Petra 1.6 ownership report

[sreenivass]

Hi,

portions of the review were posted on mouth shut last year. I added service details + 2nd year experience.

I have driven less than 12000 KMs so far, most of the driving was on highways.

Selection
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I bought petra petrol 1.6 in jan 05. I love the build quality, quietness and zip. My primary preferences were: safety, build quality (quietness, price of course, space ,..). I preferred it over accent, baleno, esteem and ikon.

My opinions (IMHO) after test drives
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Accent rear leg room was less, lacked zip, would be good if one is going to employ a driver.
I did not have good experience with ford’s reliability having driven a mercury for 3 yrs. in US.
At medium height I had difficulty getting in/out of Esteem.
I have not liked lack of thud when doors are closed in both esteem and Baleno.
I thought Baleno was losing power when A/C was turned on.

So Zeroed on Petra as it wa exciting to drive.

1st year
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Overall I think its an excellent car with a few desirable improvements: I would love it to be a few inches wider and longer. After driving about 5000+ K.Ms I get a mileage of 12-13 (with A/C on and good amount of luggage in the boot) on highways. A few more kilometers/ litre would be great. My daily commute is hardly anything, 1 K.M to office, so I get only abt 7-8 K.Ms/ litre when I do not drive much else where. I hope its because of the short trips. Dont know whether it really makes sense to check mileage for this kindaa short trips. I reach the destination before the engine gets warm. The large turn diameter at times does not feel great, even though its acceptable. Its more than Honda city, Baleno, ... I am hoping the ride quality will improve further if I go for wider tyres, not sure whether mileage will get affected. Do I need to change the wheel rims for it. I bought alloys already, may have to think a little if I have to replace them.

The fuse box along with electric connections dropped down a couple of times, fiat dealer came over and fixed it. I love to hear I need to go for oil changes only once in 6 months.

Repair/ Services
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One cycle fellow suddenly appeared between my car and from the front of a bus and fell on my door scratching and breaking one of my door handles. Cost Rs 350.

These two services included things like spray polish, under body coat, etc...

Scheduled service 1 :2800 Rs
Schedule service 2 :2000 Rs


My trip experience
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Drove to my home town in coastal A.P from Hyderabad a few times. The peak speeds were like 120-130 KMPH. The car is very stable and quiet at that speeds. Mileage varied between 11.5 and 13 KMPL. I always drive with A/C on. Lower mileage was probably due to the short periods when the car was stopped with engine and A/C turned on, and fan speed at 3. I felt a lil loss of power when the fan is set to speeds more than 3.

May be wider tyres would help breaking improve. At times I felt the stopping distance was a little longer than I’d like it to be.

2nd Year
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Did a couple of trips between Hyderabad and Vijayawada. I love this car on highways.

FE seems to be in the same range except a few differences. When I drive home I fill from IBP near my house or Indian oil Xtra premium or whatever outside the city. I filled from either reliance or cant recall it was BP or HP regular. Difference in FE: at least 1-2 KMPL.

Forgot to mention two incidents, its about the quietness. Once I stopped for a pollution check and the guy standing hardly half a foot from the bonnet asks me to turn the car on, it was already running. I was using xtra premium then.

The second one, I started the engine in office parking lot then saw a colleague approaching. Talked to him for about 5 mins or so. Then I was ready to go, this guy has a hand on my car door asking me its very quiet, I cant even feel the engine running.

The quietness seems to have come down after I started using regular from IBP and the vehicle is due for a periodic service in a months time.

Repairs/ Service
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Car stalled, battery was found to be dead. 350 Rs + battery recharge at excide within Rs 100.

Stalled again in a few days, alternator not charging tha battery. It was difficult to get the chip part so asked alternator to be replaced. asked to fit side rubbers, radio sockets, etc..

Cost 10700 Rs.

City bus joker dents my car coming from left from a semi halt.

Dent removal and repaint : 9800 Rs, done in a couple of days.

Handbreak indicator always on: Low brake fluid. workshop guy pours some in, problem disappeared.

Right hand side head light not coming on: Some clip got burnt, replaced Rs 84.

Details of purchase
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Alloys (5), Kenwood MP3 player, 4 speakers + 2 tweeters, Art leather seats, remote locking.

Purchase Price (INR): 5.8 Dealer Name and City: Anuroop, Hyderabad Model Year: 2004