March 2003 Tata Indica V2 LSi Running Report

hrag · 20th September 2009, 17:33

Booked on March 20, 2003 - full payment by cheque INR 364000 on road
Car was registered on March 28, 2003.
Took delivery on March 29, 2003 (I have never done a PDI to date)

Odo readings:
March 29, 2004: 017400 km
March 29, 2005: 034500 km
March 29, 2006: 057000 km
March 29, 2007: 077300 km
March 29, 2008: 085325 km
March 29, 2009: 097100 km

and today September 20, 2009 - odo crossed 100000 km

March 2003 Tata Indica V2 LSi Running Report-img_1788.jpg

Car is still running OE clutch assembly. Engine and gearbox are untouched.
Tyres were changed at ~64K (front) and ~74K (rear). Battery changed at 39 months / 60000 km. Replacement Amaron going strong after 39 months / 40000 km.

Fuel: Petrol
Max. Power: 75 BHP @ 5500 rpm
Max. Torque: 110 Nm @ 3000 rpm

Overall FE: ~11 kpl 100% A/C
Best highway FE: 16 kpl 90 kph 100% A/C

Top speed achieved: 165 kph (speedo indicated). More later.

dkamath · 20th September 2009, 17:49

Congrats on the milestone! Mind posting some pictures of your car to grace the occasion?

Cheers.

suman · 20th September 2009, 18:27

Congrats Hrishi, great milestone & good going! Both your vehicles are living testimonies about the sturdiness & bulletproof reliability of products from the TATA stable!

hrag · 20th September 2009, 18:32

Some pictures taken this evening in poor light.

March 2003 Tata Indica V2 LSi Running Report-img_1793.jpg

March 2003 Tata Indica V2 LSi Running Report-img_1789.jpg

Name: IMG_1792.JPG
Views: 3146
Size: 27.1 KB

March 2003 Tata Indica V2 LSi Running Report-img_1791.jpg

March 2003 Tata Indica V2 LSi Running Report-img_1790.jpg

Thanks Damodar & Suman! Like I say, TATA = TRUST ;-)

The colour is Sunshine Gold - doesn't look it in these pictures. Will try and take better pictures in the daytime tomorrow.

greenhorn · 20th September 2009, 18:33

wow. here's showing those indica petrol critics ( myself included

) that they are wrong!

trrk · 20th September 2009, 18:37

Hi Hrishi,

Congratulations again!

But the car did deserve to have better images than these!

It is good to have a positive report of a Tata vehicle for a change!

All the best!

phamilyman · 20th September 2009, 19:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenhorn

wow. here's showing those indica petrol critics ( myself included

) that they are wrong!

Yes, of course!

hrag, Congrats on crossing the six digit milestone. Here's to many more miles and smiles!

theMAG · 20th September 2009, 21:09

Congrats Hrishi. Anything to read about in society sections of major newspapers towards celebrating this event ?

hrag · 23rd September 2009, 06:08

Thanks for the good wishes, friends!

Coming up is the buying decision & experience.

hrag · 28th September 2009, 18:35

Previous experience (my own vehicle, not Daddy's car(s) LOL)

I bought my first vehicle in November 1999 - a Maruti Omni E. This was a carburetted version, 8 seater. I always liked the Omni for it's load (passengers + luggage + anything under the sun) carrying ability and when I could finally afford it, went for it.

The Omni was bought new from CARS India, Nandanam on November 25, 1999. Finance was through HDFC Bank - a breeze, which is why I opted for HDFC Bank again while buying the Safari. While the salesman tried to convince me to go in for a new Maruti 800, I hated the thought since the 800 (while being a very good car) had zero luggage carrying ability. I didn't opt for the extended warranty since Marutis were supposed to be reliable

March 2003 Tata Indica V2 LSi Running Report-1128822380_0a3d6017f2_o.jpg

The Omni served me well and I was thrilled to drive it across states (as is my hobby). I thought I was a non A/C person for life until one incident changed my perception.

The Omni did 42000 km from November 1999 - March 2003 including standing idle for a total of ~11 months. That was effectively 42000 km in 29 months.

