Car or the Engine?

revhappy · 11th April 2009, 12:29

Hi Guys,
Lot of car manufacturers are now a days putting us in a spot by giving us either:
1)A brilliant car with an underpowered engine e.g. i20, Palio 1.1, Getz 1.1, Vista saffire
2)A brilliant engine but not an equally deserving car e.g. Getz CRDI, Verna CRDI, Palio MJD, Palio 1.6, IKon D,

Don't bash me for putting the Getz CRDI, Palio MJD, IKon D and Palio 1.6 in the "Not so great cars" category. Its just an indicative list. What I meant here is people would have normally not bought these cars if it were not for their engines. Its purely the engine that has caused them to buy these cars.

My question is if you had to choose between the 2 categories above which would you choose?

vigsom · 11th April 2009, 12:36

You very seldom get the best of both

I would go with no.1 since I prefer sedate driving

travelwriter · 11th April 2009, 13:00

If I am going to spend a decent amount of time driving, I want it to happen in a safe and comfortable environment. I am not a racer and I do not think Indian roads offer us the luxury of pushing our powerful cars to the limit.

If I were in US or Europe, then the story would be different

Perakath · 11th April 2009, 13:24

How can the Getz be listed in both categories, once as a 'deserving car' and once as an 'undeserving car'? What differs between the Getz 1.1 petrol and CRDI diesel other than the engines?

Edit: Same applies to the Palios...

revhappy · 11th April 2009, 13:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Perakath

How can the Getz be listed in both categories, once as a 'deserving car' and once as an 'undeserving car'? What differs between the Getz 1.1 petrol and CRDI diesel other than the engines?

Edit: Same applies to the Palios...

For the 1.1 ltr engine the Getz is too much, for 1.1 ltr santro is the right car.
Whereas for the CRDI mill the getz is not really deserving, especially with its price tag and lack of other features for that price and hence people buy it only for the engine. Thats my point.
Please don't take the cars mentioned in the list too seriously, My question is what would you give more weightage if you had to make a choice.

Cheers,
Nitin

deepclutch · 11th April 2009, 13:57

indica dle/dls belongs to the 1st section.weak engine.but the space is what attracts people to buy this car.

11th April 2009, 15:24

Engine baby! Always the engine. NVH, ride comfort, interiors thunk, plastic quality, colour of door pocket inserts...all that is for people who are less interested in driving.
PS handling is a close second.

tortoiseNhare · 11th April 2009, 15:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by revhappy

Hi Guys,
e.g. Getz CRDI, Verna CRDI, Palio MJD, Palio 1.6, IKon D,

I voted for great car & underpowered engine but I am a happy owner of a Palio MJD. Why this voting anomaly? Because the Linea is supposedly underpowered and so will be the 1.3 MJD GP.

Perakath · 11th April 2009, 18:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by revhappy

For the 1.1 ltr engine the Getz is too much ...
Whereas for the CRDI mill the getz is not really deserving

My question is what would you give more weightage if you had to make a choice.

Cheers,
Nitin

Hee hee! Poor Getzie.

I'd go with the engine over the luxury features. Petrol over diesel, that sort of thing

acceleration is my favourite part of driving!

SS-Traveller · 11th April 2009, 20:58

The engine wins over minor luxuries. The road I drive has a lot of MadMax commercial drivers in their SUVs and Indicas, and I would NEVER wring the neck of my own car's engine to avoid being squeezed off the road by them.

An engine that's more powerful than the average SUV's, reliable and easily serviced, and not very thirsty. Attach that to good tyres and brakes (ABS preferred), a smooth gearshift and good supportive seats.

Luxuries? AC (can do without climate control), PS, PW, rear wash-wipe (I don't buy cars without RWW), average ICE, remote central locking.

I'm set for 24-hour stints behind the wheel...

swift8847 · 11th April 2009, 23:56

I would always prefer a car with a good engine and compromise on a few other features.
About the aesthetics there are after factory items which should be fine with me.

GTO · 12th April 2009, 01:51

Always the engine in such a comparo. Heck, I've put my money where my mouth is : The delicious '03 OHC Vtec in my garage

. 70,000 clicks yet the engine feels like a virgin!

Gasolinejunkie · 12th April 2009, 04:19

I drive a brilliant NH Pajero with a not so brilliant 3Ltr V6 motor. It hasn’t failed me as yet but I believe it has valve recession issues especially on gas, it also lacks power but has plenty of grunt which is exactly what I want to move this 2.5 ton beast.
I was thinking of a diesel conversion but thats too much effort, it’ll be easier to buy another diesel Pajero and transfer the accessories to that car.
Anyway, no more bagging this car. I’m leaving on a 4WDing trip in 15min – lets see how she does!

aaggoswami · 12th April 2009, 08:59

Voted for Engine.
Engine is heart of the car. The physical appearance wont last long in case of humans and what will matter is how good a person is at heart. Similarly for cars, what will really matter is how good the heart is. Nothing can replace the feeling of having a good heart in the engine bay.
The cars with real hearts are now unfortunately non existent. The older cars were : Zen, G1HC, Baleno, Ikon 1.6, Esteem ( upto some extent even Swift ). These cars were enjoyable due to just one factor : Engine.

Above is just my opinion.

Sankar · 12th April 2009, 09:26

Engine, Features and Handling.

Engine 1st, since it's what drives the car and it's engine which contributes to more than 50% of a car's feel. Engine with good power will help me get out of sticky situations on our highways.

Features 2nd, since i like essential accessories to be factory fitted; features provides feel good factor and makes life easier. Factory fitted is better integrated.

Handling 3rd, not because handling is not important, but since it can be improved over stock to an extent by adding better tyres and wheels and a lot by using aftermarket suspension components tailored for the car. These mods usually don't affect the general reliability of the car, hence it's the third in my preference list.

