[Rajeevraj]

Originally Posted by hamster

Yes, it was an Xcent finally.
Had considered Amaze but the xcent beat it with the features for the price.


I was indeed impressed with the space it offered compared to Dzire. Its a 407 ltr and we found that it would meet our requirements for a long travel.

Thanks for your inputs.

Congrats on the purchase.For your requirements and budget, the xcent is a very good choice. Wishing you miles of happiness with the new car.

[sandygordon]

Is it just me or is it true that the vento and the verna have feathery light steering. Took the diesel vento and the 4s verna CRDI for test drives on back to back days on a fairly straight highway with some turns. The mid range on the vento was slightly better than the verna, torque on the vento was not as impressive as the pinning back acceleration on the Maruti MJD cars(swift / dzire). Steering on the Vento weighed a bit more at triple digit speeds and turns were equally nervous. Verna was more comfortable for snail pace city traffic due to poor torque in low revs. But in 3rd or 4th gear acceleration seemed to be even. Suspensions were equally soft.

May be the lack of ability to differentiate the vento and verna on a test drive would disqualify me from the 'petrol-head' clan.

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Originally Posted by sandygordon

May be the lack of ability to differentiate the vento and verna on a test drive would disqualify me from the 'petrol-head' clan.

Even I found the 1.5 TDI to be very tame and nothing compared to the old explosive 1.6 TDi. The midrange we love in MJD cars is totally missing and that was the biggest disappointment. It is very linear which in a way is a good thing- but I found it missing the fun aspect.

Not sure of the suspension setup since I haven't driven a Verna recently.

Hope Ciaz comes with the 1.6 MJD once S-Cross is launched.

[coolboy007]

Originally Posted by sandygordon

May be the lack of ability to differentiate the vento and verna on a test drive would disqualify me from the 'petrol-head' clan.

Both Verna and Vento are no corner carvers, they are perfect family cars especially Vento which has a much better rear seating than Verna. VW have tuned the suspension a bit too much on the softer side which gives a very good ride quality but the car does bounce like a ping pong on long wave undulations and there is a fair bit of body roll during cornerning. The steering though light is still a million times better than Hyundai's steering.

I have driven the Verna as well and the Vento still is miles better than it when it comes to ride/handling balance. The 1.5 TDI is too boring to drive, have a 2012 Vento TDi and the engine is explosive past 2000 rpm, torque surge all the way. What disappoints is the handling, ride/handling was a downgrade considering i came from a Linea to Vento. Was so hard to get used to the almost lifeless steering after using Fiat's hydraulic unit.

Recently bought a 2014 Fiesta and that car is an enthusiast's delight, gem of a steering, perfect ride and perfect handling. Such a hoot to drive despite being low on power. Have almost stopped driving my Vento after i got the Fiesta, Fiesta drives like a dream on expressways, Vento is not even close.

Want a good comfortable family car - consider Vento/Rapid, you want a car that puts a grin on your face when you drive hard, look else where, the Vento with its soft suspension and average steering will disappoint. Even the Swift handles better than the Vento, has a better steering too.

[FINTAIL]

Originally Posted by coolboy007

Want a good comfortable family car - consider Vento/Rapid, you want a car that puts a grin on your face when you drive hard, look else where, the Vento with its soft suspension and average steering will disappoint. Even the Swift handles better than the Vento, has a better steering too.

In continuation of our PM's, my options now are:

Discounted Linea MJD Dynamic. '14 stock. Discounted Punto Evo 90HP MJD. Or the discounted Punto 75 Emotion/Dynamic. Evo- of course! If I get an early 2014 Punto 90HP, pre-facelift- I'll grab it with both hands.

And: The Tata Zest XMS. Or higher models. I'm actively contemplating the Punto 75 Emotion and the Zest. The Zest has the 90HP QJD, and it has more or less equivalent torque- to the Punto 75.

I agree that the Punto 90 is in another league altogether.

What say?