It only let me down twice - both times thanks to the contact breaker points ignition. The first time in September 2000 and the second time in February 2003. Both these instances caused grief and they were indicators of change.

The incident that made me look for a change:
Having grown up in Madras, I thought I was a non A/C guy for life. One fine day, I was stuck in a traffic jam for 30 minutes where the exhaust of a truck was in my face for the whole time. I fell sick for 3 days and then decided I needed an A/C vehicle.

The Omni was kept stock (as is my preference for the first 1,00,000 km) and was sold with as OE 2 days after I got the Indica. The tyres were the OE Ceat tyres. Plus the bigger LCV ORVMS + the OEM ORVMS.

Modifications on the Omni: LHS ORVM, sunfilm (Garware Charcoal 35 fit at Car Decor Woods Road Madras) and the middle seat removed & kept at home + the rear seat moved forward like the regular old Omni. A later modification was bigger LCV OVRMs.

Coming up: the car buying experience

benbsb29 · 28th September 2009, 19:50

Congrats on the milestone, Hrishi. Planning on retaining it, or looking for a replacement?

Here is a pic of your car i had clicked at the Hessaragatta meet.

March 2003 Tata Indica V2 LSi Running Report-img_2602.jpg

anekho · 28th September 2009, 20:05

great review hrag! can't wait for the rest

PS: neat pic benbsb!

hrag · 28th September 2009, 20:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by benbsb29

Congrats on the milestone, Hrishi. Planning on retaining it, or looking for a replacement?

Thanks for the nice pic, Benny!

Of course, I'm retaining it ;-)

salilpawar1 · 28th September 2009, 20:41

Excellently kept car, buddy! As a guy who drives a similarly specced car, I feel immensely proud.

mjothi · 29th September 2009, 07:58

Congrats Man. The absence of AC made you to dispose the Omni before 50K :(

Anyway, as others, I am also waiting for the car buying exp. Decision - seems some of them are highlighted in this Omni thread itself

20th September 2009, 17:33	#1
hrag BANNED Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bangalore / Madras Posts: 1,982 Thanked: 32 Times	March 2003 Tata Indica V2 LSi Running Report Booked on March 20, 2003 - full payment by cheque INR 364000 on road Car was registered on March 28, 2003. Took delivery on March 29, 2003 (I have never done a PDI to date) Odo readings: March 29, 2004: 017400 km March 29, 2005: 034500 km March 29, 2006: 057000 km March 29, 2007: 077300 km March 29, 2008: 085325 km March 29, 2009: 097100 km and today September 20, 2009 - odo crossed 100000 km Car is still running OE clutch assembly. Engine and gearbox are untouched. Tyres were changed at ~64K (front) and ~74K (rear). Battery changed at 39 months / 60000 km. Replacement Amaron going strong after 39 months / 40000 km. Fuel: Petrol Max. Power: 75 BHP @ 5500 rpm Max. Torque: 110 Nm @ 3000 rpm Overall FE: ~11 kpl 100% A/C Best highway FE: 16 kpl 90 kph 100% A/C Top speed achieved: 165 kph (speedo indicated). More later. Last edited by hrag : 20th September 2009 at 17:37.
	() Thanks

20th September 2009, 17:49	#2
dkamath BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: BLR / MLR Posts: 579 Thanked: 162 Times	Congrats on the milestone! Mind posting some pictures of your car to grace the occasion? Cheers.
	() Thanks

20th September 2009, 18:27	#3
suman Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Kolkata Posts: 4,586 Thanked: 281 Times View My Garage	Congrats Hrishi, great milestone & good going! Both your vehicles are living testimonies about the sturdiness & bulletproof reliability of products from the TATA stable! Last edited by suman : 20th September 2009 at 18:30.
	() Thanks

20th September 2009, 18:32	#4
hrag BANNED Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bangalore / Madras Posts: 1,982 Thanked: 32 Times	Some pictures taken this evening in poor light. Thanks Damodar & Suman! Like I say, TATA = TRUST ;-) The colour is Sunshine Gold - doesn't look it in these pictures. Will try and take better pictures in the daytime tomorrow. Last edited by hrag : 20th September 2009 at 18:36.
	() Thanks

