I am updating this thread after a really really long time. Last update being in February.
The car is about to complete 14k KMS and I gave the car for its 3rd Free Service.
The car is getting only better with time. After the 3rd service I feel the engine has become more refined or maybe it is just a perception that engines should get better and more free revving after their proper running in? Don't want to bother with that but driving my Aria is a totally different experience nowadays. Gearshifts are super slick and only a level below what I have in my SX4 Diesel.
A lot has happened since Feb. We have taken it to nearby places and long drives have been put on hold. We were supposed to drive to delhi for a wedding but my dad then realised that it would be too much. Is he really getting old or what. In feb we took the delivery of our SX4 Diesel and it has clocked 30k Kms already and I am little surprised that even after having such a smooth, comfortable and a spacious vehicle we have to rely on Air travel.
Now A friend of mine who works in DC (Dilip Chabaria wala DC, Obama wala nahi :P) payed a visit and being surrounded by different cars he was really very interested in getting a round in the car. We were off on our way, drove a bit and came back. Upon getting down from the car I saw that the driver side front tire is flat. Quickly got into mechanic mode, removed the stepny and changed the flat tire. Upon inspection I didnt find a single nail or anything that had caused that so thought that the Air valve might have burst and leaned the tire against the pillar in my parking.
Now I started tightening the screws and got up to put the tire in the designated place and to my horror I saw that the tire got a Cut on the sidewall
all the color from my face and environment drained. I knew that this one thing cannot be repaired. A whole freaking tire worth 13k is just a normal rubber now. My friend freaked out too and till date apologizes as he thinks that it wouldn't have happened had he not asked for that round.
Then what? Called up the dealer and informed him about it and was asked to take it to the service center. I submitted the tire for inspection and was informed that night that it is not a manufacturing defect but road impact. Called up my uncle who works in good year and he got us 25% discount on the new tire. Now it could have easily been 50% but I sent a very strong worded email to goodyear which my uncle also got along with his counterpart in Pune. Guess I should have had some patience. Now when I called the dealership and spoke to the manager who handled our purchase informed that goodyear tires that came with initial Arias have a problem. They deflate on their own and one of their cars even got a sidewall cut in a stationary position. I thought that it is a manufacturing defect and bashed them up in every way possible. Complained on FB page, sent emails to higher ups in Tata Motors, Registered a complaint with consumer forums and also with goodyear.
Result? Could have easily got 50% but I had to open my mouth and not be the diplomatic person I normally am. Anyway it is past now and I am really happy with my Aria. Just that I still get scared when I have to go over broken roads which are available in wholesale in Pune. I dont feel very confident driving it over such roads. In case I go even a little fast over bump or anything the moment I stop the car I get down and check all the tires.
I have had zilch niggles after my complaints were sorted out. But I now know how Tata just induces that fear in you. It is like customers wait for and expect things to happen with their cars.
My rear view cam was fluttering and used to engage at times and other times it was intermittent. They repaired the unit without the need of any replacement. And it has worked just fine.
I had that ABS Fault, TCS Fault and ESP Fault very frequently and during my 3rd free service I pursued it a lot with them and they connected their laptop and showed me that it is not an electronic failure but when the power supply to the ECU falls below 10v it shows error. And yeah even the comp diagnosis showed the same result, other possibility could be in case the fuse had blown but that would render the feature useless unless the fuse is replaced.
It is more of my error than an electronic error. As my Aria was just parked for a good part of this year the battery used to take time to recharge fully and hence the error which goes away after switching off and switching on the car.
But now that I have been driving my Aria a lot since my petrol sx4 finally got a buyer, that problem hasn't surfaced. Even the massive vibration problem that we had is gone now.
The drive is a lot smoother and there is a very refined growl to the engine that I have started loving. I got the engine oil changed @ 12k when I went to get the reverse camera prob sorted out.
All in all really happy with the vehicle.
And yeah my response to Aria being a DUD. Let me tell you 250+ nos IMHO is not bad. That was the segment(or is it in any?) average before Fortuner came into picture but I also agree that there were buyers but apart from few options they didnt have much choice. The moment Fortuner was introduced those buyers came forward.
Also with all the comparison with XUV500.. It is damn good vehicle and has repeated what fortuner did. But I would say I prefer the clean looks of Aria over XUV's Quircky looks. And as for interior quality I again prefer the way Tata hasn't used shiny plastic inside. As for all the gizmos I would have doubts with Mahindra and Tata combined. But I beleive that Mahindra will have a more sorted out product but Aria hasnt given me a reason to complain either. It is more of a 7 seater as compared to XUV.
And as for Aria being overpriced by what 1.5 to 2 lacs? Fortuner is 10 lacs more than what it should be sold at.
It is all about the product and not about the pricing. Make your peace with it. It is because of TATA Motor's past mistakes that this car is not selling. It is definitely not just because of pricing. Pricing plays an important part but only upto a certain level.
Though would have been interesting to see how XUV would have done at the exact price point. Well we will know when they re-open bookings and introduce new prices.
I have also read few people commenting on how no one will buy an MUV like Aria for offroading. I would only say that it is a soft roader. And offroading is a job best left to cars like Fotuner, Endeavor & Pajero. Not XUV, Aria, Captiva, Cr-V.
Though I hope I myself haven't deviated from my own topic. Just there are too many thread on this topic.
And oh it is my Aria's birthday month. I took the DELIVERY on 19th Nov. My dad's birthday as well.
And apologize for not sharing actively in the forum as I didnt have much to share. Will keep this thread going regularly now.