[driverace]

Originally Posted by driverace

...
2. Since we know, how to check fuel in tank:
Checking fuel in Duster tank



I typically check fuel in tank before I go to refuel.
Say if it is 11L, & I have to drive 15kms to get to the bunk, I plan to fill in exactly 40L.
Easy to cross check after refuel also! (limits the chances of short-fueling tricks too)
.

Originally Posted by Sudipto-S-Team

.. I realised that while I actually bought 204 litres of diesel (full tank to full tank), according to my trip meter I had consumed 180 litres. ..

Some friends say their trip computers are about ten per cent off. Has anyone here done a cross check on their Duster trip computer? If yes, what is the finding please?

About the trip computer being 10% off:
No, I haven't observed that kind of gap.

About the fuel filled Vs Litres consumed:
Are you 100% positive that the trip wasn't reset in between - which may have caused the calculation gap?
I have been following the approach as quoted from my post earlier.
The numbers match up quite closely.
Readings with resolution of "1 KM"

Ace.

[jessie007]

Sat in the Duster 84 BHP Dci (front passenger seat - didn't drive) and here are my impressions:

1) The seat is quite low and gives a feeling that one is sitting in a low sedan
2) Due to the low setting, under thigh support is quite poor - and this is in comparison to the my Punto which also has relatively low under thigh support on the front seats due to the peculiar driving position - for reference I'm 5'7". In fact, the seat seemed so low that it reminded me of the Esteem in which I could never sit comfortably in the front passenger seat, with the knee up position - one can strech the legs ahead, but I don't find that position comfortable.
3) The ride was quite sorted like in the Punto.
4) Duster's size seems apt for the city - with a good combination of passenger and boot space - In the Ecosport, with the spare wheeL, one is looking at a similar length without the advantage of any interior / boot space. Also the width of the Duster allows for better seating for three adults abreast.
5) Interiors didn't feel worthy of a million rupee vehicle, but looked like it will age alright. Lift type door handles – your first contact with the vehicle - feel quite low rent.
6) LHD configured controls are apparent - lights/wiper stalks (same as in Punto), central doors locking switch located to the passenger side. Plus weird things like the electric ORVM controls below the handbrake, power window switches are not within easy reach, the funny volume control via buttons (again to the left) and not the centrally located rotating knob (which changed the radio station tuning)!
7) Missing features in 84 BHP variant: MID with Average, Distance to Empty, etc display; speed based auto locking; lane change indicator

[Sudipto-S-Team]

Originally Posted by driverace

Are you 100% positive that the trip wasn't reset in between - which may have caused the calculation gap?
Ace.

During the trip I reset the trip computer every day before starting off in the morning but noted down the fuel consumed figure and added up to come to the total 180 litre figure.

[Neil Roy]

Originally Posted by Sudipto-S-Team

......

Some friends say their trip computers are about ten per cent off....

There might be a bit of truth to computers being a little bit off. I did not check with the fuel consumed reading but there was always a 5% difference in the speedo reading from my GPS and the Duster. I recently upgraded my tyres to 225/70 and now they match evenly right down to the distance and speed traveled. I guess this has a direct bearing with the amount of diesel that goes in.
Unless the GPS is faulty, which I highly doubt, there must be more than meets the eye here.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by Neil Roy

There might be a bit of truth to computers being a little bit off. I did not check with the fuel consumed reading but there was always a 5% difference in the speedo reading from my GPS and the Duster.

Mine seems to be OK.I just cross checked my GPS and odometer readings for the last drive. Quite close. In fact my Garmin estimated speed matches the car reading very well.

[DieselLover]

Update: 500 kms up.

Initial impressions:
1. The FE on MID is now 15.8 kmpl. Driven around approx 440 kms after the last reset - a mix of 200 kms highway and rest city driving.
2. Brakes has a spongy feel. Is this common in all dusters? Do I need to get brake bleeding done at the first check up at 2000 kms?
3. Car-like to drive. But it is no swift. Need to remind myself many times that I am driving a high GC vehicle More suited for sedate driving.
4. Pulls cleanly till 90 kmph. Couldn't check the top end yet as rpm need to be kept below 2500.

Seat covers and speaker upgrade planned for next week.

[drasitkhanna]

Our initial experiences (as first time"SUV") drivers are SOO similar !!
Car like to drive...
Brakes ARE spongy.(had to relearn driving my Elantra with very soft hands/feet after driving only Duster for aWeek ! )
Did not go above 2200 rpm in the new car.... BUT it does feel strained at 100 kmph (am I spoilt ? By a super silent Elantra Diesel ? )
Really technologically/feature retarded #% ! For a 11 lac car. Even my wife commented on the hard plastics. No audio seat belt warning, speed sensing auto door locks, anti pinch windows, ORVM turn indicators,
Seat covers and Alloys planned for nex week :-)

[DieselLover]

Originally Posted by drasitkhanna

Our initial experiences (as first time"SUV") drivers are SOO similar !!
Car like to drive...
Brakes ARE spongy.(had to relearn driving my Elantra with very soft hands/feet after driving only Duster for aWeek ! )
Did not go above 2200 rpm in the new car.... BUT it does feel strained at 100 kmph (am I spoilt ? By a super silent Elantra Diesel ? )
Really technologically/feature retarded #% ! For a 11 lac car. Even my wife commented on the hard plastics. No audio seat belt warning, speed sensing auto door locks, anti pinch windows, ORVM turn indicators,
Seat covers and Alloys planned for nex week :-)

You are spot on with the observations

I am not sure if the feeling of straining the engine at high speed is due to lack of power or lack of refinement. At 90kmph it doesn't sound as smooth as the Swift. Features - yes. there is nothing much to talk about.

