Team-BHP - Did Baleno really beat V-Tec?

Hi Guys,

I read that baleno ruled the INRC-2004 on baleno website....But I came across this article in 'overdrive' on the net

http://www.overdriveindia.com/art_dt...ports&code=145

An extract from that article...

...Poor reliability was always the Baleno’s Achilles heel with problems ranging from sheared wheel rims, broken lower arms, sheared second gear cog and the like seeing it retire from its first five rallies...

So if this is true, then Baleno won the INRC only after V-Tec stopped competing?

And the "poor reliability" problems with Baleno, what happened to that, did they just change the cars for the purpose of rally to be more reliable or all the balenos in the market made after 2004 were improved?

But with Honda launching the Vtec again this 2006, may be both Baleno and Vtec would be able to compete together and hope there is a good contest on cards.

I certainly do remember another thread on this topic on tbhp ..

The baleno did have its share of problems at INRCs .. The major one being shearing rims , broken lower arms .. I think they got down to rectifying them ..

Quote:

Originally Posted by venkatrx

But with Honda launching the Vtec again this 2006, may be both Baleno and Vtec would be able to compete together and hope there is a good contest on cards.

That would be interesting - though the NHC vtec might need some fine-tuning to make it ready for a rally-run - like much bigger tyres for a start.

Also, the Fiesta might give them both a run for their money ...

Guys,

I dont have much idea about rally cars.

Any idea how much are these cars [say 'baleno vxi' or 'Honda City Vtec']available in market would have been modified before they participate in rally.

I probably wont mind a particular car being fast or slow, but what really matters for car-buyers is what kind of troubles [like sheared rim, broken gear box, suspension] a particular car faced during the rally assuming that these were the standard equipment.