With the NGT deadline looming, I dread to think how I would deal with the experience of selling or scrapping this car.

BHPian Biraj recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

It had been a while since I last made a trip in Crusoe. Last weekend, I had the responsibility of looking after Beegu. So, I decided to take him to a pet-friendly place near Bhimtal. I initially wanted to take the Jimny as it was predicted that it would rain during our trip. However, we decided to take the Linea as it's easier for Beegu to climb into, and a trip in Crusoe was long overdue.

It performed exceedingly well throughout the trip, whether munching miles on smooth roads or taking on broken sections. The engine is such a delight even after all these years. The final stretch was a narrow hill climb with quiet surroundings. Listening to the turbo whistle reminded me of why I bought this car 12+ years ago. With the NGT deadline looming in a couple of years, I dread to think how I would deal with the experience of selling or scrapping this car.

Some pics from the trip:

The car:

The property - Emerald Trail in Jungliagaon, Bhimtal

And, Beegu

Brave face after facing a leech attack.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The result was a stress-free drive, a significant change from my usual night driving experience.

BHPian Biraj recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

While Linea's headlamps were never a strong point, I managed over the years by upgrading the bulbs to Osram Nightbreaker Plus. With increasing age, both the car and mine, it became increasingly difficult to drive after dark, especially with oncoming cars in high beams. I wear Zeiss DriveSafe prescription lenses, and they help, but the problem was the lack of illumination, especially with low beams. This became even more apparent after I started driving the Jimny, which has fairly good headlamps.

I was sceptical about modifying the headlamps due to potential CAN bus warnings. Thus, I explored replacing the fog lamps with projector LEDs. BHPian BB311 recommended an installer in Noida, conveniently located near my home. I checked the pricing on a Sunday evening and ended up getting the LEDs installed. The improvement in illumination is remarkable. The installer suggested setting the beams high, but I preferred them to enhance the low beam area, as the high beam was sufficient. Moreover, I didn't want to blind oncoming traffic.

The installer mentioned that these fog lamps can be connected to the high beams; however, the process of taping the wire didn’t give me much confidence. So, I declined and decided to keep them just as fog lamps.

The drive back was effortless and stress-free, a significant change from my usual night driving experience. I'm very pleased with the upgrade and think I should have done it sooner.

• Brand: IPH
• Bulb: LED (three colour temperatures: White, yellow, and warm white)
• Cost: 9.5k, including installation.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Changed the gearbox side engine mount as it had became quite brittle.

BHPian abhi_tjet recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

98000 km update:

Happy Diwali:

Drove to Raipur for Diwali and also visited Jagannath temple in Puri. This total trip added around 3300 kms to the tally.

Drove on Samruddhi Mahamarg for the first time and it is truly marvelous. I was able to reach home in flat 14 hours(1035kms) despite below average road conditions of NH53 between Bhandara,MH - MH/CG border. It always was minimum 18-19 hours earlier.

Early morning start:

On Samruddhi Expressway:

In Odisha, TJET’s maiden visit:

Maintenance:

The stock clutch at 98000 kms is finally showing sign of age and is hardened quite a bit. I am planning to get it changed soon since office has become a 5 day affair now.

Changed the gearbox side engine mount as it had became quite brittle. I am planning to change the engine mount near timing belt as well.

The mount, old one can be seen lying on floor:

A different guest:

The strut pads stock for left suspension are still coming defective and company is looking at some different vendors to procure the part.

Apart from this preventive maintenance, the Linea is performing exceptionally well. Hope this continues further.

The milestone:

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I have been thoroughly enjoying myself driving and maintaining my car for the past 2 years.

