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Old 4th May 2012, 11:43   #91
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Re: Automatic below 16 lakhs

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Originally Posted by jinojohnt View Post
Be advised that no road in India is safe for speeds of 180+ (sorry for the blanket statement).
Not only they are not safe (especially for other innocent road users) but they are also not legally permitted. One should be looking at race tracks and not public roads for doing 180+ kmph.
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Old 4th May 2012, 11:53   #92
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Re: Automatic below 16 lakhs

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Originally Posted by jinojohnt View Post
If I understand correctly, your daily drive is through 30 km of dense traffic, and your occasional long drive is only once in 2 or 3 months. If you buy a single LARGE automatic car, it would be a pain in your daily drive (dimension wise, maintenance wise and FE wise).
A big Automatic does not always mean a guzzler, my 2000cc 140hp Automatic Laura delivers same FE(and more when both are driven at speed) as the 1300cc 75hp Multijet Punto. Ask someone who drives a 520d with light foot.
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Old 4th May 2012, 12:18   #93
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Re: Automatic below 16 lakhs

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Originally Posted by jinojohnt View Post
If I understand correctly, your daily drive is through 30 km of dense traffic, and your occasional long drive is only once in 2 or 3 months. If you buy a single LARGE automatic car, it would be a pain in your daily drive (dimension wise, maintenance wise and FE wise).

Why don't you buy a small automatic such as A-Star or i10? It would be a boon in dense city traffic. With the remaining amount, you could buy a 'big' Manual car for your long drives. Better still, you could use your current City for your long drives. (Since your long drives would be only once in a few months, your dad can use your 'small' automatic when you take the City for long drives - provided you are staying with/near your dad)

Be advised that no road in India is safe for speeds of 180+ (sorry for the blanket statement).
Omg! In the 2nd or 3rd page of the thread i think i've mentioned that i booked the skoda laura. .I bought the skoda laura elegance AT 10 months back and it ticked all my boxes. Great FE, quite compact, stable at high speeds, and reaaaaaaally luxurious!
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Old 4th May 2012, 14:25   #94
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Quote:
Originally Posted by .anshuman

A big Automatic does not always mean a guzzler, my 2000cc 140hp Automatic Laura delivers same FE(and more when both are driven at speed) as the 1300cc 75hp Multijet Punto. Ask someone who drives a 520d with light foot.
Anshuman,
I had searched for the ownership reviews for laura dsg 2.0 TDi CR.
The oldest one was by akki, which hasn't been updated since 2011.

Next is yours at 26,000 kms.

What is your view on the long term reliability of the dsg box ? Harish intends to retain the vehicle for 10 yrs.
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Old 4th May 2012, 14:55   #95
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Re: Automatic below 16 lakhs

Most higher end ATs have a Torque Converter lock which comes into play above a certain speed. Also, (at least with the Civic) the gearing is quite tall. In fact the EPA rating of the AT on highway is 1mpg higher than the MT. As a result I got 17.6kpl on my way back from Agra. Never hit even 14 in my old Accent, or even older Esteem (carb). I regularly get 14+ as long as I try to keep the VTeC out. However, in town do expect it to drink more (say 10-15%).

Last edited by sgiitk : 4th May 2012 at 14:57.
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Old 4th May 2012, 14:56   #96
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Re: Automatic below 16 lakhs

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Originally Posted by F150 View Post
Anshuman,
I had searched for the ownership reviews for laura dsg 2.0 TDi CR.
The oldest one was by akki, which hasn't been updated since 2011.

Next is yours at 26,000 kms.
Akki's car is PD not CR. There are a lot of CR DSG ownership reports around.
Here is a list of Laura ownership reviews:

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/test-...ighlight=laura

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/test-...ighlight=laura

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/test-...ighlight=laura

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/test-...ighlight=laura (Skoda Laura TSi Ambiente - April '11 - Ownership Review)

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/test-...ighlight=laura

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/test-...ighlight=laura (My birthday gift: Skoda Laura 2.0TDI MT)

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/test-...ighlight=laura (My all new Skoda Laura Ambiente 2.0 MT diesel)

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/test-...ighlight=laura (My Turbo Beast: Laura TSI 2011 : CS)

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/test-...ighlight=laura (Riding the Power High on my Silver Ambiente Laura TSI)

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/test-...ighlight=laura (Snow white Skoda Laura 2.0 DSG)

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/test-...ighlight=laura (Black Ambiente Skoda Laura 1.8 TSI - Total satisfaction incorporated)

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/test-...ighlight=laura (Skoda Laura, Ambiente 2.0 TDI DSG : Ownership Experience)

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/test-...ighlight=laura

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/test-...ighlight=laura (2 Tamed beauties - Superb and Laura now delivered)

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/test-...ighlight=laura (Tug of war between the heart and mind. Win-Win Skoda Laura 2.0 TDI CR Ambiente.)

