It is longer and wider than both the Hyundai Creta and the Skoda Kushaq available here in India.

BHPian dkaile recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

My son buys a Skoda Scala in Ireland (13th Jan 2024)

So my son had completed nearly a year in his first job as an engineer with a top construction firm in Europe. Though he had been offered a company car from day 1, he did not have a European driving licence to own one. So after 4 failed attempts he finally got the Irish (EU) driving licence in September last year and has been looking at opportunities to own his own first car since then. I told him to buy a 5~10-year-old Audi or Beemer but somehow he wanted a new car as his 1st one and a Skoda at that (like father like son).

So he finally narrowed it down to their starting level car there, which is the Skoda Scala, in its topmost trim - the Style variant. He was in India in Nov-Dec for the marriage of his sister and had already paid an advance deposit for the car before coming. So the car finally arrived on 5th January and he went in for the PDI armed with the TeamBHP PDI checklist which I had sent over.

Here's the first look of the car he got in Steel Grey. It was a late 2023 manufactured car according to the VIN-

The Rear. Note the 17" alloy wheels -

The price list. And Yes, in Ireland, cars are heavily taxed like in India and almost 30-40% costlier than UK or Germany. He chose the 1.0TSI 110bhp 6MT variant in Style trim -

The feature list. The car comes with limited ADAS as Lane Assist with active steering and cruise control with speed limiter is standard. However adaptive cruise control was a 567Euro extra.

The technical specs of the car. The engine seems to be the same as the 1.0L Kushaq available here in India but with a higher 200Nm of torque -

For perspective, the Scala is longer and wider than both the Creta and the Kushaq available here. Even the wheelbase is more than the Creta. The boot space is 30L more than the Creta and 80L more than the Kushaq and just short of 90L from my Superb. Overall, it is a 'superb' starting car for a person in his 20s -

The 1L TSI 110bhp 6-speed Manual Transmission engine is an award-winning gem of a frugal engine with a 0-100 time of 10.1 seconds. He is easily getting 12kmpl in the city and 16~18kmpl on the highways -

The interiors. Some highlights being 8" Bolero Touchscreen with 8 speakers, Climatronic Dual Zone Auto AC, Keyless Go, Full LED Lights including headlights with AFS, fog lights, 7 Airbags, TPMS, USB C ports front and back etc. etc. -

The dashboard. Notice the chrome door handles -

The rear seats with dedicated AC vents and 2 USB-C ports -

A walk-around video

LED Tail Lights with dynamic indicators

Of course, he wanted the Superb like his father

But even pre-owned ones were very costly -

His final quote after discounts and add-ons; 29k; insurance was extra and even road tax is yearly -

His dealer threw in some extra goodies which he adjusted in the discount like Wireless Charger and Heated Front Seats (very essential in Ireland) and washers -

He finally takes delivery of his 1st car with his own earnings on the auspicious day of Lohri/Makar Sakranti - 13-01-24 -

Outside the dealership, front view -

and Rear -

The interiors -

First thing I taught him was to always check the oil of VAG cars

The Engine Oil specs - same as the Kodiaq sold in India; and the AC refrigerant specs -

Self Car Wash comes in handy for keeping it clean -

He has to put up an N sign signifying a 'New Driver' for the initial 2 years of a fresh driving licence -

Gassing it up has to be done by one own self -

And since his sister was also taking driving lessons on his car, he had to display 2 signs up front, one for N and the other signifying Learner (L). She has since, btw, also got her driving licence in just the 2nd attempt... and will tease him forever

On his recent trip to the countryside -

Miles to go -

Such curious onlookers abound in Scotland and Ireland -

The Wild Atlantic Way is beautiful and a must do -

WAW in person -

Cheers for now...

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I already have a Maruti Wagon R for city driving so I am not looking to get another Maruti car.

BHPian ramki067 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hi Guys,

I am out in the market for a mid-sized SUV. As the family size has increased and so has the travel, my beloved WagonR is feeling small in size for people and luggage. So, have decided to keep my WagonR for city travels and choose a budget Mini SUV for a family of 4 for highways.

Below are my requirements:

• Budget strictly below 14 lakhs and size of vehicle bigger than my WagonR.
• As my highway drives would be on holidays or on kid's vacations, so choosing a petrol variant.
• Should be able to accommodate 5 adults including driver.
• Luggage space for a tour of 7-15 days for a 4-people family.
• I would be keeping this vehicle for 15+ years, hence should be a reliable petrol motor (Preferably 1.5L) and fewer niggles, overall like my WagonR.
• Not a Maruti Suzuki
• Decent mileage

Please help me with a vehicle that satisfies most of my requirements.

Here's what BHPian ashis89 had to say about the matter:

Please look at the lower variants of Creta P1.5. Since features or automatic is not your requirement but a bigger, spacious, reliable, efficient car is your need, Creta would be very good. If you are okay with a slightly bigger, longer 7-str car then do check out the Carens P1.5 as well. Very spacious and comfortable and you can use it as a 5 seater with a big boot.

If Maruti is still an option for you then you can add Grand Vitara and Ertiga to the above list.

Here's what BHPian DDIS_RE650 had to say about the matter:

Since size is one of the important criteria then Jimny has been ruled off.

I feel that Hyundai Venue can be a perfect fit for you or you can still consider Grand Vitara knowing that it is from MS.

Here's what BHPian arnav17 had to say about the matter:

You can look at the Base variant of the new Creta, should meet all your needs, apart from a safety point of view. If you are more inclined towards a safer vehicle, you can check out the Taigun-Kushaq twins, but you won't get the 1.5l petrol with a 15l budget. The Nexon too is a great option and is my pick.

Here's what BHPian Newtown had to say about the matter:

The Honda Elevate - 1.5 Naturally Aspirated, Bulletproof engine, Large in size to seat your family, comfortable on long drives for rear passengers as well.

The V variant manual would be under 15 and if you want a CVT about 50 to 60 K more.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Some other cars that we considered include the Tesla Model Y, Land Rover Discovery, Volvo XC90, Audi Q7, Kia Telluride and Toyota Grand Highlander.

BHPian nikhilarni recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I would like to start this ownership thread by being thankful and grateful to the Almighty and count my blessings for the chance and opportunity to experience and own some of my dream machines.

Dad's cardinal rule: No touching the car until I got a proper license after turning 18. He refused to teach me in his car. Said I had to go to a driving school. Period! No points for guessing, for my 18th birthday, I asked to be enrolled in a driving school. Being licensed to drive, I was allowed to drive short distances under his supervision. Back then, we lived on Mira Road (a suburb in Mumbai) and my driving boundaries were from home till a point just before hitting the Mira-Bhayander highway.

