[cryptarchy]

I do not have any strong opinion but can I say that I am enjoying this thread. (Takes out popcorn)

[Kosfactor]

Diesel is the best way to move an automobile across the surface of this earth.

[ryzen7@5800u]

My two pence:
1- The hue and cry made over "showroom experience" is unwanted.
2- Tech like ADAS is irrelevant in the Indian scenario.
3- People crying about crossovers being called SUVs are elitists.

[JVH]

• Authorized service stations are over-rated. I get better results with FNGs. Of course, this is for out of warranty vehicles
• Not sure what’s the big deal about Maruti A.S.S. Both our car ownerships in the 2000s – Zen and Swift were not at all trouble free
• FIAT and FORD made the best driver friendly budget cars catering to the majority.
• FIAT’s A.S.S was not bad as it was made out to be. Had a glorious 8-year ownership experience with FIAT Palio 1.6 GTX. Would love to own a Abarth Punto one day.
• The 1st generation Skodas – Octavia and Laura were the best cars to have come out of the Skoda stable. Still love my Laura 1.8 TSI
• 1st generation Tata Indica was the worst car I ever drove on India roads
• While the car reviews and information on the web help car buying decisions, one should buy cars based on personal experiences, extensive test drives and by talking to real owners. My perception of Audi changed dramatically when it saved me from a disaster on a San Francisco drive couple of months ago. I have now developed immense respect for the brand. My recent test drives of the S5 helped too. 2 months ago I wouldn’t have considered the brand at all
• A word to the wannabe Schumachers on highways – Get a life! If you do not respect your own lives and time, learn to respect others. Nobody is interested in races putting our lives and those of the public at risk
• There is nothing wrong with folks owning cars with smaller engines/power but pls know yours and your cars limits. One simply cannot compete with engines with bigger power and all the associated suspension set up that comes with it. It is futile to compete even though it momentarily massages one’s ego whenever the small overtake the big under whatever circumstances.
• 2-wheelers in any U-turn taking the small space to complete the turn are the worst nightmares for any car. Car drivers simply cannot anticipate the morons in such a situation. Note that am motorcycle rider too, so nothing against the community.
• There is a huge need for a practical transportation policy covering private & commercial vehicles, public transport, private and public parking…etc. With our country’s unprecedented future growth, vehicles on the road will only increase and it is clearly not sustainable.

[McLaren Rulez]

Big SUV drivers have fragile egos.

[Rodie09]

Originally Posted by ryzen7@5800u

My two pence:
1- The hue and cry made over "showroom experience" is unwanted.
2- Tech like ADAS is irrelevant in the Indian scenario.
3- People crying about crossovers being called SUVs are elitists.

I have already shared my opinion earlier so won't add anything but I am totally in agreement of #3 above.

I don't understand what is the big deal if certain cars are perceived as an SUV even if they are not. I am so damn sure that the Indian buyer is no fool just to fall for the word SUV. It is a combination of many things that these cars offer which meets certain customers' needs. They won't change their decision even if you take the word SUV away. Some of such things are high
ground clearance, looks, street presence, high driving position, easy ingress egreess compared to low slung sedans. These for some may far outweigh compromise on the handling on highway compared to sedans. Also, 99 percent of these are also not really wanting a 4x4. So, let's get over this pseudo suv discussion for good.

[xsrahul]

Great thread and opinions shared.

Here are some from me:

1. If you cannot afford toll, please DONT DRIVE - Use public transport. Stop bargaining showing all kind of ID cards at the plaza.

2. People buy multi million cars and cheap out on maintaining them. Get to see things such as fused tail lamps, old bald and cheap tyres on such cars.

3. Don’t honk unless absolutely necessary. Accelerator and honk are different but many people use them vice versa.

4. Don’t hog the right lane. It’s for OVERTAKING in case you don’t already know

5. Don’t be in a hurry - enjoy the drive - after all we are Bhp’ians

Cheers and happy new year

Edit : Kids are not meant to be seated on the front seat. Sun roof and moon roof are exactly that - not for letting your kid pop his/her head out

[MCR]

Ban Alto800, Alto K10, S-Presso, Maruti Omni, Renault Kwid and similar smaller vehicles on Express ways and Highways with 100 KMPH speed limit.

