[barcode]

Apologies for hijacking this thread, and also re-opening it.

Was the verna ever in consideration. I come with the same specs as GentleGiant. Slight back issues (can get worse with too much driving), height and similar budgets of 8Lakhs etc.

I am still a few days away from wrapping up my verna dealings!

[GentleGiant]

Originally Posted by barcode

Apologies for hijacking this thread, and also re-opening it.

Was the verna ever in consideration. I come with the same specs as GentleGiant. Slight back issues (can get worse with too much driving), height and similar budgets of 8Lakhs etc.

I am still a few days away from wrapping up my verna dealings!

I did consider Verna and went to the dealership to test drive it. However, even before the guy got the keys to the thing, I got to sit on the drivers seat. I didnt find it comfortable at all.

The best possible seating for anybody with back issues is where you get to sit upright. Only large cars like the Innova gives you that position.

If you go back to my first post on the thread, you will see that my budget was only Rs. 8 lakhs too. However, after testing all the sedans in that range and more (including the Civic, the Corolla and the Octavia), I realized that I would be risking having to prematurely sell off the car that I buy for not being able to drive it.

If you can extend your budget, consider the Innova/Scorpio.

[abhiram7912]

@ gentlegaint

hi
can you tell me how did you find civic. i m like 6'5. legs tall. i m thinking of buying it when i come to india. right now i m driving a 01' Camry

Thanx in advance

[sridharps]

Originally Posted by GentleGiant

I did consider Verna and went to the dealership to test drive it. However, even before the guy got the keys to the thing, I got to sit on the drivers seat. I didnt find it comfortable at all.

The best possible seating for anybody with back issues is where you get to sit upright. Only large cars like the Innova gives you that position.

If you go back to my first post on the thread, you will see that my budget was only Rs. 8 lakhs too. However, after testing all the sedans in that range and more (including the Civic, the Corolla and the Octavia), I realized that I would be risking having to prematurely sell off the car that I buy for not being able to drive it.

If you can extend your budget, consider the Innova/Scorpio.

Hi Gentlegiant it would help us if you let us know what you felt about the seating position & comfort for each of the cars you test drove -(Corolla, Cedia etc etc)..I am myself nearly 6ft 3'' tall. Although, not really with a bad back, I have been driving a Tata Indigo, Alto and a Ford escort for more than 6 yrs now and have faced occassional issues around the lower neck/upper back regions. Nothing serious though and the occassional pain vanishes quickly.

[Akshay1234]

Originally Posted by abhiram7912

@ gentlegaint

hi
can you tell me how did you find civic. i m like 6'5. legs tall. i m thinking of buying it when i come to india. right now i m driving a 01' Camry

Thanx in advance

im 6'4" and i found the driving position of the civic as good as a 2006 camry.

[GentleGiant]

Originally Posted by abhiram7912

@ gentlegaint

hi
can you tell me how did you find civic. i m like 6'5. legs tall. i m thinking of buying it when i come to india. right now i m driving a 01' Camry

Thanx in advance

Don't get me wrong, I dont think there is anything wrong with civic per se and I am not qualified to make an authoratitive judgement on an automobile. Just that it did'nt suit my requirement. Having had a slight trouble with my back, I am extremely careful about the posture I maintain (was advised).

When I drove the Civic for about an hour, I found that the low strung seating that it has (as do most of the other fashionable sedans), causes my hip to be lower than my knees. This for me is not a great position to maintain. Ideally, I would like to have the knees parallel to my hip.

So it's more about my preference, but let me tell you, the car otherwise was a marvel. When I got out of it, I could'nt help but wish that I had a stronger back !!

[GentleGiant]

Originally Posted by sridharps

Hi Gentlegiant it would help us if you let us know what you felt about the seating position & comfort for each of the cars you test drove -(Corolla, Cedia etc etc)..I am myself nearly 6ft 3'' tall. Although, not really with a bad back, I have been driving a Tata Indigo, Alto and a Ford escort for more than 6 yrs now and have faced occassional issues around the lower neck/upper back regions. Nothing serious though and the occassional pain vanishes quickly.

Sridhar,

All these cars have carved a niche in the market place, I can only have my PERSONAL opinion to share.

