Third Free Service Report: (7461 kms)
Availed - 21st December, 2013.
Work to be done -
Engine oil/Oil Filter to be changed,
All general check-ups/top-ups of the 12-month/10,000 kms 3rd Free Service,
Washing & Cleaning.
Time Spent - Around 5 hours.
Charges -
3,675/-.
I had received the service reminder call from Maruti A.S.S. center about a week prior to the due date (24th December). Since 21st was a Saturday and I didn't have much work at office, I asked Dad if he would drive Sylver to the Sky Automobiles Service Center. I would follow in my Pegasus and pick him up from there.
Dad has been traveling with his grand-daughter to all parts of the city in the mornings in recent times. It is an integral part of his daily routine now. Colleges, railway station, bus stand, temples, cricket grounds, schools, even his SBI branches are not spared from our little princess's visits. That Saturday was no different. Isha and Dad piled into the Ritz and I followed them to the service center.
The first thing I noticed upon reaching Sky Auto was a huge banner and lots of chairs getting arranged and readied. Apparently it was the first day of a 3-day Maruti Mega Camp, complete with customer interaction, free services, on-the-spot exchange schemes, etc. The Manager greeted me and I casually queried about the arrangements. He explained the details to me and promptly hailed a Service Advisor to come and receive Sylver.
I noted down the work which was to be done. Sylver has been a fuss-free, trouble-free car till now so there were no major issues with her. Since she was nearing the 7,500-km mark, I asked them to change the engine oil/oil filter.
The SA clarified that Sylver carried synthetic oil which was good for 10,000 kms, although Maruti asks for the first oil change to be done at 5,000 kms! Weird stuff, but another SA came forward and cleared things by saying that the initial engine oil poured in is of the semi-synthetic type, which helps the engine and it's moving parts bed in nicely, hence the first oil change is at the 5,000-km mark. Now Sylver will be filled with pure synthetic oil which is good for the next 10,000 kms, so we can travel upto 17,500 kms on the ODO (Sylver read 7,461 on the ODO then) before availing the next service (that will be her 1st Paid service).
No other issue needed to be dealt with, so I asked them to clean the interiors since Dad drives mostly with the windows half-down (he doesn't like the AC's cool air), and the interiors had grown dusty.
The Manager came over by then and reminded the SA to give Sylver a complete exterior wash, instead of the top wash they were giving to the free service availers. I didn't see many cars lined up, maybe because it was a Saturday and probably because they were lazy to call up existing customers to inform them of the Mega Camp (I myself hadn't received any calls regarding this).
Anyway, I was assured that all jobs would be completed by 3 PM, and if I wanted they would deliver the car to my home. I casually remarked that since it was a busy day (for them) and if they were short on manpower, they could call me up to come and pick up Sylver, no problem.
Sylver was driven into the workshop hanger, where the engine oil plug was off and the older oil was drained out. It was around 11 AM then, and Dad, me and Isha piled into Pegasus and were off.
At exactly 3 PM, Dad reminded me to call up the service center. I waited for 30 more minutes before calling them up, to be informed that all jobs of Sylver were done and she was ready to be picked up. They didn't have anybody to drop her off (most of the boys were on extended lunch break, was the excuse given) so we went to pick her up.
The first thing I noticed after opening Sylver's doors was that the interiors were completely untouched! That made me lose my temper. I promptly called up the SA, the service manager and the dealership manager and gave them a real ear-hiding. As if by magic, 3-4 boys appeared out of thin air on all sides of Sylver and they started cleaning the seats, mats and the boot. It took another 35-40 minutes, as we sipped tea in the Manager's office and discussed shoddy service stuff, the manager's problems dealing with the egos of the technician staff, non-cooperation with most of the workers, etc. Too many issues plague this dealership, I thought.
Finally, all was done and billing was complete. Paid up the bill, submitted the gate pass and we were on our way back home - Dad driving Sylver and me following in Pegasus.
Bill details:
Oil Filter - 342/-,
Distilled Water - 13.16/-,
Screen Wash solution - 13.16/-,
Synthetic Oil (5W40 Castrol) - 2855.26/- (@921.05 per liter)
VAT (@14%) - 451.32/-
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TOTAL - 3,675/-
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As it was the 3rd Free Service, labour charges were waived off.
Current ODO reading - 7618 kms.
Current F.E. - 21.9 kmpl. (all in-city driving with AC off, most of the time)
3rd Free Service Bill.
ODO as of today.
Trip meter A reading (all in-city).
FE reading.
I am expecting the paid service billing to go upto a maximum of 8,500-9,000/- (including labour charges). If that's the case, for a service run of 10,000 kms/1 year, it's a stupendous rate.
A car which is easy on the wallet and gives some mind-numbing, fantastic FE numbers. Can't beat the practicality of the Ritz, folks!