[kapursaket]

DECISION MAKING

Casual Test Drive of the in Market SUV's Toyota Fortuner, Mahindra XUV 500 and Ford ECO Sport made me realize that despite having a fleet of Vehicles including TOYOTA INNOVA G3(2005 MUV), SKODA FABIA 1.4TDI (Elegance2010), FIAT SIEANA 1.6ELX(2002), I am missing on "Automatic Transmission"(Becoming a must for Bumper to Bumper Traffic of NCR), "Sun Roof" (Good Source for Vitamin D in North Indian Winters) and "Cruise Control" (Will ease me out on my weekend Highway trips to the Farm).

Aftermath of the above realization was the confusion between SUV and SEDAN. In light of budgetary constraint of 20L, most of the SUV's with Automatic Transmission, Sun Roof and Cruise control were way out of my budgetary lines hence the choice was narrowed to a Sedan.

Amongst Sedan's, choice was limited by the budget to outgoing SKODA LAURA 2.0TDI with 6 Speed DSG and CHEVRELOT CRUZE LTZ VCDI 2.0L Diesel with 6 Speed Automatic. Logically Laura was dropped with obvious reason that soon the brand would get buried in the sands of time.


TEST DRIVE AND DEALERSHIP EXPERIENCE

On one of the wallowing Sunday's of this November here in Delhi, I started the exercise of calling up the Chevrolet Dealers to understand the Discounts offered on CRUZE and surprisingly all of them sounded evasive over the phone. Finally decided to barge into a dealership for a Test Drive and if impressed will take a call.

Reached TREO Chevrolet almost at dusk and was welcomed by the Sales Executive Shankar. Stream of excitement ran when I saw the swanky looking CRUZE neatly parked within the showroom. It was love at first sight and the most impressive was the "CHROME GRILL"
in lieu of standard black. Shade of White on my Love had pearly finish and I was told that this was the Diamond White Shade and it was expensive by 10K than others.

Trust me the Confluence of the Chrome Grill, the Diamond White colour and subsequent liberal Test Drive offered by the Sales Executive at Treo Chevrolet had done its trick and I wanted to buy this beauty.



Chevrolet had launched a refresh CRUZE 2013 with minor cosmetic changes in front Fog Lamps, Front Bumper, Front Grill, Head Lamps, Two additional Side Air Bags and change in the shape of ignition switch from Square to a Circle. But the option of Chrome Grill was yet to come from Chevrolet and the Diamond White Colour was only on special order.

Impetus to own the showcased beauty was dominating in my mind so the process of negotiation started for the beauty with CHROME and shade of Diamond White. My request for a deal price on a pre refresh piece was taken well by the sales executive and he promised to turn up at my office the very next day for the booking amount after getting the approval from the senior management of the showroom.

There was Complete Silence from the Dealers end next day which incidentally was a Monday leading to a surmise that my beauty is gone to a higher bidder.

Tuesday Morning received a call from Metro Chevrolet in response to my Sunday phone Query with the confirmation that they also have a Diamond White Beauty in their inventory with the assurance to offer an attractive deal bundled with additional two year warranty and Three Year Zero Maintenance Pack from GM. Meeting in the evening was fixed at Metro Chevrolet by the Sales Executive Kapil Sharma with the General Manager Shri Ravinder Bansal.

During the day call was received from Shankar of Treo Chevrolet for an appointment at my office for their best deal. Bought time from him for next day and reached Metro Chevrolet in the evening to be welcomed by Kapil Sharma and his Boss Shri Bansal. Trust me they were their to strike a deal after I had a look at the beauty in their Vasant Kunj Showroom. We were ferried in another Cruise to Vasant Kunj and this beauty was a twin but had standard black grill. On returning back to Safdarjung Enclave Showroom, deal was struck where by the beauty LTZ (VCDI AT) was mine with the Chrome Grill+Additional Two Year Warranty + Zero Maintenance for next three years from GM+ Delhi Registration+ Comprehensive Insurance =18.20L. Delivery Promised was Friday 22nd November 2013 that is last evening. Conducted inspection apropos TEAM BHP advice next day and paid the token advance to book the beauty.

