Choosing the colour of a car is a relatively easy choice! There are 6 colours available, out of which the reds and the browns are eliminated, leaving only the standard colours for choice.
Choosing the alloy wheels? That's a different ball-game altogether. More so, for a car that comes with some of the least attractive alloy wheels in the market. Add to it, the (less) popular 108 PCD, and you are left with quite a dilemma.
My brother in law, Karan and I had discussed a lot of things we could do to the stock wheels, i.e. paint them black, gunmetal, anthracite etc. The ST stickers did make them look passable for a few days, but the itch started again, and we decided we had had enough of the stock wheels.
We scoured the internet for wheels designs. Now this is a total waste of time, as whatever you see online is NEVER available with dealers (for less popular PCDs such as this car.) We spent 2 weeks looking for designs, and we shortlisted a few, but nothing really made us go WOW.
We even made a trip to Pal Tyres at Grant Road, which probably, will be the last on my list, due to a HORRID choice of alloys (standards fall very fast these days) and Crown Tyres, but both had really bad designs.
We did shortlist the Momo Revenge out of desperation, but it was beaten to death. I saw the wheels on karan561's car, and somehow they looked better off the car than on it. Maybe the white colour of the Figo didn't go with this design. But anyway, shortlisted this one if we didn't find anything. Pic from karan561's thread.
In some time, the excitement died down due to lack of choice.
The initial exercise was futile and we gave up on changing the alloys.
A month later, I had to attend to some patients in Juhu and I happened to plan the installation of the TPMS sensors that I had purchased shortly after the car was delivered. I went to Bombay Tyres at Milan Subway and the person started removing my original setup to fit the sensors. This is when I thought I will just 'glance' at what he had to offer, with zero expectations for my PCD. He generally keeps the best designs in town, but my PCD and the earlier internet experience scarred me.
My eyes lit up. This guy had 4 or 5 good designs. I was shocked to find something that pleased my eye, honestly.
I took some pictures and sent them to my brother in law, who was jumping in his seat in the office.
I liked a few, and shortlisted a couple. I asked him to put some on my car and show me.
All this while, my TPMS sensors were being installed in the older rims.
Somehow, everything looked 'average' and made the wheel wells look smaller. There was no way in hell, that I was going to upsize, and hence, with a hesitation, I asked the owner, Vicky (who was very patient and supportive, as well as helpful) to put my old rims back on, which had the TPMS installed.
I was in a hurry to make it to my appointments, and I had taken too much time to decide.
I left, grudgingly so, but with the decision that I want new alloys. I had tasted blood, and there was no chance of going back.
I got busy, thereafter, and I didn't get time to go back. Next week, AGAIN, I had patients. I planned to go to Santacruz 5 hours in advance, and check out all the stores around.
I started with Saifee tyres first, and met Mr. Sameer, who, very graciously put some alloys on to tyres to make me understand how it will look in the wheel well. He had only 4 designs, out of which one was the Momo Revenge and the only other one I liked, which was the Momo Next.
Somehow, they didn't make me happy. I decided to leave from there.
After this, I went to 7-8 shops and saw new designs everywhere. I couldn't get myself to like any, after which I gave up and went to the last shop before going to Bombay Tyres, which was Arvind Tyres.
I liked
one design, which I took photos of, but I still didn't know how it would look on the car. I was sick and tired of taking my wheels off and on, time and again, so I just went back to Bombay Tyres, thinking he will have the same in stock and I can try it out on the car with the other designs. It was an ONYX design, and I quite liked it.
I reached Bombay Tyres, and I had time. I looked through all the designs he had again (20+ designs in 108 PCD could just be a world record) and I took some photos of the same.
This is when things started heating up and I was coming closer to what I wanted. Constant communication with my Brother in law, and some good judgement later, THIS is what I chose. I LOVED at them at first sight, and they had touch competition from the similar 5 spoke ones in the earlier pictures, but these won by a fair margin.
LO AND BEHOLD! New Alloys!! FINALLY!