[RishiSuri]

While being in US and knowing the days are coming closer to come back to India the search started for which car to buy once back.

Type of Car: Had to be Automatic

Not because of the used to in USA but due to the fact that majority of the travel is going to be within a metro city peak office hours bumper to bumper traffic so worth an Automatic rather than a Manual

Shortlisted cars: Honda City/ Chevrolet Cruze.

I know everyone will ask these are 2 different segments what kind of comparison are you doing? Are you insane?

Well based on reading multiple threads on Team-bhp.com only 2 cars were meeting the criteria of comfort and reliability: the above 2. So had to choose one of them.

Test Drive:
City Automatic: Good to drive, smooth , but somehow was missing the power which I was looking for

Cruze Automatic: Ok... You press the gas and you get the thrust! Man this is what I wanted.

Finalized: Cruze Automatic


Waiting: 15 days! That was one painful time waiting for my hawk to be home.

And yes here it is presenting my Silver Hawk : Chevrolet Cruze Automatic.

Accessories: 3D Mats : Mud Guards. (yup it has been said all the time you don't get with the car, weird isn't it.
Tires: Replaced the JK Vectra with Bridgestone Potenza. Did not want to upgrade the tyre size and the owner of Saifee Motors suggested for Bridgestone Potenza. Believe me the ride is much much better.!

While being on JK Vectra the bumps of roads could be felt, when moved to Potenza the drive is real smooth. When going on the regular road the passengers in the car (4) did not feel the road roughness either.
Hence the choice for these tires was worth it.

Likes in the car:
1) The handling / drive.
2) Power. Step on the gas when on signal, and you can say bye bye to all the other vehicles trying to race to be In front.
3) Styling of the car.
4) Clear visibility of the entire front of car, gives you a better judgment when squeezing your car between 2 vehicles.
5) Suspension, Shockers: Drove the car for 900Kms on Mumbai Gujarat highway with 5 onboard, none of them complaint of any issues. When driving on the bumpy roads, the car was smooth, no jerks felt in the body.
6) Braking: You press hard the car maintains the path and stops appropriately. ABS works great.

Dislikes in the car:

1) Glove box: I cant even keep the user manual in that glove box!
2) Arm Rest: Couldn't you just increase the size of it by another 5 cms so that I could keep my arm with ease?
3) Music System: I would have expected the sound quality to be better and more modes to choose.
4) Bluetooth: Only for music streaming? Why not for using to do audio conversation via smartphones?
5) Rear park sensor: Manual says it screams constant when you are in range of 4 cm. Why couldn't you display the distance?

Drive: While starting the car from stationary there is a minor lag this I feel is because the beast needs some awakening, but when it comes at the speed of 15-20kM/ hr the beast awakens and shows the real power.

20-80Km/hr is real fast was so easy to overtake majority of the cars on expressway giving the feeling there is no mad rush on the roads.

Touched the top speed of 150Km/hr and the car was smooth, stable and didn't feel that the car is crying, but saying I want more I want more!

[RishiSuri]

Another picture of the car this time from the rear.

[RishiSuri]

Current odometer reading: 1395Kms
Service: 1000km Inspection check
Center: JMD Saki Naka:
Feedback: The service station was very professional. Was suggesting to get additional quote of 3000rs underneath the car, which I refused for the time being.

No issues found in the first 1395 kms of the car that has 980 kms of pure highway driving.

Proud to have my Silver Hawk

[RishiSuri]

after a nice servicing , parked the car overnight and when taking out in the morning there it was a FLAT tyre.

Took to a nearby repair shop, a nail was right into the tyre, created 2 holes and the valve was broken.

Expenditure: 240 + 260 = 500Rs.
Tyre pressure checked: the front tyres were at 28 and rear was at 29. Topped it upt0 30 each.
Went for a drive, felt it great.... drove in manual mode the intial thrust was good. but i believe the comfort of automatic in city driving compelled me to shift back to Automatic.

Did a drag race wih Audi A6, was pretty much neck to neck with it. Loving the car so far.

[mobike008]

Note from Mod : Thread moved from Assembly Line to Initial Ownership Section. Thanks for sharing with us

[karan561]

Hi RishiSuri,

Congrats on your Cruze A/T

Switching from the stock JK Vectras to the Potenza GIIIs was a smart move, believe me the Cruze feels a lot more safer with non stock tires

Enjoy !

[nipcarlover]

Hey RishiSuri,
Congrats on your Chevy Cruze! This car is one of my favourites and a true hot rod in the segment.
The Cruze looks quite good in Silver, although personally it is not my favourite colour.
Have many awesome miles!

[Batfreak]

Congrats on the buy! Keep us updated on the FE figures and please post more pics of your beast. Wish you many happy miles on your car. Happy Driving!
Cheers!

[mobike008]

Rishi, Congratulations on getting the Cruze and welcome to the club.

Silverish blue is a nice new shade but, isnt the best for Cruze in my opinion as it doesnt do full justice to the mean and butchy exterior look of the Cruze.

Could you please share more information on following for benefit of other users of this forum and also to satisfy my personal interest/curiosity

a) What was the OTR before and after discount and what type of discount you were offered?

b) How did you pay for the insurance? Did you negotiate?

c) What was the deal offered for stock JK Tyres and what was the difference amount on the PIII? It is a wise decision of immediately changing the stock tyres as now you can enjoy the potential of the car better besides having a better equipped tyre to handle grip, ride and handling issues.

