I have always been a fan of the Type 2 Honda City VTEC but since it’s not available new off the shelf so asked myself is it worth it? I mean I am not a big time racer with cars and all and top it all up its a petrol so wont be too easy on the pocket for me, so thought of something close to it for daily use and easy to maintain.
So the Verna Affair Finally Begins Now
when I first drove the Verna back in 2008 when a friend bought it just out of the showroom, earlier I had an misconception that diesel cars are not fun to drive and I was very casual about it thinking maybe my friend has bought it due to affordable running costs and I respected his decision since I myself was a petrol car owner and it’s not easy on the pocket when one has to fill up every now n then. Anyways my misconception was cleared when he told me to drive it I was not very excited because I was thinking “he could have bought a Honda city in this price. What a dumb guy” I was literally angry at him. But since did not want to ruin his experience I giving a false happy face and sat on the driver seat got my myself comfortable and engaged 1st gear and started rolling felt the engine is sluggish then suddenly at 1800rpm I got a big push
and I was like what the F slowed down and looked at my friend and he said “aaram se chala bhai” I started again and accelerated slowly and was waiting for 1800rpm and again the turbo kicked in I had a grin on my face as I shifted at 2.5K in all gears since the car was new. The power delivery was so beautiful that I was jealous of him and the Verna started growing on me, in fact I drove it for around 100kms after that and reached his place and got off bid goodbye and congratulated him again and sat in my 2000 lancer and drove off.
All the way home I was thinking how can I get my hands on one ASAP but I knew finances will not permit now and two months passed and I got over it and met my friend again he had completed 3500kms already so was driving fast so I asked him whether I can see how good it feels at high speeds, took it to an empty stretch slowed down shifted down in 1st and accelerated hard I was just wow the punch it was giving me so kept shifting at 4K all gears and I was doing 155 in 4th and shifted to 5th and slowing the speedo climbed to 190 I was like WOW with 32 all out
, but I did find the car was not comfortable at those speeds steering was very light felt weird maybe I was not used to it that’s why. We stopped at a dhaba for a glass of lassi and chatted with him asked him about mileage and again I was shocked he was getting 15kmpl with ac on at all times and in a city like Kolkata 15 is amazing trust me.
Last year 2009 October end I sold of my lancer and have been trying to get one since months but budget was not permitting. So 10days back I started searching for used Verna’s which are in pristine condition but no luck. finally found one which was in pretty decent condition (2006 brown) 17Kkms with aura alloys along with stock tires I guess 175 and PU seats overall nice clean car. So I booked the car giving 10K advance but 2days later I was having 2nd thoughts because it was costing 5.10lakhs + approx 20K for name transfer and insurance so 5.30lakhs + it was not the top model I think because it did not have ABS, airbags and climate control. So I along with my mother went to mukesh Hyundai and took all the details the car was costing us 9.11lakhs (CRDI SX ABS EURO IV) and after talking and negotiation we came to a conclusion of getting 28K cash discount but my mother was liking the new I20 because of it’s interiors and styling and the fact that it is almost 2lakhs cheaper, I too was getting diverted so Returned home reviewed the I20 here @teambhp found out that the AC is not strong enough and being it only 90bhp and rethinking the experience I had with the Verna I was not too excited so back to my 110 horses which will change my fortune well that’s one thing the ad says anyways the next day went to the dealer I was taking the used Verna took the refund after reducing 3K it was ok since I was already getting a discount of 28K on the new one.
25th May, 2010
Today 4pm i reached Mukesh Hyundai and booked my Crystal White Verna (SX CRDI VGT) and I have specifically told them that I need the car on 25th June because it will be a Friday which is an auspicious day for us, so I have made it clear to them that if I don’t get the car by then I am going to cancel my booking (just dhamki). So now will have sleepless nights for a month and will review each and every thread which has Verna ownerships the ones which are left obviously.
15th June 17, 2010
I get a call from Hyundai that my car will arrive tomorrow morning and I’ll have to take care of the formalities by the 18th so they can send the car for registration on 21st and I get delivery as fast as possible maybe a day before as promised.
17th June 17, 2010
Today at 12pm got a reminder from Hyundai regarding the formalities & I am sitting at home in front of the laptop typing this, eyes which are sleepy as hell with dark circles and restless because as everyone knows the last few days are the worst.
18th June 18, 2010
I’ll be going to the showroom at about 4pm to see my Car and get my 1st sighting, as a matter of fact will give a complete detailed look at the car but I guess that will be more important when I take delivery will post pictures if I don’t forget to take any. I mean really the wait is really irritating as a matter of fact I was thinking weather I should take the car without registration not that I don’t want to but don’t want to be harassed by cops. What do u guys think?
Note: Not a big writer so please bear basically just penned down whatever I felt like. Hope it’s appreciated. Really looking forward for valuable inputs like run-in and other do’s and don’ts.
Mods: Hope i am not posting this in the wrong section because will be starting off the inital report soon.