Happy to share the fact that i finally bought my first car, Ritz VDI ABS! Got the delivery on March 26th, Friday. I would like to thank Team-Bhp team
for their excellent Test drive report of Ritz, it majorly favoured my decision towards Ritz. Also thanks to Ritz owners here, especially Navan, Gandhi, Gaddiwale (pardon any typos in names) their ownership threads helped me a lot in deciding to go for Ritz.
Team-Bhp enlightened me about pdi checks and checking month of manufacturing (VIN thread) I took print out of PDI check list and checked the car thoroughly as per check list before taking delivery. I was also able to accertain my vehicle's manufacturing month (March 2010) Thanks to the VIN number thread.
Also many thanks to Mangalore TeamBhpian James for his help regarding various car accessories, am a noob when it comes to cars, am more in to biking and didn't even know driving till few months back, actually still learning to drive. James (zahin) assisted me in deciding about various accessories for the car, thanks a ton brother!
Am soon to get hitched so was looking at a VFM hatch. I knew i wanted a diesel as i wanted to keep monthly fuel bills low. I didn't mind investing upfront for a diesel hatch for that. One of my close friend owns a swift VDI and he's been clocking kms quite fast. I was looking at swift as it was proven and time tested maruti car. But the ridiculous waiting period put me off, then heard about Ritz. Read good reviews about it everywhere, team-bhp's review along with James's positive feedback about Ritz made me go for a Test drive in february and i was impressed. Had taken parents along too and we could do a quick comparison with my friend's swift. Found that Ritz is far better in rear seating and ease of seating compared to swift. Ritz didn't feel as sporty as swift but didn't feel dull either.
I wasn't too much inclined about looks. I found Ritzie's looks tolerable, wasn't that bad to look at in flesh as described in few forums and mags. Anyways, went ahead with booking.
Read about Bimal auto Agency's history here and felt i should cancel the booking. But then i thought might be things have changed, so lets give it a shot. They really lived up to their words in delivering the car to me with in march end due to my personal reasons. I wanted the car before my marriage in April, but ritz had waiting time of 3 months for VDI ABS, i spoke to the showroom manager about my concern and requested them to expedite for me. They really did and am thankful for that. Also the vehicle was scratch/dent free both during stockyard visit and delivery.
Only grouse was they weren't that forth coming in giving discounts for accessories, so got very less discount for accessories compared to other ritz owners who have got fabulous discounts.
But the quality of work for fitting accessories is good and am happy for what i paid for. So no grouse there. Bimal Auto Agency (Whitefield) seem to have really pulled up their socks.
I have driven the car from the showroom while taking delivery till Hebbal. I can say that it gives much desired confidence to a noob like me. Interiors are roomy and for a 6 footer like me, it's a boon that i can sit comfortably while driving with out any discomfort or elbowing my co passenger. Also with me in driver's seat, the rear passenger can sit good enough leg room. The car feels bigger and roomier on the insides. I like the storage compartments everywhere. James was in town on sunday and he took charge of Ritzie and we were out roaming inside city from 12 noon till night. Did about 70 kms in city peak traffic with AC on. James finally gave thumbs for the car. Getting this from verdict another 6 footer and car guru made my day!
Here's are the accessories:
1. Pioneer HU 4290 SD
2. JBL GT5-S265 Front Door speakers
3. JBL GTO 948 Oval speakers on Plank in rear. (The bimal guys have put in elevated plank where in speakers bottom end isn't visible. Also they have put in Pin type removable connection for the rear speakers to remove the plank easily if needed, neat and thoughtful indeed)
4. MGA Remote lock 054 series (basic version, no sensors)
5. G Sport Seat covers
6. Side door protectors and Bumper Protectors
7. MGA Steering Wheel Cover
I had asked the Bimal guys to give me boxes of HU/Speakers as it will be handy to sell them in future if i upgrade. They were able to give me the HU and front door speaker boxes (Minus the JBL Grills) But they couldn't provide me the Rear speakers boxes as they had already discarded them.
I had also asked for GTO 947 Speakers but i found 948s fixed. The HU i was quoted for was 4190 SD but was given 4290 SD. They haven't charged me extra as such though.
Freebies:
1. Footmats (transparent types) Bootmat, Mudflaps (Came with car)
2. Idol and perfume (both are just name sake)
3. Vehicle Cover (had to haggle a lot for this after i finalised the accessories)
4. Garware Tints (Sales person lived up to his words, he had agreed to provide me the tints free during test drive)
Pending accessories:
1. Reverse parking sensor: Need one for a noob like me. Reading the threads and confused about camera or just beeping sensors.
2. IND number plates: By April. The free plates are flimsy and pathetic.
3. Alloys/tyre change: May be after a year or two later, am literally broke now.
Fuel:
Bimal guys put in 3 litres Diesel during delivery and said 2 litres were put in during PDI. The car was showing single line in fuel guage till then. After that i filled in for Rs 500. Then next day totally the car had run 120 kms. So tanked her up with diesel worth Rs 1350.
Am going on a long drive till Idugunji near Honnavar coming weekend. So i should be able to get the numbers.
Here are few pics of my Ritzie (that's what i call her
) Yet to take interior pics, will do it by next week.