This would be our 2nd car in the family in addition to our existing 2016 Maruti Baleno which has been doing the job well so far.

BHPian SixPistons recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hello everyone. I believe that I am facing a unique set of options to choose from and would like some expert advice.

TLDR Version

I am stuck between buying a beater car - Grand i10; slightly larger version - Elite i20; or going with the Venue SX 1.0 Turbo SX (120hp; fully feature loaded; Really liked the drive) as a second car at home.

Original Budget: 4-5L. Will need to take a loan for Venue if I decide to go for it. Only considering used car options and Manual variants. Currently, only these cars seem to have made it to the final three.

Background

So April of last year I moved to Delhi with my family from Bangalore. Courtesy of the flexible work culture, I need to work from the office only 2/3 days a week. The drive is about 45 kms one side. Mix of City and Highway drive. 1 hour in the morning and 1.25-2 hours in the evening. I take our family car to the office as my father travels via Metro (our home and his office are within walking distance from a metro station).

Other folks in the house who use a car: Mostly my mum uses it, then my dad and finally my brother when he is visiting (he’s in college). With going to office for almost half the week and the occasional weekend drive/outing becoming a scheduling problem with the car the case for a second car has slowly been made, something I was not planning to do until 2024.

This would be our second car in the family in addition to our existing Baleno Zeta 2016 Manual 1.2 NA which has been doing the job well so far. Since I did not originally plan to buy a car anytime now, I am stuck between buying a basic hatch about 4-6 years old with a plan to buy something new in another 4/6 years or something I would be more interested in for the longer term.

Since I am in Delhi, only considering petrol vehicles. (Diesel gets only 10 years and manufacturers are slowly stopping diesel engines. The price advantage that used to exist earlier does not exist in Diesel anymore as petrol and diesel prices are not too different now) I am a frugal driver when it comes to the work commute so not very keen on Diesel anyway. My work commute mileage typically stays in the vicinity of 15.

Broad market analysis suggests I could get a used car (only considering Hyundais as I have always found them the most appealing):

• Grand i10 sportz manual 4-6 years old in around 4.5-5.3L tops in good condition(upto ~30k driven)
• i20 elite sportz manual 4-5 years old in around 5.5L-6.25L tops in good condition (upto ~30k driven)
• Venue 1.0 SX Turbo Manual 2019-2021 model in around 8.7L to 9.5L tops in good condition (upto ~30k driven)

Grand i10

It falls under Beater Segment. Basic, ok-ish space, will be fine to own for a short period of time, until I can plan better finances in future. Drive experience is quite good for a small hatch. I have driven this in the city and on the highway before at moderate speeds. What works out the most in its favour is that I would not have to take out a loan for it and I prefer not to own a car on EMIs. Also worth mentioning is that folks at home feel grand i10 is slightly cramped in space and looks are not all that great. I find looks to be good though, small and sporty enough to not look boring.

Elite i20

It is not exactly a beater. It is an enlarged version of the Grand i10 I feel. Definitely premium interior and an overall good driving experience. But since the power figures are similar (if not the same) as the Grand i10 options I currently find, the ride does feel a little underpowered towards the higher gears and while going beyond 60/70 on the highway side. What works out in favour is the better looks, a bit larger boot and a roomier cabin in the back. It does get a good suspension overall I feel so the ride quality and stability over time as the car ages would still be good overall I expect.

What does not work out in the i20’s favour is that I feel it feels pricy to get an i20 in around the 5.5L-6L bracket and that it has a poor mileage figure (I have seen real-world city drive return upto 14 kmpl on the forum itself) Also, this would be a stretch on the budget but at least I would not have to take out a loan for it.

