Team-BHP - View Single Post - Sedan under 10L

SkyWalker · 8th April 2008, 19:15

I currently own a Palio which i had from 2002. I have been contemplating a second car for sometime - I had even started a thread here a few months back. My wife needs a car - and since we miss the comfort & boot space during my long trips - we decided to go for a Sedan. We will keep the Palio for another 2 years and then maybe upgrade it. Our budget is a slightly stretchable 10L.

Driving Pattern:

500 km/month and 2 long drives of 1200 km each => 8400 kms/month
80% of the driving will be me alone, rest 15% with wife and child and 5% with 5+1 (ballpark)
All driving with a/c on.

Preferences (in that order):

drivability in traffic compared to outright performance (and if I can have both, great!)
maneuverability (in congested Bangalore roads)
good handling & breaking
reasonable isolation from external sounds (traffic, noise pollution etc)
comfortable ride over bad roads
decent space for a family of three and a good boot (we almost run out of bootspace during long trips)

Dont care for:

perceived status. mebbe i would if i had 30 L to spend :(
exterior looks (almost all sedans under 10 L look ok to me - and i don't have 13 L for a Civic)

Now I have done some homework and narrowed down my choices to the following two:

Honda City Gxi 8.38L on road, after discounts and freebies
Swift Dezire Vdi 6.60L on road, no freebies/discounts

Now, I know both are different classes. Doesn’t matter - what I am keen on is which one fits my need better. As for why not Dezire petrol since my yearly run is less? - I drove swift petrol & diesel with a/c on in city and at least to me diesel was better in traffic. I don’t mind paying extra for better drivability.

Considered and dropped after TD:

Verna (CRDI SX) - Amazing power for the diesel. The car flies like a dream in an open stretch, good control, good ride. Interiors are OK. Driving in 2nd/3rd in city not as good smooth as the Honda though. Beats me, but my wife just doesn’t like this car.

SX4 Zxi - Good power, Great elevated sitting position. Amazing ground clearance of 190 mm means i don't have to slow down for innumerous speedbreakers. Interiors not good for a 8L car & and looking bad plastics. It didn’t help (perception) that the demo car had badly soiled interiors. Very safe car with airbags, ABS, EBD. Poor FE is a downer, and can
affect long term resale. Again, driving in 2nd/3rd in city not as good smooth as the Honda.

Innova - The best car of the lot. Amazing ride, space, class. No other cars I have considered comes closer in comfort. I would have bought this but for congested Bangalore roads and that i have to drive on my own. My wife really liked this car too.

Didn’t Consider:
Ford, GM - don’t like these brands
Cedia - i am scared i will buy it if i testdrive - i dont like HM :(
Logan - didn't TD since interiors were not to my taste

And to the finalists (+ve,-ve and ?not sure):

City Gxi
+ Very refined, pulls brilliantly in 2/3rd gear.
+ Effortless to drive around in city
+ 3 can comfortably sit in backseat
- GC a problem, did bottom out in some speedbreakers with 3 people on board
- light steering makes me uncomfortable above 80 kmph. Probably a case of getting used to.
- i "feel" more planted in my Palio in high speeds, and i think it handles corners better
+ Great cabin quality, has a lux feel
? heard storied about breaks locking, i tried breaks and found it to be ok. can someone elaborate?
? i heard performance is an issue with all 5 passengers/full luggage/ac

Dezire
+ pulls well in 2/3rd gears with a/c, not as good as NHC, but no big difference.
+ pretty smooth for a diesel
+ leg space in front and rear ok (none of us are above 5'9")
+ feels safer than city at high speeds
- rear cramped, cant seat 3 in comfort
- felt more planted than City at higher speeds
? engine noisy while accelerating above 90, or mebbe i am not used to diesels?

Questions:

Assuming my car usage (small family,most driven alone) does it make sense to pay extra for the Honda?
If City is replaced this Nov, how badly will it affect spares/service/resale?
How bad is the GC problem, and assuming it hits speedbreakers every once in a while, would it affect the car badly?
Noise levels of the Dezire was ok, would it deteriorate over the years (Swift D owners)?
I keep hearing bad things about Maruthi build quality & rattles. Is is really that bad or a mere hype? (swift/sx4 owners)?

