty. Completely empty.
My partner had been considering purchasing the Panda 4x4 for some time. Even test drove one. However, given how badly the dealership handled his enquiry (with no surprise, given how terrible Huttons of Weston-super-Mare are), combined with other factors, made him take his money elsewhere.
I think Fiat are in big trouble. The knock-on effect of this fault, exacerbated by their ineptness to deal with this problem appropriately and timely, has killed customers faith in the brand.
I have to say that once I reach the point on my agreement where I can hand the keys back (September 2016), unless I seriously bond with this diesel model, it will be returned and I will NEVER go near another Fiat ever again. They really do need to wake up and smell the expresso: they made a dud car. They went into denial. They didn't fix things. They blamed their customers. WRONG. WRONG. WRONG.
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ahmett
Prominent member
The only thing that can save them now is a heavily upgraded Fiat 500 selling at the same price as the 'old' one is selling now.
Even in Greece most of the Fiat 500's i see are at least 1 year old.
You can get a 2000 Euro discount on any Fiat 500 you buy here without even needing to haggle, so I could have bought my current Fiat 500 at 15,000 Euros instead of 17,600!!
They even offered me, in adition to that, 8000 Euros for my car to trade it in. Quite tempting, but I have spent enough money on my Fiat 500. Might as well keep it until it dies.
Even in Greece most of the Fiat 500's i see are at least 1 year old.
You can get a 2000 Euro discount on any Fiat 500 you buy here without even needing to haggle, so I could have bought my current Fiat 500 at 15,000 Euros instead of 17,600!!
They even offered me, in adition to that, 8000 Euros for my car to trade it in. Quite tempting, but I have spent enough money on my Fiat 500. Might as well keep it until it dies.
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They've handled this like an utter shambles, but ultimately ab4444, you got a new car out of them, whilst a lot of people are still waiting for updates on their dodgy 1.2s. Part of the reason for this will be because you worked your ar*e off to put your point across, so I applaud that. However the other part, ultimately, is you were luckier than some others.
Fish Brothers might be ok now, but lets face it most dealers are good when you're buying a new car. Try them for aftersales and see how they fare then - they're not far from me and had a far from exemplary record a few years ago!
Wessex are not renowned for customer service excellence either, so part of that dead Fiat showroom might be down to that. Ultimately though, Nissan have a more complete range and are more on the ball in sorting out problems than Fiat, which will have had an impact as you suggested.
I don't think Fiat are in that much bother in terms of sales though. The 500 needs an update and peoples' faith in them does appear to have been shaken, presumably from Watchdog, as I've seen only 4 15 plate 500s so far - I think I'd seen about 50 14 plate ones by this time last year. Also just from the lack of 'new 500' members on here, something's taken a nose dive, but for a car that's been on the market since 2008, it was gonna happen sooner or later.
However, the 500L appears to continue to sell slowly, and the 500X appears popular, along with the Panda (especially 4x4). There's a new roadster due within 12 months and we may get a new mid-sized hatchback & estate here within 12 months too, so I think the dip in sales is probably little different to other manufacturers with an ageing line-up - ultimately Fiat need new models.
I'm not sticking up for Fiat's handling of this issue, as they have been woeful, but sometimes there comes a point when you have to try to look at the positives, ie brand new Multijet 500 on the way & a finance company and new dealer who have done their upmost to try & help
Fish Brothers might be ok now, but lets face it most dealers are good when you're buying a new car. Try them for aftersales and see how they fare then - they're not far from me and had a far from exemplary record a few years ago!
Wessex are not renowned for customer service excellence either, so part of that dead Fiat showroom might be down to that. Ultimately though, Nissan have a more complete range and are more on the ball in sorting out problems than Fiat, which will have had an impact as you suggested.
I don't think Fiat are in that much bother in terms of sales though. The 500 needs an update and peoples' faith in them does appear to have been shaken, presumably from Watchdog, as I've seen only 4 15 plate 500s so far - I think I'd seen about 50 14 plate ones by this time last year. Also just from the lack of 'new 500' members on here, something's taken a nose dive, but for a car that's been on the market since 2008, it was gonna happen sooner or later.
However, the 500L appears to continue to sell slowly, and the 500X appears popular, along with the Panda (especially 4x4). There's a new roadster due within 12 months and we may get a new mid-sized hatchback & estate here within 12 months too, so I think the dip in sales is probably little different to other manufacturers with an ageing line-up - ultimately Fiat need new models.
I'm not sticking up for Fiat's handling of this issue, as they have been woeful, but sometimes there comes a point when you have to try to look at the positives, ie brand new Multijet 500 on the way & a finance company and new dealer who have done their upmost to try & help
Quick update:
Once again, fault not fixed. No update available for our car after it being checked. They have taken it for a test drive (i made a note of the mileage it went in with), and they said it's not as bad as the new ones. I disagreed at this point as the 64 plate courtesy car was the same and asked why would this be the case? Their reply was that Fiat don't make them all the same, the earlier ones feel like they have more power, and the latest ones are de-tuned to meet emissions regulations.
Essentially we were told to adapt our driving style or speak to Fiat CS
My wife was with me this time when we picked up the car, she was livid with the outcome.