My dad upgraded his car to a Santro LS in 2001. Still in Engineering, I wasn't really allowed to take the car on my own. It had to be with dad around. No exceptions to that rule. A trip that I vividly recall was an impromptu drive to Mahabaleshwar with dad around Dec 2006. I called it a little sojourn with dad.

At a beach near Shrivardhan

Scenic western ghats as a backdrop in Lonavala.

Bought my first car in June of 2011, a blue Hyundai i20 Magna (Diesel). Six fwd gears, Climate control AC, MID, a peppy 1.4L diesel made for good economy with decent power. What else could I ask for? It was my daily drive and for the many fun road trips in and around Bombay. I found this book - "The Outlook: Guide to 52 Weekend Road Trips from Bombay". As newly weds, a new car - we had to tick off as many places as possible from the travel guide book After moving to Pune in early 2013, Lonavala plans were made at the drop of a hat! My i20 continues to serve us faithfully, doing duty with my dad in B'lore.

Taking delivery of our first car.

Got an opportunity to go onsite in 2016. The go-to car for new "transplants" is a Honda or Toyota. I went the Honda route and got a 2016 Accord EX with the Honda Sensing. Coming from an i20 to the Accord - What a thrill factor it was. The dual screens, the adaptive cruise control, big roomy cabin blah blah blah! I had the Accord for about four and a half years clocking about 48xxx miles. Most of our initial road trips were done on the Accord. A nice sedate sedan dutifully crunched the miles, returning amazing mileage with barely any maintenance costs.

At Mt Washington, NH during Fall.

Having fun in the snow.

Sometime around Feb 2019, we got a used 2011 VW Golf, because my wife wanted a compact car to start with. She wasn't comfortable with driving the Accord. Used it like a beater for about 6 months till I got the dreaded Check Engine light. Listed it on Craigslist and was sold the very next day.

Fun little toy, it was.

Had that 3-year itch to get something else having sold the VW Golf. I was keen on a Certified Pre-owned X3, but every specimen I saw just left me disappointed. I felt the tech levels in my 2016 Accord were better than those in the X3. A chance visit to a Benz showroom, and we found this little unicorn that had just come in. It was a 2017 GLC300, loaded to the gills with Ventilated seats, HUD, Pano sunroof, heated steering, Burmester sound system, extendable under thigh support etc. with only 8000 miles on it. I couldn't let it go. Driving the GLC changed my perspective of the Germans. The seats were plush. Ultra quiet cabin. After all, it's a 3 pointed star. I could clearly differentiate between the Accord's 180-hp engine and the 250-hp GLCs.

Clean, elegant and butter-smooth!

Then come 2021, and the car of my Dreams enters our life aka the BMW M340i. This was hoots to drive, and my first ownership thread on this forum as well. Adieu Accord, Hallo Blauer Pfeil. It was mine for about 16 months clocking about 15xxx miles, before parting ways.

Stuff of Dreams!

Circa 2024, with life coming a full circle and starting the next phase as parents to twins, we needed something bigger, especially with visiting family and stuff. Funny, I mention about life coming a full circle, with my first car being a Hyundai i20 (diesel) way back in 2011.

The twin stroller took up the entire trunk space (in the GLC300) leaving barely anything for groceries or the baby bags. The infant car seats meant, no one else could sit in the rear. Priorities switched, time to wear the practical hat and let the brains rule. We had to get something bigger than the GLC300.

I've broken out the thread into:

• Cars Evaluated
• Palisade, it is!
• Dealer Experience and Delivery
• Initial Driving Impressions
• Final Thoughts

In typical Team-BHP style, first the likes and quirks, followed by the saga

Likes

• Styling. I personally love the floating roof effect.
• S P A C E ... Loads of space.
• Usable third row. Albeit with a compromised trunk space. But this is more of a city tourer if used as a 3-row SUV.
• Very comfortable driver's seat with massage function and under thigh support (available on the Calligraphy trim).
• Heated and Ventilated Front and second row seats, Third row has heated seats.
• Love the Digital IRVM (on the Calligraphy trim).
• Electrically controlled third row seats.
• Ample cubby holes and USB C ports.
• Captain seats in the second row making it easier for the third row to get in and a little extra leg room.
• Good quality switches.
• Clear and bright HUD.
• Smart Park* (there is a catch to this, will detail it out).
• Plush interiors, soft touch leather-wrapped dashboard, Leather seats and suede headliners make for a very inviting cabin. Giving off a premium feel.
• Commanding driving position.
• Good all-round visibility.
• High-resolution cameras with 360-degree views
• 20" tires make for a comfortable ride.
• Range Rover-esq rims on the Calligraphy trim. I love them.
• Intuitive App.

Quirks

• Being the flagship product, and at this price point, I feel there are a few misses, that should have been optional / standard on the higher trim levels.
• Wireless Android Auto / Carplay. Even the cheaper Kona has wireless.
• Power Foldable mirrors (should have been standard on higher trims).
• Power adjustable steering (should have been standard on higher trims).
• Extendable under thigh support should have been standard for the passenger seats as well (make it available on the higher trim levels).
• Panoramic sunroof. It's cousin, the Telluride comes with one.
• No cabin lights for the third row or trunk lighting.
• Single USB port that controls either a wired Airplay or USB (for media).
• Auto high beams have to be turned on each time the car is started. No "Leave on & forget" switch.
• The HK system is Blah!
• Lane follow-assist has to be turned on each time the car is turned on. Not linked with the ACC. It should have been always "ON" with an option to turn it Off.
• Road / tyre noise is on the higher side. (The GLC has spoilt me. It set the bar very high. Maybe I am being a little unfair here).
• It's strictly a Point A to Point B family hauler.

Continue reading nikhilarni's buying experience and initial impression for BHPian comments, insights and more information.

I am a middle-class guy who wanted to get a Tata Harrier but for some reason decided against it and eventually bought a Maruti Ertiga.

BHPian aniketi recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

A new car-buying decision is not a small one for a middle-class family. It involves all family members and lots of calculations have to be done. Also, middle-class families don't change their cars too often and use them around 7-8 to 12-13 years normally.

2.5 years ago, I was in the market for a new car. My primary requirement was it has to be a comfortable 5 seater car with good luggage carrying capacity. My wife never travels light, sadly. For 3-4 days vacation also we always have 4-5 midsize bags plus small 2-3 bags. If it is a 5+2 seater, better. Also, we didn't want a low-slung car as my mom has issues with it. Budget was not set as such as I wanted to buy a nice car which would fulfil my requirements.