BHPian _Jasim_._ recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hello all, this is my first post as a team bhp member. A short introduction about me and my history with cars before I start with my experience. I am a car enthusiast by birth, my mother says that I would eat my food only when I was driven around in a car and my love and interest in cars have grown ever since. The first car in my family was a used 2001 Maruti Zen which we bought in 2003. Almost every person in the family including distant relatives learned driving in this car. It lasted for 1 lakh kilometers after which too many niggles arose and it was financially not worth keeping it running. Hence sold it off in 2014. Our next car was a Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire which we bought at the start of 2017, it was the LXI Optional(o) variant which had ABS and airbags (not standard in 2017)

Attaching some pictures below

We decided to sell it off as it was not used very much (Just 3.4K kilometers in 18 months) and we didn’t see ourselves using it for the next three years as my father’s health condition didn’t allow him to drive and I didn’t have a license. Fast forward to 2021, I had turned 18 and was ready to start driving, my neighbour who was stuck abroad during the pandemic kindly lent me their trusty old 2006 Santro, so that I could start driving. I used the car for a good 6 months during which I drove around 2K kilometers. After this period, they returned and I helped them in upgrading to a new car. Now the need for a car emerged and we didn’t want to spend a lot on a car that would not run more than 3 or 4K kilometers in a year. Hence, we decided on a budget of 2 lacks.

The conditions that were proposed to me were:

1. Should be comfortable as me and my father get back pains easily and both of us usually avoid driving 2-wheelers
2. Should return a mileage of a minimum of 10KMPL.
3. Vehicle should not be more than 15 years old.
4. Good spare parts availability.
5. Cheap insurance and service.
6. We are a tall family hence a spacious car is necessary

With all the conditions in mind, I decided on the genre of car that I should look for sedan and diesel. After browsing through Facebook marketplace and OLX I narrowed down the cars that I thought were suitable for our needs

1. Ford fiesta 1.4 Diesel
2. Fiat Linea 1.3 MJT
3. Mahindra/Renault Verito/Logan 1.5

The Verna and SX-4 were not considered as my cousins already owned it (tough petrol versions) and we didn’t want the same car. Another reason for not choosing the petrol versions of the Verna, SX-4, and Fiesta was that they had 1.6-liter engine in them which meant that the insurance premium would be double that of the cars with engine displacement less than 1500cc. After this decision was made, we went out looking for the cars that I had shortlisted and went to various dealers and direct sellers to get an experience of the car.

The Logan was immediately rejected as my father didn’t fancy a car that was being used for commercial purposes. Next, we went on to search for the fiesta and Linea. We went through many dealers and personal sellers but no good options emerged. One day a 2014 Renault Pulse caught my eye. It was a top-end variant diesel with only 55K on the odometer. The dealer was quoting 2.8 Lacks which I thought was a good deal. I discussed this with my father but he wouldn’t budge.

Meanwhile, the first car that we owned the Maruti Zen was parked in a dealer’s yard and I was overjoyed to see the car that I spent my childhood in. It had a complete respray and looked better. But I guess it was still not in good condition as it was only quoted for 30K. One day I decided to look for a petrol Linea, though I didn’t have plans to buy it, I just wanted to try it out. Saw an ad on the Facebook marketplace for a 2010 Linea with only 30K kilometers on the odo. Called up that seller and requested a visit.

After driving the diesel Linea, the petrol version felt very underpowered and power came only after 1800 rpm (which I felt odd for an NA Engine). The gear ratio also felt odd. But the engine was quiet and my father liked it. It was comfortable and insulated. Features what you would expect for a chauffeur-driven car. We had a long discussion as it was not our original plan to buy a patrol car. Moreover, the fuel efficiency and spare parts availability of the car were questionable. After a long discussion, my father was able to convince me to go ahead with the car and assured me that he would take full responsibility if something went wrong. So, after a couple of days, we went ahead with the purchase negotiated on the price (which I ended up overpaying a bit), and bought home the car.

Attaching some pics after the purchase.

