A Nostalgic poll : Premier Padmini or Hindustan Ambassador. Which would you choose?

dZired · 5th July 2012, 12:44

Premier padmini anyday. Our first car on which I came home from the hospital after birth. Served the family for 20years. The revv happy engine and amazing stability and a slightly sleek look as compared to the ambassador makes it a more deserving package between the two.

girishglg · 6th November 2012, 12:52

Just say a grand old Amby yesterday being driven to work by a fairly young chap. Seemed like yesteryears where people used to take either of these to work on a regular basis.

Nowadays it is a very rare sight to see it put to daily use and even the taxi trade has reduced the dependencies on the Amby by a great extent. But after yesterday's sighting longed to acquire an grand old Amby all over again!

mkpiyengar · 6th November 2012, 13:03

Voted for the Amby, Big car, comfort re-defined. It was literally sofa on wheels.
Remember once went over speed breaker without slowing down and just felt a minor bump. Same speed breaker in the Premier taxi used to throw you up in the seat if you don't slow down.

However, Amby always brings back my childhood memory, sometime in the 80's when we drove from Mumbai to Dombivli and the car broke down near Mumbra during return due to over heating... Steam bellowing all over from bonnet... Was very scared then !!

With the Premier, I learnt driving on it...So once you drive these 2 cars, all other cars don't seem to be challenge any more.

Cheers
MKP

sourabhzen · 6th November 2012, 13:09

Amby for the over all comfort, particularly rear seat. Padmini for its size and driving pleasure.

lordofgondor · 6th November 2012, 15:38

Though I learnt driving with a 118NE, I'd give my vote to Amby for providing the sheer nostalgia of the pleasures we used to have in a friend's Mark II. The space & comfort of both the seats was awesome and pretty useful. Also it used to be hilarious seeing the one driving negotiate with the steering wheel.

girishglg · 25th June 2013, 20:22

The Padmini is surely extincly however with the petrol Amby back in the reconing finally with a BS4 compliant motor, it is to say the least this age old beast has a thing about resurrecting itself albelit in a snail pace.

This should get it back selling in major metros and is flanked by CNG and LPG versions as well though not sure what type of customers would go for it even now.

Source - http://www.hmambassador.com/tech-specs-1.8-petrol.asp

saket77 · 25th June 2013, 22:14

Amby for the unmatched ride quality. Rest all, its the Padmini. I voted for Padmini. Loved the engine roar of my 1100D. Learnt driving @11 on this car. It was ultra stable, better handler than amby, better brakes, better FE, good looks and good pickup too.
Though the entire experience of ownership cannot be termed as trouble-free but then it was an old car, but with amazing features and driveability in that era. PAL could have done better than letting it die a slow death. Hated this.

ku69rd · 25th June 2013, 22:22

Without doubt it is Premier Padmini the exhaust note was simply amazing

Learnt to drive in my 11th in my Dad's car, good ol days with no power steering. Believe it was a 1987 model, unfortunately it was sold off to a family friend.

9thsphinx · 26th June 2013, 09:15

Owned both together at one point in time. The Padmini was one of the finer cars with a very rev-happy petrol engine in those times. The Ambassador was a hulk. The seats were larger than life and everything felt tank-solid. If given a choice, i'd resurrect both for what emotional value they had 3 decades ago!

bhpindian · 9th July 2013, 22:33

Hindustan Ambassador has been adjudged as the BEST TAXI IN THE WORLD by BBC Top gear tv show.
It defeated New york Yellow cab, London cab, South African van cab, Mexican Beetle cab and Russian Limousine cab.

RoadTrippin · 10th July 2013, 23:46

I will say this at the risk of sounding crazy but i absolutely love the design of the amby. If they took the interiors and everything under the hood from a top notch car and fitted it into the amby's body, then i'd be queueing up to book one. Right away.

Biraj · 11th July 2013, 00:44

Definitely Premier Padmini. My dad's first car. The car I learnt driving in and its engine was part of my course work during 1st sem of Engineering.

I still remember the experience of driving that car, the stiff gears but precise steering. We also had an amby that was used for travelling from Delhi to Dad's site in Tehri (during the construction of dam). Padmini used to be our city car and Amby the highway car.

VaahanYogi · 11th July 2013, 00:51

My vote goes to Premier Padmini - the first car I drove when I was 9. With visibility a challenge, I managed to drive it in my locality only. Felt gear-shift was hard in Amby when compared to Padmini. Would still love to own a Padmini

nakedflame · 13th February 2017, 14:41

Hi guys, I am planning to purchase either an Ambassador or premier Padmini (for my own personal reasons) as a secondary car in Bangalore.

