[Vivek Jayan]

Originally Posted by suhaas307

Vivek, I couldn't help but see the Duster flash before my eyes when you mentioned that the roads you will be driving on might be uneven.

Sure, it isn't as sophisticated as your quintessential sedan. It lacks some key features and the interior is just about average. But you will really appreciate the car's ability to remain composed at higher speeds while dismissing bad-roads. The ride quality is excellent and is much better than cars that cost twice as much! It certainly does not boast of sedan (Vento / Rapid) - rivaling handling, but it's quite sorted around the twisties and on the straight roads. it's reasonably powerful too. The 110 with its 6th cog will guarantee you good economy and it should pull strongly as well. The gearbox is good and the ergonomics aren't bad at all.

If you are open to other options and alternatives to sedans, the Duster is your best bet. If you can live with the iffy interior and the quirkiness, it's a brilliant car. it's got its fundamentals absolutely bang-on.

But if you're the kind who is enamored by quality-interiors and features / equipment, walk away and get something else instead.

Thank you for the suggestion. But I guess my mom and dad wouldn't want anything other than a sedan. Dad will be the one using it the most in my absence and he doesn't have the love for anything like an SUV as hes strictly a sedan person! And mom would definitely complain that shes too old to be washing an SUV (Hence no Innova or XUV on the list!)

And yes, we expect the interiors to be a pleasant place to be in as well. Aging parents would definitely prefer the finer things in life don't they? The Duster is a good all rounder but I seriously doubt that my parents will like to own one.

Recently I drove our i20 and Ikon one after the other and I couldn't help falling again in love with the Ikon. Though seriously old and far from being refined I just loved the way it edged forward and the super tight handling it offered! Yeah the i20 is much easier to live with but the Ikon just sets your pulse racing even though its not as smooth as the i20. Though it accelerates better in my opinion, the in- gear performance sucks (maybe cuz of its age)!

Since the sedan we wish to buy would be a replacement for the Ikon, we don't want to miss out so much on the grippy handling characteristics of it. So handling would be a big bonus for us!!

[YashD]

Well, Vivek as per your above comment. I would now ask you to go and buy the Vento but if you can spend a bit more get yourself a Laura. Its truly worth every penny. We are currently using it and just love it! The Laura ticks all your requirements perfectly and so does the Vento but well as the pricing says Laura is more premium.

[anb]

Originally Posted by pganapathy

I didn't know that the Optra diesel needed to be serviced every 5,000 km.

The service interval of all the Chevrolet cars has been changed to 7500 km. So it's not 5000km now.

Originally Posted by YashD

Cruze handles like a boat, its pathetic on highways and now its een worse after that boost to power. Reliability issues which owners are facing, wheel alignment issues, braking issues, cery low mileage ( my cousin's car did not give more than 5-6kmpl). Just after 4 months of ownership my brother ha to change the brake pads which cost a whopping 20k. So, frankly avoid it. Elantra is much better to drive and handling too is the best till date if compared to any Hyundai.For excellent driveability you can even take a look at the Flence! Its too a great vehicle but yes low on power if compared to its competitors.

That's a very much biased opinion. My Cruze has done over 52,000 Km and so far has no reliability issues. 5-6 Kmpl is just unbelievable .The Cruze AT will give a minimum of 8kmpl. My car which is a MT gives b/w 9 to 15 depending upon the driving style, road and traffic conditions. And for the brake pads , front brake pads cost 6.4K rear ones- 7.8K. So replacing both brake pads costs around 15 to 16K for including the service charges. But not the exaggerated 20K. Suspension isn't as good as Laura,Jetta & Fluence. But handling and high speed stability are much better than the New Elantra. Cruze is one of the best cars for highway. Old Elantra had the best suspension setup for a Hyundai. Not the new one. Fluence doesn't offer any excellent driveability. Earlier versions of Fluence have turbolag below 2000 RPM. New updated engine has slightly lesser turbolag. But driveability is not anywhere as good as Laura, Vento, Elantra and Rapid.

[YashD]

Originally Posted by anb

Fluence doesn't offer any excellent driveability. Earlier versions of Fluence have turbolag below 2000 RPM. New updated engine has slightly lesser turbolag. But driveability is not anywhere as good as Laura, Vento, Elantra and Rapid.

Test drive the Fluence dude, that's what you need right now.

Autocar's Review:

The modifications to the engine have worked well as driveability is much improved. You no longer have to wait till 2000rpm for the car to really get going. Power builds up steadily from a more useable 1700rpm and even then there is no sudden jump in power, just a smooth build. As before, the Fluence feels most comfortable in the mid-range though the engine will rev up till 5000rpm. The steering is great as before with nice weight to the wheel as you drive faster. What also remains a constant is the Fluence’s excellent ride quality that is still best in class.