Venue

Enter the Venue 2020 Turbo 1.0 SX Manual. I test drove one of these options and it has everything I would need for the next 8-10 years I think. The cabin is good, single-tone Black. Has a Small Sun Roof, cruise control, climate control, the Hyundai NAV System, large boot, good drive height, 120Hp Turbocharged mill which felt super awesome to drive after the habit of driving the Baleno that I usually drive. Except for the multi-dial-like instrument cluster and the smaller rear seats, the overall experience felt very good.

Other people are quite satisfied with the package overall but still on the edge considering that it's almost 9L for an engine already driven for 30K kms over 3 years. I tend to understand their apprehensions as well. I just felt that the engine has a lot of life in it apart from the 30k it has already seen and feel it should not be a major problem as modern engines are built to last 1L+ easily if cared for.

Problem with Venue is that I will have to take an almost 4L loan and plan to carry it on for only 2 years. That’s approx 20k in EMI as a used car loan seems to come at a minimum of 13 percent interest rate. (I saw a post where someone got it at much lower but I can’t seem to find it again)

I have considered some other options

• Honda Jazz (not finding very good options and has been discontinued entirely; also, Honda is not very keen on selling OEM parts outside their service center is what I have read and heard repeatedly over the years)
• Tatas (new Punch: not very good feel and fit and finish, service is usually a problem with Tata still. An area that needs improvement)
• Honda Amaze/Suzuki DZire/Hyundai Aura/Tata Tigor: Don’t like compact Sedans
• Tata Nexon: Is a Tank, very safe. Could not find a good deal and new editions are the ones that actually look nice. However, Tata after sales is still not there.
• Maruti Brezza: Old Brezza design got a bit boring. Also, have seen enough Marutis around in the family that I need a change from that design language.
• Mahindra XUV300: Not approved as low boot space and slightly awkward-looking cluster to others. Low Boot Space. Still, I would consider it if I found a good deal for a nearly loaded variant.

Some others were also considered but a consensus could not be reached.

The question I am wondering for some time now is whether I should just stick to my original budget of 4-5L and try to get a good deal on the Grand i10 itself and use it for 4-6 years/stretch my wallet a bit for an Elite i20 and it for next 6-7 years (no disrespect, I expect I will feel the need for creature comforts missing in Elite i20 in a few years)/follow my heart and get the Venue but with the loan with the intention of relishing it for next 8-10 years but with a hole in my pocket right now.

Thank you for your patience.

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

Stick to your budget and get an i10 Grand.

Or else get a new or preowned Alto K10 or Alto 800.

Increasing your budget to buy a premium mass-market car on loan when you can purchase an entry-level car in cash seems like a financial blunder.

The creature comforts you seek now in Venue are soon going to be obsolete also the 20k EMI @13% will hinder your financial growth for the next 2 years.

Here's what BHPian 07CR had to say about the matter:

Stick to the budget and get a Grand i10. Since it's a beater car, it need not be too expensive, when especially you will be taking a loan.

Elite i20 is too underpowered, and the Grand i10 with the same petrol engine, but the lesser weight should be manageable. Avoid the Venue, IMO there are way better options in the CSUV segment.

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

Some points from my end:

• Elite i20 isn't a beater considering its positioning and the general maintenance costs of an old Hyundai.
• Getting a 30k driven Venue at close to 10 lakhs doesn't make sense, rather get a new one later on if you liked it so much.
• Also, the long-term maintenance of TGDi engines could add some extra costs to maintenance but I don't have enough info on it.

My suggestion, out of your options:

• Stick with the i10 as a beater.
• If requirements of rear space are a deal breaker then why not move your 6+ years old Baleno to that role and start a new hatch/sedan/CSUV/SUV hunt separately?
• If you're looking for a new city car then why not consider an EV like the eC3, Nexon/Tiago or even the hybrids like the City/HyRyder?

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Our car hunt started & ended with the Harrier. During the process, we checked out multiple vehicles including the XUV700 that we really liked.

