[adimicra]

Originally Posted by kiku007

This isn't a Amaze Vs Aspire discussion. It started when a post wanted the Aspire to be priced significantly lesser or speced higher than an Amaze. All I'm saying is, Honda has stooped to a new low with the Amaze and I really don't want Ford to be going any further down for the sake of sales.

Well, I didn't want to continue
But, I believe, I should clarify. I have never said that I want Ford to lower the quality levels of the Aspire compared to Amaze. Never. Period.

All I said was that they need to price it lower than Dzire/Amaze to be successful in the market and I stand by what I said. Of course, pricing is not the only factor for it's success. There are other factors in play but it is a very key factor nonetheless.

Tata has priced the Zest lower with much better quality levels and so I feel that Ford can do it as well. The Zest didn't set the sales charts on fire but that's a separate topic. They did it with the Ecosport (at least during the initial launch phase) and with the Figo and they need to do it for the Aspire as well to be successful.

Also, while we are talking about the interior quality or build quality, other factors like the engine/performance/reliability/A.S.S are equally important as well. If you take the Figo as an example, the petrol engine was the worst in the segment by a fair margin and the diesel was just about average to put it mildly. I hope they offer much better engines in the Aspire.

[kiku007]

You don't have to say the Figo's 1.2L Petrol was average, it was bad There was no usable power anywhere in the rev range. The Aspire's 1.2L is going to be re-worked engine based on this. Not much hope.

Wrt the diesel, in what state of tune is the 1.5L diesel going to come? The Fiesta/Ecosport 1.5L Diesel engine is extremely frugal but nowhere as powerful as say a Vento

[pratyush6]

Pretty interesting thread going on.

I for one, own a Figo and an Amaze. Not to make this a Aspire Vs. Amaze debate anymore, but I will choose the Ford any day over Amaze.

Someone asked who will care about the Airbags?
Well, the 6 Airbags is surely something that gets my attention and that Ford is serious about safety - which to me is paramount. If it is priced anywhere around the Amaze, I will look to buy it. Only catch is they do not go greedy as they went with Ecosoprt.

A Ford will typically fit into a bracket of a decent looking and great handling car, with not so good FE and comfort. If they could only make it more comfortable, to me then there is no complaints.

P.S. I really like the way it looks for a sub 4m car.

[jayded]

I read somewhere on the thread that the 1.5 diesel might be detuned to 75 odd HP. The 90bhp being already used in the Ecosport and the Fiesta, may not be used in the Aspire, being in a segment below them. I sincerely hope we get the 90bhp diesel in both the Aspire and the next generation Figo. It's a crime to have a chassis like the Figo and not power it adequately.

[tharian]

Originally Posted by kiku007

You don't have to say the Figo's 1.2L Petrol was average, it was bad There was no usable power anywhere in the rev range. The Aspire's 1.2L is going to be re-worked engine based on this. Not much hope.

He actually said it was the worst in the segment.

Yes, it is low down on power in the segment, but I thought the Punto was the worst with a lower output on paper and is heavier than the Figo? Anyway that is off topic.

I wouldn't go to the extent of saying it has NO usable power anywhere in the rev range. I am living with one since 5 years and yes mine is worked on which makes a bit more free than the stock engine and yes, I have felt the lack of power , but that is when the engine is on load.
When I am driving alone , in city or highway, I never thought I bought the wrong car.
Call me a Ford fanboy, but I wouldn't de-grade the engine a lot. After all it is based off the 1.6 duratec and is a DOHC , so there should be some usable power hidden somewhere

One big question I always had to Ford was, why couldn't they get atleast 75bhp back then instead of including VVT technology now and get the 75bhp which is again under-powered for the present times.

[ramzsys]

Originally Posted by jayded

I read somewhere on the thread that the 1.5 diesel might be detuned to 75 odd HP..

That speculation arouse because the UK fiesta uses the same diesel engine, generating 75 hp(But that is because of the DPF).

However there's no use taking these engines above 3000 rpm, so 75 or 90, numbers doesn't matter. Maybe the lower power will ensure better torque spread down than at 2k rpm.

[harry10]

Looks are purely subjective. I feel Amaze has the best exterior in its segment (I am hoping Aspire can beat it in this) and pathetic interior. However, the factor which works for Amaze is the Honda reliability and they have the best engines in both petrol and Diesel. If Honda can give a face-lift with better interiors it will again start doing 5k-7k sales. But, their sole concentration right now is on Jazz so don't see that happening in near future.

Coming back to Aspire I am eagerly awaiting it. We have to change my father's Manza by end of year. His heart is set on Zest but if Aspire is priced sensibly I would be in favor of that. Having driven my cousins Fiesta many times I am a fan of its handling and don't see Aspire disappointing in that department. Now don't be greedy Ford and launch it with acceptable pricing.

[itsashishsharma]

Originally Posted by harry10

Looks are purely subjective. I feel Amaze has the best exterior in its segment (I am hoping Aspire can beat it in this) and pathetic interior. However, the factor which works for Amaze is the Honda reliability and they have the best engines in both petrol and Diesel. If Honda can give a face-lift with better interiors it will again start doing 5k-7k sales. But, their sole concentration right now is on Jazz so don't see that happening in near future.

