[amalji]

Originally Posted by fiat_tarun

The tubeless tyres on steel rims thing sounds strange to be as well. Most cars nowadays come standard with tubeless tyres (on steel rims for the lower end versions). Actually even the Nano comes with tubeless tyres.

It's always better to have tubeless tyres on Alloy wheels.
One of my friends went for a long trip with an innova with tubeless tyres ( on steel rims )
He banged the car on a big gutter at very high speed, and bent both the front rims. Air escaped through the bent and he was stuck at the highway at 1am. There was nothing he could do, since cars don't have 2 spare tyres.

It's always safe to have alloys for tubeless tyres unless if the tyres are high-profile.

[Buffetfan]

Originally Posted by amalji

It's always better to have tubeless tyres on Alloy wheels.
One of my friends went for a long trip with an innova with tubeless tyres ( on steel rims )
He banged the car on a big gutter at very high speed, and bent both the front rims. Air escaped through the bent and he was stuck at the highway at 1am. There was nothing he could do, since cars don't have 2 spare tyres.

It's always safe to have alloys for tubeless tyres unless if the tyres are high-profile.

Well- I bent my alloy on a large pothole at high speed. Tubeless tire again though the air did not escape in my case.

In my opinion, it is good to carry a tube in the car for emergencies.

[selfdrive]

Originally Posted by airbender

Can you please explain what benchmark did toyota set with etios?

Not with the Etios, but by delivering a car before the said date. Such cases are rarely heard of, in our dealerships. Usually they are delayed deliveries, and more of a witch hunt for reasons.

[Surviving Brain]

Originally Posted by selfdrive

Not with the Etios, but by delivering a car before the said date. Such cases are rarely heard of, in our dealerships. Usually they are delayed deliveries, and more of a witch hunt for reasons.

Hmmm. This doesn't sound new to me, atleast.

FYI, Tata Nano is available off the shelf, all over our country.

EDIT : But, I must say the thread starter is very lucky indeed to get his car within a short span of time, while others are waiting endlessly.

[ajay0612]

Originally Posted by airbender

Can you please explain what benchmark did toyota set with etios?

Etios for one has provided Airbags and ABS (as options) for middle variant while none other manufacturer did :-). even with these safety features cost is still below 6Lakhs.
The car is spacious, has torquey petrol engine which is efficient too!
It has skimped on many incremental features while providing useful ones like cooled glove compartment which is big enough to devour a ladies handbag . Reliability is added bonus.

[Klub Class]

Originally Posted by ajay0612

Etios for one has provided Airbags and ABS (as options) for middle variant while none other manufacturer did :-)

FYI, Nissan is offering driver side airbags as standard across the range in Nissan Micra, including the base variant

[amalji]

Originally Posted by Buffetfan

Well- I bent my alloy on a large pothole at high speed. Tubeless tire again though the air did not escape in my case.

In my opinion, it is good to carry a tube in the car for emergencies.

Depends on how severe, the bend is. Even with spare tube, one will be caught off-gaurd, if 2 rims get bent because we will not be able to push in the tubes and fill air yourselves, if it is in an isolated place at the middle of the night.

[Buffetfan]

Originally Posted by amalji

Depends on how severe, the bend is. Even with spare tube, one will be caught off-gaurd, if 2 rims get bent because we will not be able to push in the tubes and fill air yourselves, if it is in an isolated place at the middle of the night.

Agree but you can go to the nearest village and get the local puncture wallah to push in the tube. and use the spare tire for teh second rim.

[vebmetal]

^ rrrrightt... It makes sense to carry extra tubes with you, but somehow it doesn't make sense to get alloys in the first place if you want tubeless?

All I was saying was that with tubeless tyres, one of the biggest perks is that if you get a puncture etc. you can still drive the car to a distance, to at least get to a puncture wallah. With steel rims you lose that advantage, as in the case of amalji's friend (although it wasn't a puncture technically). Honestly, it doesn't take much to bend a steel rim.

Anyway, got delivery of my Etios today (V Variant) - but we were one of the first ones to book it so kind of expected an early delivery. Got Bridgestone Turanzas, so pretty happy - was considering Michellin XM1+ but as per the feedback on this forum, it seems theres not that much of a difference between the two as to warrant the extra expenditure. I feel bad for the other Etios that was at the delivery yard which had MRFs!! (My ownership report will be forthcoming after a few days of usage).