BHPian Mayank Gaur recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hello Friends,

I'm a proud owner of Harrier XZA Daytona Grey color. Having clocked 17,000+ Kms in the last 9 months. I must say, the experience has been AWESOME! No regrets whatsoever. That said, here are the positives and negatives (nothing is perfect in this world).

Positives

Power delivery

Punchy at the same time consistent. 170 horses do their job pretty well and are tuned to perfection with the 6-speed AT gearbox. I haven’t switched to manual mode at all as I did not feel the need. Eco-mode is good when I switch to Cruise Control, else City Mode is what is most used (80% of the time). Sports mode takes the car on steroids and is the best for overtakes etc. In fact, my wife gets a bit nervous with the punchiness of Sports mode.

Ride comfort

It chomps over potholes and speed breakers like nobody’s business. I always tell my wife that in India, we don't need SUVs for highways, they are usually well paved, it's the cities where we need them, and the Harrier doesn’t disappoint. The space is humongous all throughout. Note for Compass buyers - Harrier trumps Compass when it comes to rear seat spacing. The Oakwood finish is classy, AC is sufficient and the music is out of the world. My wife and I go on drives just to enjoy the music.

Fuel economy

Like all ATs, this one is also highly sensitive to the driving style. But for the size and power of the car, I’ve been able to extract an easy ~15 on long runs and 12-13 in cities with this. For an automatic, I feel that's pretty good. I recently drove on the entire stretch of Hyderabad ORR on cruise control (100 kmph) and managed to get 19.5 as FE. Sports Mode guzzles a lot of diesel, but that's a no-brainer.

Safety

Loaded with tech safety features and airbags, but also gives a sturdy feel overall. Tata has a reputation for safety and Harrier doesn't disappoint. The electronic brake distribution program and drive modes are really good and provide confidence at high speeds.

Emotional value and satisfaction

I honestly think this is the reason most people actually buy Harriers. It's an absolute head-turner, gives that feeling of ‘I own the best car on the road’, gives you bragging rights like nothing else. We have had a fantastic feeling ever since I bought it. But yes, this is subjective, and may not hold for others

Negatives

• Lacks features like ventilated seats, wireless charging, 360-degree camera and TPMS which competition provides. I don’t like Tata giving these features in special editions like Kaziranga and Jet edition. These should be table stakes in a car north of 20 Lacs.
• Service is a hit and miss - had both good and bad experiences till now.
• Dead pedal should’ve been better in the AT. Also, the left knee touching the dashboard takes time to get used to.
• Horn pad is the biggest letdown, why did Tata put such cheap plastic on it? And despite feedback, never bothered to change it.

Options explored before buying Harrier & the reason for buying it

I had owned a Hyundai Grand i10 Sportz for nearly 7 years and had clocked ~65K kilometers on it. Had been thinking of upgrading the car but was in two minds. Finally, my wife, a road-trip enthusiast and an excellent driver, expressed the desire too and supported the decision and hence the great hunt began.

Our car hunt lasted 4-5 months and had various options explored therein. But let me start with the ask we had:

• An SUV or even a crossover build (I was done with hatchbacks, and sedans weren’t appealing anymore)
• Automatic (that was non-negotiable)
• High on safety, and that too not just tech gizmo safety but build quality safety (became a father in 2020 and the sudden urge to have a safe vehicle for my child to travel in)

The cars which I explored while on the hunt – Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Mahindra XUV 700, Volkswagen Taigun, Skoda Kushaq, Mahindra XUV 300, MG Hector (briefly) and Tata Harrier. Here is a quick summary of the pros and cons of all the cars and then I’ll go deep into Harrier.

Interestingly, it all started with a Harrier and indeed ended with it. My wife and I were always in love with the car, but it was beyond our budget (automatic top-end touches 24 L on-road). We were advised to not test drive it if we are so emotionally invested in it, we did just the opposite and started with Harrier. A 1.5 hours long test drive and we knew that this is the car to go for. But going beyond 4-5 lacs on budget wasn’t comforting so we dropped the chase.