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/test-...ighlight=laura (5000 KM on my Laura TSI)

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/test-...ighlight=laura (Laura TSI Initial ownership experience)

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/test-...ighlight=laura (Skoda Laura Ambiente. EDIT : 50,000 kms update on pg. 6)

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/test-...ighlight=laura (Skoda Laura Ambiente. EDIT : 50,000 kms update on pg. 6)

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/test-...ighlight=laura (Petra to Laura - I will never learn!!)

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/test-...ighlight=laura (Skoda Laura L&K DSG, Finally took the plunge)


Quote:
What is your view on the long term reliability of the dsg box ? Harish intends to retain the vehicle for 10 yrs.
The newer 6 speed DSGs are reliable, my own car has done 30k kms without even a single issue anywhere.
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Old 4th May 2012, 23:53   #97
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Re: Automatic below 16 lakhs

I want to buy an automatic sedan below 12 lacs OTR. I currently drive a 2010 Mhawk and it serves me well for all my needs. We have a need for an automatic that will be primarily used inside city with about 3-4k kms on the highway annually. My left leg muscles are kinda disproportionate to the right ones after 35k kms on the scorpio and hence looking for easy to drive vehicle which will be kept alongside the scorpio.

I TD'd the Vento, Rapid, City and Fiesta ATs. I am trying to choose between the City V-AT and Fiesta Style AT. TBH, I am leaning towards the fiesta but sometimes towards Honda City since I am not sure if I want to be testing an unknown factor with the fiesta. The sales charts were not exactly set on fire by the new fiesta since launch. I am scared it will meet the fate of the modeo or fusion in india and spares become a nightmare in the future (5-7 years from now). I intend to keep this vehicle till the axles fall off. and then some years.

OTOH I really like the styling of the 2008-2011 city (though the chrome ityadi is a big turn off). I dont mind getting a 2011 model city from some dealer in bangalore than this 2012 model. but other than that, the city, to me, is a far better looking car.

The safety aspects of the ford is really influencing my decision. So my questions are -

1) Is the Fiesta in a class higher than the City in terms of safety? There isnt any NCAP for the city so thats what leads me to ask this question. This is of paramount importance for me while choosing this sedan. The ESP, Boron steel reinforcement, and what seems like better sheet metal in the new fiesta kinda lead me to believe that the city is really falling short by a big margin. please provide your views on this. This may make or break the deal for me.

2) Which is a better car to cruise around at 140? not that I intend to do that all the time but I want a car that has real good high speed dynamics and that was one of the reasons i did not TD the Verna, though it had diesel and was only a little over my budget. I drive a lot on the highways and blr-hyd is a common route for me and i think a sedan with good road manners at high speed is a good thing to have.

3) The service interval of 10k for the ford is a good thing? will it mean lower service costs since both honda and ford will work out to same cost due to 5k service interval for the honda.

The first 2 things above are really important to me. The 3rd is not a deal breaker but a good to know.

Also, i want some views in general about putting in about 11.14 lacs of hard earned money on a ford fiesta given my apprehensions that i mentioned in the second paragraph of my post. While I realise, it will only be a speculation on the future of fiesta, are my apprehensions baseless?
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Old 5th May 2012, 08:31   #98
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Re: Automatic below 16 lakhs

[quote=ak916;2767350

1) Is the Fiesta in a class higher than the City in terms of safety?

2) Which is a better car to cruise around at 140?

[/QUOTE]

1) I bought the Fiesta over the other cars because of its superior safety features over the City. It gets a solid 5 star NCAP rating which includes a new rollover test (though that is for the 6 airbag US version) and things like stability control, which I did not see anywhere in the city. It feels very solid; more so that the Vento. Test drive the City and the Fiesta, and you will immediately notice the difference in build. The City, while a great car, feels flimsy in comparison. Safety was the number #1 influencer while buying my car, and the Fiesta checked all the boxes. The relatively high fuel efficiency and the driving pleasure was a bonus!

2) The high point of the Fiesta is its driving dynamics, and that will be apparent at high speeds. Though I have not driven the Honda City at 140, I would think that the Fiesta would trump the City in stability and handling at those speeds since the Ford feels rock solid at 140.

