At last.... 1st of all please wait for the pics - I forgot to get the cable to Hosur, have the pics in camera
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Friday night - slept around 1130 PM after the last movie on TV, was juggling around and slopping around the bed, woke up at 2:00AM. Just could not sleep, decided to call my colleague in US and chat, after a 30 min meeting, turned around and saw a figure walking into the kitchen and starting the stove, realized it was my Mum, equally restless about the next morning. Both ended up talking about the coming up day, and had a few slices of bread and chai - and around 445 woke up dad and started the morning routine and left home at 630. Boarded the Ernakulam train at 720 sharp and dozed off....
Woke up 1020 sharp- salem Jn - platform #2, had a quick coffee, and took a Auto - 80 Bucks to 'Hastampatty, Cherry Road'. After 8 Kms, eagerly alighted to see my beauty (11 AM)- was welcomed by the sales manager - Balaji, and after making us cozy in the Customer lounge with the AC full blast and a 30" Plasma to entertain us - he said the 3M underbody is still drying at the service place and will take at most 30 mins to see the car.
At 12 noon, I saw her in flesh - in the basement - remembered the "checklist while delivery" thread (ODO WAS AT 25 KMS, NO Probs), i requested to be driven a few kms, and drive myself- before I sign any docs. After 3-4Kms of city - started to like the AutoCop power windows, 3M sunfilm (really cools fast) and the power of the turbo.
Checked a few important things and realized there were many smudges around the body by dirty hands - gave them 15 mins to get them cleaned - and realized NONE of the in-cabin reading lights worked - they realized the power windows work shorted a few fuses - got them changed and made sure the tank had 15liters of fuel.
Around 1PM - got the traditional Garland and Lemon and Camphor kaa Pooja - they took a Digi Pic for the album and said I will get a copy - and I got a box of haldirams soan papdi and a penstand and 2 keychains as a token of thanks. Also made sure the Feebies - floor mat, mud flaps and steering grip were present.
Bid a BYE-BYE at 2PM and rushed into a nice hotel and hogged a nice Unlimited south indian meals - and started at 230 PM
------------now the drive---Indigo CS LS TDI-------
With a Full tank, BIG Grin on the face, 2 oldies by my side - started off veryvery nervously. Though until a fortnight ago - I was doing stunt like driving Rash - in my alto - Just could not pathom the fear of a dent on the new car. Drove Extra - cautious.
Started from Salem with all windows up (gave mum-dad a quick 30 second lesson how to use them) - AC full blast - WOW this car can cool quick. Hit the NH and first thought - this car is heavy- literally.
I made sure I stuck to the 20 30 50 60 80 bracket as recomemded by the manual. (Actually manual says 90 is ok upto 1000Kms - I did not have the *****). The engine was LOUD with AC Recirculate mode - Power steering was a breeze and the 14" wheels ARE MAJOR WELCOME over the 13" of Indica Range.
The first 40 Kms till Omalur WAS Hell, The engine just wouldnt respond - I thought I was driving a Indica (no turbo). Then realized to take it easy and understand how a DIESEL engine with TURBO works. Around the 50Km make I started to feel her open-up more freely.
I had also got to know her feelings, when to upshift - down shift, braking etc... WAIT - BRAKING - WOW, What a BITE, Never felt this kind of a BITE in the TD Car. Seems like the new car untouched by the public is much better.
Around the 80-90 KMS on the ODO mark -- I WAS AT EASE, The Fuel Needle had hardly moved a Milimter - I learnt the fun way of keeping her in the 1800 - 2100 RPM mark. Any higher then 2100 (Approx) in top gear - I cross 85+ (ODO) - WOW, What a lazy performance for such a speed.
Then a problem - Funny now - Mum developed Cramps - Due the Chilness inside at full blast. Had to break at Dharmapuri (70Kms odd)- have a coffee break, and then RIDE WithOut AC.
The ride from dharmapuri was more adventerous - Single lane most of the way to Krishnagiri - So many 3rd gear 70's at 2500-2800RPM and such fun stuff. All this with 3 Windows down, so more DRAG!!!
Hit the beautiful Hosur-chennai GQ at krishnagiri - (110Km odd) - I just couldnt resist - After 25Rs at the toll gate - Hit it.
Rough and noisy Of course - But what a power of the turbo - 90 comes up before you notice - Tried many times to keep it at 80-85 and then reached a Huge company owned HP bunk and topped her up. - 9.1Liters for 138Kms at 15.4 Odd KMPL for the first 100+ Kms of her life. I felt let down - Expected at least 16-17 on the highway - Then realized the AC and perky driving I did for the last leg. So was convinced she will offer more.
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Key take aways - ROOM - ROOM - ROOM, Huge car, Puts swift and verna to shame (personal experience with the both) - Noisy enough to awake the colony - WAIT, DID I say about the Gear Shift.
What are you Bhpians talking about the Notchy Gear on TATA's - I had one of the most peaceful and refreshing 1st drives (170 Kms Odd) Straight out of the showroom, on the GQ. The gear felt smoother than a Alto, Mostlike the santro's - Was this a unique experience - Or was it a one off example?
Panel gaps - Forget Cockroaches - I am afraid to find RATS inside the car one day, I can easily fit my little finger into few of those. Most Sad part - The Fuel Lid is NOT Contoured enough to match the smooth curve of the body - SAD and LAZY design dept.
FRONT Seats - WOW, Loved then after the Alto - BUT WAIT - Mum ended up with a sore back - The rear is TOO Upright - Need a tiny pillow for her lower back !!!!!
Plastics - Dash looks ok, NOT UPTO Alto's Mark - Headlights and Rear lights - Defenetly Maruti - Hyundai Class - Nice finish and build quality.
InHood - Clean and all fluids were upto the mark, BUT WAIT- Why the hell does everything BURN like MOLTEN LAVA even after a short 2 Km TD. I could not open the Lid with my bare hands - Even the 1 feet stay rod which holds up the lid - Was burning crazy!!!
The Incabin noise is NIL - NIL, Thanks to the under body 3M treatment - Must for cars like the TATA - All I could hear was the clatter of the engine.
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For - Space, Cheap Turbo Boost, FE-FE-FE
Against - I have none, I love it (for 4.75 Lacs OTR), You know what to write here....
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ICE - Wait for a few days - Planning a transplant from my old Alto Setup
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This will be a running report hopefully, keep watching for pics. |