Padmini VS Amby VS NE118 VS Armada

mrwalker · 11th December 2009, 11:04

Can I say 'None of the above' and go back 2 decades for a Contessa Classic?

anupam00 · 11th December 2009, 11:06

I like to go with Amby

driving_smartly · 11th December 2009, 11:07

For me its 118 Ne. Still have it, learnt driving on it spacious seats at rear end and good visibility at front

Lucas_2007 · 11th December 2009, 11:17

I'll go for 118NE first then Padmini. NE because better brakes,silky smooth engine and gearbox much better than todays OMNI and 800. Space is adequate for 5 people and luggage.
Padmini has it's own charm, steering response is better than amby, car is parkable almost anywhere, good for narrow lanes where NE and Amby stops. Lesser maintenance cost compared to NE and Amby.
Amby is a no no because of its huge size and "invisible back" from driving seat. Steering position is not comfortable. However the car wins in space.
I don't think Armada is comparable with the above three. It really needs much more attention than the above three. You can still drive a 30 years old Padmini but after 30 years an Armada??

ganesh_evo75 · 11th December 2009, 11:36

I'll go for Padmini, cause its Fiat.
that time the only option for enthu's like us, so beautiful.
the free flow exhaust note of its can still be remembered.
Wow !!!!!

MileCruncher · 11th December 2009, 11:48

I would choose the Armada. Reason being brought up on MM540DP, Aramada would have been a step up in luxury, what with awesome A/C, power steering and rugged suspension to combat the indian roads.

Ramsagar · 11th December 2009, 12:42

Padmini looks cute for me. Love the front & rear profile. But hate the dash.

SaneOp · 11th December 2009, 12:50

I vote for Premier Padmini, bought a new one in 1995 and kept it till 2005, till its engine gave away and drove it around 125K I guess. We had owned many amby before this one but this was special as I learnt driving on this was cuter than Amby. I remember in rally before esteem hit the scene modified fiats were doing the round. Basically had a quickness in it.

We had bought a floor gear one, which dealer said was from 118 NE, don't know if that was true but it was a great to drive. thing that I din like were, leaking roof, rusty floor. All said and done simply loved it and was difficult to part away with this one.

aaggoswami · 11th December 2009, 15:09

Voted for 118NE.
The ride quality was really good, rear seat space was also above average. The gearbox was from Nissan ( dont remember model number ) and was direct shift gearbox. The only others car avaiable with direct shift gearbox was Gypsy ( and another car name of which I dont remember ). G1HC was the car that took the crown of best gearbox from this car.

Earlier I loved other cars, but afterwards I read a lot about this car and remembered that ride was best here of all the three cars mentioned here. My father's friend had one and recently was scrapped for less that Rs. 10K. It was fully rusted.

himanshugoswami · 11th December 2009, 15:21

118 NE for me....a decade and a half back, this car was seen as an exec car, amazing gearbox and pretty peppy (relatively speaking) performance. Of course, never take it to a car wash as you may not return with the car in one piece - notorious rusting problem

Autonorm · 11th December 2009, 15:28

118 NE for me. We owned this car for a good 15 years before selling it recentely for a new car. I grew up with this car, learnt driving in this car. The car was super comfortable and had a really slick gearbox. Had loads of space and me being 6' 1" now can still sit with my legs fully stretched (of course I have to push the seat all the way back). Not many of the cars can match the space it provided.

Fortunately enough we never had any problems with rusting till the car was with us. Ok the paint job was not the greatest but okish for that time.

View Poll Results: Padmini VS Amby VS NE118 VS Armada - I have gone crazy!!!
Premier Padmini	21	28.77%
Hindustan Ambassador	24	32.88%
Premier NE 118	17	23.29%
Mahindra Armada	11	15.07%
Voters: 73. You may not vote on this poll

11th December 2009, 11:04	#31
mrwalker BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Pune Posts: 184 Thanked: 12 Times	Can I say 'None of the above' and go back 2 decades for a Contessa Classic?
	() Thanks

11th December 2009, 11:06	#32
anupam00 BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: NOIDA Posts: 218 Thanked: 425 Times	I like to go with Amby
	() Thanks

