Maruti Swift DZire - delivery on 7th April 2008 - some observations

[Murugan]

Booked the Maruti Swift Dzire Petrol Vxi (Silky Silver color) today 29th March 2008.

Some observations:

The four dealers I checked out had only the top end diesel variant Zdi for test drive in white color with the 'demo car' decals. No Petrol to try out.
Wonder why the petrols are not available for test drive yet?

Since the diesel dzire felt almost like the diesel swift, presumed the petrols would be similar and went ahead with the booking. Have paid up the ex-show room price plus registration etc - approx 500k+ - all except the insurance amount. Have been promised mud flaps, floor mats, number plates, steering cover etc free. Do dealers give any other freebies?

Dealer says the top end Zdi and Zxi will have a waiting period of 2 months but other variants would be delivered in 1 to 2 weeks. What is the experience at other dealerships across the country?

There was a black Vdi with the sign 'sold' on the car. Delivery pending the RTO approval.

The delivery of my car was initially promised for 3rd April 2008. The dealer said it was not possible earlier as the RTO had not yet cleared the car. Heard this ? mumbo-jumbo stuff recently from the Tata dealer also after the Tata Sumo Grande launch. Or are they telling the truth - the companies get the 'RTO clearance' only after the launch of the vehicle. What exactly is this RTO clearance and what if the RTO does not clear?

Even before the order was confirmed by me they revised the delivery date to 7th as they realised that they did not have the car in their yard but was actually 'on the way.' They also informed the 'chassis number' to me.

For the 3rd time in two years I found a car being used for demo having the speedometer, odometer 'not working'/ ?disconnected. The speedo would'nt move and the odo was stuck on 211 Kms inspite of a 2+ kilometre drive. And this car, unlike the other two, was even marked as a demo car. On questioning, the executive said the speedo and odo were 'malfunctioning.' Found the explanation difficult to buy. Anybody else with similar experience?

[Zappo]

The RTO clearance thing happens with newly launched vehicles. Basically RTO informs the dealerships individually about the final figures on roadtax and other charges applicable on that particular model. Till that has been decided and communicated the dealers won't sell the vehicles. It happens fairly quickly. Takes a couple of days max. Basically 'clearance' is sort of a misnomer.

The speedo/odo not working is a malpractice. Although the car has the demo decals it will definitely be sold someday. Many of these dealers just remove the decals and then sell it off merely as 'Used Car'. The gullible user is sold off the car as a low mileage one. Some day a poor buyer will probably be palmed off that car with ostensibly 20k or 30 k on the odo when the actual running would have crossed 40k or even 50k. It is definitely a shady practice.

[liberal]

I was delivered Indica Turbo DLG with disconnected odometer bought from Fortune, Mumbai - Powai. They made little of it and there was no response to feedback online to Tata Motor.

Now I know it could have been misused by the Dealer.

[razor4077]

Originally Posted by Zappo

The speedo/odo not working is a malpractice. Although the car has the demo decals it will definitely be sold someday. Many of these dealers just remove the decals and then sell it off merely as 'Used Car'. The gullible user is sold off the car as a low mileage one. Some day a poor buyer will probably be palmed off that car with ostensibly 20k or 30 k on the odo when the actual running would have crossed 40k or even 50k. It is definitely a shady practice.

There should be a law against this. More than just the mileage factor, these demo cars are put through hell. I'm sure many of us have pushed them to their limits during TDs. So we're talking of not just 40k of running around in the city, but 40k of real stressful running. Mechanicals cannot be in good shape when they are sold.

[ram_hyundai]

Any car launched in India can be registered after the ARAI approval and a note to the RTO is send instructing them regarding the registration for the same.The registration cant be done without this letter.
Running a car without the speedo connected is not good practice at all.
ram

[Rodeo]

After i had taken delivery of my magnum, it took around 6 weeks to get it registered coz it did not get RTO clearance. And i guess in my case GM was unable to provide enough documentation required so the delay.

[gopinathann]

I am planning to book one for my sister in the coming week. Some dealer say 50k booking amount and another say 30K. One of the dealer is ready to take 10K since I told him that I paid the same amount for booking SX4 earlier, he agreed.

[esteem_lover]

Originally Posted by Murugan

For the 3rd time in two years I found a car being used for demo having the speedometer, odometer 'not working'/ ?disconnected. The speedo would'nt move and the odo was stuck on 211 Kms inspite of a 2+ kilometre drive. And this car, unlike the other two, was even marked as a demo car. On questioning, the executive said the speedo and odo were 'malfunctioning.' Found the explanation difficult to buy. Anybody else with similar experience?

I am pretty sure this car would be sold to another customer once they remove the Demo stickers & clean it & polish it. Very sad.

[snaronikar]

The Car Manufacturers and the dealers should ensure that the RTO is informed about the launch of the new cars reasonably weel in time as they know the same takes some time. The bookings should start after the dealers get the clearance from RTO. These should be made as a rule by government so that the customers will not be taken for a ride. It is very sad to note that these kind of tactics are resorted to by the dealerships.

[Murugan]

Originally Posted by Rodeo

After i had taken delivery of my magnum, it took around 6 weeks to get it registered coz it did not get RTO clearance. And i guess in my case GM was unable to provide enough documentation required so the delay.

So were you able to use the car during the waiting period or did it have to stay at home till the registration process was completed?

[esteem_lover]

Originally Posted by Murugan

So were you able to use the car during the waiting period or did it have to stay at home till the registration process was completed?

Just slap on a for regn sticker & drive dude.

[Murugan]

When I told a friend about my booking, he asked me 'why petrol and not diesel?'

Usually I sell my cars around the 4 year/ 40,000 Kms mark and the extra cost for the diesel version, approx Rs.90,000, would not be recouped before the time of sale. In addition I would have to put up with the diesel clatter/ noise and vibrations not to mention the possible additional costs of maintaining a diesel car.

Do Swift diesels command a lower depreciation percentage compared to the petrols? The same may apply for the DZire. Then my calculations could go for a six!

[karanraheja]

@Murugan- First of all congrats on your new Car !! Coming to the point Petrol Vs Diesel It depends from person to person. People will advice you for the Diesel because of increase in fuel price on regular basis. Also Swift DDIS had excellent mileage . Its your car so you know better about the usage. Shall wait for pics of your car!

[ram_hyundai]

In the case of swift hatch,The resale is too good for both the petrols and the diesels.So we can expect the same with the dzire also.
ram

[menonrajesh]

One of my friend has booked Zdi by paying 10k upfront at Mandovi, Vijayanagar and the delivery will take 2 months.