[Kool_Kid]

Hello T-BHPions,

Today my Silky Silver VDI clocked 800 KM ...
There goes some of my observations during this brief period

Handling and cornering are extremely good … no need of any comments

Breaking: Its watertight but some times at high speed rear gets out ..

AC: its ok … but not very effective in very hot and humid climate .

Pick up: its almost too perfect … nothing more to add over here . ( Although pickup in 3 gear takes time.

Gear box : it is ok . since I am learing to drive … there are times where it feel locked .. ( I cant change into any thing ) also the reverse get does not engaged very easily … what I tend to do it to press the clutch and put it in reverse … and then release the clutch little and then it falls into place.

Average : tank full to tank full from 218 – 717 approx 500 KM in 33 Liters ( 95 % AC ) which is 15 KMPL . a little disappointed over here since I was expecting 18 + . but since I am learning to drive I do hope that it gets better.


Techno meter is a boon of a newbie like me … I always tend to shift at 2000 RPM
Based up on this the gear ratio comes to

0-15 1
15-30 2
30-45 3
45-60 4
60 + 5

but there are some times when I tend to do 20 in 1 gear ( mostly just after red light ) when I am very busy trying to look after the traffic but almost forget to change the gear.


Now the biggest problem which I am facing is the size of extended wheel arch.
Twice I have banged into other stationary car while reversing . I am 5’6 and sitting in drivers seat . I am unable to see either the bonnet / or my front wheel arc … while in moving around in tight traffic I never sure whether I would be able to take it out cleanly or not . I really get very dishearten while seeing other Maruti 800, santo zip past me …

The remedy for this situation might be

1) Increase the height of drivers seat .. by putting up a pillow.
2) Putting some flag ( either BJP / Congress) on both wheel archs … it will look very strange , but will give me adequate idea of the my cars structure.
3) opting out for parking sensors … I have requested my friend to bring them from USA … but they will arrive only in june end.
4) Stop driving .. employing some driver atleast for some time .. till I get a hang of it …

I really am muffed as I cant understand the reason behind this shape … in Indica at least that stuff ( wheel Arch ) are made up of plastic .. so they can get replaced … but what the use when they are integrated in the body shell .. moreover the wider wheel base does not translate into large space inside .. so why the effort.

Now I have got a 4x4 inch paint peeled off my front door … while reversing .. requesting you guys let me know an estimate …

[akroy]

Originally Posted by Kool_Kid

Techno meter is a boon of a newbie like me … I always tend to shift at 2000 RPM

I think u meant Tachometer

[GeekSrik]

kool_kid - wonder who the other two unfortunate souls were. agree its definitely a breeze to reverse on an 800, i park on reverse very fast! i literally stretch my neck outta the window calculate the positions and just swoosh into the parking slot. you neednt park so dangerously close to other vehicles though there is a wheel arch man. the rear of swift is slight wider, so take extra care while parking. and when you drive, dont get misled by which car zips past you. your drive is only yours to enjoy man. when moving in tight traffic my suggestion for you is to have traffic on one side of you and the divider on the other side of you. that way less headache and you can go in one straight line. thats what i always do, else i ll have to keep on calculating whether i can squeeze in between cars which can prove dangerous most times unless you know what you are doing.

[Kool_Kid]

[quote=GeekSrik;447168]kool_kid - wonder who the other two unfortunate souls were.[quote]

One was a realtive .. so told then and went home ... they recently sold that car for 10 K ... ( Marut 800 1980 ) ..

Other one is one Maruti Esteem ... dont know the owner .. but will ask him to forgive me and would be willing to pay damages ..

Any Idea what 4x4 inch paint peel of Maruti esteem will cost ?

[Kool_Kid]

Originally Posted by akroy

I think u meant Tachometer

Yes sir ... it is really very helpfull for a newbie .. other wise i am sure i would have redlined the engine at any given instant ...

[GeekSrik]

maybe 2000 or so, these paint jobs are generally costly, but maybe lesser than that too. just check up with any maruti guy. should not be too expensive. well and that depends on what you do for a living

[mobike008]

Originally Posted by Kool_Kid

12) Putting some flag ( either BJP / Congress) on both wheel archs … it will look very strange , but will give me adequate idea of the my cars structure.

Now I have got a 4x4 inch paint peeled off my front door … while reversing .. requesting you guys let me know an estimate …

thats a unique way to gauge the car length.

Jokes apart, i think you will get a hang of it as you drive more, so take out your car in sparse traffic and when you get comfortable do it in peak, you will see it'll be a breeze.