Initially, I didn’t fancy the car as it was not so good to drive due to gear ratios, but after around 600 km, I got used to the car and it was a hoot to drive. The odd gear ratios meant that the car had very good torque which meant it wouldn’t stall very easily, this combined with the power coming at around 2K ppm, felt as if I was driving a diesel car. For the first 1 year, we put around 6K kilometers. After completing a year of ownership, the car was serviced before going on a 1500 km road trip (more details about the trip in the next post). The car performed flawlessly and I would say that one advantage of an NA car is that you can drive it continuously for several hours without taking a break, which is something you have to do in turbocharged cars as oil might get into the intercooler and turbo.

The following year only 4K kilometers were put on the odo which included the 1500 km road trip. Though the car was not used very often, no corners were cut on maintenance. Every weekend I would wash the car thoroughly with car shampoo and microfiber clothes and use a tyre dresser to give her that final look. Every 3 months I would wax polish the car to maintain its shine as it was a dark colour (a separate post on how I completely maintain the exterior of the car).

Repairs done till date:

1. During my 2 years of ownership, I have spent around 25K on repairs which are the following
2. Both front and rear suspension (with Bushings)
3. Spare Tyre (Used)
4. A couple of Ignition coils
5. Brake pads and rotor resurfacing (DIY)
6. Suspension Link Rods Changed (DIY)
7. Installed new reverse parking sensors (DIY)
8. Replaced rear door Lock
9. Replaced Boot Struts
10. Rat bite which caused the AC and music system to fail.
11. And finally the Body Control Module and Engine Control Module (used). This was the one major repair that took up a big chunk of the repair cost, there was some problem that didn’t allow the car to start in the first crank. It would take at least 8 attempts to start the engine. The mechanic first said it might be the anti-theft system that could be faulty but couldn’t figure out the root cause and hence replaced the modules.
12. Seat height adjuster (DIY)
13. Brake oil and gear oil were changed (didn’t change the steering oil as the assembly leaks and I have to top up the fluid every now and then) again DIY.

List of things yet to do:

1. Get the rear tail light replaced as it is broken
2. After the rat bite incident. The music system’s fuse blows every time I replace the fuse and give it some power. So, I guess it's time to upgrade to a new system. I had installed Aux connectivity into the system (Which does not come from the factory though Bluetooth connectivity was available through Blue & Me)
3. Front left ball joint needs to be replaced (Noticed it during the brake job)
4. CV Boots need to be replaced
5. LCD odometer display (This I might not do as the display alone costs 7K which I am not willing to spend, as there are chances of it failing in a short time)
6. Seat covers have a bit of wear and tear but I would not be replacing them as it is sufficient.
7. Steering rack rebuild

One major repair that I was able to avoid, was when the engine started to consume a lot of oil (half a liter for every 150 Kilometers). When taken to a mechanic he said that the engine was on its last legs and needed a complete rebuild which would cost in excess of 50K. I was shocked after hearing this as the car had only driven 30K kilometers and was fairly maintained (keep in mind that this was only 4 months after we had purchased the car). Took several other opinions which resulted in the same resolutions. I was heartbroken and couldn’t accept that a car with such low kilometers could need an engine rebuild.

We decided to postpone this repair and add engine oil whenever required. After this, I started to do a lot of research, on the problem that I was having. And after 3 months and 9 liters of oil, I could figure out another probable cause for the problem. Usually, cars have a PCV valve that connects the engine valve cover to the intake manifold (its function is to send excess pressure from the crankcase to the intake manifold). This system, when malfunctioned could cause oil from the crank case to reach the intake manifold in excessive amounts which is then sent to the combustion chamber and burnt out through the exhaust. When I opened the bonnet and searched for such a contraption, couldn’t find any. After more research, I found that there is a different system that uses a rubber diaphragm which has the same purpose.

