[gemithomas]

Originally Posted by Jaggu

What exactly you would want from the new car? Chart it out and then i can share my thoughts.

For starter if you are looking at it from driver perspective, Swift it is. But if you want more pace and better rear seat comfort for family, go with the Ritz.

Resale both being MUL will not have much of a difference, but expect more popular Swift to hold better value, especially in a state like Kerala.

Here is what i am looking at in the new car.

1. Minimum Mind share during Services. I just want to drop the car at the service centre and get it back and not bother till the next schedule.

2. Maximum Possible F.E at my price range.

3. Decent Ride Comfort. I dont want to feel like in a rally. If the Ritz gives me perceivable ride comfort i dont mind taking turns at a slightly lower speed. If the handling is very bad with very minute improvement in ride comfort i might choose the swift.

4. Something Around 5 Lakh. The lesser the better.

5. Decent enough Re-Sale Value 2-3 years down the line. If the depreciation of the Ritz would be a few % more than Swift i dont mind it if i get perceivable ride comfort during my usage. But if there is going to be a huge difference in resale with a minute difference in ride comfort i would prefer the swift.

6. Not bothered much about "frills" The only things i need are fog lamps and centre locking apart from what is in the Ldi list.

[gaddiwale]

Confusing!! It's like asking a mother whom she loves most elder one or the younger one! Both the car shares same 1.3L diesel engine, look is subjective - a personal choice. Before buying my Ritz VDi, test driven both the car. In my opinion - Swift is a pocket rocket and Ritz a gentleman's express. Personally I don't like swift's bulbous look and thousands of swift is there in the road. Whereas, ritz has a fresh look, good all round visibility, apperently more spacious. To be very frank I have never driven my car at 140 kmph but done around 120 kmph on Mumbai - Pune express highway with ease. Little bit of body roll can be felt during sharp high speed cornering but manageble. Ritz has 60:40 rear split seat which swift does not have. My personal choice is ritz what about you Gemithomas?

[tintin82]

I took the Ritz to Sringeri immediately after taking delivery. In fact, I went to the showroom with my bags packed and drove right off. And I took the notorious sakleshpur route. And I'd give a 5 star rating to the Ritz. Absolutely no fatigue and it drives really well. It does not have so much roll so as to worry you, but is not as planted as the swift during cornering. But I did corners at about 100 and did not feel the need to back off at any time. I haven't done 120+ so I do not know about the handling at those speeds. But I'm of the opinion that anything above 120 kmph is asking for trouble.

I had a Fiat Siena before, and I can say that the Ritz is not as planted or as solid as the Fiat. But the steering is close to what the Siena had. It does not feel artificial and actually has pretty good feedback.

The Ritz is spacious, airy and tall, and I prefer cars that have a tall seating. The Ritz diesel is a little more noisier than the Swift as the engine sits halfway into the cabin. I personally find the clatter too much and always drive with the audio on. I scraped the rear twice when taking narrow turns because it juts out, but that's my fault.

The suspension is remarkably better than the existing swifts and is not as sporty, if that's what it's called. Interiors are good, nothing earth shattering. But I like the fact that it has a lot of glass area and the car feels bright, airy and spacious. I hate the Swift because of it's claustrophobic cabin.

It's got a bad turbo lag, especially in the 2nd gear below 2k rpm. But that'll be the case in the Swift as well, which is also being upped for BS IV. The A/C is very good even in Chennai. I've to run it at 4 for something like 20 minutes before my hand starts going numb and I've to turn it down to 1. And this in a black car.

As for the looks, I liked it, my family liked it and I took the black as I felt that this was the colour in which she looked the best. The cabin feels solid and no rattles so far. But this being a diesel, there'll the that typical diesel rattle when the engine takes off or when you're caught in the wrong rpm band. I do not like the positioning of the power window switches as you've to take your arm far back to operate them. But the rest of the ergonomics are acceptable and no grouses so far.

Service and maintenance are low so far, and I don't anticipate any sweat over the regular service bills.