I always liked Honda City but it didn't fit my requirements. It's not very comfortable for 5 people and it's a low-slung car. So sadly it went out of my consideration. Checked cars like Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos. Creta 2.0 design is very sad IMHO so immediately rejected it. Kia Seltos is a good car but top-end models were going beyond 20 + lakhs and I personally found it very costly and thought it was not worth paying that much money, so cancelled it. Cars like Nexon & Sonet are good but are a little compact so rejected them.

Then I thought of Innova. Called the car for a test drive and SA got it for me at home. Liked the car and it has a good road presence. Car is comfortable and has good space inside. Last row was disappointing and for such a big car, it offers limited space. Also with all rows up, boot space was very small. One more personal observation is it does not give a car-like feeling when you drive it. Really downer was its price. Top end was 30 Lakhs!! Second model was also 27+ lakhs on road. I found it to be very pricey, rejected.

Next visited a Tata showroom. Really liked Harrier and Safari both. Personally, I found Harrier better than Safari. Harrier has a proper SUV shape and big boot space. Safari is 7 seater but last row was very difficult to access. Also with all rows up, no boot available which is really sad. Price was 23+ lakhs for Harrier which I liked which has leather seats and lots of features. Base models, I didn't like much once you see leather ones.

Now we started thinking and the calculation process came into the picture. My initial thought was to buy a car around 15 Lakhs, +/- 10%. I can easily go up to 18-20 Lakhs but Harrier which I liked was going beyond 23. Now my middle-class mentality came into the picture. My brain was telling me that no point in investing so much money into a car which is a liability and value-reducing asset. Mind wanted Harrier for sure. Brain says once the car is out of showroom, you will lose 2-3 lakhs. Also, yearly maintenance is high plus insurance and other costs will be higher. Sadly put Harrier on hold. Mind was still thinking about it though. In between my wife suggested buying a lesser-value car now and after some time we can buy one more small car for her. (This was actually beneficial for her).

During this process, New Ertiga was always in mind. It's a wonderful car and I always liked its versatile nature. New Ertiga's ride quality and comfort is really good and it can beat lots of other cars easily in this area. It's a spacious 5 seater car with lots of luggage space or it's a 5 + 2 seater with some boot space as well (200 + liters). You can go 6 people with lots of luggage too. After a long thought, I booked the Ertiga Zxi+ and fortunately got it delivered in 10 days (at that time normal waiting period was around 3 months). I got Ertiga Zxi+ for around 11.3 Lakhs on road (did Insurance myself and didn't take an extended warranty) and I am really happy with it. I am really happy with the car and started enjoying it as it's a really nice car. Sadness of not getting Harrier soon vanished.

Now after 6 months of purchasing the Ertiga, I bought a Honda CB350 bike for 2.5 Lakhs. Wife couldn't say much as I listened to her while buying the car. In the last 2 years, I have done 6-7 bike tours on it and really enjoyed it. It's a damn good bike and I enjoy it every time I ride it. It's a pleasure to drive on highways.

Fast forward to July 2023, I bought Ignis Zeta AMT for around 7.9 Lakhs on road for my wife. Again it's a very nice, VFM car for city use. It offers a lot more for the price you pay in today's costly car market. I am enjoying its peppy engine and small footprint in the city. Also, this is my first Automatic car which is really helpful in city bumper-to-bumper traffic. Also biggest plus is wife is really happy with it and has become independent (don't have to go to boring places along with her now, LOL). She is taking the car anywhere she wants alone without any issues. Due to AMT, the car never halts anywhere and my wife just loves that. She used to have lots of issues with the manual.

Now when I look back on my decision to buy the Ertiga at that time, I am really happy that I made the right decision. So in total, I have spent around 22 lakhs but I have 3 good rides for me. Ertiga offers me lots of combinations for various family purposes and it does all things perfectly. My Mom simply loves it and prefers it over other cars in the family like Hyundai Aura, Honda City, Nexon, etc. Ertiga's suspension is really good and offers ride quality of the segment above cars. My Honda CB350 makes me very happy whenever I ride it, especially when I take it on highways. Lastly, Ignis makes my wife happy (When the wife is happy, life is good, right?) & also makes my life easy in city traffic. I also enjoy driving Ignis in the city, fun to drive car for sure.

So overall I am really happy with my decision at that time to not buy a costly car (23+ lakhs) and instead in 2 years, I got 3 wonderful rides for myself. I guess my brain won over my mind and I am not complaining at all.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Car manufacturers are now offering more variants for each product than ever before. Is this confusing the serious car buyer?

BHPian CentreOfGravity recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

At one time, customers had just a handful of car variants to choose from. Take the 2019 WagonR for example. You had all of four trims viz. LXi, VXi, ZXi and ZXi+, and two engines + two gearboxes. This was the case with most other cars too, making life simple for buyers; however, this meant that choice for the customer was limited. Hyundai changed that to some extent with cars like the 2020 i20, which at launch, had 25 variants IIRC. These variants were meaningful to the buyer and provided choice without being confusing.

When Kia entered the Indian market with the Seltos, people were blown away, both by the car and the kind of variants on offer. While the choice provided was excellent, it was very confusing for an actual buyer to choose a variant thanks to the multitude of engines, gearboxes and trims. 

In 2023, Tata launched the Nexon facelift with 2 engines, 6 gearboxes and 2 different feature packs namely the (S) and (+). As if that wasn't enough, they even introduced the Dark edition this year, hence taking the total number of variants to an eye-popping 97 variants! Mind you, 97 variants just for the ICE powered Nexon! Include the electric versions into the mix and you're sure to go mad. As I see it, this number will only increase once Tata introduces the CNG variant and more special editions. 

On the face of it, people may think of this as a good move (I was one of them), but look deeper and you realise that choosing one variant out of a 100 is far from an easy task, even if you have clarity on which engine and gearbox you want to go with. 

And that - coupled with this video which I watched a few months ago - got me thinking, does more variants necessarily mean easier choice for the customer? (Please watch from 19:12 to 33:05 to get the point)

Don't get me wrong, I really appreciate Tata (and Kia) for going the extra mile and trying to make a car for every kind of customer, but is it worth the effort? Would you rather choose from 10 well thought out variants or 100 randomly 'curated' variants (aka personas)? Tata's intention seems right, but their approach is messed up.