Delivery was timely, no time wasted, all promises were honoured and above all got my beauty with the "HIGH SECURITY REGISTERATION PLATE".
Last minute freebees included Tissue Box, Car Perfume, deity idol, Floor Mats and Body Cover. On the whole this was one of the most pleasant car delivery experiences.


TEST DRIVE DELIVERY AND INITIAL DRIVING EXPERIENCE

Reading on the Odometer was 22KM,. First ride was to the Hanuman Mandir near Connaught Place on Baba Khark Singh Marg. Beauty had its first swig of Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel from the only "All Woman" Bunk of Bharat Petroleum on Shanti Path at Moti Bagh. The fill worth ₹2100 of 39.54L climbed the fuel needle from near empty to 3/4th. Salient initial driving experience and impression is summarised as follows-:

COMPELLING FEATURES

• Automatic Transmission is a blessing in Delhi Traffic
• Impressive Dash Board with All Black Leather Seats.
• Push Button Start with Key Less entry
• Comfortable and hugging Driver Seat with Adjustable Steering Wheel
• Panoramic Sun Roof to catalyse the Romance
• Climate Control with 6-Speaker Stereo, USB Bluetooth Streaming.
• Automatic Fold able and Ventilated Side View Mirrors.
• All 16" Alloy Wheels.
• 3+2 Yr. Warranty
• Zero Maintenance Package for Next Three Years.
• Perfect Ground Clearance to prevent ugly under body kisses.
• Extremely Peppy Drive with rocket like start up.
• Super Quiet Diesel Motor.
• Sporty Looks.
• With Chrome Grill Upgrade from Stock Black gives a dashing look.(Shared the PIC)
• Rain Sensing Wipers

SOME INITIAL CONCERNS-:

• Missing Rear A/C Vents.
• A Little more Leg Space for Passengers in the rear.
• Tyre Noise with Stock JK Vectra.

DRIVING EXPERIENCE OF FIRST 335KM WITHIN CITY LIMITS

Delivery was planned on Friday evening so that I could ease out on my Chevy CRUZE over the Weekend. After First swig of 40L of Diesel Fuel indicator climbed tp almost 3/4 mark. Initial Drive has been in Delhi and One trip to Faridabad via Mathura Road (NH2) and the fatigue factor was reduced to 3/5 with Automatic Transmission. Movement of Left Leg and Left Hand for clutch and gear shifting has been laid to rest. Mind is at ease, as no instruction is required for gear up shift and downshift. Trust me Automatic Transmission is a drivers delight in city traffic with vehicles moving neck to neck and frequently running up and down the flyovers.

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION is a cake. Its discreet and well defined.Having a background of driving Manual Shift Cars, it is taking some time to adjust to this new avtaar. Urge to use the left leg while shifting to PRND is mitigating.

REMOTE KEY LESS ENTRY appears like a magic and gives a feeling of riding technology. Usage of Start Stop Switch for just starting the accessories and locking the vehicle with a pat on the Door handle did not initially breeze through the mind.

SUN ROOF has brought out the child within me. Its amusing to watch the Glass lift up for ventilation on touch of a Button and Slide wide open with the sibling. Delhi these days is cloud less with Bright Blue Skies and with Sun Roof wide open during day time will give me ample opportunity to bask these Winters.

RADIO ENTERTAINMENT is addictive. After pairing mobile phone with it, my favorite music is echoing in the new possession on Six speakers.

NVH is tad mellow and I had to actually tell it is Diesel to not so aware friends and relatives when I took them for a cruise. Genetic Diesel clatter is practically absent and the well insulated cabin keeps away all the extraneous sound. As compared to my other Diesel Vehicles Toyota Innova, SKODA FABIA 1.4TDI(PD) and Beat TCDI, the engine is more refined and appears to be a Petrol sibling. Harshness and Vibration are practically non existent.

ENGINE is all powerful and has a very linear power graph. Surge of power is experienced on slight press on the gas pedal. Overtaking traffic and starting from red lights must be leaving inferiority complex in fellow motorists. So called turbo lag is well compensated by the automatic shift of the gears and their overlapping ratios.

BRAKING is effective and well worthy of All Disc. Never felt that it could have been a little better.

STEERING is not only responsive but also well planted even on higher speeds. Audio controls are a boon and the feel is very sporty.

HORN is melodious and not irritating with shrill. Although it could have had a louder pitch for Indian Highways and its nasty HTV's.