View Poll Results: Car or the Engine?
Great Car but underpowered engine	46	38.33%
Great Engine but not a deserving car	74	61.67%
Voters: 120. You may not vote on this poll

11th April 2009, 12:29	#1
revhappy BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Singapore Posts: 330 Thanked: 17 Times	Car or the Engine? Hi Guys, Lot of car manufacturers are now a days putting us in a spot by giving us either: 1)A brilliant car with an underpowered engine e.g. i20, Palio 1.1, Getz 1.1, Vista saffire 2)A brilliant engine but not an equally deserving car e.g. Getz CRDI, Verna CRDI, Palio MJD, Palio 1.6, IKon D, Don't bash me for putting the Getz CRDI, Palio MJD, IKon D and Palio 1.6 in the "Not so great cars" category. Its just an indicative list. What I meant here is people would have normally not bought these cars if it were not for their engines. Its purely the engine that has caused them to buy these cars. My question is if you had to choose between the 2 categories above which would you choose? Last edited by revhappy : 11th April 2009 at 12:41.
	() Thanks

11th April 2009, 12:36	#2
vigsom Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NSEW Posts: 3,767 Thanked: 25,480 Times	You very seldom get the best of both I would go with no.1 since I prefer sedate driving
	() Thanks

11th April 2009, 13:00	#3
travelwriter BHPian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 294 Thanked: 115 Times	If I am going to spend a decent amount of time driving, I want it to happen in a safe and comfortable environment. I am not a racer and I do not think Indian roads offer us the luxury of pushing our powerful cars to the limit. If I were in US or Europe, then the story would be different
	() Thanks

11th April 2009, 13:24	#4
Perakath BHPian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chennai Posts: 260 Thanked: 31 Times	How can the Getz be listed in both categories, once as a 'deserving car' and once as an 'undeserving car'? What differs between the Getz 1.1 petrol and CRDI diesel other than the engines? Edit: Same applies to the Palios... Last edited by Perakath : 11th April 2009 at 13:26.
	() Thanks

11th April 2009, 13:57	#6
deepclutch Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Muvattupuzha Posts: 1,165 Thanked: 162 Times	indica dle/dls belongs to the 1st section.weak engine.but the space is what attracts people to buy this car.
	() Thanks

11th April 2009, 15:24	#7
rippergeo Posts: n/a	Engine baby! Always the engine. NVH, ride comfort, interiors thunk, plastic quality, colour of door pocket inserts...all that is for people who are less interested in driving. PS handling is a close second.
	() Thanks

11th April 2009, 20:58	#10
SS-Traveller Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: New Delhi Posts: 8,164 Thanked: 27,143 Times View My Garage	The engine wins over minor luxuries. The road I drive has a lot of MadMax commercial drivers in their SUVs and Indicas, and I would NEVER wring the neck of my own car's engine to avoid being squeezed off the road by them. An engine that's more powerful than the average SUV's, reliable and easily serviced, and not very thirsty. Attach that to good tyres and brakes (ABS preferred), a smooth gearshift and good supportive seats. Luxuries? AC (can do without climate control), PS, PW, rear wash-wipe (I don't buy cars without RWW), average ICE, remote central locking. I'm set for 24-hour stints behind the wheel...
	() Thanks

11th April 2009, 23:56	#11
swift8847 BHPian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Bangalore/Houston Posts: 324 Thanked: 2 Times	I would always prefer a car with a good engine and compromise on a few other features. About the aesthetics there are after factory items which should be fine with me.
	() Thanks

12th April 2009, 01:51	#12
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 70,529 Thanked: 300,724 Times View My Garage	Always the engine in such a comparo. Heck, I've put my money where my mouth is : The delicious '03 OHC Vtec in my garage . 70,000 clicks yet the engine feels like a virgin!
	() Thanks

12th April 2009, 04:19	#13
Gasolinejunkie BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Melbourne Posts: 80 Thanked: 14 Times	I drive a brilliant NH Pajero with a not so brilliant 3Ltr V6 motor. It hasn’t failed me as yet but I believe it has valve recession issues especially on gas, it also lacks power but has plenty of grunt which is exactly what I want to move this 2.5 ton beast. I was thinking of a diesel conversion but thats too much effort, it’ll be easier to buy another diesel Pajero and transfer the accessories to that car. Anyway, no more bagging this car. I’m leaving on a 4WDing trip in 15min – lets see how she does!
	() Thanks

12th April 2009, 08:59	#14
aaggoswami Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Vadodara Posts: 4,982 Thanked: 2,931 Times	Voted for Engine. Engine is heart of the car. The physical appearance wont last long in case of humans and what will matter is how good a person is at heart. Similarly for cars, what will really matter is how good the heart is. Nothing can replace the feeling of having a good heart in the engine bay. The cars with real hearts are now unfortunately non existent. The older cars were : Zen, G1HC, Baleno, Ikon 1.6, Esteem ( upto some extent even Swift ). These cars were enjoyable due to just one factor : Engine. Above is just my opinion.
	() Thanks

12th April 2009, 09:26	#15
Sankar Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2005 Location: Location Posts: 5,766 Thanked: 9,054 Times	Engine, Features and Handling. Engine 1st, since it's what drives the car and it's engine which contributes to more than 50% of a car's feel. Engine with good power will help me get out of sticky situations on our highways. Features 2nd, since i like essential accessories to be factory fitted; features provides feel good factor and makes life easier. Factory fitted is better integrated. Handling 3rd, not because handling is not important, but since it can be improved over stock to an extent by adding better tyres and wheels and a lot by using aftermarket suspension components tailored for the car. These mods usually don't affect the general reliability of the car, hence it's the third in my preference list.
	() Thanks