[mikon]

Originally Posted by souravc

Boss Mamba looks killer when dirty , looks properly menacing like the way it should be
i went from Mumbai and found the NH4 route via Belgaum to be decent , NH17 is crap and dangerous ( and i used it while coming back ) .. God knows how many times I got stuck behind slow trucks trying to overtake each other at snail's pace!

As Noops mentioned , if you have hard ( box type) mud guards then the sound is possibly coming from there . The undercarriage, as i understand, is adequately protected to escape unscathed normal scraping - as long as visual inspections reveals no damage you should have any cause for worry.
cheers

Thank you very much!. I'm yet to take the car on the ramp to check the visible damages. You're true. NH-4 is the best. Pity that it goes all the way to bangalore.!

Originally Posted by dot

The second picture is astonishingly awesome. Looks like a Statham ride just after a long chase, taking a breath before the next dash.

Possibly this is the fastest and best route from Pune.

Excellent description Sir, Thank you! Yes Statham ride was on a waterfall break
I would not recommend the right turn after NH-17 and specially for honda civic and city. There were lot of scrapings involved.

[Swanand Inamdar]

Sirji, the route described is possibly the best and fastest route to Goa. Some patches on the Amboli ghat road are bad, but overall, a good road to drive on.

We did the same route to and fro, took us around 9 hours (incl countless breaks).

Any more pics of the Mamba in Goa?

[mikon]

Originally Posted by Swanand Inamdar

Sirji, the route described is possibly the best and fastest route to Goa. Some patches on the Amboli ghat road are bad, but overall, a good road to drive on.

We did the same route to and fro, took us around 9 hours (incl countless breaks).

Any more pics of the Mamba in Goa?

Yes, Amboli ghat road was better.
I do have couple of pics, but mortal humans are pozing in front of the mamba . Awaiting pics of the Laura too!
and BTW congrats for deciding between oranges and apples

[Swanand Inamdar]

Originally Posted by mikon

Yes, Amboli ghat road was better.
I do have couple of pics, but mortal humans are pozing in front of the mamba . Awaiting pics of the Laura too!
and BTW congrats for deciding between oranges and apples

Saw the pics on FB. Look good.
Sadly, this time we did not take my Laura. We were in another Black Mamba. The Chevy Cruze. Have a few pics of that. Shall be writing a TL soon.
Yeah, the choice between the Oranges and Apples has been made (with a minor twist). An update on that is also around the corner.

[Redface]

Having been bitten by the Vento bug AGAIN, I have been on TBHP since morning reading all i can about the Vento.
I believe in adding a personal touch to the car and making it one of the kind.
Awesome looking car, the best i have seen. Congrats.
Hope you get your HD's, leathers and stuff soon.

Couple of things worried me, Is the Engine noise that bad.
How do you rate the soundproofing of the cabins, do you hear a lot of mechanical noise inside. Engine/Shocks/tyre/mudflaps...
Is the car bumpy on high speed. What is the highest comfortable speed you could achieve without throwing the people at the back seat all over the place?

If you had an option to get somethings changed in the build(features/engine) of the car, what will those be.?

[souravc]

Originally Posted by Redface

Couple of things worried me, Is the Engine noise that bad.
How do you rate the soundproofing of the cabins, do you hear a lot of mechanical noise inside. Engine/Shocks/tyre/mudflaps...
Is the car bumpy on high speed. What is the highest comfortable speed you could achieve without throwing the people at the back seat all over the place?

If you had an option to get somethings changed in the build(features/engine) of the car, what will those be.?

Maybe I will answer your questions, Mikon can add his views later ( mate hope you do not unleash the mamba on me )
Engine Noise - Its noisy , like any other Volkswagen TDi engines . It improves after the first run-in but do not expect it to be like the ANHV or the Fiesta
Soundproofing of the cabin - Its good . Tyre noise is related to the tyre that you use - the stock tyres are Apollo or JY Tyre , while JK Vectras are crap tyres the Apollos are good though emit a fair bit of tyre noise . With Yokos or Michelins the tyre noise is reduced.
Bumpy - Not at all , the ride quality is very good ( fabulous in my opinion) and unlike the ANHV you can easily do 150+ without bobbing up and down. The build quality and the ride quality are its obvious strengths and its TDi heart the final clincher

[mikon]

Originally Posted by Redface

Having been bitten by the Vento bug AGAIN, I have been on TBHP since morning reading all i can about the Vento.
I believe in adding a personal touch to the car and making it one of the kind.
Awesome looking car, the best i have seen. Congrats.
Hope you get your HD's, leathers and stuff soon.

Couple of things worried me, Is the Engine noise that bad.
How do you rate the soundproofing of the cabins, do you hear a lot of mechanical noise inside. Engine/Shocks/tyre/mudflaps...
Is the car bumpy on high speed. What is the highest comfortable speed you could achieve without throwing the people at the back seat all over the place?

If you had an option to get somethings changed in the build(features/engine) of the car, what will those be.?

Extremely sorry for delayed response. Don't know I missed it.
Thank you for your wishes!

Engine Noise : It was bad, Now its becoming lesser gradually. I compared it with a new Tdi out of the showroom
Soundproofing : Its awesome to its price. Turn on the AC and the music (I've a 10 speaker set) and rest of the world becomes mute
Bumpy Ride: Not at all. Have reached good speeds at city comfortably. And at Highway reached twenty less than two hundred easily [sorry for using the calculation as i cannot mention over speeding here]
Change : The lights !

