Which Hatchback for a first time driver ?

diesel_headrock · 9th July 2007, 23:43

Well if you have the budget of going for the Getz,i would say the Skoda Fabia is absolutely worth the wait.check out the Skoda Website.The car is certainly many notches above the current crop of Indian hatchbacks.Hope so Skoda India shouldnt do much changes to the International model.The website is here.
Å*koda Auto - New Å*koda Fabia - Look

ashwin_seattle · 10th July 2007, 00:02

Nids,
If you really want to look kool and need a kool car as well, go for the SPARK. Its all in all a ladies car, and with its colors, nice shape, and happy revving, it would be the most fun to own, for ya. Forget old horses like wagon R and santro. Yes, but if your budget permits, you can go for Swift or Getz. Getz in my opinion would be more suited.
But all in all, as a first car, Spark should be the best option for you.
But you get to decide . Take a TD. Seating shouldnt be a prob on a Spark, as it has been designed keeping in mind its female following to be.

All the best!!

jassi · 10th July 2007, 00:06

welcome to tbhp nids!! your opinions on estilo will be well received on the estilo thread, theres was a war going on there on the estilo's looks

So as far as advice goes, chose the santro for the best view of the road, nothing beats that IMO (swift/getz/palio view of the road is obstructed by dash and may be worse for 5ft ppl). Hyundai after sales service is as good if not better than maruti.

The swift you may have problems with reversing as the rear windscreen is too high and takes getting used to (unless you get some reverse sensors fitted). Its a very good car as far as the engine goes, may have a little dynamic instability (body roll) on high speeds

I think you should try out the spark though as it is a new gen car and will be around for sometime. Uva has a good shape, but did you try it and not like it or just rejected due to other reasons.

Also whenever you TD, make sure you check not just for straight line drive, but also maneuverability, parking and reversing and you should be good

CrAzY dRiVeR · 10th July 2007, 00:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nids.Leo

My fear exactly. Have been hearing this news / rumour of an upgrade or a replacement by PA. Otherwise it would have been a very good choice.

BTW, which thread ? Can you pl provide the link ?

Here is the thread,
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian...-page-4-a.html

Here is the post with the spy pics.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nitrous

I recently was driving through the GQ when I found Hyundai Motors testing the Hyundai Pa which will have the 1.1L CRDi .Please manage with these phone cam, driving while shooting pics. I'll try to get the chennai photo-BHPians to shoot good pics of the Pa while driving to Yelagiri.

PS: I've spied upon the Hyundai Getz, Verna, Sonata Embera testing on the GQ.
And its usually 6 months before they are launched. So, do we see a launch date??

karty_83 · 10th July 2007, 02:01

Nids,

As far as your requirements go, SPARK is the best choice. SWIFT is the best car in your shortlist, but certainly not a car to be driven around after driving classes.

GM has a 3 year servicing package at 8k making it the cheapest car to maintain its segment.

GETZ is the most practical hatch, if mileage is not a concern.

I am a first time driver myself, learnt driving just a month back. Although i have a much higher budget at 6 lac, i am considering spark above swift and getz. My requirements are a photocopy of yours, but i am a guy

irfanmon · 10th July 2007, 02:24

Swift Petrol ZXI! with lots of Mods and a great ICE setup. If you want to go for a similar car but more expensive, then wait for the Fabia.
We like to stay away from Fiat. Yes, atleast the ones sold in India.
Getz is a good choice too.

vabs78 · 10th July 2007, 05:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by karty_83

SWIFT is the best car in your shortlist, but certainly not a car to be driven around after driving classes.

there is no such thing, any good car is good for learners, trust me because I learned driving on a 215BHP V6 camaro

gopinathann · 10th July 2007, 10:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by diesel_headrock

Well if you have the budget of going for the Getz,i would say the Skoda Fabia is absolutely worth the wait.check out the Skoda Website.The car is certainly many notches above the current crop of Indian hatchbacks.Hope so Skoda India shouldnt do much changes to the International model.The website is here.
Å*koda Auto - New Å*koda Fabia - Look

skoda product does have a good build quality, but the maintenance and spare costs are costly, example a pair of ORVM costs 17k. Before getting a skoda product please have this in mind and do a bit of research.

gemithomas · 10th July 2007, 10:34

The SPARK would be the best for you. The 3 year/1L warranty comming at that price increases the Value of that car. Its easy to move around and park in the city and has enough space too. And personaly i feet its the best looking small car around.