To sum it up, after negating the common features with the Swift, the Ritz's suspension is a little more family oriented. The interior is far better and peace of mind, the same. But whether you choose the Swift or the Ritz, go for the VDi with ABS. You might consider yourself a very safe driver, nature has a mind of it's own. The extra 50000 will only mean a 1000 Rs increase in your EMI. Don't compromise on safety.

Go for the Ritz.

[clevermax]

From Adventure to Swift/Ritz?

Purely as a driver, you won't be liking the feel in both these cars since you've been using Adventure.

I've driven both the cars but mostly petrol. Felt Ritz suspension is better, and it doesn't give that claustrophobic feel in the rear seats. Ritz is more like a car for a family person and Swift is for younger generation.

Both will be giving good FE to you. My Punto's last 2000 Kms's average FE is 16 Kmpl as per the DIS, but I am not worried - you know how a Fiat feels to drive.

[Jaggu]

Gemi, go with the Ritz then. It will fit your requirements to a T. Handling is NOT that bad compared to Swift, but yes better rear seat comfort wrt space and ride, as well as a decent boot.

[longhorn]

If you are looking for a family hatch its got to be the Ritz, if performance is what you are looking for its Swift all the way. That said the Ritz is a newer vehicle and is better put together than the Swift. Then again, for the Swift you have to wait for around 4-5 months for delivery, while you can get the Ritz almost immediately. Ingress, egress, seating postion, ride comfort are all better in the Ritz. The tall boy design makes it seem larger than it actually is. Since the Ritz is under a year old, the dyes should be are pretty good, unlike the Swift's which would have started deteriorating now that its almost 5 years old. So expect the Ritz to have better fit and finish than the Swift. Resale value for the Swift will be better than Ritz anyday. When you factor in the 30k discount for the Ritz, and the 15 k odd price difference between the two, and the fact that you won't get a single pie off on the Swift, net net things get evened out. My vote goes for the Ritz.

[gemithomas]

Originally Posted by gaddiwale

Confusing!! It's like asking a mother whom she loves most elder one or the younger one! My personal choice is ritz what about you Gemithomas?

Me too inclined towards the Ritz

Originally Posted by tintin82

I had a Fiat Siena before, and I can say that the Ritz is not as planted or as solid as the Fiat. But the steering is close to what the Siena had. It does not feel artificial and actually has pretty good feedback.

The suspension is remarkably better than the existing swifts and is not as sporty, if that's what it's called. Interiors are good, nothing earth shattering. But I like the fact that it has a lot of glass area and the car feels bright, airy and spacious. I hate the Swift because of it's claustrophobic cabin.

To sum it up, after negating the common features with the Swift, the Ritz's suspension is a little more family oriented. The interior is far better and peace of mind, the same. But whether you choose the Swift or the Ritz, go for the VDi with ABS. You might consider yourself a very safe driver, nature has a mind of it's own. The extra 50000 will only mean a 1000 Rs increase in your EMI. Don't compromise on safety.

Go for the Ritz.

Thanks a lot. Good to see a FIAT owner speak about the Ritz.

Originally Posted by clevermax

From Adventure to Swift/Ritz?

Even i am!! But i dont have a choice.

Originally Posted by Jaggu

Gemi, go with the Ritz then. It will fit your requirements to a T. Handling is NOT that bad compared to Swift, but yes better rear seat comfort wrt space and ride, as well as a decent boot.

Thanks Jaggu.

Originally Posted by longhorn

When you factor in the 30k discount for the Ritz, and the 15 k odd price difference between the two, and the fact that you won't get a single pie off on the Swift, net net things get evened out. My vote goes for the Ritz.

I was quoted only 7.5K discount. Also the difference between swift and Ritz is just 10K out here.

[Sheel]

Originally Posted by tintin82

But the steering is close to what the Siena had. It does not feel artificial and actually has pretty good feedback.

