Its false economy to only change a single spring (if you can afford it) the springs weaken over time and with uneven springs this causes the car to be less stable than it could be. Another thing that needs to be looked at after replacing springs is tracking, but not straight away after replacement. Wait a few weeks for the new springs to settle, the springs will generally sink at least 1/2 inch in the first few hundred miles, after this has happened get the tracking reset.
Id also phone Fiat UK and speak to them about the spring, particularly as the service provided caused more interuption to your working day than had been promised.
drop off car night before, collect & delivery, get someone else to take it in or do it yourself! When cars are booked in its on a overall day basis (5 techs at 8 hours each = 40 hours etc etc) cars are not booked in like a doctors appointment. Its just tough as it is tough on me when I have to a days pay to go to the dentist twice a year.....maybe they will give me a voucher for a free filling?
chicken_chau_mein...Fiat did not have your car, the garage did.
When i dropped my car off at 8.30am tuesday morning, they said it would be ready by 12noon. I waited till 1pm to call them and told me the service department was on lunch and my car would be ready for 3pm. At half 3 they called and told me about the broken spring. I was told they could order and replace it the next morning for 10am. 1pm I rang them again and was told another half hour. It wasn't completed until after 2pm.
I work with family and because Fiat gave me an indication of when my car would be ready, I assumed it would be on time and I could go to work, albeit just a bit later. Instead I miss one whole day and another half day.
I know the first day couldn't be avoided but their estimate for changing just one spring was really taking the pee.
There could be any number of reasons why things have gone wrong CCM, but one thing is certain, you didnt take your car to Fiat, you took it to a garage. Garages make promises in good faith, there could be any number of reasons why they couldnt deliver, including there own cock up. This doesn't mean that they owe you anything apart from an apology.