Nimz · 10th July 2007, 10:42

@nids

FE is hovering between 12 and 13 wtih 50% AC and 80% city driving (Bangalore city driving so its bumper to bumper and 200 second traffic signals).

And regarding your query I wouldnt know if the steering is high relative to the Santro/Wagon/Estilo brigade. Have driven Santro and Spark and I didnt find any difference in the steering height. The central dash as pointed out takes 2 minutes to adjust to and I never find it hampering my view of the road. I am 5'7" if that helps in anyway for you to judge.

I would really suggest you take a TD and see how easy it is for you as individual preferences vary. I never considered the Spark reading reviews and seeing its pics.. just took a TD and now I love Sparky.

Go on..practice on the TD cars.. Am an amateur myself never having driven in the city.. and got all my practice on various TD cars

spycar84 · 10th July 2007, 11:12

Hey Nids;

I understand that this is your first car and you want to keep all your options open before making a purchase. I can see that many of TBhpians have voted for the Spark which is indeed a nice car for you.

However, I would seriously recommend you to consider Fiat Palio Stile 1.6 as your budget is approx. within that range. Italian cars are really strong & have a great engine which can be with you for the next 5 years without any problems...

If I was in your place, I would have definitely gone for Fiat. Rest is your decision.

Happy Driving .....

bottle · 10th July 2007, 11:21

imo 1.6 stile will be a bit too much to handle for a beginner especially with the lame brakes it has (compared to some other cars) if going for a fiat check out the 1.1 should be pretty easy to handle

snaronikar · 10th July 2007, 11:44

Spycar & Bottle,

What r u suggesting? Want you to scare her with the A.S.S. of Fiat cars?

My suggestion would be go for Maruti/Hyundai for which the A.S.S is better than other manufacturers.

finneyp · 10th July 2007, 11:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by snaronikar

Spycar & Bottle,

What r u suggesting? Want you to scare her with the A.S.S. of Fiat cars?

My suggestion would be go for Maruti/Hyundai for which the A.S.S is better than other manufacturers.

Mr.snaronikar, A** does not depend purely on the Car maker, it is mainly depends on the Dealer/SC how best he provides the Service.

I can show you threads here on the pathetic A** of certain Maruti Service centres!
And so there are certain Fiat/Tata Service centers who are not upto the mark, but please don't generalize that Fiat A** is bad and all that crap!

BTW, I own a Fiat car for that past 3.5 years and am quite happy with their Service!

spycar84 · 10th July 2007, 13:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by snaronikar

Spycar & Bottle,

What r u suggesting? Want you to scare her with the A.S.S. of Fiat cars?

My suggestion would be go for Maruti/Hyundai for which the A.S.S is better than other manufacturers.

Hey snaronikar,

A** have been improved a lot by now since the Tata-Fiat JV.

, this wasnt the case before but now things have changed. Since, Nids is in Delhi, we can expect a better situation over there. I still feel Palio Stile would be a better option for her (personal opinion).

9th July 2007, 23:43	#31
diesel_headrock BHPian Join Date: May 2005 Location: mumbai Posts: 147 Thanked: 5 Times	Check out the Skoda Fabia Well if you have the budget of going for the Getz,i would say the Skoda Fabia is absolutely worth the wait.check out the Skoda Website.The car is certainly many notches above the current crop of Indian hatchbacks.Hope so Skoda India shouldnt do much changes to the International model.The website is here. Åkoda Auto - New Åkoda Fabia - Look
	() Thanks

10th July 2007, 00:02	#32
ashwin_seattle BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: seattle/chandig Posts: 122 Thanked: 11 Times View My Garage	Nids, If you really want to look kool and need a kool car as well, go for the SPARK. Its all in all a ladies car, and with its colors, nice shape, and happy revving, it would be the most fun to own, for ya. Forget old horses like wagon R and santro. Yes, but if your budget permits, you can go for Swift or Getz. Getz in my opinion would be more suited. But all in all, as a first car, Spark should be the best option for you. But you get to decide . Take a TD. Seating shouldnt be a prob on a Spark, as it has been designed keeping in mind its female following to be. All the best!!
	() Thanks