AIR CONDITIONING WITH CLIMATE CONTROL is worth the money spent. Although it is winter time in Delhi, need for cold air is not there but I have extensively used the Ventilation and Defogger Switches provided on the control panel.

Second Visit to the Petrol Bunk was a Tank Full and first time realized that my Chevy had a bulk of whopping 60L. The only other vehicle I owned in the past having this kind of capacity was Tata Sumo. A check on Tyre pressure indicated over inflation to 46PSI in almost all tyres. Subsequent to correct inflation to 32PSI in JK Vectra on my Cruze has reduced the tyre noise considerably and the drive is even smoother on pot holed roads. I believe that Stock JK Vectra are steel belted and behave better on Indian Roads as compared to cousins like Pirreli.

DIC indicates AVERAGE FUEL CONSUMPTION as 8.4Km/L at an AVERAGE SPEED of 15KM/Hr. This average is on a lower side with the hope that it will better with time.


NIGGLES AND WANNABE IN CHEVY CRUZE-:

• Glove Box is too Small for the Size of the Sedan, it can hardly take the Chevy Provided Owners Manual in the Black Diary Cover.
• Bluetooth works seamlessly but having Phone Connectivity is the need of the times. Saw some You Tube Videos of Chevy Cruze Owners in America and they have this feature in a similar looking Information Display.
• Plastic on Side Door containing the Power Window Switches has Sink Marks indicating poor quality plastic moulding and the finish lacks finesse. Should Commensurate with D segment Badge on the Sedan.
• Biggest Problem with a 6 Footer like me is fouling of my left leg with the Blower Knob when I rest it of the dead pedal, resulting in sudden increase in air flow.
• Badly missing rear Camera as a Standard Equipment.

Planning a pilgrimage on Cruze this weekend to Haridwar. Will try Cruise control between Merrut and Muzzafarnagar Highway. Shall post highway experience with Photographs shortly.

[kapursaket]

HIGHWAY EXPERIENCE was not only fatigue-less but exhilarating too. Made a round trip of 500Km to Haridwar in Utrakhand, with Toll Road of approximately 70KM between Merrut and Muzaffarnagar and balance between Delhi and Merrut being good but congested, while Muzaffarnagar to Haridwar, single, traffic bumper to bumper and pot holed. Although had planned to try the Cruise Control, but with the traffic and road conditions dropped the very idea.

Had been doing this circuit from childhood on the family FIAT 1100D, followed by Ambassador Mark II, Mark IV, Premier Padmini Deluxe BE, Maruti 800, Maruti Esteem, TATA SUMO, TOYOTA INNOVA, SKODA FABIA, BEAT DIESEL, FIAT SIENA. Trust me this was the most comfortable and luxurious.Highway Overtaking was a cake and actually left other drivers envious of the Swoosh of the Chevy Cruze. Accelerating to speeds of 140KM/hr were effortless and did not get a feeling of sacrificing safety and stability of the CRUZE. Despite the humps and bumps of the road which had washed way in the last monsoon season, cruze did not kiss the ground and the suspension took all the brunt, leaving us as comfortable as possible. Automatic Folding OVRMS were a boon while crossing crowded sections in Roorkee and Haridwar.....just put them to rest with touch of a button to prevent smacking with reckless Motorcyclists and Scooter riders. DIC indicated and Average Speed of 45KM/hr with a FE of 13Km/l.Tank Full from Delhi was a little less than half on the return.Brilliant fuel efficiency with 166PS of power on tap.

Second Highway round trip of 300KM was to my Farm in Karnal Haryana on the NH-1. The road is probably the best in the country with average traffic of HTV's, and Cars.This time the Average Speed Clocked was 55Km/hr with FE of 14Km/l. Did not get the opportunity to use the cruise control but another observation that my FM Radio was working beyond Panipat which in other Cars fades away. Antenna in CRUZE is anybody's guess. Drive on mud road leading to the Farm House was smooth and most of the muddy undulations were insulated from me. Rear of my beauty appeared to have had a dust bath after traversing this kutcha path of 500m.


