Hey B Tirthankar, this one is for you..
Here Goes,
Choose
DIESEL if:
- Better FE (This goes hand in hand with next point)
- Distance covered is large. (Like in your case it is 16K per year)
- More Torque (City Driving is good fun)
- Good Performance + Can be Petes Box Tuned if you want more performance.
Personally, i have a diesel and am very very happy with it. The performance and city driving is a breeze (Completely Stock).
Only advantage
PETROL has for you is that if you idle you car (Car remains parked for a few weeks or so) for long periods of time, a petrol is more suited.
Now, here are the myths demistified: VIBRATION
Personally, i hardly feel any vibration and the only reason i feel its a diesel while driving is because i know it is a diesel
Refinement is also very good. You see, most people have this perception of Diesel engines but this perception changed with the Skoda Octavia. In todays date, diesels are highly advanced and bridging the gap with petrol engines very fast. Innova is a good example.
REV-FRIENDLY
You had asked about its rev friendliness. Well, its pretty rev happy and climbs the tacho with ease and pretty fast too.
SERVICE CYCLE
Yes, service cycles should be done every 5000 kms but then again, even a petrol needs service every 10000. Also, services take like a day max. if done regularly.
Recently, ive heard of Toyota Service Centres with Express Service wherein they do the needful in a span of 2-3 hrs and have a seperate area for you to sit in comfort and watch
Servicing costs i dont know much as my father gets the servicing and payment done but i dont hear him complaining so i guess its pretty decent.
STYLING
Like you said, you want the car to look good after 10 yrs also.
Well, all i can say is that i think the Innova is very well styled and should hold itself well for many years to come. Hey, after the warranty is over, you can mod the exteriors and it looks wicked. I have seen some nicely done ones and they look gorgeous.
RIMS
As pointed out before in the thread, tyre & rim dealers will give you a way better deal than the Toyota showroom dealers. The 15 inchers on the innova should fetch a good 15,000/- or more in my opinion (ONLY FOR THE RIMS & the rubber is seperate).
Else, you can always sell the rims to Ravibhat for 12,000/- like he has mentioned
Keep the rubber as they are pretty good and put them on the new rims you buy.
COLOUR
Dont know much about the colours offered across the variants.
I have a Blue one. Here is a picture:
CONCLUSION
Finally, after reading this post and thread, i still suggest that you take a test drive of both, petrol & diesel and only then decide as each person has different tastes.
Variants wise, go for the one which you feel is a better deal. If not satisfied with the variants on offer, ask the dealer the best price he can do for the variant of your choice. Else, choose another car. After all, its your hard earned money your spending so whats the use if you buy something that TBHPians suggest and are not happy yourself.
P.S. Have already posted pics of the centre cushion pillow and lenght comparison to Sonata Gold.