Motorbeam's review:

The turbo kicks in much sooner, around 1700 rpm and this makes the car more drivable in bumper to bumper traffic. In gear acceleration has vastly improved too. The engine redlines to almost 500O with absolute refinement, no vibrations at all and does not get noisy at the higher rpms. NVH levels can be described as excellent, though some wind noise does creep in at high speeds. The Fluence continues to offer the best ride and handling balance in the segment. Steering weighs up nicely at high speeds and one feels confident of pushing the car. Braking performance is phenomenal too with driving aids such as Traction Control, ABS and EBD.

No offence to your opinion buddy, justed wanted to clear why I suggested Fluence.

[suhaas307]

Originally Posted by Vivek Jayan

Thank you for the suggestion. But I guess my mom and dad wouldn't want anything other than a sedan. Dad will be the one using it the most in my absence and he doesn't have the love for anything like an SUV as hes strictly a sedan person! And mom would definitely complain that shes too old to be washing an SUV (Hence no Innova or XUV on the list!)

Now after the 40k price-hike, I don't think it's very good VFM either.

Originally Posted by Vivek Jayan

Recently I drove our i20 and Ikon one after the other and I couldn't help falling again in love with the Ikon..

..Since the sedan we wish to buy would be a replacement for the Ikon, we don't want to miss out so much on the grippy handling characteristics of it. So handling would be a big bonus for us!!

The Ikon powered by that 1.6 Rocam unit was an absolute gem. I should know because I had one. I'd learned to drive in it, and it was brilliant. Unfortunately, the car didn't age very well and it required several part-changes post 50k on the odo. It depreciated like nobody's business too. The steering, the brakes, the road-manners and the gearbox were sorted.

There aren't too many cars that offer that sort of package today. The Linea TJet comes very close (save for the average gearbox) but I wouldn't recommend it, citing obvious reasons.

How about you wait for the Chevrolet Sail sedan? It should be a good buy. Even though it may reek of 'budget-built-to-cost' characteristics, it's got its fundamentals bang-on. The underpinnings are borrowed from the old Opel Corsa 'B' platform and that can only be good news because the Corsa was known for it's exemplary road-manners and ride quality. But again, the interior may not be quite up to the mark.

I'd also recommend the Rapid and Vento. Great all-rounders. I'd personally opt for the Rapid and hope for the best when it comes to after-sales-service.

If you're looking for Ikon like driving characteristics in a sedan, please stay away from the Verna. Every other option including the new Fiesta is worth trying and shouldn't disappoint either.

[Vivek Jayan]

Originally Posted by YashD

Well, Vivek as per your above comment. I would now ask you to go and buy the Vento but if you can spend a bit more get yourself a Laura. Its truly worth every penny. We are currently using it and just love it! The Laura ticks all your requirements perfectly and so does the Vento but well as the pricing says Laura is more premium.

True that the Laura is a premium porduct with sueprior built and road manners. But isn't it among the more expensive of the C+ segment cars? I doubt whether we'll be looking at anything upwards of 15- 16 lakhs. We already increased our budget by 5 lakhs by considering the higher segment. I think getting a decent speccd diesel version will come close to 20 lakhs on the road in Kerala.

Originally Posted by suhaas307

Now after the 40k price-hike, I don't think it's very good VFM either.



The Ikon powered by that 1.6 Rocam unit was an absolute gem. I should know because I had one. I'd learned to drive in it, and it was brilliant. Unfortunately, the car didn't age very well and it required several part-changes post 50k on the odo. It depreciated like nobody's business too. The steering, the brakes, the road-manners and the gearbox were sorted.

There aren't too many cars that offer that sort of package today. The Linea TJet comes very close (save for the average gearbox) but I wouldn't recommend it, citing obvious reasons.

How about you wait for the Chevrolet Sail sedan? It should be a good buy. Even though it may reek of 'budget-built-to-cost' characteristics, it's got its fundamentals bang-on. The underpinnings are borrowed from the old Opel Corsa 'B' platform and that can only be good news because the Corsa was known for it's exemplary road-manners and ride quality. But again, the interior may not be quite up to the mark.

I'd also recommend the Rapid and Vento. Great all-rounders. I'd personally opt for the Rapid and hope for the best when it comes to after-sales-service.

If you're looking for Ikon like driving characteristics in a sedan, please stay away from the Verna. Every other option including the new Fiesta is worth trying and shouldn't disappoint either.

Thank you so much for your sincere input. I too learned driving on the Ikon!
Right now dad is pretty much fixed on the new Vento(he feels its better looking than the Rapid). Hes kind of wary on going into a higher segment as he worries it'll be considerably expensive than then Vento and the lot. I'm trying to convince him to look into the bigger cars because I feel you get so much more car for a few extra lakhs. I don't know how expensive ownership will be as we or any other members in the family have never owned any cars upwards of 10 lakhs. Are they worth the extra benjamins?

