[sahakar]

Originally Posted by Valkyrie

Amazing story man. Congrats on the car.
Lets hope the Aria serves you well.
Looking at your pictures, I would like to appeal to Tata motors to make the rear tail lamps in clear lens at least, or maybe LEDs.

That apart, Aria is really a competent vehicle in its own right.
Let us know more about the fuel efficiency and service costs. Do keep us updated.

I don't have a clue, maybe the gadget gurus will be able to tell, is there any aftermarket touch screen that can be fitted instead of the small dot-matrix (?) screen factory-fitted in the center stack of the IP? Like a Pioneer screen or something. It will look so OEM and cool.

As of now I have managed approx 13kmpl fuel efficiency. At least, that's what the Aria's trip computer says.

First service cost was zero. Will regularly update how the service costs pile up in the future.

The entire 2-DIN headunit should be replaceable in the PURE as there's no other dependent wiring for steering controls, etc other than the speakers. Everything is basically in the centre stack. I guess only the auxiliary port and USB port may become redundant.

Cheers

[sahakar]

Third tankful of diesel done today. This time around I have managed around 14kmpl. I guess must have encountered less traffic in my office runs in the last couple of weeks.

I got a new full transparent matting for the floors. Covers the entire carpet so now will keep the carpet totally clean.

Other than that, the Aria's running fine. I also see a few more Arias on the road nowadays.

With the kind of horror stories going on in other threads, I am just keeping my fingers crossed right now for the future.

Cheers

[Dr.Suraj]

Originally Posted by sahakar

I am sure Tata Motors would be having my case as a case study for their management sessions :-)
I must be the only guy who went to buy a Nano and came back with an Aria.

Cheers

Seriously!

Your title piqued my curiosity - & I HAD to read the review.

This must be an extremely unique case study.

I hope you never regret your decision.
(I am a Tata fan too... but sometimes things go wrong - mostly with the Dealer end - rarely with Tata)

2 questions:

1. What did happen finally about your rear fog lamps?
2. What about the Nano? What small car did you opt for
(P.S. excellent decision on the Nano as well)

[sahakar]

Originally Posted by Dr.Suraj

Seriously!

Your title piqued my curiosity - & I HAD to read the review.

This must be an extremely unique case study.

I hope you never regret your decision.
(I am a Tata fan too... but sometimes things go wrong - mostly with the Dealer end - rarely with Tata)

2 questions:

1. What did happen finally about your rear fog lamps?
2. What about the Nano? What small car did you opt for
(P.S. excellent decision on the Nano as well)

I sure hope too I do not regret my decision.

About the rear fog lamps, I forgot about the issue when I gave the car for service. I remembered about it later in the day. So when I went to take back the car, I talked to the service advisor about it.

He initially said that there isn't any rear fog lamps on the PURE. I knew those folks wouldn't have any clue, so I had taken the features printout from the Aria website with me and showed it to them.

He sheepishly talked to his senior and they agreed that there are rear fog lamps. I didn't have time to get it fixed that day, so I told them that the next time I come for service, I would want it to be fixed.

About the second car, I am still in the market for it. I am hoping there are a couple of automatic launches in the next six months. I am veering for an automatic for my wife and right now its either ASTAR or i10. A Nano automatic would be perfect. Hope the TATAs are hearing.

Cheers

[Dr.Suraj]

Originally Posted by sahakar

I sure hope too I do not regret my decision.

About the rear fog lamps, I forgot about the issue when I gave the car for service. I remembered about it later in the day. So when I went to take back the car, I talked to the service advisor about it.

He initially said that there isn't any rear fog lamps on the PURE. I knew those folks wouldn't have any clue, so I had taken the features printout from the Aria website with me and showed it to them.

He sheepishly talked to his senior and they agreed that there are rear fog lamps. I didn't have time to get it fixed that day, so I told them that the next time I come for service, I would want it to be fixed.

About the second car, I am still in the market for it. I am hoping there are a couple of automatic launches in the next six months. I am veering for an automatic for my wife and right now its either ASTAR or i10. A Nano automatic would be perfect. Hope the TATAs are hearing.

Cheers

Well done! Thank God you carried the print out!

Seriously, they just don't have a clue & if you are ill-informed or mis-informed ...
Well it IS your loss.

So its nice that they will be owning up for it.
Congrats!

Oh - Automatic!

Well - Tata showed off their Auto box @ AE2012.
But I think it is FAAAR from coming to the Nano.
Its for their DiCor engine.

Nano - the Electric & Diesel models are to be expected 1st.
Addition of power steering.
& somewhere MUCH later maybe an Auto (2014?).

So right now - its either A-star or i10. Both fine cars.
I prefer the i10.
& unless Hyundai transplants the auto box to the Eon - I guess that is your best call.
But the Auto i10 is WAAAY out of a 'Small' car bracket.

[sahakar]

Originally Posted by Dr.Suraj

So right now - its either A-star or i10. Both fine cars.
I prefer the i10.
& unless Hyundai transplants the auto box to the Eon - I guess that is your best call.
But the Auto i10 is WAAAY out of a 'Small' car bracket.

Ya the pretty much no options is the reason I am holding on right now as long as I can. Seriously hoping for some more options in the auto box section.