Anyway, let's get to the other options explored.

Hyundai Creta

If you are not fussed about build quality strength, I believe this is the best car on Indian roads. Ticks all the boxes in terms of features and design. Hyundai Service is pretty good compared to peers. The new variant has decent power to deliver, both in petrol and diesel.

Why did I not buy Creta – I was not sure about its build quality. No crash testing and Korean maker Hyundai generally doesn’t score well on build quality of the car in India. Also, Creta had a 8 months waiting period, so that further made it easier for me to drop it.

Kia Seltos

Amazing features and looks. Certainly looks sportier than Creta. However, build quality continues to be a concern. That ill-fated accident where the car split in two didn’t help. Also, it did not give a sturdy feeling. Moreover, another con of Seltos is the narrow rear seat. So, it was easy to drop this one.

MG Hector

Full marks to their sales and marketing team, exceptional showroom experience. The car is also loaded with a lot of appealing features and makes for a value-for-money buy. The body roll is a bit high due to build quality, also the petrol variant felt lacking power for its size and weight. Diesel is certainly good.

But, on this one, I had an emotional reason to not go for it. I simply couldn’t justify myself buying a Chinese product. Make no mistake, I don’t refer to Chinese products as poor quality, my iPhone is manufactured there and I am sure Hector does well on quality. It's just that I didn’t want a car owned by a Chinese maker.

(Note to readers: The view above is highly personal, kindly disregard if it doesn’t appeal to you and just stick to feature feedback.)

Skoda Kushaq

Good looks from outside, sturdy ride as expected of the German maker but the cabin feels were not that appealing. The rear seat is good only for 2 people. Also, If I recall, during the early months of the launch, the top-end wasn’t getting 6 Airbags which was weird, so dropped it.

VW Taigun

Found this one much better than its cousin Kushaq (though from an external viewpoint, Kushaq looks taller and more SUVish). Cabin and ride quality felt amazingly good and given that I was unclear on the rest of the options, I went ahead and booked Taigun. VW doesn’t charge a cancellation fee on the bookings. Please note, at the time of this search, most cars in this category were clocking a minimum delay of 10 weeks with likes of Creta going up to 10 months.

Mahindra XUV 700

The launch date was announced during this hunt phase and my wife and I went bonkers over this car. The launch price was competitive and it somewhat fit our budget. Mahindra experimented with an online booking (add to cart) feature, and on the day of the launch, my wife and I were glued to our laptops to make a booking. Felt like booking a tatkal ticket on IRCTC for the busy Diwali weekend. The site crashed within minutes and we couldn’t book. Later in the evening, the dealership, Silver Jubilee Motors in Pune sent their reps and collected 21K to make a booking from the backend. Next day, it opened again, and we ended up double booking - online + via the dealer.

Never mind, we were sold on this car. When it was due to arrive at the dealership for a test ride, my wife and I were there at 10 AM before even the entire staff of Silver Jubilee motors came in. Managed to lay hands on the vehicle as we were first in the queue and it was AWESOME! I had booked a diesel AX-5 variant and felt that it was the perfect car I want.

But then began the wait, the never-ending wait. Dealership had no clue about its delivery due to chip shortage and over-booking. Frustration was building up, and finally, my sales rep informally told me that it's likely that I'll get an AX5 Diesel only by April-May of 2022.

That was not acceptable to me and I proceeded to cancel my bookings incurring a loss of Rs 4200 (Mahindra deducts a 10% on bookings and I had made 2!)

About the car

It's a very competitive vehicle on all counts. Here are the things I liked and disliked.

