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shantyrocks · 16th August 2008, 20:41

hi all

i felt that its about time i shared my feelings about my car with all you passionate car lovers out there.
i shall go in a bit of flashback first.
i purshased a tata indica dls in 2005 as i was impressed with the spacious interiors(since i used to drive a 800 earlier) and thought abt fuel economy and diesel cost as well.but 2 years later i was literally fed up of the indica and just wanted to dispose it off.starter problems,suspension problems,fanbelt issues,steering problem,alignment problems,car stalling in trafficand not starting again. you name it and i had it.

finally got a good deal and sold it off.

i had spent so much on the indica that i didnt have the guts to go for a new car with in 2 years.so opted for a used car within 3 lacs.
i luved the baleno and was hell bent on one.also test drove the ohc vtech and 1.5exi but was unimpressed with low seating.
after a month of searching and countless testdrives i had almost finalised on a 2004 baleno though i had to increase my budget to 3.75lac.
just then i saw a silver coloured petra standing in the sun.i had heard abt the petra but never driven it or for that matter i had never even seen it on road.wife liked it immediately and enquired abt it.it was a 2005 petra elps done 19000 kms and in excellant condition and the quote was 3.05lacs.didnt want to but wife asked me to take a td.well thanks to her i took one and i loved it.the smooth acceleration was too good.even better than a baleno.took a long td and the car raced to 100 pushing us back in our seats.after driving the indica this car seemed like a racing car to me.i saw my criteria of speed and raw power being fulfilled.the interiors were decent too.fiat had also given a factory fitted tape-fm.but i new nothing abt the car.came home searched the net.came across this amazing website,read allthe forums and next day cracked a deal at 2.65 lacs.

now after 10 months and 10,000 kms i just do not regret my decision.just looking for excuses to go on a long drive.
the ride quality is excellent.there was a bit of body roll but i feel that fitting a rear spoiler has marginally reduced it.love the way the car tackles potholes.
its a superb cruiser on the highway.overtaking is a breeze.just floor the pedal in any gear and my job is done though i feel a shorter gearing would have been more fun.
fuel economy was around 9-10 in city and 13-14 on highway with 80% AC.have got a LPG kit fitted in it bcause of the increasing cost of petrol.get around 6-7 in city and 12-13 in highway on lpg.the 1.6 engg is nicely compatible with LPG and there is absolutely no change in performance.the boot space is also decent in spite of the cylinder.

wot i dont like is are the rear view mirrors.they are too small and not convex.they dont cover a wider area.
the AC doesnt cool in standing position on LPG mode.have to constantly press the accelerator and increase the revs to 1000 rpm for the AC to chill.guys any advice on this problem?
no tube less tyres :(
too much of road noise and tyres screeching especially while making u turns.
weak head lamps.fitted a relay but that doesnt help matters.scary to drive in heavy rains when visibility is poor.
no place to fit fog lamps.
no place to keep a bottle.

overall iam quite pleased with the car and planning to keep it for another 10,000kms atleast.will post pics if you guys say so.
please forgive me for the really long review

16th August 2008, 20:41	#1 (permalink)
shantyrocks BHPian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: thane Posts: 538	fiat petra 1.6 el : 30000 kms review hi all i felt that its about time i shared my feelings about my car with all you passionate car lovers out there. i shall go in a bit of flashback first. i purshased a tata indica dls in 2005 as i was impressed with the spacious interiors(since i used to drive a 800 earlier) and thought abt fuel economy and diesel cost as well.but 2 years later i was literally fed up of the indica and just wanted to dispose it off.starter problems,suspension problems,fanbelt issues,steering problem,alignment problems,car stalling in trafficand not starting again. you name it and i had it. finally got a good deal and sold it off. i had spent so much on the indica that i didnt have the guts to go for a new car with in 2 years.so opted for a used car within 3 lacs. i luved the baleno and was hell bent on one.also test drove the ohc vtech and 1.5exi but was unimpressed with low seating. after a month of searching and countless testdrives i had almost finalised on a 2004 baleno though i had to increase my budget to 3.75lac. just then i saw a silver coloured petra standing in the sun.i had heard abt the petra but never driven it or for that matter i had never even seen it on road.wife liked it immediately and enquired abt it.it was a 2005 petra elps done 19000 kms and in excellant condition and the quote was 3.05lacs.didnt want to but wife asked me to take a td.well thanks to her i took one and i loved it.the smooth acceleration was too good.even better than a baleno.took a long td and the car raced to 100 pushing us back in our seats.after driving the indica this car seemed like a racing car to me.i saw my criteria of speed and raw power being fulfilled.the interiors were decent too.fiat had also given a factory fitted tape-fm.but i new nothing abt the car.came home searched the net.came across this amazing website,read allthe forums and next day cracked a deal at 2.65 lacs. now after 10 months and 10,000 kms i just do not regret my decision.just looking for excuses to go on a long drive. the ride quality is excellent.there was a bit of body roll but i feel that fitting a rear spoiler has marginally reduced it.love the way the car tackles potholes. its a superb cruiser on the highway.overtaking is a breeze.just floor the pedal in any gear and my job is done though i feel a shorter gearing would have been more fun. fuel economy was around 9-10 in city and 13-14 on highway with 80% AC.have got a LPG kit fitted in it bcause of the increasing cost of petrol.get around 6-7 in city and 12-13 in highway on lpg.the 1.6 engg is nicely compatible with LPG and there is absolutely no change in performance.the boot space is also decent in spite of the cylinder. wot i dont like is are the rear view mirrors.they are too small and not convex.they dont cover a wider area. the AC doesnt cool in standing position on LPG mode.have to constantly press the accelerator and increase the revs to 1000 rpm for the AC to chill.guys any advice on this problem? no tube less tyres :( too much of road noise and tyres screeching especially while making u turns. weak head lamps.fitted a relay but that doesnt help matters.scary to drive in heavy rains when visibility is poor. no place to fit fog lamps. no place to keep a bottle. overall iam quite pleased with the car and planning to keep it for another 10,000kms atleast.will post pics if you guys say so. please forgive me for the really long review Last edited by Rehaan : 16th August 2008 at 22:20. Reason: 2 smileys per post max. Please read the Team-BHP rules before continuing.