I had also heard albeit the same thing difference in the steering feedback between Swift and Ritz in ACI & i believe BSM too,
Are the K series Swift's better and what about Rattles, has MUL looked into it?

As for the looks, I liked it, my family liked it and I took the black as I felt that this was the colour in which she looked the best.

The best color you can buy, Congrats and for the color

whether you choose the Swift or the Ritz, go for the VDi with ABS. You might consider yourself a very safe driver, nature has a mind of it's own. The extra 50000 will only mean a 1000 Rs increase in your EMI. Don't compromise on safety.

Go for the Ritz.

same sentiments echoed here, please opt for ABS option, have been driving the A* ZXi on and off and absolutely swear by it,

^^ 30K is offered as discount for the purchase of Ritz D(any variant), zero offer on Swift and Dzire(all cars by MUL have some offer or the other) at my place

[longhorn]

Originally Posted by gemithomas

I was quoted only 7.5K discount. Also the difference between swift and Ritz is just 10K out here.

Better check out with a few more dealers. In Chennai and Hyd they were offering 30-35K off on 2009 model Ritz(D). Not sure if the same offer is applicable to 2010 models also. But 7.5k seems to be on the lower side considerig that its a diesel version. My brother got 15k off in Hyd on a 2010 Ritz(P). They were offering 25k off for a 2009 model.

[tintin82]

Originally Posted by Sheel

I had also heard albeit the same thing difference in the steering feedback between Swift and Ritz in ACI & i believe BSM too,
Are the K series Swift's better and what about Rattles, has MUL looked into it?

The rattles have been silenced to a large extent. The cabin feels a lot more solid than the Swift. And after installing sound dampeners on the doors, the cabin is a lot more silent now. Just the annoying DDiS clatter I mentioned about.

Originally Posted by Sheel

The best color you can buy, Congrats and for the color

Thanks a lot. I'm still coming to grips with all the maintenance required to keep it clean.

Originally Posted by Sheel

same sentiments echoed here, please opt for ABS option, have been driving the A* ZXi on and off and absolutely swear by it,

Absolutely true.

Originally Posted by Sheel

^^ 30K is offered as discount for the purchase of Ritz D(any variant), zero offer on Swift and Dzire(all cars by MUL have some offer or the other) at my place

There are discounts ranging from 20,000 to 30,000 being offered in Bangalore as well. And as far as I knew, this is an offer from MUL and hence should be applicable in all states.

[tintin82]

Originally Posted by gemithomas

I was quoted only 7.5K discount. Also the difference between swift and Ritz is just 10K out here.

There are discounts ranging from 20,000 being offered in Bangalore, and more if you're exchanging a car. And this is an offer from MUL and not a dealer offer and should be applicable in all states. Please check with other dealers in your area.

I actually bought my car in huff and puff as this offer was supposed to end on Dec 31, 09. But MUL extended it till Feb '10, albeit with a lesser discount.

[greenhorn]

the centre console was a deal breaker for me. I had to drive with the seat pushed all the way back.
At 80~100ish speeds , it should be okay, but still no corner carver like the swift. some body roll will be there

[mahipalc]

Originally Posted by longhorn

Better check out with a few more dealers. In Chennai and Hyd they were offering 30-35K off on 2009 model Ritz(D). Not sure if the same offer is applicable to 2010 models also. But 7.5k seems to be on the lower side considerig that its a diesel version. My brother got 15k off in Hyd on a 2010 Ritz(P). They were offering 25k off for a 2009 model.

I bought in mid-January and got a 23k discount on a Ritz(P) with no exchange.

[Amartya]

I hate to disrupt the chain of well thought out advice given based on your preferences, but I couldn't help but wonder that from the list of things mentioned by you, the Figo diesel would be the best bet.

The only criteria it might not fulfill is the resale value 2-3 years down the line, but that is something we can't really guess right now.

Do think about it, Ford's spare part prices are now ultra competitive as well.

[gemithomas]

Not thinking of a ford since i want to sell the car in 2-3 years time.