I was able to instantly locate this part and after removing the covering I found that there was no tear in the diaphragm. Upon further inspection, I noticed that the pipe connecting to the diaphragm and the intake manifold had a big hole which didn’t allow the diaphragm to function properly. I was relieved after noticing this. But I couldn’t get hold of the pipe. So, I took a hose from a Tata Sumo which had the same curve as that of the depleted hose. After replacing this part, the car worked excellently and there was no oil consumption. On top of that the engine felt more responsive. A repair that was initially quoted for 50K ended up just being fixed for 100 INR, can’t blame the mechanics though. It had all the symptoms of an engine that was about to die. But at the end of the day, I was glad that I could resolve such a big issue for next to nothing.

Attaching the Pics of the part

This is the part that I mentioned earlier (Oil Pressure Regulator)

This is what is inside the part. Usually, when the orange diaphragm ruptures it causes such a problem.

Running Cost of the car thus far:

1. Average fuel efficiency – 10KMPl Within the city and 15KMPL on the highway
2. Cost of service – 2.5K (DIY) Oil, Oil filter, cleaning of air and cabin filter (which I replaced during the last service 600rs for both filters).
3. Insurance 3.5K per annum.

I have been thoroughly enjoying myself driving and maintaining my car for the past 2 years and would love to share all the DIY projects that I have done during my ownership period in detail and also my experience on the 1500 km road trip. I hope you all enjoyed reading my post and I wish to contribute more to the forum. Here are some Random pics that I have taken during my ownership period. Thank You

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

With a max budget of Rs 15 lakh, I was looking at cars like the Hyundai Exter AMT and the Renault Kiger CVT.

BHPian PatchyBoy recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I owned a first-batch Linea T-Jet (MY 2010). I took care of her like a child. Clocked 1.3 L Kms on that & she never failed me. What a gem of a car!! With age catching up and spine-related issues, my DIY days were behind me. After moving to Goa, I simply couldn't care for her any longer. There are no authorized service centres or trustworthy & knowledgeable FNGs for the Fiat here. With a heavy heart, decided to sell her.

The day before she was sold

Final goodbye

Started looking for a replacement. Was torn between new or used. Did not want to take out a loan & also did not want to plonk a big pile of cash for a car. My drives have reduced a lot & I only needed a car to take us for the occasional outings, shopping & hospital visits. Only requirement, it has to be some kind of AT. My budget was 15 L max. I was looking at cars like the new Exter AMT & the Kiger CVT. Then a very close friend from Kolkata came home for a vacation. Was chatting with him about the car. He spontaneously decided that I should have his VW Virtus GT. One year old. Done 12000 km.

Asking price

The plan was for me to drive (with the missus, of course) to Bangalore, hand over the T-Jet to the buyer, fly to Kolkata & drive the Virtus back to Goa. But once we got to Bangalore, my wife had a fall & hurt herself. My friend immediately decided to drive down to Bangalore & hand the Virtus over to me. Two days later, he was in Bangalore with the car.

Drove the car from Bangalore to Goa yesterday. Here are my first long-drive impressions of the car -

• Good highway car with plenty of power on tap, especially in sports mode
• Very comfortable seating. I drove for more than 12 hours & got home with almost no fatigue
• Cabin is definitely noisier than the T-Jet. So is the engine.
• No dedicated phone buttons on the steering wheel. Outgoing calls only possible with voice commands. The OK button on the RHS doubles up as an answer or hang-up button
• Reads out messages aloud, including WA & Signal messages. Downside - you have to touch the HU screen to read the message. This is a feature of Android Auto
• The wireless phone charger sucks. The phone heats up badly. The charging is also very slow. I have decided that I am going to simply connect a cable to the conveniently nearby USB port & not use wireless charging at all

