Where are the driver-oriented cars? The Honda Citys, Lancers, Balenos etc.?

GTO · 6th September 2008, 12:53

Does anyone else think that Audi made a mistake by offering the fabulous A4 3.2 FSI ONLY with an Automatic tranny? Call me crazy, but I’d prefer a slick-shifting manual over even the fastest automatic. And a car like the A4 3.2 which is geared toward enthusiasts deserves a slick manual. Heck, it will be cheaper too.

anilkalvani · 31st January 2009, 16:51

Down the years, rarely does an Indian manufactured / assembled car comes that blows your mind away & that you cravingly desired either because of its sheer power, driveability, variant, looks, dynamics, irrespective of it class, segment or sales figures.

Some contenders maybe:
The Contessa Classic
Standard 2000
The First Maruti Zen
The First 106bhp Honda City 1.5 Vtec
The Original Fiat Palio 1.6 100bhp
The Skoda Octavia vRS

Folks could you add up some more machines you craved for and actually bought them?

ImmortalZ · 31st January 2009, 17:15

Honda Civic.

I craved a Skoda Octavia vRS, but it got cut from the company's folio. Then I heard about ridiculous running costs. Then I saw a Civic. And drove it. The rest is, as they say, history.

humyum · 31st January 2009, 17:22

Swift.Have always craved for it since the day it was launched ..!!Glad did not get it then otherwise would have ended up with a petrol one.
Swift Diesel it is.
Wanted a white swift.Got a white swift

Dreams do come true

karanraheja · 31st January 2009, 17:27

My list would be : Honda civic, Previous Gen Accord, OHC , Suzuki Swift , Fiat Palio, Chevy Optra ( 1st model). Somehow really liked the Optra & then came the Civic to spoil the party

.

manikjeet · 31st January 2009, 17:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by anilkalvani

Down the years, rarely does an Indian manufactured / assembled car comes that blows your mind away & that you cravingly desired either because of its sheer power, driveability, variant, looks, dynamics, irrespective of it class, segment or sales figures.

Some contenders maybe:
The Contessa Classic
The First Maruti Zen

these are the two Indian car which have blown me away

the zen for its driveability
i have a 2000 model mpi zen and that car pull from mere 35-40 Km/hr
in 5th gear and the zippyness of the car and ease of parking

like i say

No car is like zen or will ever be.

Contessa Classic 1.8 glx( currently in buying process )

i like the power its produces and the way the cars runs. i can definitely say a well tuned conti can give a OHC run for its money

lynx · 31st January 2009, 18:40

Ford Mondeo. Pity it is not available anymore here. Honda Civic is amazing too.

devarshi84 · 1st February 2009, 03:42

I had once been driven in a Ford Mondeo by Jagat Nanjappa. Oh! boy, did he drive.

from the current gen Fiesta S rocks and Palio could've been miles better than what they manufacture. pity, they dont care.

GTO · 1st February 2009, 20:23

Too bad we lost the RS in recent time. But hey, it's residuals equate to a great drivers car for 7.5 lakhs!

devarshi84 · 2nd February 2009, 00:09

but will the models be in good shape? rich brats who buy it are known to thrash the cars. I have seen OHC vtecs in bad shapes. 1.3 instead are better to buy in comparision.

s_pphilip · 11th August 2009, 23:53

have newer cars filled the void left by the famous four, City 1.5, Ikon 1.6, Petra 1.6, Baleno,

to all true blue drivers, what do you guys think,
Ive never been able to replicate the thrill i experienced when I first drove the city 1.5. Ive never experienced same feelings driving other cars or newer cars, Infact I think the old honda city 1.5 had a mesmerising driver appeal and its same with baleno and Ikon 1.6, they would charm you with power and sharp racy handling. These cars were iconic, I feel, and offered an enchanting experience while driving. I remember powering out of tight turns and barrelling down narrow roads, these cars inspired confidence and gave you goosebumps not out of fear, but out of pleasure. though new cars have become efficient and powerfull, none comes close to the famous four. I sure miss them and its not yet time to bid adieu.
I think new cars are made to meet daily requirements while earlier ones were designed to be unique.

p.s. can some one tell me whether baleno spares are in short supply or not. Thanks.

McLaren Rulez · 12th August 2009, 08:50

Petra? Really? Always knew the Palio 1.6 was a driver's car but the Petra was just one with a boot. Either way, here's how I see it. Today, we have cars like Civics, Octy VRS etc which we never did. We don't have those driver's cars in the lower segments anymore (except the Palio maybe) but we do have better choices in the 10L plus area. And Baleno spares should be easily available since after all, its a Maruti and been discontinued only for a couple of years.

SkyWalker · 12th August 2009, 10:03

void? excuse me - but what void?
There's Fiesta 1.6 under 8L range. If you want to pay a little more there's Civic and the Laura TSI in the sub 20L range.

More than performance or car, i guess what you are thinking about is the romantic notion of the old/nostalgia.

devarshi84 · 12th August 2009, 10:34

and many may not agree, but the cedia sports makes a nice case for itself at 10 lacs. The price point at which OHC vtec and lancer sfxi used to sell previously.

Complete with OZ alloys, Momo steering, Ralliart pedals, spoiler and carbon finished dash.

Below that Fiesta 1.6s and even below the swift are good options.

alpha1 · 12th August 2009, 11:01

Anyone checked out the new Cedia?
Its got a new grill, getting rid off the ridiculous toothy grin grill that it was sporting earlier.