Regarding painting that small portion, you may have to paint the entire front door and if you go to a authorized center, he will rip you off for 3-4k. Go to a neighbourhood good dent and repair center and you can get it done for 1k or less ( thats what i did and it was a beautiful job). your is silver, so it wont be a problem at all.

[headers]

Originally Posted by GeekSrik

when moving in tight traffic my suggestion for you is to have traffic on one side of you and the divider on the other side of you. that way less headache and you can go in one straight line. thats what i always do,

So its you guys learning to DRIVE in the Middle of the road close to divider..is it??

Dont you think it is better to stick to the left most lane. No offense to anybody..but because ...... like you use the center of the road..faster moving vehicles are forced to overtake from the left..adding to more chaos..

[Kool_Kid]

So its you guys learning to DRIVE in the Middle of the road close to divider..is it??

What Sirk means is to drive on right side of the road ... that does not mean slow driving .In delhi its very dangerous to drive in left most lane as its designated for Blue lines Buses ( u will never ever know when they might stop ) with is shared with Rikasha 's and cyclist. I have literally stopped counting the no of time i have seen then take a blind right / left turn ... without looking at on comming traffic even once ... . honking takes u no wear . some times i just feel like gifting them some life Insurance policies.

[GeekSrik]

headers, firstly welcome to bangalore sometime in life, and you ll know what i mean. traffic here goes at 10-20kmph max thats all. and i m not learning to drive, i ve finished that phase. if kool_kid is still learning, then i take back my words! better to be on the left side of the lane system.

i switch lanes whenever i need to. to find my own space and time. that aside, i leave early to work and its a rather wide road, gives me opp to go at 60-80 if traffic is smooth. the last stretch is at 100-110 for about 2-3km!

[akroy]

Originally Posted by GeekSrik

the last stretch is at 100-110 for about 2-3km!

Wonder which is the stretch in bangalore which lets u do 100-110kmph on peak office hour ????

It is choked everywhere....including the ring roads....

Abhi

[deepakhon]

Originally Posted by GeekSrik

the last stretch is at 100-110 for about 2-3km!

I will relocate to your office, at least for these 2-3 km. My car has never seen 100 since quite some time. I need to take it out of Bangalore badly.

[anshurao]

Hey Guys, Jus completed 5500K on my Swift Vdi, Given it for 2nd service today. Jus did 165kmph yesterday and the car had more, jus that the road was very bumpy and I had to stop pushing. I need to get this baby to pune-bombay expressway.
I have a couple of problem
1) In city driving, the car tends to self accelerate for a short distance, do any of you guys have this sort of problem. It usually happens in 2nd gear.
2) When i change to a lower gear, to take a U turn, the engine just stalls. This has happened to me a few times now. But you got to approach at high speeds, shift to second, and there the engine goes dead. That's pretty dangerous.

[GeekSrik]

Originally Posted by akroy

Wonder which is the stretch in bangalore which lets u do 100-110kmph on peak office hour ????

It is choked everywhere....including the ring roads....

Abhi

Originally Posted by deepakhon

I will relocate to your office, at least for these 2-3 km. My car has never seen 100 since quite some time. I need to take it out of Bangalore badly.

you are welcome to relocate to manyata tech park, nagawara! the beauty is when i leave to office, i leave around 8:30 and hit raj bhavan road. up until there its cool breeze and lots of trees, really makes me fresh. reach raj bhavan around 9. and further its one straight road upto hebbal flyover which i drive around 60-80 around 9am! (actually 9:30-10:30 is real peak hour). up the hebbal flyover ramp, and down the outer ring road ramp, and after that i hit 100-110 all the way upto nagawara signal! perhaps this is the only stretch where you can do this today in bangalore. everything else is outright congested to glory.

@anshurao - the self acceleration is a built in feature, i had it in palio too. its the way clutch releases are designed, you got to live with that! and the other issue, engine going dead ?? mods are you guys reading this post!! swift engine issues or what now? thats damn dangerous dude. check it up with your service center immediately.

[anshurao]

Originally Posted by GeekSrik

@anshurao - the self acceleration is a built in feature, i had it in palio too. its the way clutch releases are designed, you got to live with that!

Ok, thanks for this info buddy, I wasn't aware of this and the guys at maruti changed my accelerator kit

Originally Posted by GeekSrik

and the other issue, engine going dead ?? mods are you guys reading this post!! swift engine issues or what now? thats damn dangerous dude. check it up with your service center immediately.

Have reportrd this matter to the guys today, havent driven the car yet, me still workin. Will go check it out once i get home.