[Tgo]

Our Duster 110 went for its 50 K service a few days ago. This service was an expensive one amounting to 17,000 INR. The major contributor to the cost was replacement of the Front and rear Brake Pads and Front Discs/Rotors. Rough breakup as explained by my dad over the telephone goes like this:

Front Discs (L+R): 4500 INR
Front Brake Pads (L+R): 3500 INR
Rear Brake Shoes (L+R): 2500 INR
Alignment and Balancing: 2400 INR
Oil & Filters: 3500 INR

Cost of labour and consumables all taken care of in the cost shown above. I told him to get the Front Pads changed and Discs skimmed after 35 K km from now on to save on the replacement cost of the Discs. This was the first pad change of any sort on the brakes. Before this they just resorted to cleaning the drums in each of the scheduled services.

The guy who delivered the vehicle at home said we should expect an increase in the FE and that the car will return 18 kmpl to which Dad said If it goes above 15 I'll give you Rs. 1500 as Inaam...

Serious issue that still persists and is very annoying is of the tyres wearing out unevenly. The Insides on the front tyres are getting shredded faster along with the humming noise that has reoccurred as soon as the tyres replaced under goodwill by Renault by now have served us for about 17K kms.

I wonder why anyone else is not complaining about the uneven tyre wear which I reported sometime ago here. Dear readers please report if you are facing this issue. The service center says that they have had a team from Chennai monitoring your vehicle on each service which I find hard to believe. The tyres don't last more than 30 K. They blamed us for not maintaining proper tyre pressure and doing wheel alignment whereas the first time they did it on their own in the scheduled service was at 20K that too after coaxing them to give us a report. They were kind enough to give us two brand new wanderers but I think that was just to hide a bigger flaw with the body shell which is causing this to happen.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by DieselLover

I am not sure if the feeling of straining the engine at high speed is due to lack of power or lack of refinement. At 90kmph it doesn't sound as smooth as the Swift. Features - yes. there is nothing much to talk about.

Yes it is the engine straining. Beyond three digits, you can feel it wanting a breather. Just about at the three digit mark is what I would say is a cruising speed for the car and not any further. The real USP of the car is its fatigue free ride quality over long distances. FE should go up a bit more. I would suggest an Android or an iOS App to track your FE and fueling costs. Helps a lot.

[Sudipto-S-Team]

During my recent trip to Delhi (I have the 85 ps), I took it to 140 on the Yamuna Expressway and never felt it. However, FE took a bad hit and I came down to a more sedate speed of between 90 to 110. It never felt like I had to strain the engine.

And I never felt tired after 12 hours of driving. In fact I went to explore Benares city after the drive from Delhi on the way back.

The only issue during the trip is, in the mornings the idling hum was more audible than normal. My average per day run was around 700 kms.

[::CMS::]

Originally Posted by Sudipto-S-Team

During my recent trip to Delhi (I have the 85 ps), I took it to 140 on the Yamuna Expressway and never felt it. However, FE took a bad hit and I came down to a more sedate speed of between 90 to 110. It never felt like I had to strain the engine.

And I never felt tired after 12 hours of driving. In fact I went to explore Benares city after the drive from Delhi on the way back.

The only issue during the trip is, in the mornings the idling hum was more audible than normal. My average per day run was around 700 kms.

It all depends on how the engine is managed by the ECU, engine is not at all out of breath >120, its capable. It wont struggle much to reach 140 or 150, but it takes a little bit time to reach 16x or beyond. After remap, achieving these speeds is not at all difficult. Since its a 1.5ltr engine, the rpm at those speeds cannot be compared to bigger engines. So the stock map is the culprit, not the engine.
FE depends on the driving, with those speeds occasionally I am getting ~14-16kmpl.

[wacko_man]

Mine is 85 PS and I too never felt any straining beyond 100 kmph. Mine has just gone for first service and hence I was very careful about not exceeding 100 kmph mark and 2500-3000 rpm mark. Reuturned from a 800 Km trip in puja vacations and I was really tempted to take it beyond 100 on NH2. Really happy how it handles on highways.

[DieselLover]

Thanks Guys. Mine and drasitkhanna's comments were mostly in comparison with the other cars we were using. At 90 kmph, the 85ps Duster just doesn't feel as comfortable as old gen swift D. As I am still in running in period, I didn't try to push it any further either.
Your inputs are reassuring as I would like to have a decent top end performance.

One thing I am sure - it cannot match old gen Swift D's highway performance.

[ampere]

Again trying to explain my previous point. I wont say the engine strains as such. But surely I can feel it working harder and can surely see FE would be taking a beating. Hence I feel it much better to keep it just at triple digits.