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Originally Posted by Abhi_abarth Now, the elite i20 is totally out of my budget but I can't resist in giving it a try. However, the ride quality and boring petrol engine is something blocking my path. I intend to keep the car for 7 to 8 years hence don't want to regret on my decision.
Request all the owners to help me with their advice. |
Ok, I'll get a bit technical here but that might not be a problem for you since it'll give the exact data you want. I own a Hyundai Getz which is as contrasting as it can get from its successor as it has hydraulic power steering, 1.4 litre SOHC engine (superb breathability and torque) and fantastic suspension and build. I have also experienced other "vaunted" models known for good driving feel like E90 3 Series, Mini Cooper, F30 3 Series Diesel, Fiat Punto, Polo TSi etc.. and I can confidently tell that none of them share any similarity with each other, all just different though I've put them in descending order of "feel".
Nothing can beat the feel of a hydraulic steering in a budget car.. its how it is. The EPS simply destroys the fun and I've hated that setup the most in a Vento/Polo, they're numb and I know many people will disagree but this is based on my own experience since I look at the feel at speeds <60, i.e mainly city commute, I don't do highways at all. The previous-gen i20 was the king when it came to light steering with an almost wooden feeling, even the engine rev vibrations hardly made it to the steering and one would wonder if the car is on or off, happy to say the current i20 has those problems sorted by a bit, though I feel it's strictly a city car with a capacity for occasional highway runs (one person I know makes inter-city runs of 300km+ with a 1.1 Santro on 165 section tyres so why not i20 as well?).
The problem with i20 is two-prong, the steering is setup for easy cruising and something is off with its turning consistency, also complimenting that perfectly is that 1.2 engine with fancy terminology like Kappa and VTVT thrown into it, its perfect for a Grand i10 but nearly not so for the i20, the torque delivery comes in a burst for a second and flatlines, then one has to push the throttle even more to get another similar response.. many may not have observed this but like I said it depends on each drivers past experience, compare that with my Getz which feeds in torque with every mm of pedal depression and readily so, it just works seamlessly with the gear changes and chassis..like they're all functioning symbiotically. The i20 doesn't give that feeling and I'm talking only modest and safe speeds which is what I prefer. I'm sure as other owners have pointed out including Honda owners, that the VTVT 1.2 is much more smoother in the low-end torque than a iVtec (I have no experience with the 1.2 iVtec), its all just a matter of compromising and getting adjusted to.. starting with where you want to make the compromise.
I'm not sure on the Baleno but owner reviews are kind of all over the place, its surely not getting praise for driving feel, much less so than the Swift and yet some call the suspension hard and jerky. I consider a suspension to be at its sweet spot when its 60-70% soft and 30-40% stable, like how the Punto is, the TSi has a much more harder setup and the suspension made bangs and thuds over any noticeable undulations. The Punto just swallows them softly in comparison. Fiats on sale today however have a slight problem of driver seating position and rubbery gearbox, if those 2 are perfected then the decision is easy.
None of the downsides written above for any car model are decision breaking, each will perceive a car differently and that's what I learnt when I went with reviews in mind yet my opinion on the car was total opposite. Hence you can test-drive any car that you feel is appropriate and take a decision based on suitability. As always you will NEVER get the space+power+feel+cost+support combo in any car, ever.
P.s : The 16 inch wheels for the i20 was ridiculous coupled with the 55 sidewall, the ride was not comfortable for me in the colleague's car over bad roads. The sweet-spot for such a car is 185/15 with 70 sidewall and preferably a good tyre like Yoko or Michelin.