The Blue Streak Arrives...My Fiesta 1.6 S Hey ppl, Sighted my Fiesta 1.6s in Aquarius Blue on Saturday and the wait continues. Something like the eager wait for your very first date with someone whom you’ve spoken to, hurriedly met in the company of friends, but one's who finally agreed to go out with you...ALONE !! Your mind does a million calculations every second. Where do you go, what do you wear, what do you say and what the possibilities are. Well, that’s precisely what this has been doing to me ever since I thought of buying it.
But then again, it wasn’t love at first sight for me. I’d seen her when she was launched and even though she set a million hearts a flutter with that exotic blue color, I was made of sterner stuff. So I kept driving me Aveo 1.4 LS and cursing every moment I drove the car (Aveo owners, please forgive me but I’ve lived with the Aveo for more than a year before taking this decision). Then my eyes rested on the new Cedia Sports but considering it was Rs 10.5 lks OTR, I started the hunt for a used piece. Then came Shuvd who suggested the Fiesta 1.6s in the first place. His sms remained hidden in my inbox all the time i was searching for a used Cedia, but an offer at office coupled with the text and frankmehta's reviews on the S made me pine for a TD.
Ganges Ford in Kolkata doesn’t’ have a 1.6S for TD and use the 1.6Sxi. We had the TD promptly arranged on Saturday and Razor and Vroom had a whale of a time giving it the stick, I THINK. The Ford guy was somehow scared silly (Thanks to Razor who'd TD'ed the car for the 2nd time in as many weeks). Me, the somewhat sedate driver was impressed with the directness of the steering and the addictive engine rasp, which made me, wanna downshift and mash the throttle…just to hear the sound again and again. Loved the precise gearshift, which fell nicely to hand. Ford could have added in the arm- rest on the front seats. The tires on the TD vehicle were the standard 175 MRF ZV2K so am sure the wider NCT 5’s on the S would improve the handling even more.
Now to the overall booking experience, which as been pretty good till now. Negotiated a very good buy back for the Aveo, which would cover the down payment on the car. Apart from this, am getting discount of Rs 54k, 50% off on insurance and essential accessories like Mud flaps, floor mats, dickey mat, idol, perfume and car cover (The salesman has assured he will give me the car cover but not in writing).
“Guys, who’ve bought the S, is it absolutely necessary to take the insurer offered by Ford India (They offer Iffco Tokio, Bajaj and ICICI Lombard), since I have a tie up with the Royal Sundaram people. Ford folks say that insurance claims from any other insurers other than those approved by Ford India would not be cashless…
“But its not been all hunky dory either.
After the booking, I was told that the car isn’t in Stock in Kolkata and isn’t available in Chennai as well and I should expect the car within 3- 4 weeks. Then on 9th, I got a call from the salesman here that the corp discount couldnt be offered since my company wasnt on the list for the current month (He neglected the fact that I had booked in august but he logged in September). After frantic calls to the proprietor (Who was very courteous but said he could'nt do much) and the RSM of Ford India, East, managed to get the assurance that the corp disc would be made available after all. Man, what a nerve wracking experience it was.
Finally, got a call from the salesman on Saturday that the car had arrived and they were getting it to the showroom to show me. Checked out the car, in the "flesh" for the first time and was drooling like a kid at a candy store. Did a brief look over at the car and took some pics (poor quality thanks to the E 71 Camera). Am planning to close out the finance bit today. Has anyone dealt with UBI...Its a wild card but am gona go and meet them anyways.
Away from all this, I spent/d all my free time drooling at frank’s, gautam’s, shajufx posts of the car. Waiting, thinking and planning about how life is gonna change once the S is here. So here’s to the long wait….</p>
Last edited by Jaggu : 14th September 2009 at 11:40.
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