I want info from past/current owners preferably but not necessarily on the following:
Which model of each vehicle would be preferable to buy?
Petrol/diesel considering limited usage?
Some clarity on various Isuzu engines used in ambassadors and which is best?
Which would be easier to maintain?
Best mechanic in Bangalore to take care of these vehicles

Thanks in advance.

gkveda · 13th February 2017, 17:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by nakedflame

Hi guys, I am planning to purchase either an Ambassador or premier Padmini (for my own personal reasons) as a secondary car in Bangalore.

I want info from past/current owners preferably but not necessarily on the following:
Which model of each vehicle would be preferable to buy?
Petrol/diesel considering limited usage?
Some clarity on various Isuzu engines used in ambassadors and which is best?
Which would be easier to maintain?
Best mechanic in Bangalore to take care of these vehicles

Thanks in advance.

The answer depends on what is the requirement that you have in mind and what are the requirements that you can compromise on. Decision may not be accurate without knowing the requirements.

However, Value add from my side is, Given that both these cars are going to be considered Antique in near future, some additional important parameters to be considered when you are planning to purchase any of these two cars are:

1. Availability of Spares
2. Repair-ability of the car
3. Availability of Mechanic in your vicinity
4. How many more kms the car under consideration can run in addition to the distance it has already covered?

View Poll Results: Padmini or Ambassador which would you choose?
Premier Padmini	300	55.56%
Hindustan Ambassador	240	44.44%
Voters: 540. You may not vote on this poll

5th July 2012, 12:44	#196
dZired Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 1,861 Thanked: 7,960 Times View My Garage	Re: A Nostalgic poll : Premier Padmini or Hindustan Ambassador. Which would you choos Premier padmini anyday. Our first car on which I came home from the hospital after birth. Served the family for 20years. The revv happy engine and amazing stability and a slightly sleek look as compared to the ambassador makes it a more deserving package between the two.
	() Thanks

6th November 2012, 12:52	#197
girishglg Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: KA-05 Posts: 1,164 Thanked: 558 Times View My Garage	Re: A Nostalgic poll : Premier Padmini or Hindustan Ambassador. Which would you choos Just say a grand old Amby yesterday being driven to work by a fairly young chap. Seemed like yesteryears where people used to take either of these to work on a regular basis. Nowadays it is a very rare sight to see it put to daily use and even the taxi trade has reduced the dependencies on the Amby by a great extent. But after yesterday's sighting longed to acquire an grand old Amby all over again!
	() Thanks

6th November 2012, 13:03	#198
mkpiyengar BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bombay Posts: 331 Thanked: 143 Times	Re: A Nostalgic poll : Premier Padmini or Hindustan Ambassador. Which would you choos Voted for the Amby, Big car, comfort re-defined. It was literally sofa on wheels. Remember once went over speed breaker without slowing down and just felt a minor bump. Same speed breaker in the Premier taxi used to throw you up in the seat if you don't slow down. However, Amby always brings back my childhood memory, sometime in the 80's when we drove from Mumbai to Dombivli and the car broke down near Mumbra during return due to over heating... Steam bellowing all over from bonnet... Was very scared then !! With the Premier, I learnt driving on it...So once you drive these 2 cars, all other cars don't seem to be challenge any more. Cheers MKP
	() Thanks

6th November 2012, 13:09	#199
sourabhzen Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: GURGAON Posts: 1,591 Thanked: 1,401 Times View My Garage	Re: A Nostalgic poll : Premier Padmini or Hindustan Ambassador. Which would you choos Amby for the over all comfort, particularly rear seat. Padmini for its size and driving pleasure.
	() Thanks

6th November 2012, 15:38	#200
lordofgondor BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: UP 16 Posts: 936 Thanked: 159 Times	Re: A Nostalgic poll : Premier Padmini or Hindustan Ambassador. Which would you choos Though I learnt driving with a 118NE, I'd give my vote to Amby for providing the sheer nostalgia of the pleasures we used to have in a friend's Mark II. The space & comfort of both the seats was awesome and pretty useful. Also it used to be hilarious seeing the one driving negotiate with the steering wheel.
	() Thanks