It wasnt surprising to know you got your first puncture within the first 1000kms. I too experienced the same. And, not just with this car but, with almost all my previous cars. Reckon there is something with brand new cars, soft tyres and nails

I use nitrogen and keep 32psi for all 5 tyres ( including the tyre in boot) and re-check once in 45-60 days.

Congrats again and look forward to regular updates and more pictures of the car as you continue with your ownership.

[vindrider2626]

welcome to the cruze club.i too own an automatic ,How is the ride different from the stock jk vectras?Is it very noticeable?

[RishiSuri]

Originally Posted by mobike008

Rishi, Congratulations on getting the Cruze and welcome to the club.

Silverish blue is a nice new shade but, isnt the best for Cruze in my opinion as it doesnt do full justice to the mean and butchy exterior look of the Cruze.

Could you please share more information on following for benefit of other users of this forum and also to satisfy my personal interest/curiosity

a) What was the OTR before and after discount and what type of discount you were offered?

b) How did you pay for the insurance? Did you negotiate?

c) What was the deal offered for stock JK Tyres and what was the difference amount on the PIII? It is a wise decision of immediately changing the stock tyres as now you can enjoy the potential of the car better besides having a better equipped tyre to handle grip, ride and handling issues.

It wasnt surprising to know you got your first puncture within the first 1000kms. I too experienced the same. And, not just with this car but, with almost all my previous cars. Reckon there is something with brand new cars, soft tyres and nails

I use nitrogen and keep 32psi for all 5 tyres ( including the tyre in boot) and re-check once in 45-60 days.

Congrats again and look forward to regular updates and more pictures of the car as you continue with your ownership.

Hi Avi,
I understand the beast doesnt look that great in Silver but i had to choose silver due to the primary reason of people scratching the car now and then , and silver is the primary one which doesnt show those scratches from a distance. I have had all other shades of car in my life except silver.

a) What was the OTR before and after discount and what type of discount you were offered?
Ans: before discount it was offered 19.5 Lacs per annum after discount the OTR came out to be 18.76 Lacs per annum. The type of discount covered corporate and cash discount.

b) How did you pay for the insurance? Did you negotiate?
Ans: I did negotiate and got the 0 depreciation insurance on the price of regular insurance (saving additional 12K).

regarding tyre puncture, my brother in law said if you are in Mumbai and you dont get a puncture then you aint driving your car.
Currently i have kept 30psi in all my 4 tyres and planning to shift to Nitrogen. Got the same review from my brother in law (he has punto with yoko tyres and nitro filled) that the drive will be drastically different with Nitro.

Originally Posted by vindrider2626

welcome to the cruze club.i too own an automatic ,How is the ride different from the stock jk vectras?Is it very noticeable?

Trust me vinrider the difference is very much noticeable. Being at the tyre shop the owner was educating me why people are not changing tyres compared to who are. And during the discussion we did discuss which one to opt Yoko or Bridgestone and he recommended Bridgestone if you are not going for an upsize.
If you really want to upsize then Yoko are better.

Originally Posted by karan561

Hi RishiSuri,

Congrats on your Cruze A/T

Switching from the stock JK Vectras to the Potenza GIIIs was a smart move, believe me the Cruze feels a lot more safer with non stock tires

Enjoy !

Thanks Karan totally agree the Potenza are much much better than Vectra, Looking forward to meeting you in one of the Team-bhp meets in Mumbai.

Mod Note: Please use the EDIT or MULTI-QUOTE buttons instead of typing one post after another on the SAME THREAD!

To know how to multi-quote, click here.

[vivriti]

a) What was the OTR before and after discount and what type of discount you were offered?
Ans: before discount it was offered 19.5 Lacs per annum after discount the OTR came out to be 18.76 Lacs per annum. The type of discount covered corporate and cash discount.

Congrats on your purchase !. That's one cool ride.

Cost per annum ?. You mean we have to pay for every year we own the car

[RishiSuri]

After clocking 1500 kms on the car with 900 kms being highway the fuel efficiency that I have got (using the app called Gas Cubby to track expenses and fuel efficiency nice app).

total tank fill : 4 (always top up).
Fuel efficiency in city: 7.9kml/l
Highway: 11.1 and 9.6 km/l respectively. (11.1 with 5 people in car an 9.6 with 5 people and the car boot full with luggage and other stuff).

The fuel efficiency of ~8km/l is expected in the city of Mumbai where the majority of driving is in suburbs single lanes, bumpy roads and bumper to bumper traffic where you are able to hit max speed of 40km/h that too for few split seconds.

[Vid6639]

Something looks different in the gear lever. Have they stopped the manual + / - mode? I am not able to see it in the gear lever.

[RishiSuri]

Originally Posted by Vid6639

Something looks different in the gear lever. Have they stopped the manual + / - mode? I am not able to see it in the gear lever.

Vid the manual +/ - mode is there, I have not yet removed that white film from the gear lever (to save it from the dirt, as the area next to it is covered with hash grill) . Its hidden underneath it. Tried the manual mode in city not sure if it happens in other cars as well but what cruze offer is
1) if you are slowing down it automatically puts the gear in lower gear
2) if you are not at the optimal speed, it will not allow you to move to the higher gear.