FIRST INSPECTION SERVICE OF 1000KM

Subsequent to the consecutive highway trips, DIC was indicating 1160KM and the first inspection service was due. Booking over phone with Metro Chevrolet Vasant Kunj New Delhi was easy and even got a reminder call to bring the vehicle before 12Noon. SA was polite and convincing. Asked for any specific issues and promised to return the Car after inspection and tightening of some bolts followed by washing and cleaning in next two hours. I had no issues to report but for an observation of the provided floor mats to be tad smaller.

My beauty was ready at given time with the confirmation that Floor Mats were of smaller size and advise to take up the matter with the Sales executive who had sold the vehicle. The SA himself called the SE, who incidentally sits at Bhikaji Cama Showroom of Metro Chevrolet. In next 30min, the floor mats were replaced with a new set and the mistake of having laid wrong ones acknowledged.

After first inspection Service, Brake appears to have been tightened and I find it even more responsive. Cleaning and washing was up to the mark.

[Rehaan]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line section. Thanks for sharing!

[kapursaket]

Cockpit appearing central console is inspiring to take off the CRUZE and under the hood the 166 HORSES are neatly laid. Sorry for the shaky photograph of the Infotainment System.

[drchernish]

Congratulations for the beauty from a fellow cruze owner!! Enjoy the beast!!

[kapursaket]

Originally Posted by drchernish

Congratulations for the beauty from a fellow cruze owner!! Enjoy the beast!!

THANKS BUDDY! Planning to take the beast to another Highway trip!

[vikramhere]

Congrats on the Cruze, this car is still my heartthrob. One of the best looking cars in its segment. I am sure you will love this beauty.

Wishing you many many miles of safe driving!

[Baddychat]

Congratulations saket on your new drive.
Also did you consider the Octavia when you were in the market for this car.

[undead]

Congrats on your new purchase. Could you tell me the reason why you skipped the Fluidic Elantra AT from your list of choices ? Of course Cruze is the better driver's car, but Elantra has a better package with more features( except the missing sunroof) and better space for the rear passengers .

[kapursaket]

Originally Posted by Baddychat

Congratulations saket on your new drive.
Also did you consider the Octavia when you were in the market for this car.

Octavia was on the list but the features of Sun roof and Automatic were only in Elegance and for that I had to wait for two months. Moreover 166 Horses were absent in Octavia and the Engine was not as refined.

Originally Posted by undead

Congrats on your new purchase. Could you tell me the reason why you skipped the Fluidic Elantra AT from your list of choices ? Of course Cruze is the better driver's car, but Elantra has a better package with more features( except the missing sunroof) and better space for the rear passengers .

Elantra with its Fludic design is hot but with 1.6L Diesel Motor there is no fun. Also the gear box is also not Six Speed. Trust me CRUZE engine refinement and linear power delivery is just fabulous.

[#enzowho]

Congrats on the Buy.
The Cruze is one of my All time Favorites.
It's one heck of a Product and it's VFM too.
Drive Safe.

[undead]

Originally Posted by kapursaket

Elantra with its Fludic design is hot but with 1.6L Diesel Motor there is no fun. Also the gear box is also not Six Speed. Trust me CRUZE engine refinement and linear power delivery is just fabulous.

The Elantra comes with 6 speed AT . The Verna comes with 4 speed AT.
Or have they changed it to 4 speed?

[kapursaket]

Originally Posted by undead

The Elantra comes with 6 speed AT . The Verna comes with 4 speed AT.
Or have they changed it to 4 speed?

You are right, Elantra has a 6 Speed H Matic Transmission, but trust me when I test drove the Diesel Motor was always on a strain mode hence I assumed it to be same as Verna. Zig zag Gear Shift on PRND was cumbersome over the smooth slide on cruze with a button lock.

[kapursaket]

Now there is worth a stop on midway to Haridwar at Khatauli Bye Pass on the Merrut Muzaffarnagar Toll Road. Much better than earlier joints like Cheetal and Moolchand.





"CRUZE STANDS OUT IN THE CROWD"

[RishiSuri]

Congratulations on the Cruze Automatic. Even i own the same and when compared with other cars this one stands out. The power and drive is amazing.

I noticed you having trouble with JK tyres. I would recommend changing to much better tyres (Yoko or Bridgestone) to get a better noiseless comfort drive. I changed mine the day it was delivered.

The mileage you are receiving is great because in Mumbai i am able to pull out around 8.
Once again congrats and enjoy the beast!