• Good handling, but the Jet was in a class of its own in that department
• AC was good enough for me. Ventilated seats are nice too
• Music system is definitely better than OE T-Jet. I am no audiophile, but the kind of music I listen to sounded better in the Virtus
• Bottle holders in the door pads & useable cupholders near the handbrake - finally
• Armrest has a deep storage pocket, but is way too far back for me to use - even when pushed as far ahead as it will go
• Contrary to what I initially thought, after driving a bit in Bangalore city, the suspension is actually slightly softer than the Jet. Over-inflated tyres were the culprit. Oddly, the recommended pressure is a huge range - from 32 to 41 psi, depending on the load in the car
• First time driving an AT in the ghats, so I wasn't very confident when descending. However, the Virtus stayed in D3 mostly & did not just start rolling down like a loose rock
• Zero swelling of my feet after driving the whole day. The legs were really thankful for the DSG

Was surprised by how frugal the car is (this is from Nelamangala to Hubli - 100% 4/6 lane highway) -

All-in-all - A good filler for the Jet. Cannot be considered a replacement, though. The Jet's shoes are way too big for this one to fill

PS: KA govt guys ought to be loaded in a KSRTC basic bus & driven up & down the roads between the border & Ramnagar - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

PPS: Will drive to the KA border & back one of these days, in the daytime, just to experience the Virtus in the ghats in a relaxed way

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

It is always the first choice of each family member for city duties while the Toyota Innova Crysta is preferred for its practicality on highways & effortless, fast & comfortable cruising.

BHPian daretodream recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

My Tuscan Wine Fiat Linea 1.3 Multi-Jet Diesel (MJD) Emotion variant (Top end) bought in Jun-2012 has completed 11 years and is currently at 88000 KMs on the odometer.

Instead of an ownership thread, sharing a few pointers from a long-term review perspective in a FAQ format:

How much did it cost then? Can you show photos of then and now?

It had cost me 11.37 Lakhs on road in Jun'12

Picture from Jun'2012:

After pooja

Picture from Jan'2023:

Yup, we have a larger family now. More on that later

Odometer just crossed 88K KMs. It's nothing compared to the distance other well-known FIAT owners on this forum have covered (2L+ KMs).

How has been the usage/running over the past 11 years?

• First 3 years - a lot of highway runs (Bangalore-Chennai-Bangalore) and I averaged ~14K KMs annually. This is because my family was in Chennai.
• Next 6 years: Once my family shifted to Bangalore, my running reduced to ~8K KMs per year.
• Next 2 years: Since 2022, the usage reduced to ~3K KMs per year as we got a 2021 Crysta 2.4AT Z into our garage for highway duties.

So, over the 11-year ownership period, I have averaged ~8K KMs/year.

Below graph shows the usage of annual running and cumulative running.

How has been the service cost over the past 11 years?

• As with taxes, and inflation, the annual service cost has increased over the 11 years.
• The annual service cost averaged ~13K for 1st-4th years, ~23K for 5th to 8th years, and ~30K for 9th-11th years.
• Of course, it has not been a linear increase each year. There are troughs and peaks as the maintenance schedule for some years(15K, 45K) are lighter than other years (30K and 60K service).

The graph below shows the annual service cost and cumulative service cost.

Okay, so how has the service cost per km been?

• What I share below is very unique to me and should not be generalized.
• My running in the last 2 years is ~3K KM/year but the annual service charge for the last 2 years is ~INR 35K. So, this skewness in the last 2 years of my ownership has changed the overall ownership numbers.

The graph below shows the service cost per kilometer for each year and cumulative.

How has been the availability of spares after FIAT shut operations?

In my 11 years of ownership, for 9 years I used FIAT authorized service center in Bangalore (KHT- 3 years, Vecto-2 years and MPS-3 years).

I skipped 1 year in 2020 due to Covid and had low running.

In 2018, I used a BHPian's garage and then reverted to Authorized Service Center due to the lack of confidence inspiring work despite high word-of-mouth marketing.

I have not had any concerns about the availability of spares through FIAT Authorized Service Centers. Whenever my car goes for servicing, I request to share that keep old spare parts in the same boxes post replacement during servicing.

I observed that spare parts are, in general, fresh supplies (not ageing/very old inventory. Some of the important spare parts are imported across multiple countries (Turkey, France, Germany).