Please let me know your views. Thanks for your time - this was a long one. I will decide by this Saturday.

8th April 2008, 19:15	#1 (permalink)
SkyWalker BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 219	Sedan under 10L - narrowed down to 2 choices I currently own a Palio which i had from 2002. I have been contemplating a second car for sometime - I had even started a thread here a few months back. My wife needs a car - and since we miss the comfort & boot space during my long trips - we decided to go for a Sedan. We will keep the Palio for another 2 years and then maybe upgrade it. Our budget is a slightly stretchable 10L. Driving Pattern: 500 km/month and 2 long drives of 1200 km each => 8400 kms/month 80% of the driving will be me alone, rest 15% with wife and child and 5% with 5+1 (ballpark) All driving with a/c on. Preferences (in that order): drivability in traffic compared to outright performance (and if I can have both, great!) maneuverability (in congested Bangalore roads) good handling & breaking reasonable isolation from external sounds (traffic, noise pollution etc) comfortable ride over bad roads decent space for a family of three and a good boot (we almost run out of bootspace during long trips) Dont care for: perceived status. mebbe i would if i had 30 L to spend :( exterior looks (almost all sedans under 10 L look ok to me - and i don't have 13 L for a Civic) Now I have done some homework and narrowed down my choices to the following two: Honda City Gxi 8.38L on road, after discounts and freebies Swift Dezire Vdi 6.60L on road, no freebies/discounts Now, I know both are different classes. Doesn’t matter - what I am keen on is which one fits my need better. As for why not Dezire petrol since my yearly run is less? - I drove swift petrol & diesel with a/c on in city and at least to me diesel was better in traffic. I don’t mind paying extra for better drivability. Considered and dropped after TD: Verna (CRDI SX) - Amazing power for the diesel. The car flies like a dream in an open stretch, good control, good ride. Interiors are OK. Driving in 2nd/3rd in city not as good smooth as the Honda though. Beats me, but my wife just doesn’t like this car. SX4 Zxi - Good power, Great elevated sitting position. Amazing ground clearance of 190 mm means i don't have to slow down for innumerous speedbreakers. Interiors not good for a 8L car & and looking bad plastics. It didn’t help (perception) that the demo car had badly soiled interiors. Very safe car with airbags, ABS, EBD. Poor FE is a downer, and can affect long term resale. Again, driving in 2nd/3rd in city not as good smooth as the Honda. Innova - The best car of the lot. Amazing ride, space, class. No other cars I have considered comes closer in comfort. I would have bought this but for congested Bangalore roads and that i have to drive on my own. My wife really liked this car too. Didn’t Consider: Ford, GM - don’t like these brands Cedia - i am scared i will buy it if i testdrive - i dont like HM :( Logan - didn't TD since interiors were not to my taste And to the finalists (+ve,-ve and ?not sure): City Gxi + Very refined, pulls brilliantly in 2/3rd gear. + Effortless to drive around in city + 3 can comfortably sit in backseat - GC a problem, did bottom out in some speedbreakers with 3 people on board - light steering makes me uncomfortable above 80 kmph. Probably a case of getting used to. - i "feel" more planted in my Palio in high speeds, and i think it handles corners better + Great cabin quality, has a lux feel ? heard storied about breaks locking, i tried breaks and found it to be ok. can someone elaborate? ? i heard performance is an issue with all 5 passengers/full luggage/ac Dezire + pulls well in 2/3rd gears with a/c, not as good as NHC, but no big difference. + pretty smooth for a diesel + leg space in front and rear ok (none of us are above 5'9") + feels safer than city at high speeds - rear cramped, cant seat 3 in comfort - felt more planted than City at higher speeds ? engine noisy while accelerating above 90, or mebbe i am not used to diesels? Questions: Assuming my car usage (small family,most driven alone) does it make sense to pay extra for the Honda? If City is replaced this Nov, how badly will it affect spares/service/resale? How bad is the GC problem, and assuming it hits speedbreakers every once in a while, would it affect the car badly? Noise levels of the Dezire was ok, would it deteriorate over the years (Swift D owners)? I keep hearing bad things about Maruthi build quality & rattles. Is is really that bad or a mere hype? (swift/sx4 owners)? Please let me know your views. Thanks for your time - this was a long one. I will decide by this Saturday.