10th July 2007, 00:06	#33
jassi BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Melbourne Posts: 980 Thanked: 11 Times View My Garage	welcome to tbhp nids!! your opinions on estilo will be well received on the estilo thread, theres was a war going on there on the estilo's looks So as far as advice goes, chose the santro for the best view of the road, nothing beats that IMO (swift/getz/palio view of the road is obstructed by dash and may be worse for 5ft ppl). Hyundai after sales service is as good if not better than maruti. The swift you may have problems with reversing as the rear windscreen is too high and takes getting used to (unless you get some reverse sensors fitted). Its a very good car as far as the engine goes, may have a little dynamic instability (body roll) on high speeds I think you should try out the spark though as it is a new gen car and will be around for sometime. Uva has a good shape, but did you try it and not like it or just rejected due to other reasons. Also whenever you TD, make sure you check not just for straight line drive, but also maneuverability, parking and reversing and you should be good
	() Thanks

10th July 2007, 02:01	#35
karty_83 BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 399 Thanked: 166 Times	Nids, As far as your requirements go, SPARK is the best choice. SWIFT is the best car in your shortlist, but certainly not a car to be driven around after driving classes. GM has a 3 year servicing package at 8k making it the cheapest car to maintain its segment. GETZ is the most practical hatch, if mileage is not a concern. I am a first time driver myself, learnt driving just a month back. Although i have a much higher budget at 6 lac, i am considering spark above swift and getz. My requirements are a photocopy of yours, but i am a guy
	() Thanks

10th July 2007, 02:24	#36
irfanmon BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Gods own country Posts: 37 Thanked: 0 Times	Swift Petrol ZXI! with lots of Mods and a great ICE setup. If you want to go for a similar car but more expensive, then wait for the Fabia. We like to stay away from Fiat. Yes, atleast the ones sold in India. Getz is a good choice too.
	() Thanks

10th July 2007, 10:34	#39
gemithomas Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Trivandrum Posts: 2,366 Thanked: 143 Times View My Garage	The SPARK would be the best for you. The 3 year/1L warranty comming at that price increases the Value of that car. Its easy to move around and park in the city and has enough space too. And personaly i feet its the best looking small car around.
	() Thanks

10th July 2007, 10:42	#40
Nimz BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 594 Thanked: 198 Times View My Garage	@nids FE is hovering between 12 and 13 wtih 50% AC and 80% city driving (Bangalore city driving so its bumper to bumper and 200 second traffic signals). And regarding your query I wouldnt know if the steering is high relative to the Santro/Wagon/Estilo brigade. Have driven Santro and Spark and I didnt find any difference in the steering height. The central dash as pointed out takes 2 minutes to adjust to and I never find it hampering my view of the road. I am 5'7" if that helps in anyway for you to judge. I would really suggest you take a TD and see how easy it is for you as individual preferences vary. I never considered the Spark reading reviews and seeing its pics.. just took a TD and now I love Sparky. Go on..practice on the TD cars.. Am an amateur myself never having driven in the city.. and got all my practice on various TD cars
	() Thanks

10th July 2007, 11:12	#41
spycar84 Newbie Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 11 Thanked: 0 Times	Hey Nids; I understand that this is your first car and you want to keep all your options open before making a purchase. I can see that many of TBhpians have voted for the Spark which is indeed a nice car for you. However, I would seriously recommend you to consider Fiat Palio Stile 1.6 as your budget is approx. within that range. Italian cars are really strong & have a great engine which can be with you for the next 5 years without any problems... If I was in your place, I would have definitely gone for Fiat. Rest is your decision. Happy Driving .....
	() Thanks

10th July 2007, 11:21	#42
bottle Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Chennai Posts: 1,634 Thanked: 274 Times View My Garage	imo 1.6 stile will be a bit too much to handle for a beginner especially with the lame brakes it has (compared to some other cars) if going for a fiat check out the 1.1 should be pretty easy to handle
	() Thanks

10th July 2007, 11:44	#43
snaronikar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 2,845 Thanked: 29 Times View My Garage	Spycar & Bottle, What r u suggesting? Want you to scare her with the A.S.S. of Fiat cars? My suggestion would be go for Maruti/Hyundai for which the A.S.S is better than other manufacturers.
	() Thanks