Your suggestions my decision- NEW CAR

[Surprise]

Hi All,

Iam going to take a decision for my new car and release the order on Monday (16th May 2005)

Here is my requirement:

1. Budget Ex-Showroom price is below Rs.4 L
2. Wants to hold the car for atleast 5 yrs
3. Average driving per day would be 35 kms ( single hand)
4. Good FE & Low maintenance
5. Driving smothness
6. Looks & Ownership pride

My mind set is on Hyundai Santro & Maruti Zen. I had browsed on these cars and found useful feedbacks.

I would like to hear further from you all and take my decision based on your suggestions

Thanks
Surprise

PS: My height is below 5'.7"

[RJK]

Of the two, I'd recommend the Santro.

[tsk1979]

Zen is a good option if back seat comfort is not very important. In diesel you can go for either Indica DLX/DLG(3.5-4) when the turbo gets introduced or the Indigo LS TDi which will be about 60K above your budget, but extremely economical to run.
Based on your parameters:
You will do around 1000kms/month
FE/Maintainace. All the above cars are relatively same in maintainace, however if you drive on extremely bad roads regularly Tata will be the least damaging on your pocket.
1000kms. FE=12kmpl for petrol = 85lts.= Approx 3400pm for city driving
FE=13 for diesel=80lts=Approx 2000pm city driving

Driving smoothness -> Petrol wins. New indigo pretty smooth, but take test drive before deciding
Looks - > Indica/go and Zen good looking

Another thing, at your height Santro seat provides the best lumbar support, so for long drives it is the best. Indigo seat is also good, but indica front seat is not so comfortable for your height. This was true for 2002 model, but then again take test drive and see for yourself

[Surprise]

Originally Posted by tsk1979

but then again take test drive and see for yourself

I need to learn driving once I get the car




I had done (drove) to little extent with few of my friends car.

Also I would like to mention that my choice is not limited to Zen and Santro. It's just my mind set which could be altered if an good alternative is there.

[GTO]

Of the two, I'd recommend the Santro.

Likewise. The Zen is getting too long in the tooth.

GTO

[kooldude]

zen for sure i tell you the santro xing is a total s**^ as i have driven both the cars and the i touched 145 in the zen and the santro almost felt dead after 120 and the zen has great fuel economy and at 60 or 70 kms you take a little steep turn you feel that the car is about to turn over and it has happened to many times

[Shan2nu]

Of the two, I'd recommend the Santro.

I agree. The Zen is too old fashined and cramped. The Wagon R would have been a better competitor for the Santro.

Also I would like to mention that my choice is not limited to Zen and Santro. It's just my mind set which could be altered if an good alternative is there.

Give the Wagon R another look.

Shan2nu

[Surprise]

Originally Posted by GTO

The Zen is getting too long in the tooth.

GTO

I could not get this

[normally_crazy]

The Santro has to be the one here.
cheers

[speedsatya]

Originally Posted by Surprise

I could not get this

except for exterior changes and MPFI,the zen is still the same car that was sold in 1993.
all the other cars in its category are more modern and safer.except the engine,theres nothing much to vouch for in it.

the xing is no good either.after driving the santro for about 2500kms in 4 days,i would say the zen is in many ways better than it.

The wagon r is the one you could look at.

if its between xing and the zen,its the zen anytime.the xing sukkks.

[kooldude]

satya whats the top speed of xing my friend has done 145 in zen

[speedsatya]

i have done 160 on the speedo in my mpfi zen.

tha max i could do in a 99 santro was 120 on straights and 140 speedo on downs



but a santro is a good city car.so the top speed is simply academic as you wont be doing such speeds inside city limits

[kooldude]

thanks satya but the zen has better handling and it can be driven like u are driving a dashing car. but i have driven a santro and in 60 to 70 i took a turn then the car had a screeching sound of the tires

[Abhay]

Of the cars mentioned I would suggest the Zen....
hassle free and good economy, and since space doesnt seem to be a requirement it should do....of course Santro is good too if you can get past its looks (same goes for WagonR)..If you are not hell bent on getting the latest in technology (som people who say the Zen is old...will endorse the Esteem/Baleno which are almost as dated/old as the zen), the car is fun to drive too (doesnt matter to you now since you cant drive yet..)

If you need more space/goodies go for the Indica..(diesel if it doesnt bother you & th lack of power) or the petrol (decent power....only con is less fuel economical than Zen) but much solid/stable feel to it.

[tsk1979]

Well for every person the best car is different. If not drive atleast sit in all these cars and see which front and back seat suits you. I got an indica DLS way back in 2002 coz i drive 1500+kms a month and fuel bill was a big concern. If power is a concern for you Xing/WagonR/Zen is what you look for. If you want a boot go for indigo LS/LX but its 60k above your budget. But with new engine the power is adequate. How are the chennai roads. If they are like bangalore then Zen/WagonR/Santro will have more suspension troubles compared to tata. You can wait for swift too since launch price is below 4 lakhs