Thanks for the warm welcome folks. My take on the scene so far..
Like v1p3r I too find the Baleno's side profile to be a lot sleeker than most cars, especially due to it's low height. I don't quite understand when people crib about Baleno's dated looks. Sure, the back could have been a bit sportier & the radiator grille & headlamps a tad bigger, but that's as far as it goes.
On the paper atleast the Fiesta 1.6 seems to be a good car when it comes to performance and handling -
146Nm@3400rpm v/s Baleno's 132Nm@3000 rpm and
0 - 100 in less than 12 seconds.
It's also supposed to have the next gen duratech engine with electronic fuel injection which is supposed to make it more fuel efficient than MPFI. Needless to say, Fiesta beats the Baleno hands down on interiors, beige & black v/s the Baleno's boring grey.
However IMHO Ford has priced it at quite a high premium - especially when you compare it to Baleno (1+ lakhs??). And there's no match to the Maruti dealer network.
Also heard from quite a few ppl. that Ford cars drive the costs through the roof when it comes to maintenance & spares. |