Hi all - help a new member in selecting a car - Team-BHP

vikrantw1 · 4th August 2006, 17:11

Hi folks
Just became part of Team BHP - have been an auto enthusiast but driven very little in India ? Not really contradictory - since ever since I got a chance to afford a car have been working on assignments - primarily in the states - Now thankfully back

Am looking a for a car with a range of between 5 to 8 lakhs (ex-showroom) which would preferably be a hatchback ( have a german shepherd that is growing really fast and will be take to take it around on the rear seat) - an SUV is not on (especially the ones in my price range ) -have always felt a little uneasy when driving those on the curving roads - possibly just psychological

The chevy SRV looks nice - is it a good option - or should I go for the more trusted names like Honda, Maruti etc.

Would be good to have your opinions

Thanks!

200mph · 4th August 2006, 18:31

i think you should go ahead with the SRV or even consider the palio 1.6 both are great cars and hatch .

shuvc · 4th August 2006, 18:58

a GSD eh ? have you considered the Fiat Adventure ?

supremeBaleno · 7th August 2006, 14:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by adi

I am very happy with my SRV - its a huge hatch with a unique styling and looks, that get a lot stares.
However, a lot of people in this forum seem to suggest its overpriced for what it offers - so weight your options and then decide

@adi, weren't you looking at an adventure sometime ago ? I might be wrong.
Anyway, did you already put up any reports on the ownership experience with the SRV ? Would be nice to know about the car - it being new to the market and all...

diven_b · 7th August 2006, 14:44

why dont u also consider the ford fusion..its gonna be relaunched in a months time with a lower price....the srv is nice but aint much fun to drive

esteem_lover · 7th August 2006, 15:00

dogs love cars, so get something where he can really put his face out & feel the air in his fangs...why not an SUV ???

omar1310 · 7th August 2006, 15:14

Hi! If you have following things on priority then consider FIAT Adventure! (A test drive is MUST, even if your are not thinking about this CAR)

1. You drive yourself and love driving (especially highway drving once a while)
2. If you want a hatch or rather SUV style estate which drives like a CAR
3. If you want to experience a ride with great suspension, tough built and great engine (100 BHP) that too at a price which is around 6 lacs.
4. If you want to have good amount of space inside (The boot is 460 litres, expandable to 1500+ litres)
5. If you are not much bothered about Fuel economy (Adventure gives about 8-10kmpl in city with a/c on). So will be Fusion (9-10kmpl) and SRV (8-10kmpl)
6. When you speak about reliable names off course Honda is one of them. But , they are selling their cars on a BIG CORE COMPETENCY which is fuel economy (In Mumbai Honda City gives 11-12kmpl with A/C on @ 77 BHP power)
7. The build quality of Maruti Cars are not great which you can look forward to. But they are very reliable as far as the A-S-S is concerned.
8. Fiat and Tata are together and all the Tata-Fiat dealers are having 3S set up. (Sales, Service and Spares). Apart from this, FIAT has retained its best performnign dealers across the country and sacked all those, who thought, they are too BIG for Fiat and without them FIAT can't survive.

Having said this, please note that FIAT Adventure has not so good interiors, though the exteriors are fully loaded with Alloy Wheels, Pirelli Tubeless tyres, Fog Lamps (4 of them), De-fogger, Rear Wiper and it also has Central Locking,power windows, power steering etc. It also comes with 2 year's "Anti-Corroison" and "Cosmetic" warranty.

pawan_pullarwar · 7th August 2006, 15:38

Take a test drive of any cars in the price range you have mentioned. And after that go for the test drive of Fiat Adventure, bet me you will fall in love with it and you will go for it.

adarsh76 · 7th August 2006, 16:20

If you dont have the "Hyundai" tag problem the Getz is also a very competent car. Loads of interior space and a good boot too.

pawan_pullarwar · 7th August 2006, 16:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by adi

pawan, if you had that bet with me about a month back, you would have lost it...

You have written unavailability of spare parts of Fiat causes you to go for SRV. I have'nt driven SRV but I have driven lots of cars between the range of 5-7 lakh. But driving pleasure in Adventure was awaysome. Have you tried driving Adventure on long streach ?

neoonwheels · 7th August 2006, 22:03

Adventure rocks !!!!!!!!!! I have Palio 1.2 Sport since a year and driven Adventure and then I thought why did not I go for it

Cheers
NeoOnWheels
Palio 1.2 Sport / 13 KMPL / AND IT ROCKS !!!!

vikrantw1 · 10th August 2006, 16:59

Folks,
Thanks for the suggestions - in another section (The chevy SRV test drive ) I mentioned that the SRV is certainly a looker and zippy compared to the optra ( still getting around to driving other cars).
However, one more thing surfaced from the test drives - a sore muscle/tendon ( some soft tissue) just above the left ankle - and I figured it was from pressing on the clutch ever so frequently and so I am going to write another post on that soon
But thanks for the suggestions !
Cheers

himanshugoswami · 10th August 2006, 17:30

Going by your requirements, the only car presently sold in India that fits the bill is the Fiat Adventure or Indigo Marina.

If u dont mind second hand- then look at teh Baleno altura.

With a German shep. a hatch just wont do- u would need an estate with good aircon. Delhi summers can be hell on German sheps.