Take the Honda City for example. It has all of four variants and one engine + two gearboxes. While I'll be the first to agree that Honda have way too less powertrain + gearbox options, won't the customer who is okay with the given options go through a far simpler process of choosing from SV, V, VX or ZX? 

To make sense of which is better, I made a list of the pros and cons of offering too many variants:

Pros:

•Choice - You can specifically choose what features you want and what you don't. For example, the (S) pack in the Nexon denotes sunroof; you can go for the top variant without a sunroof if you like, or go for the base variant with a sunroof.

•Bridging the gap - In some cases, the mid variants miss out on many features, while the top variants may be out of your budget. In such scenarios, the extra variants can bridge the gap, hence allowing you stay in your budget while getting a decent mix of features.

•Exclusivity - Chances that someone else has the exact same variant as you do are very low.

Cons:

•Confusion - Who wants to spend hours in front of the dreaded brochure to figure out the right variant? KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid)!

•(Wasted) Effort - Imagine the kind of effort that needs to be put in to manufacture so many different variants of one car! Not to mention the other cars that need to be manufactured. Is it worth the effort?

•Dealing with the dealers - I can only imagine the "good time" dealers will have in trying to memorise the prices, features and nuances of each variant. Also, in case someone cancels their booking after the vehicle is ready, what are the chances that someone else is interested in the exact same spec? To the dealers - all the best guys! 

•Awkward conversations - Just imagine this - "Hey bro! I got the Tata Nexon Fearless S + Dark edition Petrol DCT". *Facepalm*.

•Fluctuations - Just one change to the variant lineup, and chaos is sure to erupt in the buyer's mind. Not to mention the dealerships' headache in updating the brochure, auto journos' headache in updating the audience and prospective buyer's headache in keeping track of the changes.

So BHPians, what do you think? Does "the more the better" always work? Do share your thoughts and add to this list!

Here's what BHPian dragon_booster had to say about the matter:

Having too many variants can cause confusion and isn't necessary. Limiting options to three or four variants is sufficient. Sometimes, even minor changes like adding or removing features such as auto-folding mirrors or hand-rests count as variants. It would be better to offer configurations instead. Let customers choose what they want, and then provide a quote based on their choices.

Here's what BHPian PrideRed had to say about the matter:

I personally prefer having more variants which I believe targets larger section of buyers. I see successful cars usually have very high number of variants . The XUV700 for instance starts from 14.5L to almost 27L! Downside I see is, some models are restricted to paper only or command long waiting period.

Here's what BHPian It's Magic had to say about the matter:

Think having more than 10-15 variants could potentially lead to confusion. It might be ideal for manufacturers to limit the number of variants to around 10, with all features evenly distributed across them.

They could also include a list of additional features that can be added into the lower-end variants in the product brochure.

This approach could simplify the decision-making process for customers and streamline the product lineup.

Here's what BHPian Raghu M had to say about the matter:

Having more variants and possibility to customize makes more sense. No one looks at brochures anymore, it's all online and the way car websites have been designed these days, it's just awesome to look at a car of choice with the required variant/engine/transmission. I would like a high end trim but with a manual transmission, I don't get that easily in many models. What do I do? Have to compromise on the choice of model or even change the brand altogether. In fact, I would go a step ahead and suggest customization. High end trim, manual, with sunroof. Mid variant, with panoramic sunroof with a TC gearbox. Low end variant, DCT and sunroof etc. That would definitely give more choice and spoil the customer. Of course car companies will take time to deliver but isn't that the case already?

Here's what BHPian vattyboy had to say about the matter:

Fewer variants can reduce confusion, like the examples of Maruti's Lxi, Vxi, Zxi, and Zxi Plus, Hyundai's E, Ex, S, S+, Sx, and Sx(o), or Mahindra's Mx, Ax3, Ax5, Ax7, and Ax7 L. 

However, I find Tata's practice of having 20-25 variants in every model quite confusing.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights & information.

Hyundai Creta and Seltos failed to impress me. Even Mahindra XUV700's advanced electronics and Scorpio N's ruggedness couldn't sway me. But the Elevate…

BHPian sibaprasadbeher recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

How I Ended Up Buying the Honda Elevate Pearl White

In the vast landscape of car choices, finding the perfect match can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. You weigh features, performance, comfort, and reliability, hoping to strike that elusive balance that fits your lifestyle. My journey to purchasing the Honda Elevate Pearl White was a meticulous process, driven by specific needs and preferences that evolved over time.

To give you some context, I was already a proud owner of a 2013 Hyundai i20 and a 2017 Honda Jazz (V) MT, which had served me well. However, as time passed, my requirements evolved. I craved a car with more power, ok space for my family (4 of us with a 4-year-old), and above all, unwavering reliability akin to my beloved Jazz. Living in Bangalore, where road conditions can mimic the terrains of Ladakh at times, sturdy ground clearance was also a priority.

With a clear vision in mind, my quest began. The criteria were set: a dependable engine, good handling, safety features like six airbags and ESC, automatic transmission, sturdy build quality, attractive interior and exterior design, along with PRACTICAL features like tilt and telescopic steering. However, I was uninterested in extravagant features like, sunroof, electrical adjustable seats, automatic wipers, auto this auto that perforated seats. I feel these features increase the cost of ownership when they go bad.

My exploration commenced with European options, such as the Taigun and Kushaq, but their narrow build and steep prices, coupled with concerns about DSG gearboxes, quickly eliminated them from contention. I somehow felt that they were overpriced, maybe I am wrong but that was my feeling. 1.0L felt underpowered and the 1.5L TSI felt overpriced and risky for the long term.

The Korean contenders, including the Creta and Seltos, failed to impress with their interior designs and ride quality. Even the allure of the XUV 700's advanced electronics and the Scorpio N's ruggedness couldn't sway me. Somehow the XUV700 design was not to my taste and Scorpio N's riding dynamics was not to my family's liking.

Then came the Tiguan, a marvel in its own right, but its price tag exceeded my budget. The car was "spot on" but somehow I didn't have that much budget "Spot on".

It wasn't until I laid eyes on the Honda Elevate that things started to fall into place. Stepping inside, my wife and I shared a silent acknowledgement: "It feels like the Jazz." This familiarity sparked a debate: if it embodied the reliability and comfort of the Jazz, why not opt for it? We had the same feeling of Taigun and Kushaq being narrower than the Jazz and Koreans were out of contention either way.

A test drive sealed the deal, highlighting its appealing aesthetics, refined interior, commendable ride quality, and driver-friendly ergonomics. Sure, there were minor gripes, like the rear seat size and the absence of roof rails, but they were outweighed by its overall package.