Coming back to Aspire I am eagerly awaiting it. We have to change my father's Manza by end of year. His heart is set on Zest but if Aspire is priced sensibly I would be in favor of that. Having driven my cousins Fiesta many times I am a fan of its handling and don't see Aspire disappointing in that department. Now don't be greedy Ford and launch it with acceptable pricing.

I agree with you on most of the points, except that the Zest and the Xcent looks better than the Amaze in exteriors. There is no doubt about Amaze's interiors being pathetic. Also, I believe that if it is a diesel, Amaze's NVHs are just too high, especially comparing it with Zest's VGT 90hp Multijet.
I also bought the Zest diesel for my father and if you ask me, it is the best bet in the CS segment. The Aspire might just beat that given better handling being trademark for all Fords.
On another, unrelated note, I think that we, the bhpians should not worry much about how much sales any car makes, we should discuss about the car as a product and other related things like the After Sales Service and the Brand perception etc, nothing bad in it but our focus should stay on merits and demerits of the car rather than how much money it would make for the company. The Aspire can well be the next best CS in dieasel especially, and if it sells at 3-4k per month, I will call it a success for Ford and won't hesitate to say that it would be a good buy in long term.

[ramzsys]

Today's 'the hindu' carries a full page ad for the Honda Amaze, highlighting 10 reasons that will make you want to own it. And a 'customised offer' when the customer visits the dealership(before 30th june).

Feeling the heat of the Aspire's mall shows?

by the way i don't work for Honda. In fact i hate the so-called Amaze.

[swiftdiesel]

Just a quick question: will the Aspire come with the 1.0L Ecoboost engine?

[harry10]

Originally Posted by itsashishsharma

I agree with you on most of the points, except that the Zest and the Xcent looks better than the Amaze in exteriors. There is no doubt about Amaze's interiors being pathetic. Also, I believe that if it is a diesel, Amaze's NVHs are just too high, especially comparing it with Zest's VGT 90hp Multijet.
I also bought the Zest diesel for my father and if you ask me, it is the best bet in the CS segment. The Aspire might just beat that given better handling being trademark for all Fords.
On another, unrelated note, I think that we, the bhpians should not worry much about how much sales any car makes, we should discuss about the car as a product and other related things like the After Sales Service and the Brand perception etc, nothing bad in it but our focus should stay on merits and demerits of the car rather than how much money it would make for the company. The Aspire can well be the next best CS in dieasel especially, and if it sells at 3-4k per month, I will call it a success for Ford and won't hesitate to say that it would be a good buy in long term.

Like I said, looks are subjective. I loved the exterior of Zest when I first saw it in the mall. Couldn't believe it's a Tata product. Xcent doesn't excite me by its looks but along with its features it's a good package.

I agree wholeheartedly with you. We bhpians should not be bothered by how much which car sells. Between us and general public the difference is our knowledge of a product and judging it entirely on its merit rather than brand perception.

My current concerns about Aspire -
1. Will Ford launch it at a reasonable price and will they sustain it or go the ecosport way of being greedy?

2. Can they handle the demand? How much is their production capacity? I don't want a waiting period of more than a year like it happened with Ecosport.

3. Handling is covered but what about the engine power. Specially the petrol in which I am Interested. If it's under power the deal won't make sense to me. Otherwise I may have to look at diesel which again is a Question Mark of being under powered.

4. The A.S.S and cost of spare parts. After dealing with Tata for a decade we are well versed with average customer service ( though they had improved a lot in last couple of years). But, we want a hassle free ownership like everyone else. I guess current owners of Ford can shed more light on this.

If Ford can address these concerns in a positive manner I am highly inclined towards Aspire.

[tjacob]

Originally Posted by swiftdiesel

Just a quick question: will the Aspire come with the 1.0L Ecoboost engine?

As of now, no it won't come with the Ecoboost engine, it was confirmed by a Ford executive during the Aspire's launch. He said it would work out to be too expensive.

[Sankar]

Originally Posted by utsav1303

The update on website confirms 1.5L Diesel and 1.2L Gasoline.

http://touch.india.ford.com/cars/fig...odule-features

Both images given are of the Petrol engine
Who are they fooling? Ford knows that the general public won't be able to distinguish between the image of their Diesel engine and their Petrol engine. Why not give the image of the actual 1.5 TDCI motor than show the picture of a Petrol motor and label it as Diesel 1.5 TDCI?

[jayded]

Originally Posted by Sankar

Both images given are of the Petrol engine
Who are they fooling? Ford knows that the general public won't be able to distinguish between the image of their Diesel engine and their Petrol engine. Why not give the image of the actual 1.5 TDCI motor than show the picture of a Petrol motor and label it as Diesel 1.5 TDCI?

When i checked the site, the pictures mysteriously swapped



Just for understanding purposes, how do you say if an engine is Diesel or Petrol?

[ramzsys]

Originally Posted by jayded

When i checked the site, the pictures mysteriously swapped

no. That is still not the diesel motor.

I tell it by the air intake hoses.