[Archisman]

How a Prize car became a prized car

#Longish post alert

After lurking around the forum for a year or so and two failed attempts at membership, the third attempt was succesful just in time for my 40th birthday. I wrote a post in Introductions sub-forum about my past cars and had mentioned about my current car which was won in a prize. Some kind members evinced interest and hence this post.

I have two cars - A 2009 Santro Xing (red) and a 2019 Santro (the prize car in question) and this thread is about the two cars.

I have ran away twice from my license tests at RTO in my younger days, after developing cold feet and nearly ruining my a few family member's cars in the meantime. Cut to 2007 when I was doing my PhD in Mumbai when I finally got my license at a ripe age of 27. Having got a job I finally mustered up courage to buy a car and enter the 2009 Santro Xing. This after test driving a Zen Estillo and Alto. The car became my primary ride and has taken me to Daman, Lonavla, Pune, Alibag and Nasik (15000km in 4 years). Low usage was mostly because I used to work in Mumbai High offshore for 15 days a month. The car has performed wonderfully and the pickup and highway manners is something to die for (a trait still strong after 12 years).

I was transferred to Silchar and thanks to HORRRRRRRRIBLE roads the car racked up 4000Km in 4 years. Me, the missus and young son did a Silchar-Agartala road trip and that was that pretty much it. As the car used to drive very little,I had to once change the entire steering assembly as it had jammed up.

In 2017, I was transferred to Vadodara and brought my Santro Xing with me. The NOC followed nearly a year later but it was a paper NOC and Vadodara RTO could not enter the data and the car pretty much became a dangerous alien in Gujarat. I was on the lookout to buy a new car and had zeroed in on Honda Amaze. Took a test drive and found it nice. It was then I saw a hoarding which informed that on filling up Rs 2000 worth petrol/diesel one could enter a contest of IndianOil-Hyundai and the grand prizes were 5 i20 and 5 Eon cars.

I entered the contest just for fun in September 2018. I forgot all about that but thankfully kept the fuel receipt in my wallet. Suddenly in November 2018, I received a call informing me that I won a Hyundai Eon and they requested my details. Sounded like a scam but gave them my details.

Cutting a long story short, after many months and much to-and-fro between myself, Hyundai and Indian Oil, a new Santro was delivered to me in October 2019 as Eon had been discontinued. I was initially offered the base model of the Santro but politely asked if I can be given the next higher model if I paid the difference from my pocket. This was agreed to and all in all I paid about 45% of the car's on-road value as taxes (includes both Income Tax and RTO) and insurance.

The new car is a white Santro which is parked next to my old red Santro Xing, its namesake but very different car.

The new car has taken me to Ahmedabad multiple times and I have made a few trips to temples in Dakor (Ranchodji) and Kavi (Stambeshwar) for divine blessings and recently to Statue of Unity. It has raked up 6000km in 1.5 years which includes the lockdown period of many months when it never went out of Vadodara.

I have added a touchscreen music system and a rear view camera and put on fabric seat covers. The car thankfully has not given much grief except a few niggles here and there.

I am in a prime position to compare the Santro Xing and the new Santro as I drive them interchangeably every day depending on my mood.


Some view on the 2009 Santro Xing
1. The car has superb pickup and can race away even on open city roads. I love it when I leave behind bigger and more powerful cars at the traffic light. It has remarkable stability at low speed and at very high speeds on Expressways like Mumbai-Pune and Vadodara-Ahmedabad.
2. Even after 12 years, NHV levels are minimum. Most of the time I cant hear the engine noise.
3. The car built is sturdy. There have been two major accidents (both involving other cars plowing into my car breaking traffic rules) and damage has been less. Most other cars would have been really gone.
4. Driver comfort is excellent. The tall boy design is a boon. I literally boss over Balenos, i20s and most sedans. The view beyond the bonnet is very very advantageous in city traffic
5. Not so good fact is that 12 years and a discontinued model means spare parts are sometimes difficult to find and takes a few days to come even in a well connected place like Vadodara. This problem was acute in Silchar.
6. Hyundai service centers may be ubiquitous but costs have gone up steeply atleast for small cars. The car has died right in the middle of the road twice and I had to be towed away and repairs has been costly.
7. I love the tall OVRMs. Best in any class probably

Overall in about 12 years of Santro Xing ownership the good memories are more than bad ones. Only those who have driven the Santro Xing will know why it ruled city streets at one time giving good competition to 800s and Altos.

Some views on the new Santro
1. A very refined car (a very Mr Darcy). Smart, suave and decent looker. A city car if there is a category such.
2. Highway manners are excellent on expressways. Never feel a roll even a high speeds. A trait shared with its older namesake.
3. Pickup, acceleration are not so good. For a city car it can be challenging to drive at times.
4. Lower car means less presence on roads.
5. Noise levels are high especially during early morning starts.
6. Very small rear window and not so tall OVRMs make reversing tricky. Also the older car lets in lots of light.

One interesting thing is that even with notoriously bad traffic manners in Gujarat, every one including larger cars like Balenos, i20s and even Mahindras leave way for the Older Santro which commands respect but these very cars don't even acknowledge the new Santro.