We're going to speak to FCA about handing the car back. Pissed off with the whole thing now
Once again, fault not fixed. No update available for our car after it being checked. They have taken it for a test drive (i made a note of the mileage it went in with), and they said it's not as bad as the new ones. I disagreed at this point as the 64 plate courtesy car was the same and asked why would this be the case? Their reply was that Fiat don't make them all the same, the earlier ones feel like they have more power, and the latest ones are de-tuned to meet emissions regulations.
Essentially we were told to adapt our driving style or speak to Fiat CS
My wife was with me this time when we picked up the car, she was livid with the outcome.
We're going to speak to FCA about handing the car back. Pissed off with the whole thing now
ahmett
Prominent member
speak to Fiat and say if they dont fix it you want to give the car back. Suffering has its limits.Quick update:
Once again, fault not fixed. No update available for our car after it being checked. They have taken it for a test drive (i made a note of the mileage it went in with), and they said it's not as bad as the new ones. I disagreed at this point as the 64 plate courtesy car was the same and asked why would this be the case? Their reply was that Fiat don't make them all the same, the earlier ones feel like they have more power, and the latest ones are de-tuned to meet emissions regulations.
Essentially we were told to adapt our driving style or speak to Fiat CS
My wife was with me this time when we picked up the car, she was livid with the outcome.
We're going to speak to FCA about handing the car back. Pissed off with the whole thing now
Already tried that, they said there was one available, and the garage saying there isn't. :bang:
I think speaking to Fiat CS for a fix again is going to hit a dead end. Going to speak to FCA about terminating our agreement and handing it back
ahmett
Prominent member
I think as a last resort try another dealer with Fiat CS approval. If its still not fixed you have more ammunition to go to FCA as you tried everything to find a solution.
Make them look bad!
What I'd love to understand about this whole saga is why exactly the 1.2 has had so much tinkering with for "emissions" purposes.
I have no real understand of the EU regulations regarding this, but from a tax perspective the £30 tax bracket is for cars between 111-120 g/km.
The latest derivative of the 1.2 is bang on 111g/km. Surely a bit more of a trade-off between extra performance and slightly higher emissions would have been a good idea? Or is this just too simplistic a view?
I have no real understand of the EU regulations regarding this, but from a tax perspective the £30 tax bracket is for cars between 111-120 g/km.
The latest derivative of the 1.2 is bang on 111g/km. Surely a bit more of a trade-off between extra performance and slightly higher emissions would have been a good idea? Or is this just too simplistic a view?
ahmett
Prominent member
as jrkitching said in the past, Euro 6 is more strict in many ways than just g/km measurements.
:yeahthat:
Quick update:
Once again, fault not fixed. No update available for our car after it being checked. They have taken it for a test drive (i made a note of the mileage it went in with), and they said it's not as bad as the new ones. I disagreed at this point as the 64 plate courtesy car was the same and asked why would this be the case? Their reply was that Fiat don't make them all the same, the earlier ones feel like they have more power, and the latest ones are de-tuned to meet emissions regulations.
Essentially we were told to adapt our driving style or speak to Fiat CS
My wife was with me this time when we picked up the car, she was livid with the outcome.
We're going to speak to FCA about handing the car back. Pissed off with the whole thing now
This is appalling, though I suspect the dealers have had as much of a gut full as you have - it's always struck me that the communication dealers have with Fiat is pretty much as bad as that the customers suffer with.
I'd strongly recommend contacting FCA Automotive Services (formerly FGA Capital). When I had problems with my Alfa MiTo & I was at the point of rejecting it, they stepped in & got things sorted meaning I didn't need to reject it. Also with my Sisters MiTo, we're currently in talks with them as it's been a proper 'Friday afternoon' car, and again they've been much more coherent than Fiat CS.
I'd never advise jumping the gun and going straight to the finance company, but in your sort of circumstance, with little backup from the dealer or Fiat, it's a good course of action. Good luck
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I believe it's far more to do with all the other exhaust gases rather than CO2.
Having learnt that my car arrived in the UK last week, I am still waiting to know when I can collect it from the dealership. Apparently, they are at the behest of Fiat agreeing and finalising paperwork. So frustrating. I've told them my fears of it all being a huge stalling tactic. I've reminded them just how cynical I am. And yes, whilst I have been lucky enough to get a different car out of them through sheer belligerence, doggedness and upset, Fiat seem to want to make every part of my journey with them difficult. I'd love to say that I'm excited now.....and I can't any more. If that makes me ungrateful then so be it. I'm just clinging onto the hope that when I do eventually drive this car away I'll be able to bond with it and start enjoy driving again.
ahmett
Prominent member
Thanks Ahmett. Alas, we're not picking the car up this weekend. Fiat haven't got the paperwork together in time.
More hassle. More disappointment. Such a shame. I had hoped that I had put this shabby behaviour behind me. I've never known a company treat their customers so badly.
ahmett
Prominent member
just get the car and drive never use them for service = ). Ideally you will never have to talk to Fiat again, or at least for a while. Lets hope you wont have any issues that need to be solved under warranty!
I am proud that you fought Fiat and did not give up.
That's what they count on, people throwing the towel.
