[drmohitg]

So anybody yet knows about the details of this offer on the Vento?

[samarjitdhar]

Originally Posted by ajay_satpute

Me too saw this advt in TOI. Here's the advt. Can't fathom the logic.
Attachment 872355

When I saw the ad in TOI today I was like what is it about, thoroughly perplexing actually . Give or take, the Vento TDI HL is a decent car and should not have a problem in finding buyers. In contrast the Vento petrol sales are doing awful numbers. The ratio of diesel to petrol Ventos I see here is almost 95 to 5 and even that I feel is an optimistic ratio.

Interestingly ICICI has set up a car loan kiosk in my company premises today and for some reason they have chosen the petrol Polo and Vento as their products on display . The petrol Vento really sucks big time in the features department when compared to the post-refresh Vento TDI. While the surveillance system is still there, the steering doesn't have a leather cover, has the stone age HU and there are no steering controls. I am sure the reverse parking sensors are also missing in the petrol Vento. Frankly its a matter of time when Honda ramps up its production of the City and with its new features, the petrol Vento with this sparse feature list will need to be given away free unless VW stops manufacturing the petrol Vento completely.

[drmohitg]

Originally Posted by samarjitdhar

Frankly its a matter of time when Honda ramps up its production of the City and with its new features, the petrol Vento with this sparse feature list will need to be given away free unless VW stops manufacturing the petrol Vento completely.

But Honestly I don't see any reason why the Honda should sell that much. The interiors are no way superior, drive pleasure also is similar, lacks the european build but scores a little on reliability although VW too hasn't had much complaints.

Overall its just the brand image of Honda which is doing the trick. Plus the well priced CE variant might be responsible for most of those numbers. I feel VW needs to re-look at the pricing of the Petrol Vento. On the other hand they might not be that worried as Petrol Variants of the Verna and Fiesta too are not exactly flying off the shelves.

[samarjitdhar]

Originally Posted by drmohitg

But Honestly I don't see any reason why the Honda should sell that much. The interiors are no way superior, drive pleasure also is similar, lacks the european build but scores a little on reliability although VW too hasn't had much complaints.

Overall its just the brand image of Honda which is doing the trick. Plus the well priced CE variant might be responsible for most of those numbers. I feel VW needs to re-look at the pricing of the Petrol Vento. On the other hand they might not be that worried as Petrol Variants of the Verna and Fiesta too are not exactly flying off the shelves.

The City has more power on tap compared to the Vento and if one were to compare the features the City edges ahead of the Vento too with the new version. The Vento can only boast of rear A/C vents, ACC and telescopic adjustment of the steering but then there is that enormous hump in the rear discouraging any 5th passenger. I am not too sure if the Vento petrol engine is as good as the iVtec as I have not test driven the Vento petrol. Couple that with Honda's brand image and some of the absurd prices of the VW spares (like the alloys ) the City should be able to do much better numbers in the petrol segment. I actually see a lot more petrol Vernas compared to petrol Ventos. Fiesta count has gone up to only 4 till now and all of them were diesels .

I wonder how long can VW carry on producing and selling petrol Ventos under such heavy discounts. Discounts on petrol cars are here to stay as petrol buyers are just going to go southwards in number with imminent price rises planned after the state elections.

[mxx]

Originally Posted by drmohitg

Well lets see. I am still not convinced why a brilliant car like the Vento TDI is finding it difficult to fly off the shelves. Its got everything going for it n terms of the looks, built, brand image.

They are just clearing the 2011 stocks for diesels HL. Nothing new, all manufacturers do it. Only difference most do in December, and in dec vw did not give any discounts on diesels HL. Hence now in january. And it is pretty good to go for one now if there are discounts of 40k or above. You get the savings and no changes are expected soon in highline.

[oxyzen]

Originally Posted by drmohitg

But Honestly I don't see any reason why the Honda should sell that much. The interiors are no way superior, drive pleasure also is similar, lacks the european build but scores a little on reliability although VW too hasn't had much complaints.

The city CE costs 7L ex showroom. That is quite cheap for a car with ABS & Airbags. I agree the interiors are below par (Specially the CE) and it does not have the Europian build. It when it comes to ride & handling, the Europeans are ahead by a mile.
But what is does offer is a sweet 1.5L engine which is simply segment best. It does compromise on a bit of low end torque but it compensates with good FE (Something Vento can only dream about). And on top of it it looks fabulous. But one thing that makes the City special is what makes all Hondas special. RELIABILITY. So it makes sense in every way for anyone to go for City instead of Vento.

The problem with the City is it is not a outright driver's car. If I were on the lookout of a Petrol sedan I would put my money on Fiesta classic base version. At 5.5L it is a steal with brilliant handling and the responsive 1.6L Petrol.
The T-Jet is also good but, It costs a lot more and comes with A.S.S issues. Reliability issues, resale issues, spare parts availability issues and what not.
The Vento Petrol is not even in question. It is a good car but does not have any USP. It is not Fast. It is not VFM. It isn't as spacious as Sunny or even City. It does not handle as brilliantly as T-Jet or Fiesta (New & classic). It is not loaded with features. So it does not make sense.

Originally Posted by samarjitdhar

I wonder how long can VW carry on producing and selling petrol Ventos under such heavy discounts. Discounts on petrol cars are here to stay as petrol buyers are just going to go southwards in number with imminent price rises planned after the state elections.

And with the Rapid it will be even more difficult. From what I hear, the Rapid petrol is better in performance that the Vento's unit. I think VW got carried away by the initial response. They will take their sweet time to realise they are digging their own grave.

A simple accident (here in the forum) affecting the fender and some mechanical parts costs a whooping 1.5L (Quote). Similar damage in an alto should have cost not more than 25K. Is Vento 6 times as expensive as an alto.

