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Originally Posted by sandeepmohan I am not sure if this applies anymore. The diesel in the Skoda Rapid is seriously quick. I am not a diesel fan myself but may consider one later as the technology has improved a lot. |
My comment was based on my first and only diesel car (Indica V2). I know diesels have improved a lot in recent times, but I just cant stand the clatter. I have not driven any modern gen diesel sedans and what you say about the Rapid may be true. But then, Skoda A.S.S has much more horror to it than Fiat!
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Originally Posted by sandeepmohan Surprised to read this. VW is a car that holds well even after a lot of abuse. I recently assisted someone to do the PDI for his T Jet and the trip to the stock yard was a long one in a Punto Diesel that had clocked just 9000km. When the car arrived to pick me up, I asked the dealer gentleman if he would mind if I take the wheel for the drive and he was alright with it. The car was a bare bones variant. The engine in that car was thrumming more than being refined. I guess it was abused so much. The car was thrashed and my guess is the VW you test drove was probably worse. I am sure you would have liked the Vento had the car been in good shape. Too bad for VW but then, you really did buy something way better. |
Even if it was not for the rattles at 20k kms, the drive was not inspiring or spirited. It was very plain jane, much like the looks of the Vento. And mind you, I still had not driven the T-Jet so I did not know what a turbo charged engine feels like. My benchmark till then was my easy to drive Getz and Vento did not offer any great shakes over that. I had an aspiring rally driver friend with me and he too was highly disappointed with the sluggishness and breathlessness of the Vento.
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Originally Posted by sandeepmohan This is a rare breed, your lady. Few women like driving Fiats as they just don't turn. The Palio is a fantastic car. Have driven it extensively. |
She is responsible for making me a Fiat fanboy. She has told me so many stories of the Palio that it got me curious.
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Originally Posted by sandeepmohan I was blown away as well but the steps of being blown away were a little different with looks coming out last. My plan was to buy a Fiesta Classic petrol. One day, a Fiat nut head in my office calls for the T Jet test drive, not for himself, but for two other colleagues and one was me. I wet my pants when I mashed that throttle. I drove the car hard and fast and was going gaaga. I did not bother to inspect the interiors or anything. That was it. Went back home in the evening and spoke to my wife about it and she was over joyed. It was the car she always wanted us to have but it was something we could not afford. The Fiesta itself was pushing our budgets but I told her we will manage and she agreed. It is only after the many visits that I made to the dealers, did I start appreciating the car and its beauty more. It had presence and it looked beautiful. The interiors felt upmarket to me than any other car in its segment. The car stood out at the showroom floor. No car has the smooth flowing lines of the Linea. |
We have pretty similar stories. I had checked out T-Jet when it was launched in Oct 2010. My better half was keen to book it right away! But it was too expensive for me then (at Rs 10.6L on road). I still remember how we drove back home and both of us just had the T-Jet on our mind during the 45-minute journey. Thankfully, with the recent stock-clearing offers, Fiat made T-Jet an irresistible deal and I jumped at it.
Sir, by partially quoting me in these two instances, you actually mis-quoted me!
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Originally Posted by sandeepmohan The only cost cutting is with the plastics and rubber parts that tend to age fast but not break. |
My reference was to the spare wheel ALSO being a full sized alloy. That's a rare occurance in most sedans sold here.
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Originally Posted by sandeepmohan Never really faced a problem with this. Gear shifting is a problem when it is in place. I use it only when I am out on the highway as gear shifts are at minimum. |
Like I said, the arm rest is usually a hindrance during city drives (esp. for first time users) as it somehow restricts quick gear shifts. However, it is extremely useful for highway cruising. I still feel Fiat needs to improvise the design of the arm rest to prevent creaking/rattling after a few months.
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Originally Posted by sandeepmohan Could you elaborate more about this. I too would like to switch but not the head unit. A speaker upgrade to start should do. What is a good speaker only upgrade? Something that pairs well with the head unit will be nice. |
To enjoy good sound, your OEM headunit HAS to go. However, if you are absolutely certain to retain it, you have to at least add amplifier(s) to extract clean power. A good upgrade would be to go for component speakers in front with coaxials in the rear doors and a sub in the boot. The component and sub can be powered off a 4-channel amplifier, while coaxials can be connected to the HU.
There are a plethora of options for speakers and it really depends on your budget.
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Originally Posted by sandeepmohan Just stretch your arm fully and you can access them easily. I did drop down the rear windows by accident a couple of times. Not anymore. |
I'm slowly getting used to it. But even after 6 months, I'm required to look at the switches. In my Getz, it was more of a natural reflex action.
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Originally Posted by sandeepmohan That is not the idling of the engine. It is the cooling fan which is running mostly when the air conditioning is running. The fan has a higher speed too and activates when the air conditioning or the engine needs better heat exchange and that sounds like a turbine. You can feel the buzz of the fan on the steering wheel too when it spins up to maximum rpm. |
Yes, I stand corrected there. It is the sound of a fan which can give a ship's turbine a run for it's money. Or maybe Fiat wants to extend the concept of a Jet propeller here too?
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Originally Posted by sandeepmohan Be very careful. I got used to it but I still look out. You won't catch those low height road dividers and may end up climbing them if you are not careful. More so is when a two wheeler comes in your way from nowhere. |
The blind spot is a major PITA. And like you rightly said, a trouble when cyclists/two wheelers magically appear out of nowhere, especially on a turn.
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Originally Posted by sandeepmohan How effective is this combination on this car? I ask as the front windscreen area is too large and lets in a lot of light causing heat build up. |
Highly effective in Mumbai/Maharashtra summer touching 40 deg these days. CR70 is a great film at that price point and cuts out the UV and heat factor to a very high extent. In fact I dont feel anything on my hands/legs.
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Originally Posted by Ricci Congrats on the Black Beauty ( sorry Dark Knight , now that name's getting a tad over-used ) , Nishant ! Suddenly it's raining T-Jets on Team BHP ! |
Thanks Ricci! Frankly, I contemplated naming it 'Black Beauty' or 'Beauty in a LBD' but somehow given the raw power of this car, a feminine connotation did not seem justified. Hence I went with TDK.