[Vivek Jayan]

Correction: He worries that the higher segment cars will be considerably more expensive to live with and maintain than say, a Vento. Hes of the opinion that one cannot get the max utility out of bigger cars much on the highways of Kerala.

[YashD]

Well, according to me they indeed are! You really get for what you pay. The comfort level is higher, quality is improved. The car feels big and well its decently loaded with goodies! Plus you get the entry to the premium car segment. Basically, you will be in a different league which after a point of time you are going to love.
Well, if you are worrying about the price check out the cars now as you might get some great festive deals! In Skoda you will get some offers on Laura for sure, not sure if VW is offering any in Jetta.

[Prodigyy]

Originally Posted by Vivek Jayan

True that the Laura is a premium porduct with sueprior built and road manners. But isn't it among the more expensive of the C+ segment cars?

It definitely is more expensive of the C+ segment cars, and IMHO i would really suggest you to stay as far as possible from Skoda, one of my very close friends has a Laura no doubt he WAS in love with his machine purely because of its drive, but his love is no more, its been in the service station for almost 7-8 months and is fighting it out with the workshop people for sorting out his claims and warranties & parts that have been stolen. I for one would be miles away from any Skoda cars seeing the horror that my friend has gone through and many more over here on Team BHP.

Originally Posted by Vivek Jayan

Right now dad is pretty much fixed on the new Vento(he feels its better looking than the Rapid). Hes kind of wary on going into a higher segment as he worries it'll be considerably expensive than then Vento and the lot. I'm trying to convince him to look into the bigger cars because I feel you get so much more car for a few extra lakhs. I don't know how expensive ownership will be as we or any other members in the family have never owned any cars upwards of 10 lakhs. Are they worth the extra benjamins?

Cars in a segment above the Vento will definitely and justifiably end up being more expensive to maintain than the Vento and the difference may well end up being somewhere between 5K-25K per annum depending upon the brand and the vehicle you end up choosing.

If you like Vento, simply go for it. It definitely is a very good car to drive & be in. Though all said and done, the cars in C+ segment give you more a feeling of luxury more than anything else over the Vento. (Not to mention the status symbol that comes along with C+ segment cars read Altis, Cruze etc. )

So its more of a decision based upon your needs you wont regret your decision to buy a vento, and neither would you regret your decision to buy a Cruze. Trust me on that, both are very very good machines !!

Good luck buddy !!

[Vivek Jayan]

Originally Posted by Prodigyy

It definitely is more expensive of the C+ segment cars, and IMHO i would really suggest you to stay as far as possible from Skoda, one of my very close friends has a Laura no doubt he WAS in love with his machine purely because of its drive, but his love is no more, its been in the service station for almost 7-8 months and is fighting it out with the workshop people for sorting out his claims and warranties & parts that have been stolen. I for one would be miles away from any Skoda cars seeing the horror that my friend has gone through and many more over here on Team BHP.




Cars in a segment above the Vento will definitely and justifiably end up being more expensive to maintain than the Vento and the difference may well end up being somewhere between 5K-25K per annum depending upon the brand and the vehicle you end up choosing.

If you like Vento, simply go for it. It definitely is a very good car to drive & be in. Though all said and done, the cars in C+ segment give you more a feeling of luxury more than anything else over the Vento. (Not to mention the status symbol that comes along with C+ segment cars read Altis, Cruze etc. )

So its more of a decision based upon your needs you wont regret your decision to buy a vento, and neither would you regret your decision to buy a Cruze. Trust me on that, both are very very good machines !!

Good luck buddy !!

Thank you, I'll surely be frying my dad's head over this! Will get back to you on this topic if anything new pops up!


A BIIG thanks to everyone for their valuable inputs!

[Vivek Jayan]

Hey everyone.

I took my parents to the nearby VW showroom and make them check out the Vento. We also did a test drive of the car to see how things were like.

Me and my father were all praises for the Vento though after our TD things we're a lot more clear to us. We were checking out the Highline variant.

The car was pretty neatly made and seemed "built- to- last". But on the downside the design of the interiors felt a bit too dull and boring. Is it just me or has VW compromised a bit on material quality on the inside since the launch of their new model? Any info on this one? Last time we went to the showroom(when they had the previous model) the Vento had pretty good materials on the inside but this time it seemed kind of "plasticky"- I'm not sure... maybe it was the lighting.


Well about the TD. We were guided by the SP during the drive. Quite frankly he had no clue whatsoever of the VW lineup. He was blurting out things like "our cars come with an inbuilt tuning kit which makes them develop power like race cars!!". I was like "uuuh yeahh..". Anyways since I was pretty well informed on the car's technical aspects (at least more than the sales guy) I decided to ignore him and push the Vento a bit.