[bala80]

I just checked in my car today and it doesnt have this switch either. Intresting, since this information has been provided by VW for the workshop service and maintanence manual, I think this will be accessible on removing the glove box, but then it will beat the purpose of having it in the first place, isnt it? I will verify this and post it in a couple of days time.

Originally Posted by Abhinav.Daos

I can't find this switch in my car, is this something new in the refreshed vento?

So this offer is only on petrol or TDI's too?

And the ICICI guy has the old petrol (pre-refresh) on display, the petrol also received this additional features, but at a much later date than the TDI. Recollect the official press release from VW on added features and the thread from GTO announcing the same? Even with added features, vento is no match to the city as far as petrol mill is concerned, I agree.

Originally Posted by samarjitdhar

The petrol Vento really sucks big time in the features department when compared to the post-refresh Vento TDI. While the surveillance system is still there, the steering doesn't have a leather cover, has the stone age HU and there are no steering controls. I am sure the reverse parking sensors are also missing in the petrol Vento. .

[vb-saan]

Originally Posted by bala80

I just checked in my car today and it doesnt have this switch either. Intresting, since this information has been provided by VW for the workshop service and maintanence manual, I think this will be accessible on removing the glove box, but then it will beat the purpose of having it in the first place, isnt it? I will verify this and post it in a couple of days time.

I don’t think that should be the case. The passenger airbag switch should be available in an accessible place, and if it’s not seen, probably it’s not there.

[drmohitg]

Originally Posted by oxyzen

But what is does offer is a sweet 1.5L engine which is simply segment best. It does compromise on a bit of low end torque but it compensates with good FE (Something Vento can only dream about). And on top of it it looks fabulous. But one thing that makes the City special is what makes all Hondas special. RELIABILITY. So it makes sense in every way for anyone to go for City instead of Vento.

I am not too sure about the City. I never somehow got fond of the car. We have a 2005/2006 Honda city which has done around 60k kms now. To be honest I never liked the car much. The interiors look bad as I hate those cheap glossy looking plastics, the FE is nothing to be proud off too although I have heard that the new City with the IVTEC the FE is much better. The after sales is also costly and in no way cheap. But yes its surely very reliable which as you rightly said is its biggest USP.

A simple accident (here in the forum) affecting the fender and some mechanical parts costs a whooping 1.5L (Quote). Similar damage in an alto should have cost not more than 25K. Is Vento 6 times as expensive as an alto.

But the same would have costed a lot on the City and the Verna too I am guessing. You can't really compare Alto's repair cost with that of the Vento.

[samarjitdhar]

Originally Posted by bala80

So this offer is only on petrol or TDI's too?

And the ICICI guy has the old petrol (pre-refresh) on display, the petrol also received this additional features, but at a much later date than the TDI. Recollect the official press release from VW on added features and the thread from GTO announcing the same? Even with added features, vento is no match to the city as far as petrol mill is concerned, I agree.

I actually didn't bother to wait and ask about the offers as the sales guy was having a very hard time explaining to a not so potential customer why there were no AUX/USB inputs, no steering controls, no bluetooth integration . I didnt want to add to the poor fella's misery.

Are you sure about the new features being also offered on the petrol HL, I just had a look at the VW website and got a snapshot of their features as shown here



The steering controls and other refresh features don't appear in the list for the petrol HL. Though even after a year we should keep in mind VW has not yet learnt on how to update the features on their own website . I am not sure if they got some retired "babus" to manage their web presence. Even government sites fare better.

[bala80]

It says so in the indian version of the maintanence manual and hence my doubt. This document was provided to me by one of our members directly downloaded from the VW site, Im fairly certain it should be behind the glovebox, but what purpose does it serve in there, is my question.

Originally Posted by vb-san

I don’t think that should be the case. The passenger airbag switch should be available in an accessible place, and if it’s not seen, probably it’s not there.

Please check the following post - http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian...ml#post2577012

If the website still doesnt list the features, VW should either be having inventories of HL petrol unsold or havent bothered to update their website yet. I wouldn't be surprised if both of these are true.

Originally Posted by samarjitdhar

Are you sure about the new features being also offered on the petrol HL, I just had a look at the VW website and got a snapshot of their features as shown here

[samarjitdhar]

Originally Posted by bala80

Please check the following post - http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian...ml#post2577012

If the website still doesnt list the features, VW should either be having inventories of HL petrol unsold or havent bothered to update their website yet. I wouldn't be surprised if both of these are true.

So they are showcasing the petrol HL with the refreshed features and delivering the old ones from the inventory without these features ? I hope we can find some ownership reports on TBHP from recent owners of the petrol HL version of the Vento who have purchased it recently.

Either ways this is hardly a winning formula. Neither the engine is a serious competitor to the iVTec, the feature list falling short of the City and the Honda badge working for the City the petrol version of the Vento is doomed to eternal discounts IMO till VW gets to a point when the petrol one is made on order

[oxyzen]

Originally Posted by samarjitdhar

Honda badge working for the City the petrol version of the Vento is doomed to eternal discounts IMO till VW gets to a point when the petrol one is made on order

Or may be a 1.4L Tsi engine can change all that. A car as mundane as the Vento Petrol will suddenly look a lot more provoking. I think the public has made themselves clear. They are on the look out of performance as well as FE. A good petrol engine will atleast satisfy half of the requirements.

[GTO]

Note from Mod : Please stick to the topic. The Honda City can be discussed in other, dedicated City threads.

[DieselDon]

Originally Posted by ajay_satpute

Me too saw this advt in TOI. Here's the advt. Can't fathom the logic.
Attachment 872355

Originally Posted by drmohitg

So anybody yet knows about the details of this offer on the Vento?

Saw this in TOI Hyd as well. Anyone knows about the details ?