For example, I did my recent servicing on 7th July. I am attaching a few pictures of spare parts which have import/packaging date, which are decently recent.

Pictures from my 2023 servicing done on 07-Jul-2023:

Belt Stretcher - Packed on 24-Jun

Filtering Element- Packed on 24-Jun

Trans Belt - Imported from France; Packed on 21-Jun

Timing Chain - Imported from Germany; Packed on 03-Apr

Sealing Gasket - Imported from Turkey; Packed on 02-May

Pad - Made in India; Packed on 23-Feb

Cabin Filter - Packed on 03-Sep-2022; Made in India

I do not have images from 2022, however, I had got the wiper blades changed and they were also from fresh stock

Can you summarize all your annual servicing details in a table?

Sure, please find below:

What about the discretionary costs towards Tender Loving Care (TLC) for your car? What about Fuel?

Here you go-

What is your dirty laundry (things which you do not like and need fixing) with Linea?

• In 2018, When I did servicing with a BHPian's well-known garage, they changed glow plugs. I am unsure of the quality because they went kaput within a year and despite all efforts from them and FIAT ASS, they are stuck and can't be taken out. The only way is to open the cylinder head to take them out. However, I am living with it as Bangalore weather is not so cold to need glow plugs. However, this error keeps flashing each time I start the car.
• BlueandMe used to a drain battery. So, it is permanently disconnected. So, I miss the ability to take calls on Bluetooth. It takes me back by 2 decades.
• There are some scratches on the right rear wheel arch which I need to tend to.
• The bulb holder for the Front Right headlight low beam has an issue due to which that bulb's focus is very close to the car (like within 12-15 meters from bumper). Service center says that we need to change the headlight assembly. I told them to leave it as-is thinking headlight assembly would be very costly as my usage is very low.
• I changed the tyres to Michelin Primacy in 2015 (at 3 year mark when I crossed 45K KMs). Since then I am on the same tyres and Odo is at 88K KMs. So, I have done 43K KMs on Michelin but it is 8 years now. While tread marks are great, I know the rubber is old. I am yet to take a call on this as it is a significant cost. Please refer to the last FAQs 9 and 10.
• Last 2 years, the maintenance cost has increased very significantly. I never had any breakdowns but over the past 2-3 years, each time car went for service, many parts needed change (old age of components) which added to the overall service cost. These parts are across timing belt, water pump, suspension, mounts etc.

Alright, so, 11 years and 2 months done with your Linea? What is your Outlook?

My office commute has shrunk post Covid due to WFH option. On days when I must go to the office, I use my Scooter (Suzuki Access 125) as I have to travel from Bellandur to Rajajinagar. I do take Linea at times depending on the weather - rains or too hot or too cold.

I got Linea when I was in my early 30s. Now I am in my early 40s. I and my family have grown with the car. My family has grown from 2 to 4 in the last decade and our kids have also grown. Son is 10 now and daughter is 5. So, we found travelling with other family members (Mother In Law, other relatives) difficult with our children sitting in their laps- meaning both the children and adults are not comfortable any more during long highway rides. So, in 2021, we decided to get a 7-seater.

The decision was to be made between getting an SUV or a MUV. We evaluated Fortuner, Endeavour, Carnival and Crysta. While I wanted Fortuner or Endeavour, everyone else in the family wanted Crysta post back to back test rides across all these models. So, In Aug'21, we brought home facelifted Innova Crysta 2.4AT ZX (Pearl White) under my wife's company lease and it has taken over the highway duties since then.

Crysta was a large upgrade in all possible ways - especially the engine(1.3L to 2.4L), power(~100bhp to 143bhp), torque(209NM to 343NM), seats(5 to 7), electronics (BlueandMe to Apple CarPlay with many other electronics aids), safety (2 Airbags to 7 Airbags), Transmission(MT to AT), light (Halogen to LEDs).. you get the jist - every possible way.

