[MX6]

Originally Posted by smartcat

Check the last few pages of "Fiat Grande Punto - Test Drive & Review" thread under 'Test Drives & Initial Ownership Reports' sub-forum. I'm waiting for the 90 BHP Fiat Grande Punto.

And yes, check the Classifieds section of Team-BHP after a few weeks.
Although being quite honest about the Optra's little Munnar adventure might have hurt its resale value.

My head is full of calculations like next 100,000 kms divided by 20 km/litre (diesel mileage on highways) = 5000 litres multiplied by Rs. 40 (diesel cost) and so on. Plus, something else that cannot be evaluated with the help of a calculator - SAFETY. I think I need a car with dual airbags & ABS.

On contrary to Ranjan, I love your optra. It's synonymous with you, jagga, karthic, etc now. Sad you are turning it in for a punto. Why are you downsizing now? Shouldn't you go for the linea instead?

[SmartCat]

Four reasons why I'm not too gung-ho about the Linea -

1) I don't have enough money.

2) I like Punto's face better than Linea's. Well, Linea looks good too, but is not as flawless as the Punto. The headlamps are different, the grille somehow looks different. Some Team-BHP Linea owners have painted their grille black - that looks brilliant though.

3) I took a wonderful lesson in something called "depreciation" after the Optra ownership. Big car = big money = big depreciation = low resale value.

4) Linea top end diesel model is Rs. 2.5 Lacs more expensive than Punto's. For Rs. 2.5 Lacs, I get an extra 15 BHP (but also extra weight), a slightly longer wheelbase for more legroom at the back, 220 litre extra bootspace, an arm rest for the driver's seat and a rear AC vents. Are these worth an extra 33% premium over the Punto? The Munshiji in me says Linea is overpriced by about Rs. 1 Lac. Plus, used car dealers just don't care about features like leather interiors, sunroof, electrical gadgets on the Optra - all they look at is year of manufacture and the number of kms done.

[MX6]

when smartkitten arrives, you'd need more boot space if you intend to write more travelogues.

[Ranjan Sharma]

Originally Posted by smartcat

My head is full of calculations like next 100,000 kms divided by 20 km/litre (diesel mileage on highways) = 5000 litres multiplied by Rs. 40 (diesel cost) and so on.

I think more than this, you should use the calculator for evaluating your Optra's price and either 1 should exist on T-BHP, the travelogue or classified for your car's sale. Both at the same time will make you use the calculator more

[aargee]

Originally Posted by MX6

when smartkitten arrives, you'd need more boot space if you intend to write more travelogues.

+100 or infiniti to this

@Smartcat, trust me, you'll need a bigger boot; I use a WagonR for a family of four & as of now, we don't have big issues as both our children are less than 3. The last trip that we did to Coorg had 2 of my cousin (14 & 16) in addition to 4 & yes, we had a little tough time in the boot to accomodate our stuffs. Had my Mother agreed to join the trip, I should've probably let the car drive by itself.

In a way Punto could be just sufficient for you now, provided you 3 are the only riders, but in course of time, you may have to change.

OT - Do you still believe that Tata can do a good service to Fiat? Fiat & Tata = Garland in Monkey's hands

[ampere]

Originally Posted by smartcat

Lessons We Learn't After This Accident:

- Never drive on an empty stomach. We didn't have breakfast before leaving. Empty stomach reduces concentration.

km/hr.

Never drive on an empty stomach, but also never drive on a loaded stomach. Eat light. In fact Holmes (Conan Doyle) said:

"Faculties become refined, when you starve them!"

With a loaded stomach you can become lethargic, which also can lead to lapse in concentration.

[aargee]

Originally Posted by smartcat

1) I don't have enough money.

3) I took a wonderful lesson in something called "depreciation" after the Optra ownership. Big car = big money = big depreciation = low resale value.

@Smartcat - On a different note, I thought, why not you retain your beloved Optra instead of upgrading? I'm sure you would've come across this thread much earlier than me. I see two things
1. Respect the sentiments on ME 1979
2. You spend even less maintaining the old car than buying a new car

[Akadian]

Originally Posted by ampere

Never drive on an empty stomach, but also never drive on a loaded stomach. Eat light. In fact Holmes (Conan Doyle) said:

"Faculties become refined, when you starve them!"

With a loaded stomach you can become lethargic, which also can lead to lapse in concentration.

Yes, over-eating can cause drowsiness while driving and that can lead to a horrible mistake. I'm one of the supporters of the "eat less" or even "empty-stomach driving" school of thought.

In fact, I've grown up watching an excellent driver, who used to drive for my father's work-place. This guy was too good and very experienced and yet he never took chances, always refused to eat anything before reaching the end destination.

[ranjith.rajaram]

It’s hard to take a call in sealing a bike/car, I always feel that they are a part of family. Any way decision is yours but as MX6 said take a call on the boot space.

I did love your Optra .

[SmartCat]

Originally Posted by MX6

when smartkitten arrives, you'd need more boot space if you intend to write more travelogues.

Originally Posted by ranjith.rajaram

It’s hard to take a call in sealing a bike/car, I always feel that they are a part of family. Any way decision is yours but as MX6 said take a call on the boot space.

Jagga's Palio has a 260 litre boot (as against Optra's 405), but we never felt constrained as such. I guess our minds make a note that we will be taking the Palio this time, and we automatically pack a little less. And when we decide to take the Optra, we pack a whole lot of stuff, some of them we don't use.