Booking the Elevate Pearl White ZX CVT was a bittersweet moment, as it meant bidding farewell to my faithful Jazz, which had accompanied me on countless journeys with minimal hiccups. However, the excitement of a new adventure outweighed the nostalgia.

Taking delivery of my new car was just the beginning. Embarking on a road trip from Bhubaneswar to Bangalore, I discovered its exceptional comfort and ease of handling, even at moderate speeds. The Adaptive Cruise Control added a layer of convenience, although it required some adjustment.

As I settled into life with the Elevate, I came to realize its subtle nuances and enhanced comfort compared to the Jazz. Despite initial skepticism, it proved to be a worthy successor, offering reliability, smoothness, and ease of ownership—all within my budget.

To fellow Jazz owners considering the transition, I offer this advice: give it time. The Elevate may seem familiar at first glance, but its nuances reveal themselves over time, offering a driving experience that surpasses expectations.

In conclusion, my purchase of the Honda Elevate Pearl White was not just a transaction; it was a culmination of thoughtful consideration and a desire for a vehicle that seamlessly integrates into my life.

Some stills from the 1450kms ride

Deserved a wash after the long dusty ride

1st Service the very next day

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

While just a few years ago, the segments were well-defined, these lines have now blurred and we see a lot of cross-shopping.

In this dynamic Indian car market of today, cars are improving at a scarily fast pace. Just look at the sheer competence & capability of SUVs & Crossovers in the 15 - 30 lakh space, be it the Creta & Seltos Facelifts, the 2024 Safari, the evergreen XUV700 and more. If you consider the space above, things get even better! Truth is, the 30 - 50 lakh cars are giving the luxury marques a run for their money. This is what GTO had to say on another thread:

But the real reason is the emergence of the 30 - 50 lakh car segment which really didn't exist this way before. Even the luxury brands have accepted that the Tucson & Kodiaq are being cross-shopped with their small crossovers, the Camry with their entry-level sedans etc. Cars like the Innova Hycross, Ioniq 5, XUV700, Safari, Camry, Kodiaq, Tiguan etc. are just too darn competent & frankly, all the car you need in terms of power, space, safety, features, size etc. They don't come with the headaches of German car ownership either.

It is the 30 - 50 lakh cars from mainstream car makers that have killed the growth of luxury car brands in India. Heck, forget anything else, the 50-60 lakh Fortuner alone outsells everything combined from Mercedes + BMW + Audi + Lexus etc. The German luxury car brands have dug their own grave in India with crazy pricing, stiff maintenance costs, cramped rear seats, eye-watering repair costs & turnaround times, delicate darlings that break over broken roads and lack of product innovation. The 30 - 50 lakh cars have developed at a far faster pace than the 50 - 70 lakh cars.

While just a few years ago, the segments were well-defined, these lines have now blurred and we see a lot of cross-shopping. Without significant compromises, mind you. We know of several people who happily bought a Camry Hybrid over luxury sedans, an Ioniq 5 instead of German EVs and Innova Hycross over the 70-lakh luxury SUVs.

This brings me to the point of the thread = have you settled for a lower-priced car even when you had the budget for a higher-priced car? Earlier, this would’ve meant that you’d be sacrificing a lot of features or settling for a less powerful car. However, you now have cars that offer much more bang for the buck. Here are a couple of examples:

BHPian vinayvec recently purchased a Tata Safari

Cars I tried and rejected.

• Fortuner (third row headroom was less, old school tech, price is on the higher side and not a 5-star rated car)
• Skoda Kodiaq (good car but 3rd row is strictly for kids)
• Jeep Meridian (again same good car but 3rd row is strictly for kids)
• Toyota Innova Hycross (good car, I did not like the looks, and it's not tested for safety yet)

BHPian nerd1200 purchased a Mahindra Scorpio-N –

Toyota dealers were raining discounts on the Hilux (probably) to clear their '23 stocks, so I briefly considered getting it. It was hard to ignore. I spoke to two dealers in Bangalore and the price one of them offered was almost too good to be true unless it was. I decided to test it out, I knew I had no use case nor did I wish to withstand the torturous ride quality, but I still had a soft spot for it. Took it out for a spin and came back mighty impressed with a lot of its qualities. I get why people endure the back-breaking ride and still love the Hilux.

But soon enough, mind voted over heart and the Scorpio-N voted over the Hilux.

There are plenty more such examples where the buyer has the budget for a higher segment car, but given how capable the car of a lower segment is, it doesn’t justify the price premium. When GTO was looking at an SUV, he was just looking for a 4x4 that he'd love, with no specific budget in mind. Although he could have spent a lot more, he happily settled for the Thar, then spent 5 - 6 lakhs on modifying it.

The kind of tech, power & features that 25-lakh cars offer can embarrass cars from 2 segments higher. This is the Seltos ADAS at work:

All in all, the value-for-money aspect is more prominent than ever. Do share your experience if you opted for a car of a lower price even when you had the budget for a more expensive car.

Here's what BHPian SR-71 had to say on the matter:

Voted Yes, did that on my last 2 purchases. My take, car is a depreciating asset, and we are paying 2x what they pay for same/similar ones in the US. Add to it the fact that for a person with my kind of OCD, more expensive the car, the more expensive its maintenance and heart burns when it gets dinged by some rogue driver. Additionally, the current 30 to 40L segment offers all and above what is available in the 70+ L segment makes the 30-40L segment a good choice for most.

Do I rue my choice of settling for a segment below, sometimes yes. Would I change my habit for the next purchase, well... :-)

Here's what BHPian Pythonista had to say on the matter:

Yup! We've done that, too. Had a budget of about 25 lakhs and almost finalized the Jeep Compass - but bought the Creta instead.

Main reasons include low presence of Jeep dealerships and unknown reliability.

Happy that we've gone for the Creta instead, especially after Jeep horror stories. Creta is a hoot to drive, with everything necesary inside, and good reliability.

Pythonista

Here's what BHPian anshu1101 had to say on the matter:

Nope, quite the contrary.

I had to stretch my budget to get better cars that were a bit beyond my budget for both the cars that I have bought thus far. I haven't regretted these decisions one bit. Mainly because I keep my cars for longer.

In the first instance, I had the budget for an i20 Asta Diesel, but stretched it and went for the Vento 1.6 TDI Highline. In second instance, I had the budget for a Safari top-end model, stretched it again and went for the Tucson 2.0 Diesel AWD.

Sold the Vento after almost 9 blissful years, and the Tucson is 2.5 years old now and going strong.