Family's head is with Innova and the heart is with Linea. So, Linea is ALWAYS preferred by each member of the family for city duties while Crysta is preferred for practicality for highways and that effortless fast comfortable cruising. Given a choice, even from a driving pleasure perspective, I would prefer Crysta even when travelling alone because of the Torque, Power, AT, and road presence (other vehicles give way). It is at a different level altogether.

However, there is something classic and romantic about Linea which is missing in Crysta. Maybe because it's our first car or we are just non-rational human beings getting attached to material possessions.

So, coming back to the question - what is the ownership outlook on Linea?

The car has the excellent build quality of a tank, the ride quality of a train and superb handling, steering feedback and braking- I doubt I will get the same mix of these factors in sedans today available in the market. I must admit that I have not checked out the offerings in the market.

I will continue to own Linea at least until 2024. With some major maintenance and a large number of parts replaced in the last 2-3 years, I feel Linea is relatively new from the mechanicals perspective.

Next year this time as the lease gets over, we will transfer Crysta from the company name to our name. At that point, we will be eligible for a new lease. That time we will have all options open- from not buying any car and continuing with Linea to getting a luxury car. On one hand, the heart says you live only once, go for a luxury car. On another hand, head says cars will be a depreciation disaster and continue using Linea, our first love.

So, we are not getting ahead of ourselves at the moment- we are enjoying and loving our Tuscan Wine Fiat Linea.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Fuel efficiency has remained mostly unchanged at 20 km/l on the highway.

BHPian finneyp recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

My Linea MJD has completed 9 years, and though run only 28,000+ kms so far, usage is quite less, especially in the last 2-3 years.

Some mods in the recent past:

• Changed the tyres to MRF Perfinza same size (205/55 R16).
• Detailed & protected the body with Graphene 10H Coating.
• Changed the engine oil from Selenia semi-synthetic to Motul 8100 Fully synthetic. Did this during service at Krithi Car Care.

The car is still a pleasure to drive especially on the highways. Mileage is more or less the same - around 15 km/l in the city and 20 km/l on highways.

No issues faced so far.

For servicing, found a good option in Krithi Car Care. They source the spares from Fiat/Jeep ASC.

Post engine oil change to Motul, the engine has become quite smooth & less noisy.

Overall, enjoying the driving & ownership experience of this car!

Now some latest pics:

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I was very clear from the beginning that the color will remain the stock factory colour that is Bossa Nova White and we would paint it with a Glasurit Paint.

BHPian nkrishnap recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

My Linea turned 10 years this September 2022. The ownership thread is here (Petrol Hatch to Diesel Sedan - Fiat Linea - Now Wolfed)

Well the car was running perfectly with just a few things to be sorted out on the car. They were

• Suspension Strut and Related replacements
• A thorough flush and replacement of all the fluids
• A few broken cosmetic parts replacement
• A couple of panels required minor tinkering and paint work.
• Clutch Replacement

However, since it was 10 years and with no plans of selling this car, I went about doing a thorough overhaul. Stripped the entire car down to bare bones and went about finding issues and fixing them.

This is how it all started

I was very clear from the beginning that the color will remain the stock factory colour that is Bossa Nova White (Paint code 268/A) and we would do paint it with a Glasurit Paint. Though Bossa Nova White is a paint which is painted as a solid color which has a mixing clear, I opted for the base coat plus clear coat as this method will give more durability and also provides flexibility of having more number of clear coats.

Now the color out of the way, what kind of painting should be done? Overcoat or a full repaint? Decided to go for a full repaint and did not want to redo any of these work for the next few years. This also helps in identifying any rusting issues and address them as the plan is to retain this car for a lot more years. As for a full repaint process, a complete strip down of the car would do justice for such kind of a paint job. The process of getting the car down to bare bones began.

Step 1 - Removal of Body Panels

The work finally began with a target of completing the work before the 10th anniversary of the ownership of the car. The below body panels were removed.