There is no doubting that the new Fiesta is a dud in India. My Fiesta Automatic was the first to be delivered in Bangalore, and that was one whole month after the launch. And I can actually count the number of new Fiesta's I've seen on the roads till date. It is easier to spot a BMW 3 series in Bangalore than a new Fiesta. On the brighter side, Fiesta owners become part of a very exclusive club

But the new Fiesta is a global model, and Ford will launch the 2013 facelifted Fiesta soon, which comes with many shared parts, and should do better than the existing new Fiesta because of better aesthetics. So that should take care of parts replacements at least for the next 7-8 years. This is the only trade off for what is an absolutely brilliant car. One of the most under rated cars is India is the new Powershift Fiesta. Drive one, and you actually look forward to the mad Bangalore traffic everyday!

My write-up on the Fiesta automatic will be up in June, by that time I should have had a chance to drive the US spec Fiesta later this month. Will post a comparative review!
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Old 5th May 2012, 13:17   #99
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Re: Automatic below 16 lakhs

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Originally Posted by Kamen_rider View Post
1) One of the most under rated cars is India is the new Powershift Fiesta. Drive one, and you actually look forward to the mad Bangalore traffic everyday!
Thanks for your reply. I actually found the ford built better when i TD'd both the city and fiesta. Hearing from a current owner helps put things in perspective.

Does the pick up suffer when the car is loaded with people and ac is turned on? Also, does it scrape bottom when loaded or otherwise?
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Old 5th May 2012, 13:45   #100
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Re: Automatic below 16 lakhs

I have had four average built adults in the Fiesta with the a/c on, and I did not feel any strain on the engine. However, the engine vibs are transmitted to the steering with the a/c on at idle. Once in speed, it disappears.

Haven't scraped any breakers yet though I go through pretty big ones on my way to work. But I go dead slow over speedhumps anyway, so that helps too.
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Old 7th May 2012, 16:32   #101
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Re: Automatic below 16 lakhs

Took TDs of following last weekend.

Laura Tdi, AT.
Honda City AT (for the 2nd time)
Scoprio 4X2 AT.
Fiesta AT (For the 2nd time).

Cars pending for TD are Cruze, Corolla and Verna. All ATs.

Experience from TD so far:-
Chevrolet has been the worst of the lot when it comes to dealer experience. They promised TD on 3 different days and didn't show up. They kept reassuring me that car is on it's way, drive has left, blah blah... but never made it to my house. I wasn't feeling too good with such an experience meated out by TRIDENT CHEVROLET (Jaynagar 5th Blk) for the prospective customer for a 18+ Lakh car. For that matter, no one should be given this treatment. I'm moving away from them. I will try my luck by visiting Kropex this weekend.

On Saturday, i had a chance to TD Laura, Fiesta, Scorpio and City. All back to back, from 10 am to 3 pm. All TDs were done in CityTraffic and NICE expressway. My home is 3 Kms away from NICE and to get to NICE i go through a pretty dense traffic around gottigere area. So it was good for me to test the car in City slow moving traffic, bad roads and Expressway.


Laura won my heart. Boy, what a machine !!! I was blown away with it's extremely good road discipline. The back seat comfort was excellent as per my mom and wife. I trust them since they are very cynical about backseat comfort. They dont like getting tossed around. All this on the test drive car that had clocked 52K Kms !!!!! I tried the S Mode and it really put the car in different mode, with gears changing at 4000RPM. It really pulls away from the crowd in S Mode. The manual mode was equally good.(Tap, tap,tap and you are gone !!!!)
The Skoda dealer experience was good as well. Though they were not so convinced seeing me as a prospective Laura customer on day one (with me in shorts and Ts, and arrived on 2 wheeler), a quick chat with the manager in the showroom put things in place. The car arrived on time to my house in a spik and span condition. The sales guy was extremely knowledgeable and explained almost everything that i wanted to know.


Scorpio Test drive started with a BIG Surprise. I wonder what SKS (Dealer) was thinking when they sent me a Scorpio that was modified to brim. It was dancing all around. Even before i could start my TD, i figured out that my family was finding it extremely tough to sit comfirtably in the mid row. It's not about leg space, but the quality/shape of those seats. Such a basic one. The headrest was supremely hard. On top of it the car had a modified after-market alloys and Im sure the supension was messed up. The car had ~39000 on ODO but it seems like lot more abused. Even the smallest of bump on the road was creating lot of body-roll inside the cabin. The AT box is quite basic and it takes a while to get use to. The sales girl who came in for TD had basic knowledge but couldn't explain to my satisfaction. I asked her about the absence of Tiptronics, and she substituted that for tyretronics. The power of the car is quite good once it hits the optimum RPM and it surely has Road Presense, but this wasn't the car that i can feel realy confortable driving around everyday... The body roll was so bad that my mom feel sick for 30-40 mins post test drive.
The sales girl was so low on energy that it felt that they don't want to sell ATs. Somehow, the overall experience was bad.