[Buffetfan]

Originally Posted by vebmetal

^ rrrrightt... It makes sense to carry extra tubes with you, but somehow it doesn't make sense to get alloys in the first place if you want tubeless?

All I was saying was that with tubeless tyres, one of the biggest perks is that if you get a puncture etc. you can still drive the car to a distance, to at least get to a puncture wallah. With steel rims you lose that advantage, as in the case of amalji's friend (although it wasn't a puncture technically). Honestly, it doesn't take much to bend a steel rim.
.

Well, a tube costs INR 250 or lower while a set of alloys can cost you between INR 20k to 50K+. Alloy wheels are a big expense and to me if I am short on money, I will first go in for tubeless tires and then/if/maybe alloy wheels (which, in certain cases can also add wobble to your drive if the hub centricity decides to play up).

Just my 2 cents of experience. I have used Tubeless tires since 2003 -
Steel Rims - Michelin MXTE (155/80R13) in my Fiat Uno and Goodyear Eagle GA Plus (165/65R13)
Alloy Wheels - Goodyear Eagle NCT5 / Michelin Energy XM1 (both 185/65R14) on my Baleno and Yokohama C.Drive (225/60R15) on my Innova.

I have experienced bends in both Steel Rims and Alloys if the Impact was hard enough and did not lose air in either of impacts. Maybe Steel Rims are weaker but I would not purchase Alloys for the very marginal safety of pothole impact. The only reason I would purchase them is for looks looks and looks.

But I would definitely purchase tubeless tires for tire blast protection as well as puncture resistance.

[ajay0612]

Originally Posted by Klub Class

FYI, Nissan is offering driver side airbags as standard across the range in Nissan Micra, including the base variant

Not only Micra, but also Skoda Fabia. But none is offering ABS in lower variants.

[tj123]

Originally Posted by vebmetal

^ rrrrightt... It makes sense to carry extra tubes with you, but somehow it doesn't make sense to get alloys in the first place if you want tubeless?

All I was saying was that with tubeless tyres, one of the biggest perks is that if you get a puncture etc. you can still drive the car to a distance, to at least get to a puncture wallah. With steel rims you lose that advantage, as in the case of amalji's friend (although it wasn't a puncture technically). Honestly, it doesn't take much to bend a steel rim.

Anyway, got delivery of my Etios today (V Variant) - but we were one of the first ones to book it so kind of expected an early delivery. Got Bridgestone Turanzas, so pretty happy - was considering Michellin XM1+ but as per the feedback on this forum, it seems theres not that much of a difference between the two as to warrant the extra expenditure. I feel bad for the other Etios that was at the delivery yard which had MRFs!! (My ownership report will be forthcoming after a few days of usage).

Congrats on getting your new Etios , looking forward to see your detailed user experience on this forum.

[amtak]

Congratulations on your Etios. The first one in TBHP. Can I request you to please post more pictures (Side profile and some more interiors)?

Thanks!

[RegularIndian]

Guys, thanks for all your comments and views! I guess no amount of pictures can actualy replace the 'real' feel of the vehicle. So my request is please go and check it out at a dealership.

What I did over the last few days is to get double matting, fabric and transparent rubber and that has reduced the cabin noise significantly.
Also got a Kenwood running on the stock speaker set. 4 n number, however the two on the dash are tweeters essentially. The sound is pretty good though I will add a pair of speakers at the rear soon.

Anyone who is planning to get a HU, my advise is to get a 2DIN as the portion of dash that needs to be removed for a 1 DIN needs to be 'cut out' from the existing piece.

Also you will need an expert to install it as it involves some intricate adjustments.

Now for the drive, done 250kms. and every day the drive gets better. Buttery smooth and the engine asks for more. Still not doing over 80kmph.

Kitna deti hai? well, not measured yet. got some 20 lts. and still running on it...so pls be patient

Drive quality is phenomenal, no doubt about it..however I am yet to sit at the rear seat with someone else driving. Driving position is very comfortable, not low slung and not upright too!

It still needs seat covers and a body cover ...

and yes...it is a G variant, runs on steel wheels and GoodYear tubeless tyres..

[GTO]

Originally Posted by RegularIndian

What I did over the last few days is to get double matting, fabric and transparent rubber and that has reduced the cabin noise significantly.

If you want to reduce the noise even more, get one of those thick, underbody anti-rust coatings (the rubbery type). Will make a huge difference to a car as poorly insulated as the Etios.