• Bonnet
• Front Bumper
• Rear Bumper
• Boot
• Doors
• Fenders
• Front Windshield (had aged a bit, hence new one was ordered)
• Rear Windshield
• All exterior lights were removed
• All exterior plastic trims
• OVRMs

A few pics

Post the exterior panels were removed, we got engine and gearbox out of the car.

The interior portion were stripped down. I do not have more pics of the interiors being stripped down. Found just one.

The panels where then thoroughly inspected and sanded down to start the necessary tinkering work.

Continue reading BHPian nkrishnap's thread on his Fiat Linea's mid-life refresh for more insights and information.

It performed exceptionally & never disappointed us. It has set a high standard for the sedans and SUVs of the current market.

BHPian Seagull76 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

For the past 13 years, I have been driving the Fiat Linea - a car that has been more than just a means of transportation for me and my family.

The car has been driven for 1,07,504 kilometers and has not given any major issues. Comfort, Safety, Performance & Mileage are phenomenal.

A huge advantage of Linea is Mileage for me and the below numbers were consistent for the whole period:

• Avg Mileage on Highways:- ~20-22km
• Avg Mileage on Highways+City:- 19 Km
• Avg Mileage inside City Drives:- ~13 - 15km

The car's performance has been exceptional and has never disappointed me. Being a reliable companion, Linea has taken me on countless long drives on highways and the car has performed flawlessly & never let me down.

It is hard to say goodbye to the Linea as it has been a member of our family for such a long time. My family felt very bad when we gave away the car. It was not just a vehicle, but a part of our lives.

I must say that the Linea has set a high standard for sedans/SUVs in the market. It took me more than 2 years of searching for the replacement as we were unable to find a car in the budget (<20L) which can meet the standard set by Linea.

Overall, I would like to thank Fiat for manufacturing such a wonderful car & team-bhp for the wonderful reviews and discussion threads on Linea which made me pick the right choice.

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The front seats of the car were surprisingly comfortable and I quickly managed to find a happy driving position.

BHPian keroo1099 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Just got back after checking out the new Verna at Lakshmi Hyundai, Whitefield. For perspective, I am going to compare it to my Linea and what I remember of the Slavia that I test-drove a long time back.

The Good

• Perceived and actual quality is far far better than my Linea. All the AC vents are nicely damped, including the center console storage, and all the other buttons. Even the stalks felt 'meaty', nicely damped and had zero play. I will admit that some parts look 'plasticky' like the door pads but not a deal breaker to me. In all honesty, I found the interior better looking put together compared to the Slavia.
• Front seats were surprisingly comfortable and I quickly managed to find a happy driving position. With the seat set for my 5'11" frame, I had more than enough legroom at the rear and without my head touching the liner. I was so comfy at the back that I forgot to check under seat thigh support. It's that good and better than the Linea and from what I remember felt better than the Slavia.
• The light cream leather and black combo looks great, but will soil easily.
• Controls didn't feel out of place and everything falls to hand naturally (maybe because it's very similar to the Linea).
• The boot lid and hood both are nicely clad with insulation.
• Trunk is big enough, plus you have space in the wheel well for smaller items.

The Bad

• It was easy to adjust the rake, but the reach took some arm strength.
• Steering wheel design isn't my favorite, though the buttons are nicely damped.
• The underfloor layout isn't as clean as my Linea.
• Just like the Tjet the fresh air intake is near the headlight within the engine compartment.
• I find the design too busy, front and rear.

As a Linea owner, it's just sad to hear that the car has the grunt but can't handle the power which according to me is just useless power. Will take a TD and see how it goes.

Not a flat Undeerbody

Layout and reach very similar to the Linea

Nice solid door connectors for all the electricals

Plenty of space for keeping knick-knacks

Bad pic, but the air intake is close to the headlight level inside the engine compartment

Nice large 130A alternator

Rear suspension

Underbody

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