After several weeks of planning/confusion/indecision/research(=TBHP) I finally decided to go for a diamond white ford fiesta 1.6 sxi petrol. Took the delivery on Sunday 8th June from NCR Ford, Defence Colony.
Before this I have driven a maruti 800 for a couple of years, our family's santros(we've had 2 of them) off and on and a pre-owned 2001 accent that I bought a couple of years ago. The accent had started to become a headache to maintain so I needed a new car to replace that.
Selection
I considered each and every car that was available under 8 lacs and each one of them had its share of pros and cons. My main aim was to get a car that would be fun to drive and something that I would like to keep for many years. I don't drive much(10-15Km a day) so I decided to stick with petrol.
I am aware that a facelift for the fiesta is around the corner but gave in to the discounts offered by the dealer and the fact that I could afford the safety features like ABS/Airbag without stretching my budget to an uncomfortable level.
Dealership Experience
The dealership experience has been good so far. Their conduct was extremely professional and they co-operated well through my multiple test drives, the prolonged period of decision making and a visit to their stock yard for inspection.
First Impresssions
I've just had the car for two days so it's still early for a report but I'll begin with the things that have impressed me so far...
1.
Driveability: The car is a delight to drive. I don't feel like stepping out of the driver's seat. Love the tone of the engine as it starts. Haven't revved it up beyond 2500 rpm yet but I'm waiting to cross the 1500Km mark that the manual suggests.
2.
Ergonomics: I've got a really sensitive back and i'm prone to back-aches so i can tell that the seats are very comfortable and the driving position is great.
3.
Headlights: The stock headlamps are awesome. Even though I had read that the lights were good on TBHP I was really surprised when we first drove out at night.
4.
Looks: I know they are subjective and I was never a fan of the fiesta's looks but they have really grown on me now.
5.
A/C: The airconditioner is a chiller but the blower is noisy.
6.
NVH: The engine is super quiet when idle and the cabin insulation is good. The engine felt a little coarse at first but seems to have become smoother just after a couple of days of driving.
And now the things that could have been better...
1.
Audio System: The audio system is pretty decent and better than what I expected but the fact there is no mp3 or aux support is a let down. Surprisingly it has an aux mode but I've found numerous posts in the forum that say that there is an external audio source cannot be connected.
2.
Gear Shift: The gears are a little hard but that might change with time and also because maybe I'm not used to a new gear shift.
Team BHP has played a big role in the decision making and I would like to thank everyone who have posted reviews about their cars and there is so much information out here for all levels of car enthusiasts
I've simply been addicted to the site.
I will try to post more about the ownership experience whenever something eventful comes up.
I know a lot of you will ask for pics. I will try to click some soon.