Likes

• Good ride quality, power and safety features (AX5 which is a mid variant gets curtain airbags)
• Infotainment screen looks like that of a Mercedes Benz
• Mid-variant AX5 also gets a massive sun-roof (though I’m not a big fan of sun-roofs)
• Mid-night blue color is one of the best on the roads after BMW
• Amazing visibility all through the cabin

Dislikes

• One is forced to buy a 7-seat option for a top variant. They should’ve had a fully loaded 5-seater.
• Service is not equipped to handle fancy gizmos and tech like ADAS and Memory feature loaded seat adjustments
• Their ability to deliver diesel cars on time - a big letdown.

So with that, the XUV700 journey came to an end.

Harrier

With curtains down on XUV700, we were left with either Taigun OR Harrier.

Though Taigun was fun to drive, it didn't give that fulfilment despite spending 19+ Lacs on it. I was going for 1 Ltr top-end. Strangely, 1.5 Ltr in Taigun didn’t come with ventilated seats. VW-Skoda has a knack for shooting themselves in the foot somehow. Eventually, I withdrew my booking.

I read almost all posts on Harrier on TeamBHP and there were many like me who were smitten by the car despite all its flaws and dealership challenges.

One of my friends, who is quite elder than me then advised that we like to do road trips and have the energy to drive long now, so it will be worth spending a little extra and getting what we want, instead of carrying a buyer’s remorse later. His specific point was that you can afford it later in life but the zeal and energy to drive may go down with age.

So, after a lot of thought and discussion, we made up our mind that it is going to be the Harrier. (Initially, Jeep Compass was also on the wish list, but with Harrier itself going above budget, Compass was out of the question, so didn’t even bother test-driving it).

From here on, I’ll switch to the buying experience and ownership review of Harrier.

Harrier’s buying experience

Many TeamBHPians had noted that contact with senior people at the dealership is a smart thing to do. I followed the advice and found someone who knew the dealership owner at Rudra Motors in Pune.

Made the booking on 10th Nov 2021, and was told that it will take 8-10 weeks, but I pushed for super early delivery. The contacts at the top helped and to my utter surprise, I was confirmed for delivery on 20th Nov 2021 (Magic!). To those who don’t have any such contacts, I later learnt that Tata in general has been able to deliver Harrier in 2-3 weeks' time, at least in Pune.

So came 20th Nov 2021, we were at the dealership in the morning and the Beast adorned in Daytona Gray color was being readied for the handover.

Must say that Tata Dealerships may not have smooth and suave sales reps like MG or their showroom quality may not be top class, but the experience overall is pretty good.

The sales reps, even though not so polished by western standards, were extremely polite and willing to help. At one level, the external glossiness doesn’t matter.

Got some accessories like 5D mats, sun shades, additional HARRIER badging on the front in Black etc.

So all in all, full marks to the dealership on the promptness, speed and quality of sales and delivery.

Here are some pics from the day of delivery

First press on the pedal

Maiden drive on Mum-Pune expressway

Here are some clicks of fun times with the beast

Boot is big enough to have camping chairs and a mini stove in it all the time.

Decked up for my cousin's wedding

Beast giving mean looks on a rainy day: Pune - Hyd trip

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

For me, the car's mileage is a red flag but I'm unable to find a better deal. In my budget, decade-old models of the Hyundai i10 & Maruti WagonR are available.

BHPian utkarshshukla92 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hello Bhpians,

I am a newbie driver and I was looking for my 1st used car. I have a deal directly from the owner for a Sept 2014 Grand i10 Asta with 1.5 Lakh km on the ODO for 2.5 Lakhs. The car is mechanically in good condition though it has a fair share of scratches and 2 dents on each rear door.

This car was maintained at a workshop in Noida and the owner of this workshop has given me a green signal on the car with no major expenses coming up. (Good things have been said about the owner of this workshop on T-Bhp many times and that is how I came to know about him and this Grand i10).

Now the question is, as a newbie driver, I want that safety net of ABS and airbags that this car offers but those km on the ODO, is what I see as a red flag.

