Deciding on a budget diesel hatchback Guys,
I've been a regular on this forum, and have read every new car review.
But now the time has come for me to avail my company's lucrative car lease scheme and go in for a diesel hatch. Please note that I will still be using my Fiesta 1.6, as I strongly believe that no hatch can give me that kind of pleasure. I go to office only 16 to 18 days in a month (30 kms in a day), and therefore the petrol mill does not pinch me much. The plan is to give the car to my son who has recently got a job. He does drive the Waggie, but spiralling petrol costs are a deterrent. Looks like my wife will only use it, as it gives the same FE as my Fiesta.
What is pinching me is the Co lease scheme, and the fact that I've not availed of it so far tantamounts to me losing lots of money as Income Tax.
Under the circumstances, I've shortlisted the follwing diesels:- - Ford Figo Titanium
- Maruti Swift zdi
- Chevy Beat
Please note that I don't want to spend too much in order to keep my EMIs low.
I've ruled out the following:- - VW Polo--due to high cost and 3-cylinder engine. The light steering puts me off too. But I do agree it looks hot.
- Fiat Punto 90 bhp---due to A.S.S, cost and no great advantage over the FGT MJD. Also horrible plastics.
- Nissan Micra---cannot stand the shape, and the ugly dashboard.
- Vista---owing to centrally-mounted speedo (I wanna see the speed myself, and not ask my passsenger)
- i20---Horrible AC and beyond my budget. I also hate the turbo lag and the super-light steering.
Therefore, the final contenders are the Figo, Swift and Beat:- - Beat--Like the funky shape and the dash (specially like someone's post that the rear doors are good for mother-in-law), though not the digital tacho. I also like the colour of the lights on the dash and the layout and ACC, apart from the FE. But what I don't like is the minimal boot space and the 3-cylinder engine.
- New Swift zdi---Looks hot both inside and out. I like the new dash and the driving seat. But I cannot see how far the bonnet extends, and I found the rear space and boot space less than a Figo. Though it is a powerful car and a good handler, I am disappointed by the 6-month waiting period and the current strike at Manesar. I am also concerned with the quality issues some people have posted about.
- Figo-- I like its chiller AC and great sound system, apart from the Bluetooth. Also its minimal turbo-lag and handling characteristics. This apart, there is method in the madnesss: it shares the same stalks as my Fiesta. Another positive is its great boot space. But what I am concerned about is its wafer-thin bumpers and quality issues (my colleague bought one last month and now his AC has conked off).
Keep pouring in your suggestions folks. I am also wondering why there is no review of the new diesel Swift so far on this forum.
Last edited by vnabhi : 13th September 2011 at 21:51.
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