[FlyingSpur]

My '05 Corolla has five alloys. I'm sure even the facelifted post July '05 Corolla comes with five alloys. This is more of a recent trend.

[ashthedivx]

Corrolla's 5th wheel is also an alloy one !!

EDIT: Mine is 2008 one.

[Akki_5]

Originally Posted by tsk1979

Tata safari has 5 alloys. As do many other cars. Its not for wear, its for cost cutting that many cars do not have alloy spare wheel

Ok. Agreed that many other cars come with 5 alloys. But this does not rule out the tyre wear reason. That is definitely the main reason. Cost cutting is also an important reason but IMHO not the primary. A trend i observed is, all the German cars comes with steel wheels for spare (Skoda, Merc, VW etc.)

The idea behind the wear out principle is: when you switch a flat tyre with a stepney, if it's an alloy then you'll get your flat tyre repaired and put it in the boot. So, a new tyre/relatively unused (stepney) replaces a relatively more worn out tyre. (Why would you care to switch tyres again after repairing the puncture?)
If your spare is a steel wheel, you'll get puncture repaired and put the spare/stepney in the boot and use your original tyre back. Now, relatively unused is back in the boot and all the tyres fitted have similar worn out patterns.
But this is just my understanding, may not be the fact.

[carboy]

Originally Posted by Akki_5

Ok. Agreed that many other cars come with 5 alloys. But this does not rule out the tyre wear reason. That is definitely the main reason. Cost cutting is also an important reason but IMHO not the primary. A trend i observed is, all the German cars comes with steel wheels for spare (Skoda, Merc, VW etc.)

The idea behind the wear out principle is: when you switch a flat tyre with a stepney, if it's an alloy then you'll get your flat tyre repaired and put it in the boot. So, a new tyre/relatively unused (stepney) replaces a relatively more worn out tyre. (Why would you care to switch tyres again after repairing the puncture?)
If your spare is a steel wheel, you'll get puncture repaired and put the spare/stepney in the boot and use your original tyre back. Now, relatively unused is back in the boot and all the tyres fitted have similar worn out patterns.
But this is just my understanding, may not be the fact.

Not true. If all 5 wheels are identical, you should be doing a 5-tyre rotation instead of a 4-tyre rotation so that wear is similiar on all 5 tyres.

Tire Tech Information - Tire Rotation Instructions

Providing a different 5th wheel is plain cost cutting.
Cars sold in the US(even the Japanese ones) go one step further. They come with a donut spare wheel/tyre instead of a regular one.
http://autos.aol.com/article/donut-spare-tire/

[iceman7]

Car = SUPERB (pun intended)

Review = SUPERB

Car Driver = SUPERB

Have fun with the Superb, Sam. I am sure it offers more value than the money it demands. We look forward to your next review.

[Akki_5]

Originally Posted by carboy

Not true. If all 5 wheels are identical, you should be doing a 5-tyre rotation instead of a 4-tyre rotation so that wear is similiar on all 5 tyres.

Tire Tech Information - Tire Rotation Instructions

Providing a different 5th wheel is plain cost cutting.
Cars sold in the US(even the Japanese ones) go one step further. They come with a donut spare wheel/tyre instead of a regular one.
How Long Can You Drive On a ?Donut? Spare Tire?

Oh ok. My bad. I didn't know that. Thanks for the link.

[chaostheory]

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

The boot opens on its own before I reach the button and the lid swings open slowly all the way, allowing me to place my stuff in.

Drama!

As I turn, very surprised to look towards Akbar, I can see both the watchmen giggling like little girls as Akbar beams, proud of what he discovered.
Apparently you can open the boot lid remotely, in style.
Impressive. Most impressive.

Utna hi thoda! Aur bhi bahut kucch hai remote mein!
Really, I find myself speaking excitedly.
Haan yeh dekho.

This is a cool car!

Interestingly, the Ford Figo has this bootopener button on their remote lock key.
On another note, amazingly humane car purchase write up Sam.

[holysmoke]

Originally Posted by chaostheory

Interestingly, the Ford Figo has this bootopener button on their remote lock key.
On another note, amazingly humane car purchase write up Sam.

So does the i20. But as far as I remember, the button on the figo only unlocks the boot. The button on the superb actually opens the boot, ie you dont need to touch anything, you just load stuff inside.. the boot opens upwards automatically.

This is more commonly found in sedans. The 2004 accord had this, but the civic does not.

[imp!]

Sam the tyre thing is common to NCT-5's. I have the exact same issue with mine.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/tyre-a...ml#post1958462

[Sahil]

Sam- The spare is not alloy. Regret the delay in responding but it was only yesterday that I realized after I had to physically change the tyres coz my Primacy LC's tore !

[Sam Kapasi]

Originally Posted by holysmoke

So does the i20. But as far as I remember, the button on the figo only unlocks the boot. The button on the superb actually opens the boot, ie you dont need to touch anything, you just load stuff inside.. the boot opens upwards automatically.

This is more commonly found in sedans. The 2004 accord had this, but the civic does not.

Spot on. In the superb the entire boot lid actually opens up fully while you approach the car.

Originally Posted by imp!

Sam the tyre thing is common to NCT-5's. I have the exact same issue with mine.

So the Goodyear NCT-5 is a crappy tyre?

[chaostheory]

Originally Posted by holysmoke

So does the i20. But as far as I remember, the button on the figo only unlocks the boot. The button on the superb actually opens the boot, ie you dont need to touch anything, you just load stuff inside.. the boot opens upwards automatically.

This is more commonly found in sedans. The 2004 accord had this, but the civic does not.

You're right. It's just that it's good to see such allegedly premium features slowly finding their way down the "value" chain in a humble Figo. Though my ANHC still does not give me basics like mudflaps and I had to actually fight to get it at no additional cost!

[holysmoke]

I am still running stock tyres on my superb after 13.5k kms. No issues as yet. Did a 1000km road trip last weekend.. tyres behaved well.

Personally I dont find it an issue.. maybe you guys are not maintaining the correct air pressure? Note that the sticker on the drivers door says 32/33 but I maintain 31, and make sure I dont go lower than 30. I try to get my tyres checked everytime I tank up... or atleast once in a week.

[normally_crazy]

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

So the Goodyear NCT-5 is a crappy tyre?

Yes it is a crappy tyre.

[BIKeINSTEIN]

Sorry for posting here so late.
Lovely reading another of the Yeti's tales, as usual- comments from everyone else too included.

The part where the Honda loses out on points from the Yeti and where some pals comment 'it's not worth the price' was quite funny.
If it were to be compiled and needed a title, maybe i could call it-
"When Honda got the dandaa"
Honda has immense fan following in India and almost every other car i see these days, especially in Bandra may be a Civic.
They keep releasing revisions with added bling, which somehow seems to fetch their cars added brownie points from prospective buyers.
But having to shell out much more for the usual, just cause it's a "Honda" and only because social acceptance is very high on them is something that is not so endearing about them to me.

Faults may happen- they may get rectified or maybe even not at times.
But lack of proper training/service at an authorised dealership is totally undesirable.
Passionate about automobiles or not, most vehicle owners approach auth. dealerships/workshops hoping for some peace of mind w.r.t. use of genuine spares and/or technically sound worksmanship.
While i was fond of the budget-scorcher VRs and the Superb always seemed superb since inception, i grew a dislike for Skoda in India after the company didn't reprimand the errant dealership.
There is no guarantee that there won't be truant dealerships/workshops, taking the ignorant for a ride but a company/manufacturer cannot, should not and and must not turn a blind eye to such happenings.
I hope the higher officials at Skoda India realise this sooner than later.