In both instances, it was the superior engines that sealed the deal for me, and that took precedence over other factors like features etc. Had features been the major criteria, I would have gone ahead with the Verna instead of the Vento. Same was the case with the Tucson over the Safari back in 2021. The option of an AWD with the Tucson was also a plus as my primary usage is touring.

Having said that, had the Scorpio N been around when I was out looking for a new car, I would have given it a serious consideration.

Here's what BHPian vibhav-van had to say on the matter:

Yes, followed this when my dear old Ecosport was getting replaced last year.

Walked straight to the Jeep showroom and drove the diesel AT. Lazy gearbox that takes a few full seconds to shift and a far cry from the fun MT I drove many years ago. Then drove the petrol AT only find this one to be even more dimwitted. Even the interior felt quite cramped. Then came the price - 40L on road Hyderabad for the model S Diesel and a meagre 1L discount. Not to mention their attitude saying 'Jeep is a premium brand'. Just didn't appeal to the heart or the head. Promptly returned the keys, put one Namaste and walked away.

Then visited VW to look for the Tiguan, only to realize that it wouldn't fit in my parking spot.

Finally went to Skoda to try my luck if they had any Octavias remaining. Ended up driving a Slavia 1.5, with a w-i-d-e grin plastered over my face. Yes, some parts of the interior were a bit creaky, but who cares when it drives like that. Also got a cool 1.8L off including freebies like extended warranty etc; owing to the car being in their stockyard for 3 months. Why spend more, if you're happy with a cheaper alternative?

Here's what BHPian Love4Cars had to say on the matter:

I believe it depends on where you are on the price spectrum. The sweet spot for VFM and acceptable cars starts from 15L-30L. Folks who have lesser budget try and extend to this sweet spot and purchase Top end Sub-4M crossovers or Medium / higher spec Compact Crossovers and in some cases the rare Sedans.

On the other hand, folks who have higher budgets (50+) also find most features and performance in 25-30L range and settle for Harrier, Hector, Safari, Hycross, XUV, ScorpioN and VAG top end Crossovers/ Sedans.

In both cases, the budgets to buy your ideal car overlap. I voted for extending my budget as I am on the lower spectrum.

Here's what BHPian vattyboy had to say on the matter:

In January, I was in the market with a budget of 40-45 lakhs to purchase a reliable car with low service cost and great resale value.

• I test-drove the Fortuner, XUV 700, and Creta. I even created a post on a forum to help me decide which car to buy. After considering all the factors, I decided to settle for the Creta. However, my plans to book XUV 700 were cancelled after reading the forum section on its niggles
• The final contenders were Fortuner and Creta. But since I already had a Mercedes for the snob value and highway duties, I rejected the Fortuner and brought the Creta home. The money I saved was invested in land.

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

10 to 15 years for an automobile is just ludicrous - when it should actually be about 50 to 60 years of life

BHPian ChristComesSoon recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

With many industries trending towards a use-and-throw culture, even in the automobile industry - it is refreshing to see companies like Edison Motors try and stem the tide.

In the Consumer Electronics world, Louis Rossmann has been spearheading efforts with lawfare & advocacy - even speaking in US senate hearings [See Ref1].

Edison Motors [See Ref2] is a Canadian Truck company (Diesel Electric powertrain) that was inspired by the efforts of Louis Rossmann and prioritizes:

• Repairability,
• Longevity,
• Right-of-the-owner in all aspects of the truck (including its parts),
• Sustainability

They are just 8 to 10 members and are making waves in the industry even beating Tesla Semis in some performance aspects.

The CEO of Edison Motors, Chase Barber, is very vocal against planned obsolescence (See Ref3).

10 to 15 years for an automobile is just ludicrous - when it should actually be about 50 to 60 years of life, minimum (until metal fatigue). Sustainable engineering, easy-to-repair designing, quality parts, interchangeability etc. are some of the ways in which this can easily be achieved.

• Would be nice to know which companies in India prioritize these rights/ethos
• Ideas on how such a culture can be built up in India and across the world
• How the consumer can know of products & services that promote such rights
• Ideas on how the consumer can promote such companies by their buying decisions & advocacy

References:

Ref1: Louis Rossmann Right to Repair testimony in Washington SB 5799 in 2020.

Ref2: https://www.edisonmotors.ca

Ref3: Right to Repair

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

I don't agree with the poll's premise of "features versus reliability". Lexus manages both just well. So do BMW, and a few other brands. My 530d was as modern as cars come at the time of its launch and guess what, 11-years up and she's still running like a dream. On the other hand, my relatively basic Mahindra Thar has had 5 niggles in 1 year & 5000 km of ownership. It's all down to the build, supply chains, OEM & vendor QC etc. The Indica was an extremely simple car mechanically but known for its poor reliability. On the other hand, I know of a few W221 & W222 S-Class owners who are happily using their cars in the 5th - 10th year of ownership, with an average of 1 issue / year (which really is acceptable for that kind of car).

DIY and all is awesome and I respect members who DIY, but I personally just don't have the time for the same. As long as a car works reliably for 10ish years and has enough after-market support, that's good enough for me.

Here's what BHPian batish had to say on the matter:

Probably I am old school but I have the same exact thought regarding vehicles longevity. 10-15 years is absolutely absurd.

I usually buy the top end variants as I keep the vehicles till the government and/or judiciary intervenes.

There is absolutely no sense as a consumer to get rid of perfectly fine vehicles. Always a wonderful, stress free feel to drive a vehicle kept in a mint condition.

I'm all in for DIY repairabililty. I wish the government mandates to manufacturers to release service manuals for their products. Only then competition in this industry would increase which I guess would open their eyes.

I can pretty much service my vehicle but due to warranty statutes I cannot. So after few months I have to waste my whole day in getting something done which takes half an hour.

I wish there is a movement like this in India.

Would make vehicle owning peaceful.

TBH, all the vehicles produced today can easily last 20 years.

Coming to your questions:

• Till date haven't seen any company which priortises these ethos. We have german companies here which charge pretty hefty sum for just unlocking Apple Carplay on infotainment.
• Seems pretty difficult considering no manufacturer would like to let go their share of profits.
• I guess first we need manufacturers to come up in this aspect. Just like consumers today are aware about safety. They would be aware about it too. Will take some time.

Here's what BHPian Chanda Das had to say on the matter:

I completely agree. One of the main reasons why I bought my 2017 Hyundai Creta 1.6 petrol automatic was because I got access to its service manuals before buying the car. Annual services cost us around INR 1500-1800 on average obviously through the DIY route. More details in this link.