4th August 2006, 17:11	#1 (permalink)
vikrantw1 BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Chennai Posts: 97	Hi all - help a new member in selecting a car Hi folks Just became part of Team BHP - have been an auto enthusiast but driven very little in India ? Not really contradictory - since ever since I got a chance to afford a car have been working on assignments - primarily in the states - Now thankfully back Am looking a for a car with a range of between 5 to 8 lakhs (ex-showroom) which would preferably be a hatchback ( have a german shepherd that is growing really fast and will be take to take it around on the rear seat) - an SUV is not on (especially the ones in my price range ) -have always felt a little uneasy when driving those on the curving roads - possibly just psychological The chevy SRV looks nice - is it a good option - or should I go for the more trusted names like Honda, Maruti etc. Would be good to have your opinions Thanks!

4th August 2006, 18:31	#2 (permalink)
200mph BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: new delhi Posts: 142	i think you should go ahead with the SRV or even consider the palio 1.6 both are great cars and hatch . __________________ ENIGMA RETUNED.

4th August 2006, 18:58	#3 (permalink)
shuvc Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2005 Location: Kolkata Posts: 1,714 View My Garage	a GSD eh ? have you considered the Fiat Adventure ? __________________ PIGZILNKILJBSCOMB

7th August 2006, 15:00	#6 (permalink)
esteem_lover Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Madras Posts: 4,956 View My Garage	dogs love cars, so get something where he can really put his face out & feel the air in his fangs...why not an SUV ??? __________________ "can't you hear me? What, do you have bubble gum in your ears ? like Mr.Bean ?" The Bean effect on my 4 year old Last edited by esteem_lover : 7th August 2006 at 15:06.

10th August 2006, 16:59	#12 (permalink)
vikrantw1 BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Chennai Posts: 97	Thanks for the ideas Folks, Thanks for the suggestions - in another section (The chevy SRV test drive ) I mentioned that the SRV is certainly a looker and zippy compared to the optra ( still getting around to driving other cars). However, one more thing surfaced from the test drives - a sore muscle/tendon ( some soft tissue) just above the left ankle - and I figured it was from pressing on the clutch ever so frequently and so I am going to write another post on that soon But thanks for the suggestions ! Cheers

7th August 2006, 14:44	#5 (permalink)
diven_b BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: mumbai Posts: 192 View My Garage	why dont u also consider the ford fusion..its gonna be relaunched in a months time with a lower price....the srv is nice but aint much fun to drive

7th August 2006, 15:14	#7 (permalink)
omar1310 BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 92	Hi! If you have following things on priority then consider FIAT Adventure! (A test drive is MUST, even if your are not thinking about this CAR) 1. You drive yourself and love driving (especially highway drving once a while) 2. If you want a hatch or rather SUV style estate which drives like a CAR 3. If you want to experience a ride with great suspension, tough built and great engine (100 BHP) that too at a price which is around 6 lacs. 4. If you want to have good amount of space inside (The boot is 460 litres, expandable to 1500+ litres) 5. If you are not much bothered about Fuel economy (Adventure gives about 8-10kmpl in city with a/c on). So will be Fusion (9-10kmpl) and SRV (8-10kmpl) 6. When you speak about reliable names off course Honda is one of them. But , they are selling their cars on a BIG CORE COMPETENCY which is fuel economy (In Mumbai Honda City gives 11-12kmpl with A/C on @ 77 BHP power) 7. The build quality of Maruti Cars are not great which you can look forward to. But they are very reliable as far as the A-S-S is concerned. 8. Fiat and Tata are together and all the Tata-Fiat dealers are having 3S set up. (Sales, Service and Spares). Apart from this, FIAT has retained its best performnign dealers across the country and sacked all those, who thought, they are too BIG for Fiat and without them FIAT can't survive. Having said this, please note that FIAT Adventure has not so good interiors, though the exteriors are fully loaded with Alloy Wheels, Pirelli Tubeless tyres, Fog Lamps (4 of them), De-fogger, Rear Wiper and it also has Central Locking,power windows, power steering etc. It also comes with 2 year's "Anti-Corroison" and "Cosmetic" warranty.

7th August 2006, 15:38	#8 (permalink)
pawan_pullarwar BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Pune Posts: 174	Take a test drive of any cars in the price range you have mentioned. And after that go for the test drive of Fiat Adventure, bet me you will fall in love with it and you will go for it.

7th August 2006, 16:20	#9 (permalink)
adarsh76 BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Cochin (Moving to Bangalore) Posts: 288	If you dont have the "Hyundai" tag problem the Getz is also a very competent car. Loads of interior space and a good boot too.

7th August 2006, 22:03	#11 (permalink)
neoonwheels BHPian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Pune Posts: 467 View My Garage	Adventure rocks !!!!!!!!!! I have Palio 1.2 Sport since a year and driven Adventure and then I thought why did not I go for it Cheers NeoOnWheels Palio 1.2 Sport / 13 KMPL / AND IT ROCKS !!!!

10th August 2006, 17:30	#13 (permalink)
himanshugoswami BHPian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: !!!! Posts: 877	Going by your requirements, the only car presently sold in India that fits the bill is the Fiat Adventure or Indigo Marina. If u dont mind second hand- then look at teh Baleno altura. With a German shep. a hatch just wont do- u would need an estate with good aircon. Delhi summers can be hell on German sheps. __________________ I asked Mom if I was a gifted child...she said they certainly wouldn't have paid for me.- Calvin

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