FIesta and City (TDs for the 2nd time). Everything about Fiesta is good but it just cant take 5 adults on board. City has this advantage.
Though i have told this before, let me mention this again - I love the Steering of Fiesta. It's infact THE BEST for me. I felt that Fiesta Steering more comfortable than Laura as well. Anyways, Im letting for Fiesta just for the reason of not taking 5 adults on board.

For now, the cars that i have ruled out are Civic, Scorpio and Fiesta.

Cars in contention post TD - Laura and City.

Cars yet to TD - Verna, Cruze and Corolla.

I dont intend to look at Fluence. Since the dealer n/w is flimsy and I somehow don't like those quirky looks.No offence meant.

Last edited by GTO : 22nd May 2012 at 15:18. Reason: Please do NOT post about high speeds on public roads
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Old 7th May 2012, 16:36   #102
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Re: Automatic below 16 lakhs

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kamen_rider View Post
1) I bought the Fiesta over the other cars because of its superior safety features over the City. It gets a solid 5 star NCAP rating which includes a new rollover test (though that is for the 6 airbag US version) and things like stability control, which I did not see anywhere in the city.
Both Honda and Toyota take their cars and products seriously. The GCON is something that makes Honda/Toyota more safer in headon and side collision. Look at few youtube videos on GCON. This is presently available in Honda/Toyota cars.

Honda City certainly feels Flimsy compared to Fiesta/Rapid. But i think safety wise, all are quite good.
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Old 27th October 2012, 19:37   #103
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Which Petrol AT: Honda City or Hyundai Verna ?

As the title says, I need advice and your inputs to assist me in making the best choice.

1. Cars short listed:-
City V-AT (w/out sunroof) and Verna 1.6(P) SX(O)AT.

2. Price range: -
11-12 lacs.

3. Maintenance & After Sales Service (A.S.S.) expectations:-
Car should be reliable and non-fussy in long term. Routine maintenance cost not a factor. Need dependable after sales support.

4. Average distance traveled per month:-
Not more than 1000 kms.

5. Where car will be mostly used (city / highway / rough roads etc):-
Mostly city with one or maximum two trips a year out of town by road.

6. Chauffer driven / self driven:-
This car will be mostly self driven for next 2 years atleast. Hence, opting for AT, easier on the calf muscles in traffic.

7. Whether the vehicle will be shared by other members of family:
occasionally

8. Any specific requirements from car (ex. Better luggage space, responsive engine, rear seat comfort):-
Reliable, hassle free ownership. Considering I'm choosing an AT (both with semi-auto modes) the car should be pleasant and comfortable to drive with good features. A lot of my requirements are met by both cars like styling and safety features. Hence the dilemma for which I'm posting.

9. How long you intend on keeping this car (and how important resale is to you):-
I'll keep the car for atleast 5 years, possibly more.
Resale is important (thats why I'm not considering Ford Fiesta AT; and for bad after sales) but I understand that AT cars usually have lower than MT after sales.

Admins, I'm not a frequent poster so pardon any rule violations.
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Old 28th October 2012, 13:57   #104
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Re: Which Petrol AT: Honda City or Hyundai Verna ?

I think Honda City will be the best option in petrol engined vehicles for you out of the two listed, for your usage and preferences. Hyundai service tends to get costlier as the car gets older and more maintenance is required on the car. Comparitively, Honda's Vtec is famous to be more reliable option and gives peace of mind for lakhs of kilometers of driving.

Also on second thoughts, if you are planning to keep your vehicle for more than five years and can up you budget a bit, you can get a cost advantage and torque of diesel engine in the same price range with Hyundai Verna AT diesel and with an average usage of more that 10000 kms per year, it would be worth it.
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Old 28th October 2012, 14:11   #105
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Re: Which Petrol AT: Honda City or Hyundai Verna ?

Not an easy one to pick but I'd say go with the City for the following points;
  • iVtec!! Can easily be termed as the best petrol engine below the 15L range.
  • Paddle shifters... Adds to the fun
  • Reliability of a Honda

Good Luck!!
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