[coolboy007]

Originally Posted by FINTAIL

In continuation of our PM's, my options now are:

Do you need a sedan? Do you require the extra boot space and rear legroom Linea provides over Punto? If the answer is no, i will suggest to go for Punto Evo 90 HP, that is the best option for you.

It is a much more city friendly car than Linea as Linea is quite long in length so parking/manuevring is an issue and you can not zip around in a sedan as much as you can in a hatch. There is no need to get a sedan if you have no need of the large boot space.

I really dont like Tata Zest much so my vote would go for Punto/Linea, Fiat is even offering 5 year warranty which is an added bonus + the service costs are low as well.

I love the way Punto Evo looks, looks much hotter than the new Linea, go for the 90HP model and you can even get it remapped later, has a little more turbo lag than 75hp model but is a way better highway performer, you will also get 16inch wheels with Alnac4 g tyres which are really good.

[petrolhead_neel]

Quoting everyone to let them know that we finally booked the Ford Classic 1.6 Titanium in Paprika red. A huge thanks to all the BHPians who helped me zero in on the perfect car. TDed the car with Mom and Dad and they were mighty impressed. Will get the car by end of April. The SA, Mr. Manirul, was very helpful. Since the time he came to know about my T-BHP membership (I was wearing a T-BHP T-Shirt proudly), he became altogether different, giving me the utmost importance. He also gifted the latest edition of Overdrive, perks of being a BHPian.

Sorry to say but we didn't test drive cars like the Linea T-Jet and GT TSI. As it is gonna be our first car, Dad decided to tighten the budget.

So, finally, the ultimate drivers' machine is coming to Neel's garage.

[a4anurag]

Originally Posted by petrolhead_neel

Quoting everyone to let them know that we finally booked the Ford Classic 1.6 Titanium in Paprika red.

Great choice and I am happy that this will be the first car in your family.

Mark my words, it will be tough for you guy to find a replacement for the Fiesta whenever you guys feel getting another car later on!

All the best and awaiting the ownership with the details!

[Rajeevraj]

Originally Posted by petrolhead_neel

.

So, finally, the ultimate drivers' machine is coming to Neel's garage.

Congrats Neel to you and your family. The first car is always very special. Wishing you all the best and years of happiness with the new car.

But one question. (Not to confuse, just curious). Since the ford aspire launch is round the corner, and is expected to be a replacement for the classic, did you consider waiting for that?

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Originally Posted by Rajeevraj

Since the ford aspire launch is round the corner, and is expected to be a replacement for the classic, did you consider waiting for that?

Aspire will have a 1.2 L petrol engine for the manual transmission options. There are rumours of the automatic coming with a 1.5, but that engine is not as good to drive as the 1.6 Duratec.

Infact, I think this is the last month of duty for that beautiful 1.6 engine that does duty in the Classic.

[IshaanIan]

Originally Posted by petrolhead_neel

Quoting everyone to let them know that we finally booked the Ford Classic 1.6 Titanium in Paprika red.

So, finally, the ultimate drivers' machine is coming to Neel's garage.

Congratulations Neel on what is certainly one of the last true driving machines out there (balanced chassis, good steering, normally aspirated petrol lump). Nice colour too

Hit me up when the car is passed on to you in later years. Would love to help you spruce it up cause this is a keeper

Cheers!

[petrolhead_neel]

Originally Posted by a4anurag

Great choice and I am happy that this will be the first car in your family.
Mark my words, it will be tough for you guy to find a replacement for the Fiesta whenever you guys feel getting another car later on!
All the best and awaiting the ownership with the details!

Thanks a lot Anurag Sir. Your reply influenced my Dad to take the test drive. After the TD, there was no looking back. Did not test drive any other car. After the TD, opened BHPian vnabhi's thread and showed my parents the paprika red colour. We chose that color and booking amount was paid.

About replacement, let's just hope that we never have to replace her.

Originally Posted by Rajeevraj

Congrats Neel to you and your family. The first car is always very special. Wishing you all the best and years of happiness with the new car.
But one question. (Not to confuse, just curious). Since the ford aspire launch is round the corner, and is expected to be a replacement for the classic, did you consider waiting for that?

