"No one ever said life was fair. Just eventful" - Carol Burnett
Its been more than a year that this thread got updated for the car. And if anyone thought I was not around, then they could not be more wrong. Talking of not being wrong, cheers to anyone who chose this car. The year has been so uneventful, that sometimes I would just drive it super critically. Notwithstanding the constant OCDs we have for our cars, the Ford has been incredible reliable, and happy to report,
extremely thrifty. Having read scores of threads of brick-batting Ford on service costs, the unnerving history of the Ford Ikon we had earlier, and ofcourse the constant reminders of the Suzukis and Hyundais I see next to me at signals; this car has been surprisingly easy to maintain - both on the pocket and in my mind.
Keep that liking going sweetheart:
- The light steering is more appreciated now, after arm-wrestling with the Crysta's steering at slow speeds.
- Ford After Sales Service. Yes, we have a new entrant to the countdown. More on this topic later in the post.
- Tap the accelerator and the car will gallop ahead. The revs will keep climbing. Well, till an uncertain restriction of the gearbox limits it. More on this too later.
Oops! This isn't where I parked my car!:
- Mind your long arms, don't put them on the door arm-rest. <creek> Told you. Ok! Open the door and get out of the car. Just don't balance on the ... <creek> door pad!
- The rear hatch mechanism just refuses to balance it out. Either it will fling open, or not assist open at all. I have left it unattended, we just pull it open all the way.
- Have to thank the installed rear camera, or else the ears called ORVMs are not just good enough. I have crane my neck even for lane switches.
- Previously I had mentioned the car does not respond favourably to a very heavy foot. It doesn't, thanks to the transmissions rev-limiter.
Ford's Automated Manual Transmission
Yeah, sure its a DCT. So?
The transmission behaves like any other ordinary automated transmission. It shifts with no real urgency; but what got my goat is when Ford's technical team from Chennai explained to me as t why I keep getting burning stenches when the car is floored.
The transmission has been programmed to limit the revs to 4000RPM.
Ask me, and I think its such a shame. The car comes equipped with a 1.5L, 112bhp engine that screams for pants down fun; and a DCT that says, "wait! where's the belt?" A word of caution to everyone considering or considered this car, keep it under leash, and this will provide comfort and convenience. More than a few seconds of the engine spooling at more than 3500RPM, and the clutch starts to burn because of the limiter in the program.
Service and Upkeep
This has been such a revelation. We have seen Ford advertise their abysmally low service costs; and that my friends, ain't no fiction. Following are some expenses I had over the past year;
a. The 10,000 km service set me back by INR 2,471. This includes engine oil, filter and the works.
b. Due to a motorcycle gash to the front fender, I requested it to be replaced. It was, at a cost of only INR 1,500 (parts price).
c. Yet another tryst with the parking wall, and the rear bumper was scarred quite badly. Cost for repairing and painting was INR 3,168.
The sides of the bumper was badly scratched up, brilliant piece of repair job done
At the cost of sounding repetitive, this car gives the Maurtis and Hyundai a proper spanking in the maintenance department. And what has helped tremendously is the behaviour of Bhavna Ford, Kalina. The service manager and personnel have been exemplary; and the support from Ford's Chennai teams have been honest and assertive. Ford has come a long way from its chequered past, and I can only hope that people here give them their due of respect and repose some faith in their abilities.
Its not common to make mistakes, but quite uncommon to own them!
Case in consideration, a simple email to Ford's Customer Care, with requisite details of the fading headlights witnessed in a few cars on the forum; and I was provided an under-warranty replacement of headlamps on my car. No unnecessary fuss, no long tele-conferences; straight-forward and honest communications.
On another instance, I complained of the internal console feeling warm on longer drives. The service personnel ordered for a warranty replacement of the console extensions and reported to me that the brackets have changed. The newer extensions do not run along with the coils that used to heat the sides.
Under warranty changes
I dearly thank Ford for being so attentive to its cheapest car in India.
Fuel Efficiency
This car does like to be driven at lengths. Try using this for 10-15 minutes, and you'll see the fuel efficiency take a dip. I have managed 12.5 kmpl on 25 kms ride to my office at BKC, and my wife has managed 8-9 kmpl on her drives which are just 8 kms from our place. Considering this car gives a much desirable 1.5 l engine to its pedestrian 1.2 counterparts, these numbers are quite respectable. But again, I am going to leave the judgment to you.
By principle I don't tend to keep cars for too long, but nothing quite satisfies a BHPian as does a car that proves him right. I was right to have chosen the Figo over its much vaunted rivals, over the more modern cars in the segment above. But the little rocket and Ford have re-emphasized its abilities and prowess in my mind. And as a token of appreciation, we welcomed a new Ford EcoSport to our garage. Thanks for being so wonderful, Ford!