Hope I answered your queries!

Originally Posted by souravc

Maybe I will answer your questions, Mikon can add his views later ( mate hope you do not unleash the mamba on me )
Engine Noise - Its noisy , like any other Volkswagen TDi engines . It improves after the first run-in but do not expect it to be like the ANHV or the Fiesta
Soundproofing of the cabin - Its good . Tyre noise is related to the tyre that you use - the stock tyres are Apollo or JY Tyre , while JK Vectras are crap tyres the Apollos are good though emit a fair bit of tyre noise . With Yokos or Michelins the tyre noise is reduced.
Bumpy - Not at all , the ride quality is very good ( fabulous in my opinion) and unlike the ANHV you can easily do 150+ without bobbing up and down. The build quality and the ride quality are its obvious strengths and its TDi heart the final clincher

Excellent response sir!
I use Continental tyres. The noise is less. But If you are in concrete tarmac you can hear the noise.
Yes, Tdi heart is awesome. Loving it day by day!

[mikon]

Mamba went for the first service today.
It was bit early at 14100 Kms, but I went ahead with it.

I was planning to service it outside from a good shop (like Bosch) but later went ahead with VW.
Initial impression about the service station - really neat and organised!
Everybody was welldressed and very neliglible amount of dirt on them - that on their hand gloves!
I was given the time slot at 9:30 am, reached there at 9:15 am.
People and employees start pouring in slowly slowly.

The SA told me the list of things to be done at 1st Service which were :
1. Engine Oil Change - 4.3 lts (Chargable) - Castrol Magnatec 10W40 [not sure about 10W but it was followed by 40]
2. Air Filter Change (Chargable)
3. Dust and Pollen Filter Change (AC) (Chargable)
4. Engine Oil Plug (Chargable)
5. Wheel Alignment (Chargable)
6. Labour, Consumables, Washing (Chargable)

I removed the wheel alignment option as i had done is some time back.

I made sure that I was in front of the car till the oil change is done and the other parts are replaced. They were bit hesitant as customers are not allowed inside the service bay, still i managed and went in and stood there.
Attitude was okay with all the people and i'm quite satisfied with the work done.

Final Bill : 7100 INR (which I think is quite reasonable)
Free Lunch was offered !

Please let me know if any questions/queries.
Saw many banged up ventos and polos. Star of the show were toureag and phaeton including Passats

I enquired whether new Jetta's headlights can be swapped with vento's. He denied. Still I'll continue my research.

Couple of pictures (Sorry about quality - Iphone Camera!).

VW Pune West


Mamba Awaiting


Time Pass


Engine Bay (without the TDi hood)


Parts


Final Result


Damage

[noopster]

Nice. Mine should be ready for this by year-end. Is this VW Pune (Vidyut)or West Pune (BU Bhandari)?

[mikon]

Originally Posted by noopster

Nice. Mine should be ready for this by year-end. Is this VW Pune (Vidyut)or West Pune (BU Bhandari)?

Awaiting your report!. Its BU Bhandari.

[sdp1975]

The fuel filter was not changed ? How often is that changed ?

[mikon]

Originally Posted by sdp1975

The fuel filter was not changed ? How often is that changed ?

Nope it wasn't. I Guess in the next service at 30000 kms!

[aks_karthik]

Originally Posted by mikon

1. Engine Oil Change - 4.3 lts (Chargable) - Castrol Magnatec 10W40 [not sure about 10W but it was followed by 40]
2. Air Filter Change (Chargable)
3. Dust and Pollen Filter Change (AC) (Chargable)
4. Engine Oil Plug (Chargable)
5. Wheel Alignment (Chargable)
6. Labour, Consumables, Washing (Chargable)

I removed the wheel alignment option as i had done is some time back.

I made sure that I was in front of the car till the oil change is done and the other parts are replaced. They were bit hesitant as customers are not allowed inside the service bay, still i managed and went in and stood there.
Attitude was okay with all the people and i'm quite satisfied with the work done.

Final Bill : 7100 INR (which I think is quite reasonable)

Is it a free service right? Why they included labour charges too.
Is the oil synthetic one? Seems to be on seeing the price.
Except labour charges, every other consumables are nominal.

[souravc]

Originally Posted by mikon

Mamba went for the first service today.
It was bit early at 14100 Kms, but I went ahead with it.

Final Bill : 7100 INR (which I think is quite reasonable)
Free Lunch was offered !

Thanks mate for sharing the details , INR 7100 /- is nice indeed ! Even if you had done the wheel balancing it should have been below 8K ?
Would you have inquired about K&N filters ? I am 3K to my 15K milestone , have been toying with the idea of fitting K&N

[mikon]

Originally Posted by aks_karthik

Is it a free service right? Why they included labour charges too.
Is the oil synthetic one? Seems to be on seeing the price.
Except labour charges, every other consumables are nominal.

Unfortunately No. When I bought the car, nothing was free. Not even a key-chain!
When I googled about the oil, It showed its semi-synthetic.

Originally Posted by souravc

Thanks mate for sharing the details , INR 7100 /- is nice indeed ! Even if you had done the wheel balancing it should have been below 8K ?
Would you have inquired about K&N filters ? I am 3K to my 15K milestone , have been toying with the idea of fitting K&N

Yes, Right on!. But I'll do the wheel-balancing after some kms!
Actually I did enquire about K & N. The SA had no idea. And he said the same old story about Warranty void and stuff.
I'm toying the idea of idea of K&N, ECU re-map and HIDs.