11th December 2009, 11:07	#33
driving_smartly BHPian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: MH43 & MH14 Posts: 518 Thanked: 305 Times View My Garage	For me its 118 Ne. Still have it, learnt driving on it spacious seats at rear end and good visibility at front
	() Thanks

11th December 2009, 11:17	#34
Lucas_2007 BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: GUWAHATI Posts: 67 Thanked: 12 Times	I'll go for 118NE first then Padmini. NE because better brakes,silky smooth engine and gearbox much better than todays OMNI and 800. Space is adequate for 5 people and luggage. Padmini has it's own charm, steering response is better than amby, car is parkable almost anywhere, good for narrow lanes where NE and Amby stops. Lesser maintenance cost compared to NE and Amby. Amby is a no no because of its huge size and "invisible back" from driving seat. Steering position is not comfortable. However the car wins in space. I don't think Armada is comparable with the above three. It really needs much more attention than the above three. You can still drive a 30 years old Padmini but after 30 years an Armada??
	() Thanks

11th December 2009, 11:36	#35
ganesh_evo75 BHPian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Aurangabad (maharashtra) Posts: 80 Thanked: 7 Times	I'll go for Padmini, cause its Fiat. that time the only option for enthu's like us, so beautiful. the free flow exhaust note of its can still be remembered. Wow !!!!!
	() Thanks

11th December 2009, 11:48	#36
MileCruncher Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: MH01 Posts: 4,235 Thanked: 592 Times View My Garage	I would choose the Armada. Reason being brought up on MM540DP, Aramada would have been a step up in luxury, what with awesome A/C, power steering and rugged suspension to combat the indian roads.
	() Thanks

11th December 2009, 12:42	#37
Ramsagar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: BLR_Nellore(AP) Posts: 1,396 Thanked: 252 Times View My Garage	Padmini looks cute for me. Love the front & rear profile. But hate the dash.
	() Thanks

11th December 2009, 12:50	#38
SaneOp BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Delhi Posts: 67 Thanked: 16 Times	I vote for Premier Padmini, bought a new one in 1995 and kept it till 2005, till its engine gave away and drove it around 125K I guess. We had owned many amby before this one but this was special as I learnt driving on this was cuter than Amby. I remember in rally before esteem hit the scene modified fiats were doing the round. Basically had a quickness in it. We had bought a floor gear one, which dealer said was from 118 NE, don't know if that was true but it was a great to drive. thing that I din like were, leaking roof, rusty floor. All said and done simply loved it and was difficult to part away with this one.
	() Thanks

11th December 2009, 15:09	#39
aaggoswami Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Vadodara Posts: 4,982 Thanked: 2,931 Times	Voted for 118NE. The ride quality was really good, rear seat space was also above average. The gearbox was from Nissan ( dont remember model number ) and was direct shift gearbox. The only others car avaiable with direct shift gearbox was Gypsy ( and another car name of which I dont remember ). G1HC was the car that took the crown of best gearbox from this car. Earlier I loved other cars, but afterwards I read a lot about this car and remembered that ride was best here of all the three cars mentioned here. My father's friend had one and recently was scrapped for less that Rs. 10K. It was fully rusted.
	() Thanks

11th December 2009, 15:21	#40
himanshugoswami Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: !!!! Posts: 2,303 Thanked: 2,619 Times	118 NE for me....a decade and a half back, this car was seen as an exec car, amazing gearbox and pretty peppy (relatively speaking) performance. Of course, never take it to a car wash as you may not return with the car in one piece - notorious rusting problem
	() Thanks

11th December 2009, 15:28	#41
Autonorm BHPian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Chandigarh Posts: 83 Thanked: 8 Times	118 NE for me. We owned this car for a good 15 years before selling it recentely for a new car. I grew up with this car, learnt driving in this car. The car was super comfortable and had a really slick gearbox. Had loads of space and me being 6' 1" now can still sit with my legs fully stretched (of course I have to push the seat all the way back). Not many of the cars can match the space it provided. Fortunately enough we never had any problems with rusting till the car was with us. Ok the paint job was not the greatest but okish for that time.
	() Thanks