Did a test drive of the T Jet+ yesterday and here are first impressions
Buy it Buy it Buy it Buy it and Buy it but only if Fiat puts in a bigger capacity engine.
I had a niggle in my mind that the A pillar with the quarter panel will hinder peripheral vision. However the designers @Fiat have managed it so well that there is no obstruction whatsoever. The seats themselves clad in leather are on the firm side and while not as spacious as the Cedia's front seat they soon wrap themselves around you. Actually one is having so much fun that the firmness does not matter and the seats do hold you well. The seat belt pretensioner/load limiter are spot on and never does the belt hold you tighter or longer than necessary. The instrument binnacle is a sight to behold especially with the lights on. Orange backlight and both the needles move in the dial with a corresponding orange spot that moves on the outer periphery of the dial. The spot is no more than a dot and turns a deep shade of orange almost red as the revvs climb up. Actually I will hold that last bit till I reconfirm this, maybe my eyes were playing tricks.
The engine at 1800+ RPM is on the boil and one can slot the car effortlessly in & out of gaps in the traffic effortlessly and the 4 disc brakes + ABS are dialed in marvelously, neither over nor under just spot on and they increase your confidence many-a-fold. The steering is very direct, point & shoot and the car remains true & planted even under very very heavy braking
The rear seat is comfortable and though on the firm side, it actually provides better under thigh support compared to the Cedia. The ride in the backseat itself is excellent and bumps, potholes, ruts etc are easily handled and do not upset one very much. Too early to say that how it is in comparison to the Cedia. More time & rides over varying surfaces are required for that. The back does have more leg space than the Cedia though, even I am surprised by this. The wheel base on the two is similar 2600mm & 2603mm so what gives?
Folks on Fiat forum are reporting double digit milage for in city driving with 100% AC but even the Cedia returns 10~11 kmpl in similar conditions, so nothing great here. The boot is a definite plus and is bigger than the Cedia's. The loading mouth however is restricted and the lip itself sits high up so one has to be a weightlifter. The good thing is that hinges are the non obtrusive kind and that allows the entire width of the boot to be used.
So am I buying it? Well, I am trying to. The Aveo is now 6 years old and is rapidly losing value. Will not get such a loaded vehicle at the price I am getting it for, so it should be a well weighted upgrade.
Will I drive it in lieu of the Cedia on a daily basis? NO & here's why not
1. Turning radius is a humongous 5.5 meters compared to 4.9. Getting the car out of the dealer's stuffed parking was a night mare and reminded me of my house parade days in school left left left right left. The visibility of the vehicle's four corners from the driver's seat is piss poor and unless one can turn by feel(is that the expression I want? Err no but you get the idea) it is better to have parking sensors front & back.
2. Small engine shows its limits very easily. You are cruising n 5th on 60~70 approaching a signal free junction which has traffic making going every where.
In the Cedia one takes their foot off the A pedal at a well judged distance, brakes if absolutely necessary and slows down to 40~30~20 even lower. Upon having gone through the junction one pushes down on the A pedal in an ever so gentle manner but with ever increasing pressure increments and the needles dance upwards. Voila one is cruising. That's all of the 2000 cubic centimeters working for you.
In the Linea you pretty much do the same but & what a plus sized butt on the TJet+ which it just sits on & on & on & you get the picture. The little 1400 (actually 1386) cc block huffs and puffs but untill you give it a second breath it will not take you anywhere. Downshift and the little boy all stoked up by the turbo carries you forward with a viscousness that is ill suited for most paid drivers. This is the only reason why I am afraid of letting this car be driven by our driver and the thought of giving him the Cedia instead starts to creep in.
3. One look at the all Beige cabin of the T Jet+ and all such thoughts ^^ are banished.
So that is it for now folks, more if I do Jet up.
Quote:
Originally Posted by S_U_N Wow. Expecting a comparison of the two 'driver oriented' cars soon.
Linea should outclass Cedia in terms of ride quality. Drive it on bad/ broken roads.
1.4L v/s 2.0L performance is also an interesting comparison.
Another bonus would be the slightly better mileage under similar driving conditions.
Backseat comfort and legroom - I think Cedia will win. |