But guess what, we cannot access those service manuals from India without using a powerful virtual private network (VPN) system. These service manuals are available in European servers in countries where the Creta isn't even sold just because their laws make it mandatory for car manufacturers to share these service manuals with interested customers, independent repair workshops, DIYers, etc.

I miss the old days when it was a common sight to see people working on their cars at home often on Sundays. People used to take pride in being able to service their cars themselves. Today it is usually frowned upon. Those days the user manuals would often be like a miniature service manual in itself usually with details like engine valve adjustment procedure guides, etc but alas no more. With the passage of time, more and more people chose the easier life and left their vehicles in the hands of authorized workshops for servicing them. Once the car manufacturers realized this, it all went downhill from there. Today, authorized workshops are nothing more than replacement centres instead of what they were supposed to be - repair centres. And it is not surprising that approximately 60-80 % of a car dealership's income is from its service centres and not from selling cars.

I am absolutely appalled by the judiciary which seemingly endorsed and legalized the harebrained idea of the government to scrap vehicles based on their age alone. What were they even thinking ?

In this regard, I have a huge amount of respect for people/organisations/teams/etc like Louis Rossman of the Rossman Repair Group, NorthridgeFix, Samcrac, Scotty Kilmer, etc to name a few who have been promoting DIY amongst the masses. Here in India, the Youtube channels of Abhijit from a2z car service (mainly for Hyundai cars), Technical Gyan, Al Ansari Automobile, Mukesh Chandra Gond, etc seem to be moving in the right direction.

But haters will point to the majority of JustRolledIn videos on YouTube to show why DIY is bad almost as if to imply that authorized workshops are flawless

Personally, I feel that although it is good to have authorized workshops and aftermarket workshops as a backup plan, DIY should be the first choice and a skill passed down the generations. I seem to recall hearing/reading somewhere that one could rent car tools by the hour/minute somewhere in Canada. That could be an option in India too for a beginner DIYer if the prices are reasonable. And just like we have classes/studios/workshops/etc for Yoga, martial arts, musical instruments, dance, etc, maybe similar classes are the need of the hour in the realm of DIY related to consumer electronics, vehicles, etc too. One can only dream ...

Here's what BHPian GForceEnjoyer had to say on the matter:

I value longevity the most. This is because of the length of time for which we like to keep our cars. Other than that, everyday practicality is also high on the list, because that's what keeps you happy even after decades of ownership! Any ideal car should strike a good balance here.

I also fully support right to repair. We managed to turn a 40k+ rupee AC repair estimate into a 12k one by taking our business to someone who could repair instead of blindly replace!

While I don't have an opinion on DIY service versus authorised dealerships (you do you!), the biggest issue in my eyes is not our personal preferences. It is absolutely ridiculous that in the eyes of the law, a perfectly compliant vehicle becomes a health hazard overnight after turning 15 years old.

It's only getting worse. Now, the law says that a diesel car manufactured as recently as March 2020 suddenly starts bellowing smoke into the air, only during the winter months and in only one city!

Buying and using one car for decades is far better than throwing away perfectly good cars that are being made artificially unusable. The less said about ethanol blending the better!

The reason I'm highlighting this is because apart from owners who fight tooth and nail to keep their cars for a long time, those unwilling or unable to make that effort of re registration are forced to buy a new car. The choice is unfortunately already made for them by default!

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Approximately 45 days prior to my insurance expiry date I get a barrage of calls from all existent and non-existent insurance companies.

BHPian samyD recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Sharing my experience with spam/scam calls:

Purchased a Tata Nexon in August 2020. Since then getting following calls on a regular basis:

Top up loan from a private bank whose abbreviated name starts with H and ends with C: Have politely declined, warned, scolded, blasted them over the phone but I guess they use my number as a training session for new joinees. I always get the call every couple of months from a new number and a different person. I stopped taking notes of their names once my list went in double digits. Now I simply don't care and disconnect rudely.

Free 2N3D holiday at a resort of my choice from a holiday company whose other group company manufacturers SUVs such as Scorpio, XUV etc.: These guys were smart and would be ready to go extra mile just to convince me to come on that free holiday where they can pester me to take their membership plans. Finally I found a point during my calls with them which was in violation of their requirements and hence they couldn't go ahead with my name. After using that particular point for 2-3 times, these people have given up on me. Last call from these guys was almost a year ago.

Personal loan from (complete the phrase: Satyam...Shivam...########): These guys are also very persistent. Even when I once warned the other guy about a police complaint, the other guy simply challenged me to do so and hung up. Talk about confidence. I hang up rudely nowadays.

Approximately 45 days prior to my insurance expiry date I get a barrage of calls from all existent and non-existent insurance companies. These people shamelessly start spamming on WhatsApp as well with quotations and offers. I have stopped replying on WhatsApp and started blocking their numbers. Have built patience to politely decline each and every offer. However if they ask me reason behind my rejection I (politely of course) remind them that I'm not obliged to give them any.

I still get calls from 2-3 TaMO service centres in Pune regarding my car being due for servicing. I also get SMSs and WhatsApp messages. Have learnt to ignore messages and politely decline calls.

Slightly OT: Had purchased a refrigerator from Croma during June 2022. Received a call during April 2023 from 'croma' that I had been selected for a special gift and I was told to choose between 4-5 items such as iPhone, laptop etc. I entertained the girl for a few minutes and realised she had all of my details.

Played dumb for few more minutes. The girl then transferred my call to accounts department who guided me to the actual croma website. By now I was impressed with their level of training and ability to convince me. But at the time of payment she provided me a Google pay number with banking name being displayed as 'croma'. She very confidently said it's a faster mode of payment and the account is legit as can be seen in Google pay. I played dumb for few more minutes and asked her about her family and earning. Then I offered her a job with twice her current earning. She lost her composure for well over a minute. Then she somehow recovered and requested me to make the payment. I calmly told her I'm not going to make any payment. She then requested me to hang up, I obliged.

I realised after reading this thread that leakage can be the RTO database. I thought it was the showroom and TaMo.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

As a rule, we always get the fully-loaded trim. Didn't buy the top variant of the Nissan Sunny as it was the beater car of the house. In the ensuing years, I did regret it.

GTO recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Even as gearheads, we can sometimes veer off the intended path due to a multitude of reasons. We have several gold-standard threads on Team-BHP with advice on purchasing cars, yet as an enthusiast, I have to sheepishly admit that I have broken the rules sometimes.