The reasons not to wait for the Figo Aspire are as follows:

For me: The Fiesta 1.6 has always been one of my dream cars. Even if it were ten years later, I wouldn't mind buying this car.

For Dad: He felt that this was a soulful car while he felt that modern cars like the Polo, which was on our shortlist, lacked any soul. He loved the mechanical feel of the car-especially the HPS. As I have mentioned earlier, the lack of features does not bother him at all.

Originally Posted by IshaanIan

Congratulations Neel on what is certainly one of the last true driving machines out there (balanced chassis, good steering, normally aspirated petrol lump). Nice colour too
Hit me up when the car is passed on to you in later years. Would love to help you spruce it up cause this is a keeper
Cheers!

Thanks a lot sir! You were very helpful to me right from the beginning. You cleared several of my doubts. I still remeber you advising me to buy a used GV and we did consider it very seriously.

About the color, I wanted white so that I could put black racing stripes (boy racer) but Mom hated the idea. So we went for Parika red, which was second best for me.
Regarding sprucing up, I would love to take help from a 'true' petrolhead like you. Actually, the car hasn't yet arrived and I have started thinking about CAI and FFE.

My dad test drove the diesel, as the petrol wasn't available. The 1.6 is till now total 'mystery' to us.

OT, why don't you create a thread on your Kizashi? Would love to read it.

Cheers,
Neel

[IshaanIan]

Originally Posted by petrolhead_neel

Thanks a lot sir! You were very helpful to me right from the beginning. You cleared several of my doubts. I still remeber you advising me to buy a used GV and we did consider it very seriously.

About the color, I wanted white so that I could put black racing stripes (boy racer) but Mom hated the idea. So we went for Parika red, which was second best for me.
Regarding sprucing up, I would love to take help from a 'true' petrolhead like you. Actually, the car hasn't yet arrived and I have started thinking about CAI and FFE.

My dad test drove the diesel, as the petrol wasn't available. The 1.6 is till now total 'mystery' to us.

OT, why don't you create a thread on your Kizashi? Would love to read it.

Cheers,
Neel

Sir? Please! I know I just turned 21 but I'm not sure I want to be called Sir just yet (maybe if I'm knighted in the future haha ) Having been into cars for a long time, I've learnt that white is the most easy colour to maintain; friends with white cars spend so little to fix small nicks while I would have to spend infinitely more money and time for similar things. That said, I'm with your mum about no racing stripes.

Sprucing up the car can be left to a later stage. I always advice getting familiar with the car first and taking things slowly so you can better understand the cars limits and their changes. It's really a bond you create with the car

After driving Beelzebub's version of the car, the petrol will be a treat! The normally aspirated 1.6 is very responsive, delivers power and torque in a predictable yet exhilarating manner and it revs almost like a Japanese unit. It's a real gem. Might want to think about slapping on some better tyres to take advantage of the power and handling dynamics of the car though.

Been thinking about creating an ownership thread on the two cars I drive; Kizashi which never fails to bring an overwhelming sense of pleasure everytime I drive it hard, drive it slow, just sit in it listening to music while waiting for a friend or park it and look back at it And my 11 year old Yellow Wagon R which though I would not recommend or buy myself, has found a special place in my heart and even a few of my friends' I've had several adventures with the car, loads of firsts, it's been to hell and back with me and never asks for much in return. I really do have a lot of interesting things to say about the car even though it is one of the most boring common cars out there. There's another very special car joining my collection soon which I'd like to keep secret right now and I'd really love to write about all these rides but with College, handling a Garage which a friend and I setup recently (help is available anytime), other business ventures and adjusting to Bangalore (being a new city for me) I have no time for such things unfortunately.

[vnabhi]

Congratulations @petrolhead_neel! I'm sure both you and your parents will enjoy every mile munched for years to come!

Do post an intital ownership thread after a few days. Do share the on-road price and information on any freebies that were offered.

[aravinrd]

Congratulations neel! you will love this car,I do own one for the last 6 years done 53K, loved every bit of the drive. Amazing control anytime.