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Originally Posted by Boom Shiva ...especially when compared to Lancer (japanese) and then Optra (korean). Even the engine doesn't seem very refined. I think the only reason Baleno is fast is because of its light weight, not because the engine is particularly good. |
Both Lancer and Optra are 33% to 75% more expensive than the Baleno and don't deserve to be compared to it. Otherwise we can bring in the Octavia and Corolla too for comparision.
To be fair, we should compare it with closely priced products like the Accent, Accent-Viva, Fiesta and Aveo.
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Originally Posted by Boom Shiva ...about the looks, Baleno looks are pretty debatable. I don't like tall boys either, but I still find Fiesta and Aveo to be leagues ahead in terms of refinement... |
To be objective, we must quantify refinement. What refinement are we talking about? Linearity of Acceleration? Cabin decibel limits? NVH?
Frankly, I was shopping for a new car and I drove these vehicles on identical terrain at identical speeds and came to a subjective impression.
I learned that we can expect unit to unit variations.
In the process of my testing, I found one red Aveo to be way noisier and jarring than another identical silver Aveo. Also one Fiesta turned out more sluggish in pick-up than another one. Just for fairness, I tested three Baleno VXis, two new ones in Pearl Silver and Beam Blue and an older Baleno VXi in Silky Silver. I could not discern appreciable difference in car feel, other than upholstery odors. Just for taste, I also checked out a model more expensive than my expenditure-intent. I found a big difference in acceleration between two Hyundai Elantra GLS cars. What does that tell of manufacturer quality control?
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Originally Posted by Boom Shiva ...I've had a black Gypsy King, a black Lancer and now a black Optra, all of which have been painstakingly loved and cared for by me. I'm not sure what you mean by personality of someone who drives a black car. |
I've purchased from the Pilot showroom in Chembur, Mumbai a brand new Jet Black 1999 Cielo GLE and a 2001 Majorica Black 2001 Daewoo twin-cam Nexia. I've even used a Satellite black Mercedes W210.
No generalized slur on all our personalities!
I was merely alluding to the fact that a lot of scoundrels I've personally met and been warned about, turned out to be black car choosers. I liken them to the Lord Darth Vader ( of the dark side ) ;-)
Psychologically speaking, can we build a case for two kinds of opposite personality -- those that choose black cars and those that don't?
I have some experiential data that suggests this pattern.
That's all! Once again, I never meant to "blacken" all black-car personalities.