20th September 2009, 18:33	#5
greenhorn BANNED Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: KL-01 Posts: 7,878 Thanked: 4,910 Times View My Garage	wow. here's showing those indica petrol critics ( myself included ) that they are wrong!
	() Thanks

20th September 2009, 18:37	#6
trrk Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Alleppey, Kerala Posts: 2,113 Thanked: 35 Times View My Garage	Hi Hrishi, Congratulations again! But the car did deserve to have better images than these! It is good to have a positive report of a Tata vehicle for a change! All the best!
	() Thanks

20th September 2009, 21:09	#8
theMAG Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Avon, CT Posts: 7,196 Thanked: 1,821 Times View My Garage	Congrats Hrishi. Anything to read about in society sections of major newspapers towards celebrating this event ?
	() Thanks

23rd September 2009, 06:08	#9
hrag BANNED Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bangalore / Madras Posts: 1,982 Thanked: 32 Times	Thanks for the good wishes, friends! Coming up is the buying decision & experience.
	() Thanks

28th September 2009, 18:35	#10
hrag BANNED Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bangalore / Madras Posts: 1,982 Thanked: 32 Times	Previous experience (my own vehicle, not Daddy's car(s) LOL) I bought my first vehicle in November 1999 - a Maruti Omni E. This was a carburetted version, 8 seater. I always liked the Omni for it's load (passengers + luggage + anything under the sun) carrying ability and when I could finally afford it, went for it. The Omni was bought new from CARS India, Nandanam on November 25, 1999. Finance was through HDFC Bank - a breeze, which is why I opted for HDFC Bank again while buying the Safari. While the salesman tried to convince me to go in for a new Maruti 800, I hated the thought since the 800 (while being a very good car) had zero luggage carrying ability. I didn't opt for the extended warranty since Marutis were supposed to be reliable The Omni served me well and I was thrilled to drive it across states (as is my hobby). I thought I was a non A/C person for life until one incident changed my perception. The Omni did 42000 km from November 1999 - March 2003 including standing idle for a total of ~11 months. That was effectively 42000 km in 29 months. It only let me down twice - both times thanks to the contact breaker points ignition. The first time in September 2000 and the second time in February 2003. Both these instances caused grief and they were indicators of change. The incident that made me look for a change: Having grown up in Madras, I thought I was a non A/C guy for life. One fine day, I was stuck in a traffic jam for 30 minutes where the exhaust of a truck was in my face for the whole time. I fell sick for 3 days and then decided I needed an A/C vehicle. The Omni was kept stock (as is my preference for the first 1,00,000 km) and was sold with as OE 2 days after I got the Indica. The tyres were the OE Ceat tyres. Plus the bigger LCV ORVMS + the OEM ORVMS. Modifications on the Omni: LHS ORVM, sunfilm (Garware Charcoal 35 fit at Car Decor Woods Road Madras) and the middle seat removed & kept at home + the rear seat moved forward like the regular old Omni. A later modification was bigger LCV OVRMs. Coming up: the car buying experience
	() Thanks

28th September 2009, 19:50	#11
benbsb29 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Brisbane Posts: 10,104 Thanked: 14,192 Times View My Garage	Congrats on the milestone, Hrishi. Planning on retaining it, or looking for a replacement? Here is a pic of your car i had clicked at the Hessaragatta meet.
	() Thanks

28th September 2009, 20:05	#12
anekho Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: . Posts: 1,997 Thanked: 685 Times	great review hrag! can't wait for the rest PS: neat pic benbsb!
	() Thanks

28th September 2009, 20:41	#14
salilpawar1 BHPian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mumbai (MH-01) Posts: 853 Thanked: 252 Times View My Garage	Excellently kept car, buddy! As a guy who drives a similarly specced car, I feel immensely proud.
	() Thanks

29th September 2009, 07:58	#15
mjothi Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 3,290 Thanked: 233 Times View My Garage	Congrats Man. The absence of AC made you to dispose the Omni before 50K :( Anyway, as others, I am also waiting for the car buying exp. Decision - seems some of them are highlighted in this Omni thread itself
	() Thanks