Pre-Owned Honda Civic

Bought it without a test-drive . The showroom was in the far suburbs (1.5-2 hours one way from my office) and I had an experienced petrolhead team member check it out in detail. But the real reason I was okay with not TD'ing it is, I pinged my contact at Honda Cars India. They did a detailed PDI & test-drive and gave me the all clear. Honda's team & engineers surely know more about cars than I do, so I was satisfied.

BMW 530d

Didn't bargain, ended up paying the asking price! Truth be told, negotiating on price is like pulling teeth for me. I love fixed-price stores. Had already lost on a few 530d deals because they were a hot moving item so I had to move fast. In the long run frankly, that supposed extra 1-2 lakhs I paid doesn't matter at all. I absolutely loved the car and was fine with paying a small premium to close it. Time is money. Plus, the car is now in its 11th year and I am still in l-o-v-e with it. I would do it again since, with used cars, you anyway save so much money that a lakh or two here and there doesn't matter for the right car.

Skoda Superb

Bought a car with a known failure point (DSG) and suspect long-term reliability. But we'd fallen head over heels for the Superb L&K as an all-round package, got a great deal (33-lakhs OTR) and are prepared for some maintenance headaches in the longer run. Skoda now offers long 8-year warranties (was 6 years at the time of my purchase), while I have access to great independent garages for the later out-of-warranty years. Am fine with 10 days of downtime in a year as long as the other 355 days bring me driving pleasure. In general now, my preferences are more aligned with European cars over the more-reliable Japanese.

Nissan Sunny

As a rule, we always buy the fully-loaded trim. Didn't buy the top variant Sunny as it was the beater car of the house. In the ensuing years, I did regret it. The top-variant's price premium was worth it for the keyless entry & go, alloy wheels, foglamps, nicer instrument cluster etc . Never again - only top variants for us. This was a rare detour.

Mercedes C180

Family bought the wretched C180 in the year 2003 over obviously superior cars like the Camry, purely due to the badge. Was eventually replaced with a spectacular C220 6-speed MT that we enjoyed for 9 years & 1+ lakh km.

Here's what BHPian SidTheChamp had to say about the matter:

Back in 2014, I bought my then-second-year Swift Dzire primarily to occupy the parking space allocated to me.

It was a mad rush as I already communicated to the housing society that my car was coming so don't allocate the space to anyone else.

With very little time, went for a safe option Maruti. The showroom where I had initially booked Red Swift later backed out and said that stock was not available.

Thankfully there are multiple Maruti Suzuki dealers in Thane and another dealer promised to deliver White Swift Dzire.

No test drive, no PDI. Just went, paid and took delivery of the car. Thankfully it turned out reliable like a Maruti car.

Here's what BHPian Keeleri_Achu had to say about the matter:

Oh boy, here we go.

No test drive was done for any of the three cars we ever purchased - M800, Ritz or the Ignis. While I could be excused for the decision on M800 as I was too young, Ritz and Ignis are on me.

Ritz was bought 6 months after it was launched. There was no research done on the car. One of my father's customers who ran a driving school recommended Ritz when he was told we were upgrading the 800. We visited the dealership, just checked the car out and made the booking. No negotiations, no visits to other dealerships. Nothing. Heck, we didn't go for the full option just because the dealer said VXi was a better value. The dealer didn't even have a stockyard in town and the car was driven 100 km before delivery. No PDI was done and it was driven home by our driver at the time. The car turned out to be fantastic and served us well for 7 years.

Ritz was replaced only because I was going to the US and my parents asked for something smaller with an automatic transmission. This time I did put some effort and made a shortlist of cars - Ignis which was scheduled to be launched in a month, Baleno and Grand i10. Grand i10 was ruled out for its thirsty nature and Baleno was ruled out for its size. Ignis was booked as soon as the website went live. Again, one dealership, no negotiations. I did go to the showroom to check it in person once the display car reached the showroom. I was not available on delivery day and the car was picked up by my father and his friend. No PDI done. The car is at 40k KM now and I absolutely love it.

The cherry on top though is my 2013 CBR 150R It was not even in the list of bikes under consideration. The bike in my mind was FZ-S. I did some math in my head and showed my mother an R15 V2 which, as expected, was rejected. What I expected was the budget to be reduced and eventually settled on the FZ. Before I showed her the same though, I simply scrolled and showed her the CBR. And she said "Okay". Well, that was it. I was at the Honda showroom and made the booking. And as you would have guessed by now, No test drive, No negotiations, No PDI. The bike is at 75k KM now and still a joy to ride.

But safe to say, since then, all my recommendations to friends/family have been well thought out and done after test drives. Although I could never convince them about PDIs.

Here's what BHPian thomahawk had to say about the matter:

I bought a Tiago EV without doing the detailed Team-BHP PDI. I was afraid I would never buy a Tata after doing a proper PDI. I was far too excited about owning an EV and I only checked for serious flaws and ignored issues I knew were common in the model.

I realized my mistake once I took the car home and started using it. The horn pad on the left side of the steering and 12V socket on the dashboard were dead, the driver-side mirror couldn't unfold properly every time, there was a dead cricket inside the cabin light dome and there was no fluid in the windscreen washer tank. I don't understand how the car ended up with a PDI OK sticker from the factory.

A lesson learned the hard way.

Here's what BHPian shankar.balan had to say about the matter:

I am a ripe candidate for this thread.

Because I buy things mostly with my Heart. I am driven simply by a combination of function, aesthetics, passion and fantasy.

I saw the New 2020 Thar and bought it. Just because I loved its looks and go-anywhere ability.

I came across a person selling his Gypsy and bought it.

Because I just LOVE Gypsys. And this was my all-time fantasy - Dark Green. Bone Stock. Soft Top.

I live in Bangalore and not on a farm. And while our roads can be classified as off-road tracks, they still really don’t warrant a 4X4. But in my fantasy world, I'm a cowboy and hence I need to have a Jeepy thing or two.

I saw a Red Cooper for sale and made a bid for it. Luckily I was able to wrest it from the Doc who owned it then. I have always loved Mini Coopers and always wanted one- from the age of 4 or so. Yes, it is a superb car for the city and highways too and its growl is addictive. But here also, in my fantasy world, I’m the red car driver in the Italian Job.

Did I do a thorough PDI and investigation prior to buying? Nope, I did not, because a clean Civilian Gypsy is a very rare bird in these days and an R56 Mini Cooper remains a relatively rare object of desire.

However, in the case of my Thar, I did do a cursory check - cursory because I had already invested time and trouble in cultivating a relationship with the Showroom guys and Service guys from the day I booked it, and therefore took them mostly on trust.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.