I liked almost all the cars that I drove, its just that the did'nt suit me and my pre-condition. If I did'nt have the slight issue with my back, I would have been spoilt for choice. If that were to be, I would have rated the vehicles that I test drove like this:

1. Octavia - Diesel - Cheaper and will be cheaper till supplies get exhausted;

2. Cedia - Diesel and GREAT VFM;

3. Civic - The best that you can get for that price range;

4. Corolla - As good as the car is, the discounts that they are offerring make it VFM. Something tells me that the new Corolla would disappoint.

I also tried SX4 which I did'nt like. As for the Innova, the Scorpio and the Safari, they are a different class of vehicles so I will not mix them with the sedans that I mentioned above.

IMO, choices of cars are personal preferences. As one usually does'nt buy a car too often, one has to go through the process of understanding what his/her personal preference is (it looks simple but this requires lots of skill, patience and analysis). In order to do this, you need to test drive the shortlisted cars and gather information from friends (Team-BHP is a great place for this). But the CHOICE still has to be made by YOU. If you did this "due-diligence", you will not go wrong.

[reignofchaos]

^^Cedia is not diesel only petrol. Maybe you meant optra magnum.

[GentleGiant]

Originally Posted by reignofchaos

^^Cedia is not diesel only petrol. Maybe you meant optra magnum.

I stand corrected. Its been that kind of a time since I tested it and had this impression that its Diesel.

[sridharps]

Originally Posted by GentleGiant

Sridhar,

All these cars have carved a niche in the market place, I can only have my PERSONAL opinion to share.

I liked almost all the cars that I drove, its just that the did'nt suit me and my pre-condition. If I did'nt have the slight issue with my back, I would have been spoilt for choice. If that were to be, I would have rated the vehicles that I test drove like this:

1. Octavia - Diesel - Cheaper and will be cheaper till supplies get exhausted;

2. Cedia - Diesel and GREAT VFM;

3. Civic - The best that you can get for that price range;

4. Corolla - As good as the car is, the discounts that they are offerring make it VFM. Something tells me that the new Corolla would disappoint.

I also tried SX4 which I did'nt like. As for the Innova, the Scorpio and the Safari, they are a different class of vehicles so I will not mix them with the sedans that I mentioned above.

IMO, choices of cars are personal preferences. As one usually does'nt buy a car too often, one has to go through the process of understanding what his/her personal preference is (it looks simple but this requires lots of skill, patience and analysis). In order to do this, you need to test drive the shortlisted cars and gather information from friends (Team-BHP is a great place for this). But the CHOICE still has to be made by YOU. If you did this "due-diligence", you will not go wrong.

Gentlegiant, what I actually meant was how did your back "react" to each of cars u drove..but never mind, i think you have given bits and pieces of that through this thread

[Counter_striker]

Hi BHPians

Sorry if I am bringing up an old thread, but I do not find it updated with the recent additions since 2010. So might be time for an overhaul!

@Mods - kindly intimate me if this thread should not be re-opened. Apologies in advance.

I have this typical tall guy problem. I am 6'2" and find most cars very inconvenient to settle into. We own a 2009 i20 Magna(back home in chennai) and I find it's seating quite ok. So I am really interested in the new 2014 i20.

I am currently in Hyderabad and am planning to buy a car, budget around 8L. Doesn't matter if it is a hatchback, Sedan or any other platform. But I am just curious to know if there are any other cars around 8L that will suit my height. I will mostly be driving it in semi-highways for now(the route from Madhapur to Gopanapally Via ISB road). I am not looking for too many features either.

P.S - Open to increase budget till 10, if required.

[GentleGiant]

Folks,

Six and a half years on, I am back in the market shopping for my next car. While my Innova is good enough to last another six years, I find myself bored of it.

For the issues that I was trying to address, the Innova was absolutely the best possible choice. And at the time I bought it (2008), it was still considered OK to drive one. But times have changed and in the last year or so, I started to feel a little inferior driving this MUV.

So here I am again looking at the cars that will hopefully bring my self esteem back where it belongs.

Since I am a tall boy and I am looking for an upgrade, I thought the Fortuner and the Pajero were automatic choices. I test drove the Pajero and found it to be exciting enough to drive but oddly, the seating was not as comfortable as the Innova's. After about half an hours drive, I could sense a few agitations in my vertebrae which the Innova had managed to appease for all those years. I may want to pass on the Pajero.

