First service report

Hello again, Vespaites! Be forewarned, since this one's going to be long and detailed. Readers who have not yet bought a Vespa but are going to, this one's a MUST read. So here we go:

The first service of a Piaggio Vespa is after one month or 1,000 km, whichever is earlier. For my scooter, one month would be on November 20, 2012, Monday. However, as I have reported in a previous blog post, the showroom owner, Mr Farid Veljee, had advised me to get it done slightly early due to a sound that was emanating from the engine. Thus, I wrote to the dealership on Thursday, and the manager asked me to get the scooter on Saturday, which I did.

When I gave the scooter for servicing, I wrote down a list of eight complaints I had with the scooter. Sadly, almost none of them were attended to, though while collecting the scooter, he promised that the mechanic said he'd sorted out all the problems.

Here's the list of the problems, in black, and their status after the servicing, in red:

1) ENGINE NOISE: Right from the day I bought the scooter, its engine has been making a strange sound. I informed the Vespa dealership about it, including Mr Farid Veljee, who introduced me to a mechanic, Lucky, who told me that the noise was normal and will subside with time. Unfortunately, the noise has only gotten worse. I have consulted several other Vespa owners, who tell me their Vespa didn't make such a loud noise, and any tappet sounds usually smoothen after around 400 km. Right now, the sound is quite loud and completely spoils the ride quality, which is very rough. This is NOT normal. Please check the sound, and if it's tappet sound, please change the tappet setting BEFORE changing the oil.

Post-service status: The engine is as bad, and is getting noisier by the day. Post-servicing especially, it also gives a feel like it's being pulled and is under severe strain. It's increasingly sounding like a tractor. The ride quality is very rough, and makes taking the scooter around a chore.

Customer satisfaction level: 0/10.

2) FRONT SUSPENSION NOISE: For the last few days, the front suspension (or something in front) has been squeaking loudly while riding, especially over rough roads, and bridge dividers. This sound can also be heard loudly if the scooter is idling, too. You can test the sound by pressing the front shocks of the scooter. This, too, has resulted in a very unpleasant riding experience, since I get the impression that something is rubbing against something else. Please sort it out; I don't know what exactly is wrong and why the sound suddenly became louder. I don’t know if it’s connected, but there is occasionally the smell of burning rubber, too, while riding.

Post-service status: Mechanic dealt with the sound very well, it's no longer coming. But that's all he did. The front unit still giving negative feedback on the handle bar, as if something is loose. It also still feels like something is rubbing against something else. This has increased in the couple of days after the service, and the ride quality is downright pathetic.

Customer satisfaction level: 3/10

3) EFFICIENCY: The mileage of the scooter so far has been consistent at 40 kmpl. I guess that's normal for so early in the scooter's life, but if it's not, please take care of the problem.

Post service status: The mileage has marginally dropped. It started at 40.18 when I bought it, and progressively increased for three rounds, but after service, it dropped again, to 40.39.

Customer satisfaction level: 2/10

4) FOOTHOLD DEFECT: The foothold for pillion rider, on the left (back) of the main foot-board, has some defect. I had not noticed this while taking possession of the scooter since the area was covered by the foot mat. I discovered it subsequently, the first time I washed the scooter.

Post-service status: Rectified completely. No issues with it anymore.

Customer satisfaction level: 10/10

5) ENGINE HEATING: The engine gets heated up quickly, especially at night, and makes a knocking sound after parking the scooter. This sound will come even after a very short ride of, say, 5 minutes. Why is it heating up so much?

Post-service status: No improvement. Engine still heating up like crazy. No clarification if this is normal.

Customer satisfaction level: 2/10

6) STORAGE FAULT: Both the front storage and under-seat storage are not waterproof. When I wash the scooter, water always enters both the storage units. How am I supposed to keep my documentation in the scooter? I was not informed of this very important fact before I bought the scooter.

Post-service status: Nothing done. Apparently, the front storage is meant to let water in. That's okay, but the under-seat storage also does the same. Very inconvenient.

Customer satisfaction level: 7/10

7) BRAKE QUERY: The brakes, especially the front brake, is quite weak. I hear that's a problem with all Vespas, but why does the scooter skid when the brakes are applied hurriedly?

Post-service status: As you may know, the Vespa's front brakes are notoriously weak. After service, though, it's become worse. The scooter can't 'slow down'. Either it's moving or it stops. There's no progressive slowing down with these brakes. Didn't notice these problems before the service.

Customer satisfaction level: 3/10

VERDICT:

Overall service rating: 2/10

I put a lot of faith in the first service, and I'm completely unhappy with it. The ride quality of the scooter can't possibly be any worse. Riding is like a mixture of travelling in a Mumbai auto and driving a tractor. Though it's one-month old, it feels like a several-years-old bike with a completely abused engine. Personally, I never cross 50 kmph, and am in the green zone (30-50kmph) 99% of the time. If with this level of care, the scooter is still so bad, there is something wrong. Even sadder, the first time (as I reported earlier), I went and asked the mechanic to diagnose the problem, he couldn't (read earlier post). Now, I went with the problems, he couldn't fix it.

Nigel Britto,

Panjim, Goa.