Hi everybody!
Finally got a chance to go on a long drive last weekend. Had been to Mysore in my car and later to Kukke Subramanya, Dharmastala and Horanadu in a different Swift VXi (my friend's car).
Hey friends, I am not doing a review of the car, mentioning the pros and cons. What I have written is solely my opinion about what I felt when I took the car on this drive.
About My Drive to Mysore (I and my friend): This car is fantastic. It really impressed me with its combination of fuel efficiency and power.
Even though there are no changes made to the engine, I really felt as if I was driving a car with a refined engine (compared to older Swifts). This thing just surges ahead effortlessly with just a small push at the accelerator. Everything is so smooth, the steering (effortless and precise), clutch, altogether the ride. The gear shift is smooth and quick with the gear-to-gear distance being very less. I took a few corners at high speeds (around 110-120 KMPH) and the car didn't really budge. It held its ground and I didn't feel any body roll.
With half the front windows down, the sound of the engine and the tyres was very negligible. With windows raised there was almost nothing we could hear.
As you approach Maddur and on the later portion of the road towards Mysore, you come across a lot of unscientifically laid speed-breakers. This was a good stretch to test the brakes (as I approached the speed-breakers).The brake pedal felt appropriately firm, and the brakes were quick to respond when depressed even a little.
I found the driving position comfortable and satisfactory.
We had left Bangalore at around 5.15 PM, and soon it was dark. The headlights were not great. The intensity and the spread was poor. It was really difficult to drive at 90 KMPH or more. I now have changed the bulbs to Philips x-treme power. Have written about them later in this report.
Fuel Efficiency: When I took delivery of the car, the fuel guage showed empty(E). I got the tank filled to the maximum (it took 42 lts). The fuel guage was at empty again and the odo read 680 Km. So the fuel efficiency is
16.19 Km/Lt.
After 3 days stay in Mysore came back to Bangalore. The Odo reading was 1080 Km, so it was time for the First free service.
About the 1st Free Service Experience at Garuda: Called up Garuda and was told to come at 9.30 AM the next day. Went there exactly at 9.30 AM, and as I parked the car I was approached by a service engineer. Spoke to him for a few minutes and all the formalities were done, like inspecting the car, asking for problems, signatures etc. I was given an estimate of Rs.1000 (oil and oil filter change). They told me that I can collect the car at 3 PM.
Exactly at 2.45 PM I got a call from the service engineer saying that the car was ready and I can collect it. Went there at around 4 PM.The car was parked for delivery and it was sparkling. Went to the car and inspected the exteriors and the interiors. The cleaning and the wash job was superb. I was very happy. Then the service engineer and I went for a small test drive and the car felt smoother than ever.
After coming back, I asked him to show me around the service center. He happily showed me around. The service center is big and everything has its own space and is not congested. It was impressive.
Coming back to the billing counter, he told me that the total bill amount was Rs.962. I paid the bill and said goodbye and came out of the service center a happy customer.
Here are the bill details-
Gasket - Rs.2.63
Oil Filter - Rs.66.09
Screen Wash Concentrate - Rs.11.84
Engine Oil - Rs.774.41 (3.3 lts)
Total - Rs.962
Then I went to Konark Car Accessories in Jayanagar (East End Main Road). Enquired about the Philips X-treme bulbs. He had no idea and called up someone and maybe the person at the other end told him that they were available. He ordered for 5 sets. He then told me that I can get them after 2 hrs, he has just ordered them. I knew from another thread here on Team-BHP that the bulbs were readily available at A.K.Traders, 3rd Cross, J.C.Road. So I went there. Got the bulbs for
Rs.775 with bill. I thought someone had mentioned in the other thread that they cost him Rs.900 at the same trader. hmmm .
About Philips X-treme: I had them installed at Garuda on Lalbagh road and proceeded towards Mysore road with a friend to test them. I found that the illumination had increased about 50-60% against 80% mentioned on the box of the bulbs.
The spread was also good and the distance traveled by the light was impressive. I got down from the car and told my friend to take a U-turn and approach me from the front so that I can see the power and brightness of these lights. As he approached me from about 150 Mts away, they looked very white and I could not make out the headlight frame or the car because of the brightness of the beams.
Moving on, later I could easily drive at speeds more than 100 KMPH comfortably without fear. I am not saying that these bulbs are the extreme but they are far more better than stock 55/60W bulbs.
Now coming back to the feel of the car after the first service, I can say that I felt great driving it. I went upto Ramnagar (about 45kms from Bangalore) and came back. It was smoother than ever and it performed so well and was very agile. I ripped it a lot. I really didn't care that it has just run around 1100 Kms.
I can say that I am happy with the car and I made the right decision. It's a fun-to-drive car with good VFM.
If I have missed out on anything you want to know or if you have a doubt please ask me.
I will upload some photos taken on the way to Mysore and at Chamundi HIlls in Mysore later in the day or on Monday.