I plan to test the Fortuner this weekend but I have a reservations against it already. I have driven a Toyota for the six an a half year and I am thinking that, unless I am pushed, I should go for another family this time.

I want to know what my other choices are.

a. My budget is about Rs. 25 to 30 lakhs.
b. I am a tall boy so want something that is easy on my back.
c. I am not averse to a sedan if it does not get my back talking/swearing.
d. I am willing to wait even for a year if there is something that is worth the wait around the corner.

Cheers!

GG

[Mtv]

Originally Posted by GentleGiant

Folks,

Six and a half years on, I am back in the market shopping for my next car. While my Innova is good enough to last another six years, I find myself bored of it.

For the issues that I was trying to address, the Innova was absolutely the best possible choice. And at the time I bought it (2008), it was still considered OK to drive one. But times have changed and in the last year or so, I started to feel a little inferior driving this MUV.

So here I am again looking at the cars that will hopefully bring my self esteem back where it belongs.

Since I am a tall boy and I am looking for an upgrade, I thought the Fortuner and the Pajero were automatic choices. I test drove the Pajero and found it to be exciting enough to drive but oddly, the seating was not as comfortable as the Innova's. After about half an hours drive, I could sense a few agitations in my vertebrae which the Innova had managed to appease for all those years. I may want to pass on the Pajero.

I plan to test the Fortuner this weekend but I have a reservations against it already. I have driven a Toyota for the six an a half year and I am thinking that, unless I am pushed, I should go for another family this time.

I want to know what my other choices are.

a. My budget is about Rs. 25 to 30 lakhs.
b. I am a tall boy so want something that is easy on my back.
c. I am not averse to a sedan if it does not get my back talking/swearing.
d. I am willing to wait even for a year if there is something that is worth the wait around the corner.

Cheers!

GG

Have a look at the new Octavia, preferably the 1.8 TSI DSG. I'm 6'1 and fit in comfortably. My seat is not on the lowest height setting and I don't even have to push the seat base all the way back. The steering wheel a wide range of rake and reach settings too to better suit your driving position. The footwell is a good size too to accommodate larger feet. It's also well within your budget and no other car comes close to it's driving dynamics this side of 50 lacs.

[D4D]

Honestly, I think you can try sedans like the New Octavia/Superb. I've been in these care and like them very much. They're pretty spacious. Do note that no sedan will give you the ease of getting in and out of the Innova. You will have to bend to get in, but once you get in, it's very comfortable, leaving no room for complaint.

If you're not keen on the European sedans, you could try Camry, Corolla(a class lower).

Also consider the Ssangyong Rexton and Hyundai Santa Fe.(slightly more than 30 lakh INR)

Originally Posted by GentleGiant

I plan to test the Fortuner this weekend but I have a reservations against it already.

Why reservations? The fortuner is one terrific vehicle and has no Taxi image like the Innova. It's the segment leader because of it's quality, reliability and good service backup. I would say that 2.5 l AT/MT is almost a blind choice.

Note: Innova's comfort levels are very difficult to match (excepts like Duster a very few). It's not the dimensions alone, it's the terrific ride quality, which even the fortuner doesn't have.

[Akshay1234]

Originally Posted by GentleGiant

a. My budget is about Rs. 25 to 30 lakhs.
b. I am a tall boy so want something that is easy on my back.
c. I am not averse to a sedan if it does not get my back talking/swearing.
d. I am willing to wait even for a year if there is something that is worth the wait around the corner.

Cheers!

GG

The seats in the Fortuner are better than the Innova, but the ride is worse. So I doubt you will like it. Anyway do take a TD.

I'm surpised the Pajero wasn't comfortable for you.

Here is what I suggest -

Check out the Santa Fe. Its very comfortable, and a competent machine. If you can get yourself to put 30l on a Hyundai then check it out, you will be surprised.

Also have a look at the Superb, its got loads of space so people behind you (if any) won't feel cramped at all. The ride is great, and the car is feature loaded. Though a new one should be here within the next year or so.

Since you have a Toyota, and are used to the reliability levels (and lack of features) take a looksie at the Camry too. Its comfortable, but lacks safety features and is boring to drive (relatively). Check out the Hybrid too.

The new Jetta is launching in about 10 days, that will be worth looking at. The Octavia too deserves a TD.