The + points:
The car seemed quite composed at speed through rough and twisty roads. I really liked the mature ride quality. Overtaking was really a breeze and there was instantaneous power on tap on the right gears. Brakes had a nice (and surprising) bite and worked pretty well. Handling was crisp. Everything felt nice and solid and the car seemed quite dignified as it moved along. Very nice!!

The - points:
Though there were no real "drawbacks" as such, I felt the clutch was a bit too springy on its way back up. I had to be extra smooth with the clutch release or else it would bite (Maybe it was the problem with the TD vehicle). Engine noise was slightly noticeable inside and it was a minor irritant. One could always hear it working but it never got our of hand. The Horn felt a bit too hard to operate. Don't know if its the case in all cars with airbags but this one was dangerously hard to operate. It was a bit of a problem during tight overtaking maneuvers when one really needed to let the guy in front know that we were passing by.

Parents' feedback

Dad: Good car. Well built. Adequate power. Nice ride. Strong brakes. Spacious and well appointed interiors. Difficult clutch. Horrible horn switch.. Gear- shift not so slick. Engine noise.

Mother: Liked everything except the beige interiors!! (Somebody eat me!!)


We also gave a detailed look at the Jetta. Though we didn't go for a TD since buying one was a bit of a doubt considering its price. We are also uncertain about the sort of annual expense it would incur to run and service etc. (Can anyone help me know more about it?) . We definitely liked the car alot!(obviously!). It just exudes quality, and fit- and- finish was superb. It was big and spacious and loaded with practical goodies that we just loved. Except for my mother of course... she loathed the beige interiors. Convincing her that its the industry standard now is of no use. She feels it'll easily get dirty and it'll be a headache trying to clean it! sigh... Though we might consider it, such thought are under quarantine for now!


Verdict on the Vento:
Definitely our top pick if we decide against the Jetta and/ or Cruze. We're yet to TD the Cruze(and Jetta!) so more on that later. The minor niggles of the Vento can easily be over- looked considering the overall package on offer.

P.S. I sincerely hope the sales people get their facts straight and get some amount of technical knowledge into their heads. Most of the time I was going around the car, explaining things to my parents while they were watching me with a dumbfounded face. Can't blame them either cuz I'm backed up with a born passion for cars and a wonderful family called Team- BHP!

[hrman]

Originally Posted by Vivek Jayan

Hey everyone.

I took my parents to the nearby VW showroom and make them check out the Vento. We also did a test drive of the car to see how things were like.

The - points:
Engine noise was slightly noticeable inside and it was a minor irritant. One could always hear it working but it never got our of hand. The Horn felt a bit too hard to operate. Don't know if its the case in all cars with airbags but this one was dangerously hard to operate.

The minor niggles of the Vento can easily be over- looked considering the overall package on offer.
!

Did you take a test drive of Rapid? It should meet all your requirements, a bit more silent than Vento, and the horn is easily accessible since this has the 4 spoke Skoda Steering. The On-road of the Elegance top end is lesser than the highline version of Vento AFAIK.

EDIT: Just saw that your dad liked Vento better than rapid because of the looks. So that rules the Rapid out. Sorry!!

[Vivek Jayan]

Originally Posted by hrman

Did you take a test drive of Rapid? It should meet all your requirements, a bit more silent than Vento, and the horn is easily accessible since this has the 4 spoke Skoda Steering. The On-road of the Elegance top end is lesser than the highline version of Vento AFAIK.

EDIT: Just saw that your dad liked Vento better than rapid because of the looks. So that rules the Rapid out. Sorry!!

Thank you for your kind input
The Rapid would've been considered if it weren't for the scary after sales! Plus the dealership near our place looks like its going through its final days. They also lacked any interest in their customers and the showroom had absolutely no cars on display!! Yes the Skoda is definitely cheaper than the VW but I think the Vento is better equipped (Steering mounted audio controls, Bluetooth etc.). Please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. Thanks again for sharing your views.

[mav2000]

SO took a test drive of the Vento and the Rapid over the weekend. The Vento is much better finished inside and out as compared to the Rapid. But the Rapid scores on engine noise as well as clutch feel. The Vento clutch seems to have a lot of viberations and thats what put me off. I have read about a few parts being changed to solve this issue, but if its an issue for all their cars, then dont they need to do something about it?

Overall fit and finish as well as the plastics used were much better in the top of the line Vento. It actually feels like a premium car. The Rapid on the other hand falls short on this front.

[agambhandari]

Just had a passing thought.
My family wishes to buy a 10 lakh car and keep it for 2-3 years only.
So as the resale needs to be high, i suppose we should go for diesel.(even if we don't need it).
So i have a simple question. All things aside, which car would have the max. resale value if i try to sell it after 3 years.
I believe it would be the Fluidic Verna. but what do you guys have to say about this topic?