6th September 2008, 12:53	#91
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 70,546 Thanked: 300,788 Times View My Garage	Does anyone else think that Audi made a mistake by offering the fabulous A4 3.2 FSI ONLY with an Automatic tranny? Call me crazy, but I’d prefer a slick-shifting manual over even the fastest automatic. And a car like the A4 3.2 which is geared toward enthusiasts deserves a slick manual. Heck, it will be cheaper too.
	() Thanks

31st January 2009, 16:51	#92
anilkalvani BHPian Join Date: May 2008 Location: Bandra West, Bombay Posts: 633 Thanked: 89 Times	Cars that thrilled us... Down the years, rarely does an Indian manufactured / assembled car comes that blows your mind away & that you cravingly desired either because of its sheer power, driveability, variant, looks, dynamics, irrespective of it class, segment or sales figures. Some contenders maybe: The Contessa Classic Standard 2000 The First Maruti Zen The First 106bhp Honda City 1.5 Vtec The Original Fiat Palio 1.6 100bhp The Skoda Octavia vRS Folks could you add up some more machines you craved for and actually bought them?
	() Thanks

31st January 2009, 17:15	#93
ImmortalZ Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Trivandrum Posts: 2,179 Thanked: 488 Times View My Garage	Honda Civic. I craved a Skoda Octavia vRS, but it got cut from the company's folio. Then I heard about ridiculous running costs. Then I saw a Civic. And drove it. The rest is, as they say, history.
	() Thanks

31st January 2009, 17:22	#94
humyum Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 2,752 Thanked: 5,431 Times	Swift.Have always craved for it since the day it was launched ..!!Glad did not get it then otherwise would have ended up with a petrol one. Swift Diesel it is. Wanted a white swift.Got a white swift Dreams do come true
	() Thanks

31st January 2009, 17:27	#95
karanraheja Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Coimbatore Posts: 1,961 Thanked: 436 Times	My list would be : Honda civic, Previous Gen Accord, OHC , Suzuki Swift , Fiat Palio, Chevy Optra ( 1st model). Somehow really liked the Optra & then came the Civic to spoil the party.
	() Thanks

31st January 2009, 18:40	#97
lynx BHPian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: TN-09 Posts: 164 Thanked: 4 Times	Ford Mondeo. Pity it is not available anymore here. Honda Civic is amazing too.
	() Thanks

1st February 2009, 03:42	#98
devarshi84 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Ahmedabad - Tor Posts: 4,024 Thanked: 211 Times View My Garage	I had once been driven in a Ford Mondeo by Jagat Nanjappa. Oh! boy, did he drive. from the current gen Fiesta S rocks and Palio could've been miles better than what they manufacture. pity, they dont care.
	() Thanks

1st February 2009, 20:23	#99
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 70,546 Thanked: 300,788 Times View My Garage	Too bad we lost the RS in recent time. But hey, it's residuals equate to a great drivers car for 7.5 lakhs!
	() Thanks

2nd February 2009, 00:09	#100
devarshi84 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Ahmedabad - Tor Posts: 4,024 Thanked: 211 Times View My Garage	but will the models be in good shape? rich brats who buy it are known to thrash the cars. I have seen OHC vtecs in bad shapes. 1.3 instead are better to buy in comparision.
	() Thanks

11th August 2009, 23:53	#101
s_pphilip BHPian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Anjuna, Goa Posts: 370 Thanked: 533 Times	have newer cars filled the void left by the famous four, City 1.5, Ikon 1.6, Petra 1 have newer cars filled the void left by the famous four, City 1.5, Ikon 1.6, Petra 1.6, Baleno, to all true blue drivers, what do you guys think, Ive never been able to replicate the thrill i experienced when I first drove the city 1.5. Ive never experienced same feelings driving other cars or newer cars, Infact I think the old honda city 1.5 had a mesmerising driver appeal and its same with baleno and Ikon 1.6, they would charm you with power and sharp racy handling. These cars were iconic, I feel, and offered an enchanting experience while driving. I remember powering out of tight turns and barrelling down narrow roads, these cars inspired confidence and gave you goosebumps not out of fear, but out of pleasure. though new cars have become efficient and powerfull, none comes close to the famous four. I sure miss them and its not yet time to bid adieu. I think new cars are made to meet daily requirements while earlier ones were designed to be unique. p.s. can some one tell me whether baleno spares are in short supply or not. Thanks.
	() Thanks

12th August 2009, 08:50	#102
McLaren Rulez Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Mysore Posts: 3,390 Thanked: 5,107 Times	Petra? Really? Always knew the Palio 1.6 was a driver's car but the Petra was just one with a boot. Either way, here's how I see it. Today, we have cars like Civics, Octy VRS etc which we never did. We don't have those driver's cars in the lower segments anymore (except the Palio maybe) but we do have better choices in the 10L plus area. And Baleno spares should be easily available since after all, its a Maruti and been discontinued only for a couple of years.
	() Thanks

12th August 2009, 10:03	#103
SkyWalker Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,531 Thanked: 136 Times	void? excuse me - but what void? There's Fiesta 1.6 under 8L range. If you want to pay a little more there's Civic and the Laura TSI in the sub 20L range. More than performance or car, i guess what you are thinking about is the romantic notion of the old/nostalgia.
	() Thanks

12th August 2009, 10:34	#104
devarshi84 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Ahmedabad - Tor Posts: 4,024 Thanked: 211 Times View My Garage	and many may not agree, but the cedia sports makes a nice case for itself at 10 lacs. The price point at which OHC vtec and lancer sfxi used to sell previously. Complete with OZ alloys, Momo steering, Ralliart pedals, spoiler and carbon finished dash. Below that Fiesta 1.6s and even below the swift are good options.
	() Thanks

12th August 2009, 11:01	#105
alpha1 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: LandOfNoWinters Posts: 2,095 Thanked: 2,605 Times	Anyone checked out the new Cedia? Its got a new grill, getting rid off the ridiculous toothy grin grill that it was sporting earlier.
	() Thanks