Punto meanwhile has a 280 litre boot (bigger than Palio, and a lot bigger than normal hatchbacks like Swift/Indica/Vista - all in 220 litre range). Plus since it is a hatchback, I can remove the parcel tray and stack luggage vertically. For eg, 3/4th of a bag could be inside the boot and 1/4th of the luggage bag could be over the backseats (so that the luggage bag doesn't become a missile in the event of a collision).

Originally Posted by Ranjan Sharma

I think more than this, you should use the calculator for evaluating your Optra's price

No calculator required here. I need to get the price I want - if it gets a buyer, I'm happy. If it doesn't get a buyer, I would still be happy - I'm not exactly in a tearing hurry to sell the car.

Originally Posted by aargee

I use a WagonR for a family of four & as of now, we don't have big issues as both our children are less than 3. The last trip that we did to Coorg had 2 of my cousin (14 & 16) in addition to 4 & yes, we had a little tough time in the boot to accomodate our stuffs. Had my Mother agreed to join the trip, I should've probably let the car drive by itself.

We have a Santro & an Alto in the family - so we'll go in a procession if required. Family trips are quite rare though.

@Smartcat, trust me, you'll need a bigger boot; In a way Punto could be just sufficient for you now, provided you 3 are the only riders, but in course of time, you may have to change.

Aha! By that time, large number of used Tata Aria with 4WD will be the market. I intend to drive in with a Punto and drive out with an Aria then.

But I've really given a serious thought to this boot business. By going for a diesel, I'm thinking with my head rather than my heart. So I'm like - why not go the whole way and buy myself a Manza. 460 litre boot, Fiat engine which is tuned for better highway mileage, lots of electrical gadegets and priced slightly above the Punto Emotion Pack. I intend to take a test drive of the Manza.

However, the looks put me off - looks quite odd from some angles. Also, the steering mounted audio controls on the Manza go ticki ticki ticki - like a toy. But black colour tends to mask shape, and black 15 inch alloys should do a lot to improve the looks.

I'm also in the market for an used -

Skoda Octavia L&K
Toyota Innova top end diesel

My minimum requirements are -

- Diesel engine
- Steering mounted audio controls
- Dual airbags & ABS.

But since I'm very fussy about the car colour, I don't think I'll be successful in finding an used car that meets my requirements.

OT - Do you still believe that Tata can do a good service to Fiat? Fiat & Tata = Garland in Monkey's hands

- Chevrolet's service can be best described by this emoticon
- My dad hates Hyundai's service so much that he prefers servicing his Santro at a friendly neighborhood mechanic.
- My brother's Alto is acting funny AFTER giving his car for servicing at Maruti service station.
- A friend of mine who owns a Maruti, Tata & a Hyundai rates Tata as No. 1 in service department.
- Jagga's Palio and my cousin's Palio go to Fiat/Tata service station, and they are reporting "OK" service experiences (not too great but not too bad either).

Originally Posted by aargee

@Smartcat - On a different note, I thought, why not you retain your beloved Optra instead of upgrading? I'm sure you would've come across this thread much earlier than me. I see two things
1. Respect the sentiments on ME 1979
2. You spend even less maintaining the old car than buying a new car

Yes, yes - that logic makes lot of sense from a pure financial point of view. But it doesn't cover the safety aspect - I thought it would be nice to have a car with dual airbags & ABS.

[MX6]

Originally Posted by aargee

+100 or infiniti to this

@Smartcat, trust me, you'll need a bigger boot; I use a WagonR for a family of four & as of now, we don't have big issues as both our children are less than 3. The last trip that we did to Coorg had 2 of my cousin (14 & 16) in addition to 4 & yes, we had a little tough time in the boot to accomodate our stuffs. Had my Mother agreed to join the trip, I should've probably let the car drive by itself.

In a way Punto could be just sufficient for you now, provided you 3 are the only riders, but in course of time, you may have to change.

OT - Do you still believe that Tata can do a good service to Fiat? Fiat & Tata = Garland in Monkey's hands

No car seats on a trip to coorg from chennai with two kids under 3?
The law doesn't enforce it. But I guess you know the implications best!

[sushrutha]

Originally Posted by smartcat

So I'm like - why not go the whole way and buy myself a Manza.
However, the looks put me off - looks quite odd from some angles.

Manza would have been a right choice for you. Quite VFM. But Even I don't like the look of the car.

Originally Posted by smartcat

I'm also in the market for an used -

Skoda Octavia L&K
Toyota Innova top end diesel

My minimum requirements are -

- Diesel engine
- Steering mounted audio controls
- Dual airbags & ABS.

I thought it would be nice to have a car with dual airbags & ABS.

If you like the looks of Swift DZire , Close your eyes and buy DZire ZDi. It has all the features you have mentioned and under 8L OTR.
Fantastic engine + excellent mileage (Diesel)+ super Resale value
Else an used Innova.

[aargee]

Originally Posted by MX6

No car seats on a trip to coorg from chennai with two kids under 3?
The law doesn't enforce it. But I guess you know the implications best!

Boy, I don't have a car seat nor did find someone who could donate/lend me one. Besides, I need to buy two of them & let both my cousins cling on to the roof

[MX6]

Enough of OT. SC has made up his mind on his car. Let's leave it at that. When are you unveiling the cavemen Mr. Hobbes?

[ampere]

I looked at the site of the place. Is it some kind of a weekend resort?
The site says its some where on the Kanakpura road.