Swift Diesel (LDi) Ownership review: 1 year and 28000 km later

[lediablo]

RufRoc, Happy to see another convert, I will soon be taking a plunge with my verna CRDI. couple of questions, did you procure all this from Hot tracks in residency road. Where did you get this installed.
Nice pics of the CAI and the tuning box, and also the emblem hanging on the rear view, that makes it the second thing we have in common. The next time i see a red swift gunning down bangalore roads, i will know its you.

[RufRoc]

@lediablo: It's actually a White Swift ... check the earlier pics

And yup, I picked it up from Hot Tracks and also got it installed over there. Btw, how much is the Verna's Tuning Box? I can't imagine adding to the existing 110 horses you have, you'll be a blur when you pass

[lediablo]

The verna box cost 31.5K in bangalore. The BHP increases to a minimum of 130. The CAI might increase it further fractionally. I will have to seriously consider upgrading the suspension and the rubbers. It run on stock rubbers now.

[RufRoc]

130 horses ... yummy!

Whats the stock size of the Verna anyway?

[lediablo]

175/70/R14. Utterly malnurished.

[RufRoc]

Well, finally found time to send the 'Bee' for a much needed bath and a few tops up's ... decided to give Green Cars, Koramangala a try this time after sticking to Bimal through the last 4 services.

This service was quite hurriedly done and it's only after I got the vehicle back (picked it up today) that I remembered points I'd missed. Forgot to ask him about gear oil, brake oil, coolant top up's and then diesel filter change etc

Anyway, here's the break-up, Total Bill came up to Rs. 3489 but I feel I did miss out on a few essentials. My mistake, I was just too occupied this week.

Engine Oil (Mobil 15W40) - 510
Front caliper Slide (Grease Satchet) - 23
Wheel Alignment & Balancing (Including Weights) - 700 (Regret doing it at MASS, used to get it done for Rs 450 outisde)
Paid Service - 625
Wheel Brake removed and cleaned - 370
Body Rubbing and Polishing - 800

I'd specifically told him to check the brakes (had a feeling they were really losing bite fast), replace blown high beam on my headlight bulbs (not sure how that happened), Interior Cabin Light had also stopped working (some loose connection). Was planning to get the Wheels Aligned & Balanced outside but decided to do it here because I didn't have enough time to get it done before the weekend and I was planning to hit Chennai and then Goa over the weekend and the next.

Overall, there ain't any problems to talk about except for the rattles which by now is so much part of my ride. Probably the day someone at a MASS actually 'completely' eliminates them ... I guess I would terribly miss those rattles which faithfull keep you company come what may (and for no extra cost thanks to Maruti's generosity)

Removed the Pete's Box before giving it for service coz didn't want to go through the hassle of convincing anyone. Miss it already and can't wait to get him back to where he belongs - under the hood.

About Green Cars, well ... the service part was fantastic, nice service advisor and pretty straighforward. Only negative was the inside cleaning job that was done. Agreed it was as dirty as can be but then I could literally see dirt streaks even in obvious places like near the hand brake, back seats etc ... If I had the time would have driven back and inisisted on a better job.

Well, this has turned out into a real boring service report, so till the next time there's an update coming up and I have a feeling it's going to be soon ... hmm Pete's all the way to Goa and yup my wife too he! he! - well, life doesn't get any better

[ebmrajesh]

Hi, How is the feel after you have installed Pete's in your car. couple of weeks back i tried installing the pete's box in my vdi and i did not find much of the difference in the performance of my car. ofcourse i did not take the car more than 60km/hr as in busy blore roads even that speed was quite tough to reach. but from the reviews from many other threads, i had the feel that car would have significant difference in low gears itself. somehow i did not find the difference.

it wud be good to hear from you about the feel you get before and after the pete's installation. i have also heard about the Dragon Tuning box available for swift D. heard that its much cheaper compared to Pete's. though not sure about the performance of it.

[RufRoc]

@ebmrajesh: Not sure about the Dragon Tuning Box, tried to open it's site but looks like there's a problem with it. Btw, you can also check out Bhagwan's thread here on the work done on his Swift, he had some Chip installed (forgot the name)

About the Pete's box, well ... it also depends on expectations out of it. It's so easy to read reviews here and then expect a spine twisting surge when you press that pedal but on a serious note, what impresses me most is the low and mid rev's which now pulls so smooth and that's where you really notice that difference. It's not about the top whack, it's the in gear driveability that makes it so much fun.

And if you ask me, I certainly do feel the difference. What i'd suggest is get it installed on a trial and then give it all you've got, till it scares you and then you'll realise that the stock ride wouldn't have given you that excitement.

Well, all this might sound like crazy talk but dude, it really impresses. And since you're out here in Bangalore, anytime you want to demo, just let me know, we'll work something out. One more point is that I also have a CAI, not sure if this is the bridge that gives the Box the extra edge.

My suggestion, give it another shot and keep your mind open to the experience.