One they take hell lot of a time to reach 100KMPH and two they are not safe at that speed.

[amol4184]

SUV craze of the last few years is fueled by cars that are not SUVs.

[GeeTee TSI]

A forum for all those pent up prejudices to flow!

As a cross section, we Indians have shocking lack of automotive awareness, falling easy prey to multinational corporations prepping up a lame model, variant or badge to us gullible folks.

The emphasis on 'features' in a car advert or shortlist over other attributes is cringe worthy.

Every new generation of a car is superior to the preceding one, the reason it was developed, tested and launched in the first place. Rueing about the old generation is just nostalgic sentiment over any technical assessment.

Handling is a ridiculously irrelevant aspect for Indian roads, which is overused by one and all. Comfort and waftability is what we really need like a Volvo B11R driven well.

Large capacity multi cylinder engines are dead, make peace with the electric assisted inline fours and don't make too much 'noise' about it.

[Ashley Nair]

Originally Posted by amol4184

SUV craze of the last few years is fueled by cars that are not SUVs.

True to the core. And here is mine: The present Mahindra Thar is ugly outright. Reason: That ponderous front bumper and ungainly wheel arches, nothing to say on the grill. Thanks to these, the stance of the Thar reminds me of a hen perched for laying egg! That the designers at Mahindra ditched the classic CJ 5 profile for this monstrosity is unimaginable!

[VWAllstar]

1. Cruise Control and ADAS are useless functions. Rather give us a ventilated seat or spend the money on making better engines

2. Honda City is a boring car

3. EVs aren't cost effective for 90% of Indians

[Raul258]

1. Indian policymakers have made the car market boring. The only reason we don't get many well made cars is because of the tax slabs based on length of the car and engine size. I am talking about the entry to mid level segments here.
2. Car market now is more focused on gizmo's like bigger touch screen, led lights, 360 degree camera and so on.
3. Cost of paint protection nowadays is insane. Cars will get minor/major scratches anyway
4. LED lights inside reflector headlamps should be banned NOW. I myself got a pair installed recently just to make the opposite vehicle dim their headlights

[gt3t0uring]

1. I find the sound of 3 cylinder engines more pleasing than the 4 cylinder ones,sure the former might be less refined but the high revving sounds, I prefer 3 cylinder engines, they sound ‘sweeter’ and have a bit of hint of relevance to the 6 cylinder engines.


2. I do not find Formula 1 interesting, I prefer driving than watching someone else drive.

[BusCar]

Thank you for this thread, Good to read different opinions and perspectives.
Here are some of my opinions:
1. If someone hops up queues/lanes, it is not heroic, you are just aggrevating the problem started by someone similar.
2. The signal works due to some good people following the traffic norms; this is evident mainly in case of low traffic. People like me are Followers.
3. AMTs are sufficient in budget Cars, considering the value for money they offer
4. Fun to Drive element can be experienced in low powered NA Cars as well; applicable for 100cc bikes as well.
5. I do Respect Maruti Suzuki for their Sales and Marketing efforts, Driving operations, Maintaining Quality consistency. Other than that they are Business oriented (which is ok) Followers (which is not). They continue to offer budget Cars considering low investment for refresh; they have already Priortized higher priced models.
6. We Indians deserve more Cars Manufacturers with variety of Cars. This is based on the money people have invested on (Cars from) new Manufacturers time to time - Initial sucess of VW, Ford, GM, Renault, MG and recently showed by sales of Kia. Same applies to point 5.
7. Hybrid sales overtaking EV sales is due to replacement of Diesel model by Hybrid model. Customers do not have any Good alternative as of now.
8. After learning to Drive a Car, you start appreciating Driving skills of Bus/Truck Drivers.

Happy New Year !