Sunday, April 5, 2009

Fustrations of Tata Indica Xeta owner-Part I

Coming straight to the point, I purchased Tata Indica Xeta GLX (the top end model in Xeta) in September 2007 from AUTO INDUSTRIES GOA LTD. Nuvem, Goa. During my first visit to this showroom I was treated there like a king. The indica looked like a decent car for the price (Rs. 3,80000/- for top end Xeta). Three days down the line I purcased the black Xeta GLX and my frustrating journey began. The minute the sales deed was done I ceased to be a king! there was dramatic change in the attitude of the staff, they were eager to see me drive off with the car.
At the time I did not know that this car was going to be a headache and the service personnel at AUTO INDUSTRIES GOA LTD a pain in the a...

Here is the step by step account of my frustrating experience as an owner of Tata Indica Xeta

The engine capacity blunder: The sales person at auto industries ltd. handed over the papers to me for the registration with the RTO. While checking the papers I spotted an error, the engine capacity was mentioned as 1200cc, while in reality the engine of Xeta GLX is 1400cc. I brought this to the notice of the sales person, she said that it does not matter as the RTO will be downloading the details of the vehicle from Tata site and the error will not appear on the Registration Certificate. I trusted this sales person and proceeded to register the vehicle. When I collected the Registration Certificate after few days, to my dismay the 1200cc error had appeared on the certificate. When I contacted the sales person to inform that the error had finally made it to the registration certificate, she showed surprise and utter lack of knowledge as to what should be done now! My insurance papers say that the vehicle is 1400cc and the registration certificate says it is 1200cc, How am I going to explain this to the authorities if they decide to check the papers while I am traveling. I contacted the Manager of the outfit and what he said was quite a revelation! He informed me that the taxes on 1200cc vehicles were much less as compared to 1400cc and hence they had deliberately shown my vehicle as 1200cc in order to sale it at cheaper rate wow!!!! Ratan Tata what a strategy to reduce the price.

The first day aches-
No big deal thing - At the time of taking the delivery of my car from AUTO INDUSTRIES GOA LTD. showroom at Nuvem-Goa, I noticed many big scratches on the rear bumper and brought it to the notice of the sales person, she said that this happens all the time and "its a big deal". Wow! I should have taken this as a warning and indication of more such things (no big deal things) to follow.

Weak hand Brakes - Ignoring the scratches I drove the car home, while parking the car I realized that the hand brakes were too weak. I immediately phoned the showroom and was informed that "its no big deal and we will fix it for you during your first service", which means I had to wait till my car odometer read 5000Kms or 6months time whichever is earlier!!!

that was my first brush with the shabby, unprofessional attitude of the people working at AUTO INDUSTRIES LTD., more to follow.........