25th June 2013, 20:22	#201
girishglg Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: KA-05 Posts: 1,164 Thanked: 558 Times View My Garage	Re: A Nostalgic poll : Premier Padmini or Hindustan Ambassador. Which would you choos The Padmini is surely extincly however with the petrol Amby back in the reconing finally with a BS4 compliant motor, it is to say the least this age old beast has a thing about resurrecting itself albelit in a snail pace. This should get it back selling in major metros and is flanked by CNG and LPG versions as well though not sure what type of customers would go for it even now. Source - http://www.hmambassador.com/tech-specs-1.8-petrol.asp
	() Thanks

25th June 2013, 22:14	#202
saket77 Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Ranchi Posts: 4,396 Thanked: 12,025 Times	Re: A Nostalgic poll : Premier Padmini or Hindustan Ambassador. Which would you choos Amby for the unmatched ride quality. Rest all, its the Padmini. I voted for Padmini. Loved the engine roar of my 1100D. Learnt driving @11 on this car. It was ultra stable, better handler than amby, better brakes, better FE, good looks and good pickup too. Though the entire experience of ownership cannot be termed as trouble-free but then it was an old car, but with amazing features and driveability in that era. PAL could have done better than letting it die a slow death. Hated this.
	() Thanks

25th June 2013, 22:22	#203
ku69rd Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2,510 Thanked: 1,779 Times View My Garage	Re: A Nostalgic poll : Premier Padmini or Hindustan Ambassador. Which would you choos Without doubt it is Premier Padmini the exhaust note was simply amazing Learnt to drive in my 11th in my Dad's car, good ol days with no power steering. Believe it was a 1987 model, unfortunately it was sold off to a family friend.
	() Thanks

26th June 2013, 09:15	#204
9thsphinx Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ahmedabad Posts: 1,118 Thanked: 542 Times View My Garage	Re: A Nostalgic poll : Premier Padmini or Hindustan Ambassador. Which would you choos Owned both together at one point in time. The Padmini was one of the finer cars with a very rev-happy petrol engine in those times. The Ambassador was a hulk. The seats were larger than life and everything felt tank-solid. If given a choice, i'd resurrect both for what emotional value they had 3 decades ago!
	() Thanks

9th July 2013, 22:33	#205
bhpindian BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sangli Posts: 68 Thanked: 166 Times	Re: A Nostalgic poll : Premier Padmini or Hindustan Ambassador. Which would you choos Hindustan Ambassador has been adjudged as the BEST TAXI IN THE WORLD by BBC Top gear tv show. It defeated New york Yellow cab, London cab, South African van cab, Mexican Beetle cab and Russian Limousine cab.
	(1) Thanks

10th July 2013, 23:46	#206
RoadTrippin BHPian Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Chennai Posts: 184 Thanked: 392 Times	Re: A Nostalgic poll : Premier Padmini or Hindustan Ambassador. Which would you choos I will say this at the risk of sounding crazy but i absolutely love the design of the amby. If they took the interiors and everything under the hood from a top notch car and fitted it into the amby's body, then i'd be queueing up to book one. Right away.
	() Thanks

11th July 2013, 00:44	#207
Biraj BHPian Join Date: May 2011 Location: NCR Posts: 690 Thanked: 2,252 Times	Re: A Nostalgic poll : Premier Padmini or Hindustan Ambassador. Which would you choos Definitely Premier Padmini. My dad's first car. The car I learnt driving in and its engine was part of my course work during 1st sem of Engineering. I still remember the experience of driving that car, the stiff gears but precise steering. We also had an amby that was used for travelling from Delhi to Dad's site in Tehri (during the construction of dam). Padmini used to be our city car and Amby the highway car.
	() Thanks

11th July 2013, 00:51	#208
VaahanYogi BHPian Join Date: May 2011 Location: Bangalore Posts: 61 Thanked: 35 Times	Re: A Nostalgic poll : Premier Padmini or Hindustan Ambassador. Which would you choos My vote goes to Premier Padmini - the first car I drove when I was 9. With visibility a challenge, I managed to drive it in my locality only. Felt gear-shift was hard in Amby when compared to Padmini. Would still love to own a Padmini
	() Thanks

13th February 2017, 14:41	#209
nakedflame Newbie Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Manipal/Bahrain Posts: 24 Thanked: 0 Times	Ambassador vs Padmini Hi guys, I am planning to purchase either an Ambassador or premier Padmini (for my own personal reasons) as a secondary car in Bangalore. I want info from past/current owners preferably but not necessarily on the following: Which model of each vehicle would be preferable to buy? Petrol/diesel considering limited usage? Some clarity on various Isuzu engines used in ambassadors and which is best? Which would be easier to maintain? Best mechanic in Bangalore to take care of these vehicles Thanks in advance.
	() Thanks