19-Mar-2011, Bangalore
22,600 kms
I love my cars, my first car is Santro LP ZipPlus 2002. I maintain them good, several of my friends/relatives ask me to sell the car to them.
Since my santro had crossed 90,000 kms and the newly laid roads to my home town were also tempting me to buy a powerful sedan. So I decided to buy new car. I was postponing my decision from 2006 due to buying house. Whenever a new car model gets launched I will make sure I test drive that car.
Alternatives considered & Zeroing on Vento
Fiat Linea: My wife wanted Linea TJet, but considering TATA doing the service. I was not comfortable going for it. So dropped this from the list.
Honda City: No diesel options
Optra Magnum: The model existed for longer time, So dropped from the list
New Verna: Not available during that time.
The talking advertisement on TOI had created an hype on the car for sure and thanks to GTO review which helped me choose this power monster.
My varient
VW Vento TDI Highline
My usage pattern
Kms on week days : 56 X 20 (Working days) : 1120
In this 20kms in dense traffic
Monthly once to home town : 600 kms
Average monthly usage: Approx 2,000 kms
City:Highway - 70%:30%
What I liked in this car
- Magic Torque
- Handling
- Climatronics
- Suspension (For a person driving Santro, this car was very smooth)
- Interior quality and finish
- Badge
- KMPL for sedan range
What I didn’t like
- Audio system, Very basic and speakers also bad.
- Clutch is too hard for petrol driver.
- Engine clatter, My 5 Yr old son tells me that it sounds like a Jeep
- OE Mud flops are not great design and it scratches almost all speed breaks in Bangalore.
- Central locking system
Engine & Performance
During my first test drive since I was going in dense streets, I couldn't go beyond 1 & 2 gear.
My second test made me to fall in love with this car.
The idling RPM was around 800 RPM. When turbo kicks in around 1500 RPM, You get a much better confident in overtaking any car.
Noise insulation could have been little better. But the vibration was none.
Also like many people mentioned I too felt the engine clatter comes down after driving for few kms.
Handling
I like the electro-mechanical steering, you get the feel during your drive. You can very well notice this during U turns.
The brakes are awesome, it stops in the place where you press break. Nothing more and nothing less.
Suspension & Ride Quality
I like soft suspension, very good comfort during city and long drives. If I had bought different car in these Blr roads, It would have been a tough journey for me.
Also the ride quality is excellent most of the time you feel you are going slow, So now I have set the speed warning for 120 KM. Now it beeps when I exceed the speed.
Buying & Test drive experience from dealership (VW Bangalore)
We want to go to the showroom which is near to my house, so we end going to VW, Blr in Hosur road, Blr. The SA I have interacted was Sanchita. But the showroom was not looking great, several customers were shouting at different SA for late delivery of the car.
I went to test drive the car, but the car was not available. So I have asked them to drop to my house. They came to my house when I was alone and I took the car into my streets and I liked the handling. When my wife returned from home town we went again for the test drive this time on Hosur road. This is when I got more impressed the car on highways.
We have asked for what are the color choices, SA replied Black, White and Silver available to see. Shadow Blue was not available but she mentioned they can take the booking. The mentioned the color will be similar to beetle color which was parked inside the showroom.
I have paid Rs 75,000 as advance on 15-Nov-2010.
I got call from SA on 12-Mar-2012 that my car is in transit. I went to the showroom on 15-Mar-2011 for clearing the payment.
I got the insurance 17-Mar-2011, but due to the payment issue.
The car got delivered to me on 19-Mar-2011, 05:30 Pm. I was very happy to own VW Sedan, I was the first customer in Bangalore to take the delivery on Shadow Blue. Also I was the first one TBHP but my review was late, Sorry about that
Insurance
When I checked the review on Bajaj Allianz was not good, and the quote I got from TATA AIG was high. So I decided to get help from my uncle who works in United India. I got the quote of Rs 25,609 for zero dep policy, it was looking better that time. Thanks to TBHP for posts on going for insurance outside. Showroom people didn't agree for that and mentioned I have to with Bajaj. I have told them I'm using my NCB with united and opt for going insurance outside.
On road price
Ex Showroom : 9, 31, 709
Insurance(United India, Zero dep): Rs 25, 609
Road Tax & Service Charge : Rs 1,50,484 (Road Tax Rs 1,43,484 & Service charge : 7,000)
Corp Discount : 16,000
Essential Kit : 4,650( Mud Flops, Car Cover(Not even used once), Door Sills)
On road price : 10,96,452
Accessories(Outside)
I liked the blue color without sun film, but during the summer the hot was not bearable. So I decided to for the film after 4 months.
Kagu 3D Mat : Rs 4,600 (Junction, Blr)
3M film CR 20 Sun film: 3,600 (Throttle, Blr)
Dashboard at night
Niggles Faced
Rear right hand power window auto-roll down was not working.
I went to VW DownTown, Blr they cleaned the window and said it's working now. After 2 days again the same problem happened. This time same service center said I need to book the appointment. I have booked appointment and gave it for service, they have repaired it. The problem again happened after 4 days.
In the mean time I have noticed service adviors keep changing in Downtown, Blr. Each time I used to meet different SA and tell them the story again and again. This happened totally 4 times, but the problem not solved.
Now I have decided not to give for 15k service in this service center.
From Bangalore I went to Coimbatore for 15k car service, along with service I have also told them this complaint. After the service again the problem happened.
Next I have tried in PalaceCross, Blr this time they have replaced some beedings and track. After this for longer time I'm not having this problem now.
Fuel Efficiency (I used log this refill data each time in my mobile)

The fuel efficiency in city : 15 kmpl, highway: 20 kmpl
Service Report (Date: 24-Sep-2011, Kms:15,012, Service Center:Ramani, Coimbatore)
Some more pics