Aria was pretty much an impulse buy for me. The small car I am hoping would be a much more thought over buy.

Cheers

[tazmaan]

Originally Posted by sahakar

Ya the pretty much no options is the reason I am holding on right now as long as I can. Seriously hoping for some more options in the auto box section.

Aria was pretty much an impulse buy for me. The small car I am hoping would be a much more thought over buy.

Cheers

I have an Innova and was replacing my Santro with an Auto box. I test drove the A star and the I 10 and eventually bought the A start. A star is a pure VFM city car with all the basic equipment and ABS as standard. However if you need more power for highway runs or you want to go around racing then comparably I 10 is better but much more expensive to buy. Mileage and maintenance are also to be considered.

[sahakar]

Originally Posted by tazmaan

I have an Innova and was replacing my Santro with an Auto box. I test drove the A star and the I 10 and eventually bought the A start. A star is a pure VFM city car with all the basic equipment and ABS as standard. However if you need more power for highway runs or you want to go around racing then comparably I 10 is better but much more expensive to buy. Mileage and maintenance are also to be considered.

I have been eyeing the A* AUTO since six months. The small car buy was supposed to be my first buy before I bought the big car.

But the Aria happened first and I guess if till April or so I do not see any other options I will go ahead and get the A* AUTO.

Will be so hard to let go of the S10 though. Only if my wifey agreed to drive the S10 I would be so much happier.

Cheers

[sahakar]

Another fuel efficiency update. This time around have managed approx 14.5kmpl. Every subsequent tankful is leading to improvement in fuel efficiency. The car's getting more nimble and smoother. Good going as of now.

Now, I have a question to the pros. I am abroad for 4 odd weeks. Will it be ok for the aria to stay stationary all that while without a single engine start. Please advise.

Cheers

[prateek_ch]

Phew! That's a humungous leap; both in terms of budget and size. A good choice nonetheless. The Aria is a beauty in black. Congratulation on the purchase. Wishing you many miles and smiles.

[condor]

Originally Posted by sahakar

I am abroad for 4 odd weeks. Will it be ok for the aria to stay stationary all that while without a single engine start.

It should be fine, but do check the threads on long term storage do's & dont's.

An option is to idle the engine for about 30-45 minutes in middle of this period.
(Reason I suggest this is: Keeping the battery fully charged. The battery in my Sumo had recently drained. The A.S.S sent their recovery van, and the guy jump-started the Sumo from another car. After that, he had asked me to idle it for 1 hour so that the battery charges up. And that 1 hour idling worked.)

[ACM]

Originally Posted by sahakar

Another fuel efficiency update. This time around have managed approx 14.5kmpl. Every subsequent tankful is leading to improvement in fuel efficiency. The car's getting more nimble and smoother. Good going as of now.

Now, I have a question to the pros. I am abroad for 4 odd weeks. Will it be ok for the aria to stay stationary all that while without a single engine start. Please advise.

Cheers

Ideally should be ok for such a vehicle, but, but.

When I came back from a week outstation the first time my Aria central locking didnot unlock the car when I was back and had to use the manual key, and then shut off the siren after opening the car and using the unlock button on the key itself.

Not sure why this happened and it never repeated itself. Suggest you keep it on a level area, with the car in gear or neutral but NOT pull the hand brake to prevent rusting on the brakes. Also suggest you keep AC, lights etc - every thing electrical - in the off position, so that just in case there is a minor electrical leakage due to any added accesories the car is able to start at first ignition when you are back. Ask the car cleaner to clean the car after 25 days and let it be in the meanwhile as it is.

[sahakar]

Thanks Condor / ACM..

I think I have kept the hand brake on. Hope the intense heat in Bombay right now, prevents any rust buildup.

I guess I will ask wifey to start the car after a week. Only worried whether she will be able to manage the alarm thing.

Still three weeks before I get back. Hate the London underground. Keeps on getting more crowded and more expensive every year.

Cheers

[Furebo]

Originally Posted by ACM

Not sure why this happened and it never repeated itself.

The mode you are referring to is called "transport mode". Its designed to prevent the battery from discharging during long moments of inactivity.

If the car is inactive for more that 5 complete days, the system shuts down. In other words the entire car goes into sleep mode. This means that the remote WILL NOT WORK and you can only enter the car using the key on the lock. When you open the door lock using the key and open the door, the Alarm goes off!

Originally Posted by sahakar

I guess I will ask wifey to start the car after a week. Only worried whether she will be able to manage the alarm thing.

I think you can ask her to idle the car for a few minutes everyday, It wont hurt and will ensure that no issue occurs.

[sahakar]

Originally Posted by Furebo

I think you can ask her to idle the car for a few minutes everyday, It wont hurt and will ensure that no issue occurs.

Yup all done. Every couple of days will be idled. Cant wait to get back to driving again.

Road a Ferrari and an M3 yesterday. What a rush esp the Ferrari. 0 to 60 in 3 seconds in London city. Man, nothing can beat it.

After that riding a Jag XF and Lexus Rx450 hybrid felt pedestrian.

God know how lowly will I feel getting back to a Tata Aria after a few days :-)

Cheers