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-   -   Review: 1st-gen Ford Figo (2010) (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/test-drives-initial-ownership-reports/74219-review-1st-gen-ford-figo-2010-a-243.html)

Well if performance is the criteria , I suggest you look no further than the Swift 1.2 P or the i10 1.2 VTVT.
As anil suggested, why not go for the Fiesta 1.6 ? There is the limited edition, which has everything except ABS/Airbags.

I can assure you there is no change in compression ratio. What you are talking about is the "running in" period.

That sales person is talking nonsense. Please don't consider spacers for a brand new car. A tyre upsize (if your driving style requires it) will suffice.

Fiesta is out of my budget (6 lacs max). Remember that I would not go for the entry level variants in any case.

ABS+ Airbags is a must. :)
I have heard about Swift 2011 coming this year. Keeping my ears open to see when it is coming out.
Will also see if i10 is fun to drive. I find it very small compared to Figo. I am not sure about the boot space in i10.
BTW, is i10 1.2 less sluggish than Figo Petrol 1.2?

but why do Diesel engines feel better with improved throttle response after clocking a few thousand kilometers? Isn't it because of better combustion of fuel? Also, why does the mileage initially improve with kms clocked? All I could think of is that because of better tolerances achieved after the "running period", if this cannot be attributed to CR then what else could that be? sorry for:OT

When you say the I10 is "very small", let me give you the specifications of both cars for your reference.

Specs

Figo length - 3795 | I10 length - 3585 = Figo is 21 cms longer
Figo width - 1680 | I10 width - 1595 = Figo is 8.5 cms wider
Figo height - 1427 | I1o height - 1550 = I10 is 12.3 cms taller

A figure of a few centimetres here and there does make a car very big or small, in comparison with a car of a similar size like the Figo. The Figo is indeed a great car, but may have questioned the efficacy of the petrol variant. The I10 engine is reportedly better and more powerful than its Figo counterpart.

The I10 does have a smaller boot space than the Figo and it may lack the Figo's legendary road stability, but the I10 is on par with the Figo on fit and fitment and other features. Moreover, the I10 has a way better pan-India service network.

^^ I wont say that the i10 is sluggish, its pretty decent compared to figo 1.2, but it isnt exactly what you'd call fun to drive when compared to the swift 1.2.

Im also eagerly waiting for the new swift 2011, but have to say that the launch dates are highly conflicting!
Id say you go for the swift if you'r not too concerned about the street presence (as it would look outdated whenever the new swift comes out!), or maybe go for the ritz, which is what Im considering.
But if the new swift comes out, the variant with airbags+ABS would be way out of your budget which you mentioned, ie 6 lacs, unless maruti makes it a standard on all variants, which is highly unlikely!

"During break-in, a small amount of compression blow-by, oil-fuel dilution, and oil consumption will be experienced. This is perfectly normal and quite common in new engines. Although acceptable at first it is imperative that these undesirable attributes be as close to zero as possible after break-in has been completed. Although the others are important, blow-by is the primary reason the ring and cylinder wall interface has to fit together so tightly. Diesel fuel needs to be introduced into an air environment that is under intense pressure in order for it to burn without an ignition source. When the fuel burns, the gasses produced multiply the compression pressure in the cylinder. Pressurized gasses that escape by means of the compression ring / cylinder wall interface are called blow-by gases. Pressure that escapes the cylinder in this manner results in a loss of energy. Whether it is pressure lost on compression or combustion, it is unable to be utilized to drive the piston through the power stroke. This loss ultimately results in a reduction of fuel mileage and power."


TheDieselStop.Com - www.thedieselstop.com

Both the i10 and Swift do come with Airbags+ABS in their top variants (under 6L in Pune, I might add).
However, if its giggle inducing fun you looking for, look no further than the Swift P mate.
I know a new one is coming along, but that just means the old one will go for great discounts in the coming months, and its a competent car nevertheless.

I was also in the Figo Vs Swift Dilemma , with pretty much exactly the same criteria as yours. There is a thread here.

PS : Maybe these posts should go in that "what car" thread.

One important consideration that was not discussed is that the Figo has a turbo-charged diesel engine. The engine is smoother once the turbo has spooled up. This also implies that the engine oil needs to lubricate the turbo too. This is the reason for the advice to warm up the engine before driving and to let the engine idle for about 30 sec before switching off. With a running of 5-10 km, the engine wear would be increased. I remember reading somewhere that frequent trips less than 10 km and also >20K km per year were signs of rough usage, among other things.

Very True. My Figo's Diesel engine takes atleast 4 km of running before it attains optimum running temperature while our Fusion's 1.6 Petrol engine takes just under 500m!!! Yes.!!! It as been checked. So frequent very short runs would not be very good for a diesel engine is what i feel.

Based on your requirements i would strongly recommend you stretch your budget slightly and get the Polo Petrol's Top End version.

Purpose of warming up is kind of obvious, but what does this idling achieve when the engine was in running condition anyway?
Think of it, why should it increase? If distance was 100km, would smooth running after first 10km undo the earlier damage?

I am no automobile engineer, but you bring up a very good question.
This might be off-topic, but can a qualified automobile expert share his/ her opinion on this?

I agree with it. I don't think short runs can harm an engine because I would assume it's going to perform the same way for those initial distances whether you stop it after that or decide to continue driving. It could be that the engine would not have reached the optimum operating conditions, but that should only impact the efficiency. Or is there something more to it?

Anybody knows if there is any option to upgrade music system in EXI with USB cable. Service centre guys couldnt make it work with the cable and they are not quite sure if its supported only in ZXI bluetooth model. Both the systems have the same PIN out, but for some reason it doesnt work in EXI. Has someone managed to get it compatible with USB cable? Please suggest if there is any work around like Firmware upgrade or something lol:

I was told the same thing by the accessories guy at metro ford.
I wanted the usb cable and the plastic around the hand brake lever. :Frustrati
According to him both are impossible.