That's all about my Prize car and its predecessor. Two Santros joined only by their name and nothing else.

[GTO]

Man, some guys have all the luck! BHPians have won a Figo, BR-V, EcoSport, drive on an F1 track and lots more!

The only thing I ever won is a Voyager scale model, when Mahindra had a reverse parking challenge with their Voyager van at one of the Great Escapes (I topped that contest ).

[narayan]

Congrats Archie. Enjoy the ride. Didn’t you consider going all the way to the top end model ?

Originally Posted by GTO

Man, some guys have all the luck! BHPians have won a Figo, BR-V, EcoSport, drive on an F1 track and lots more!

The only thing I ever won is a Voyager scale model, when Mahindra had a reverse parking challenge with their Voyager van at one of the Great Escapes (I topped that contest ).

I thought you also went to Michelin Pilot experience. Recall your thread.

[gkveda]

Congratulations on your new prize. You are lucky to get the car prize. Enjoy the new car and have happy mile munching ahead.

But what I cordially appreciate is, the genuineness of IOCL as a company, who announced the car prize and stuck to their commitment. In today's world, Are there really companies who has that integrity of telling what they do and doing what they tell?

Nobody could have identified or cared even if they had not actually given the prize OR if it was given to their "known friends or relatives".

Integrity truly means doing right even when nobody is observing you. IOCL has kept it's integrity with this deed.

Hats off to Indian oil corporation limited for their honesty and integrity.

[TrackDay]

Congrats on winning the prize ! It must be a great feeling to win a car. I have always tried my luck, but so far nothing. I recall HP having some kind of similar raffle draw a few years back for Hyundai Verna I think.

[Nithesh_M]

I know that feeling when I won the Apache RTR 180ABS from a Facebook contest held by TVS. Already owned a CBR250R so had to sell the Apache after 6 months of ownership. Was vibrating worse everywhere after each visit to service.

The Santro in comparison is pretty silent and smooth. Uncle owns one. Just not built for my size.

Congratulations. If nothing you have a new beater car for city errands.

[RedTerrano]

Originally Posted by Archisman

. Suddenly in November 2018, I received a call informing me that I won a Hyundai Eon and they requested my details. Sounded like a scam but gave them my details.

First of all heartiest congratulations!

Secondly I applaud your bravery. Not many would have done it in today's world. Who dares wins.

[dicor]

Congratulation buddy.

I attempted many times but could not sent SMS due to absence of dealer code. The dealer code is not printed on bill. When I enquired the staff about dealer code, they were also not aware of it.

The various tweets and follow-ups with IOCL did not work either.
https://twitter.com/shantanushukla/s...62878595219456

The process states that
SMS, ‘DEALER CODE <space> Bill Number <space> Bill amount’ to 9052155555. Here the Dealer Code is a unique 6 Digit code for IndianOil Petrol Pump, and ‘Bill No.’ is the number of the ‘bill of purchase’ issued by the petrol pump for the purchase of Petrol / Diesel. Only printed bills generated from dispensing units / e-receipts would be considered valid.

Can you please let me know how to find dealer code?

Thanks

[SN88]

Congratulations for your win. More than the item won I am sure it is the thrill of feeling lucky that is most exciting!

I have won NOTHING in my life until now !!

My cousin bought a DVD player and won a flight ticket voucher and I bought a very expensive home theatre system costing approx 2.8 lacs and won 2 caps from the same store in Doha

[kamilharis]

Congrats on your Santro, lucky you!

I have enrolled in 100s of lucky draws (mostly in middle-east, shopping-based draws) which included cars like BMW 7, S Class, Jag,
Rolls-Royce, LR, etc, and even the humble ones from Camry to Sunny, etc. And yes I did not even win a car Key-Chain to be specific.

[ariesonu]

XING was absolute car to its namesake.

In 2005, we wanted second smaller car for wifey in Chandigarh & she chose Maruti 800 over the Xing. I was pretty heart broken but wifey was more comfortable driving M800 as she had been driving same car before our wedding & she was new to Chandigarh traffic.

After few months, when winters set in & M800 allowed the wisps of chilled air to enter the cabin, wifey also realised that Xing would been better cut. On my personal front, the three cars that I regret never owning are, are 2001 Zen, Xing & Wagon-R.

Regards.

[SoumenD]

Wow. Congratulations

People win cars, bikes, gadgets and what not and here I am yet to win even a chocolate in my entire life. Only calls I receive is 'Saar, congratulations you have been selected for our esteemed credit-card/Personal-loan' , which obviously I end up blocking. The never ending exercise everyday

[TM_Turbo]

Congratulations Archisman. Happy to see someone winning a car

[AZT]

Haha great post! I've always wondered if these contests are legit or just advertising. Congrats! Enjoy your lovely car

[condor]

Congrats, Archisman ! Definitely a prized possession !

Like GTO says, some guys do have the luck. I have entered such a competition twice, but no luck. I normally fill the tank, and 2k worth of fuel is normal. But no such things happened.

Originally Posted by GTO

The only thing I ever won is a Voyager scale model, when Mahindra had a reverse parking challenge with their Voyager van at one of the Great Escapes (I topped that contest ).

Says so the man who gets to drive almost all the cars in India