I am unable to find a better deal in the market at the moment and have noticed the used car prices are skyrocketing and in my budget of 2.5 Lakhs, dealers are offering 10-11-year-old i10s and WagonRs which I am not very happy with. So, should I go for this car or look for more options?

Sharing some pictures of the above-mentioned car.

Here's what BHPian 2000rpm had to say about the matter:

While I agree with buying used, I think you should avoid this one.

A bad condition first car is a sure shot way to move away from being an auto-enthusiast.

I would suggest you look for used Petrol POLOs with low mileage. The build quality (European) and ownership Pride of a Polo (killer looks) are far superior to that of a Hyundai.

Here's what BHPian GreasyCarb55 had to say about the matter:

Hi there Utkarsh, I started a similar thread in Jan 2022 which I will link below (although that thread is based solely on enthusiasts/drivers' cars).

Although I will say this; if you're just looking for a nice car first car, the last-gen Grand i10 does seem like a good choice. I am also in the same bucket (looking for a first car under 4 lakh myself) and I would suggest the following options as well:

• Gen 1 1.3 Petrol Swift
• Gen 1 Facelift Ford Figo Diesel (2012-2015)
• Gen 1 Ford Fiesta/Fiesta Classic 1.6

If you have questions regarding the safety and reliability side of things I would suggest you ask in the Grand i10 review thread which I will also link below.

Link to my thread. (Best enthusiast / first car for an 18-year old college student under 4 lakhs?)

Grand i10 Review thread

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

The first few basic questions that you need to answer are:

• What is the max budget?
• How urgent is the need for a car?
• Are you ok with a car from another state?
• Are you ok with purchasing a lesser sold car?

Had I been in your place, I would not buy a 1+ lac km run car. How much ever the car is in good condition, even with an experienced new owner, the car will surely run into issues.

Better to look for lesser run cars. They would cost you a little more, but the chances of failure as compared to a more used car would be slightly less.

Don't take anyone's word for the car's condition. Make sure due diligence is done, like checking the entire service history, insurance claims, major parts if changed any.

Cosmetic beauty can be enhanced, however, don't buy a car with too many dents. I feel that is an indication that the car was not cared for too much.

You can also look at the organized players like true value, Toyota trust, Spiny, Cars24, etc. Advantage being, you get some warranty on the car which itself is a bit confidence-inspiring.

Trust me, I was in the same place as you are a few years back. Due to a lack of knowledge, I got a car with an accident history, which I got to know only after owning the car for around a year. It did dilute my ownership experience and I felt cheated. I wouldn't wish for anyone else to have that same feeling after spending your hard-earned money.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The A/C did not work initially and when pulled to the side, the engine switched off and refused to start back up again.

BHPian petrolhead345 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hello all, my family owns a 2014 Hyundai Grand i10 AT which has only covered 20k km in 8 years. We hadn't given the car for service since November 2020 and just a week ago when my dad took it out, the car ran for like 500m away from home and my dad noticed that the a/c did not work so he tried pulling the car to the side of the road to check and while doing so the car switched off and refused to start. We called a local mechanic that we found through google and upon inspection he said that the alternator belt was torn and that the coolant tank was completely empty. we had no other option but to tow the car to the Hyundai service centre. The mechanic had offered a tow truck from his known contact but when my dad called the Hyundai service centre, we explained the whole situation and they offered to help us and informed our situation to their emergency response team. So we decided to take Hyundai's help as it would be with experienced hands or so we thought. This incident happened at 3:30 and my dad had urgent work that he had to complete so he parked the car on the side of the road and left to finish the work. We hadn't heard from the Hyundai emergency response team till 5 and after trying to contact them multiple times they said that they were taking care of another breakdown so they would attend to us after they took care of the other breakdown. Since the car was parked somewhat safe to the side of the road we didn't mind it and went home. After almost 2 hrs we get a call saying that the morning guy's shift ended so they would send us the night shift guy and we were fine with it. By 8 p.m we lost our patience and after we gave them a lecture, they sent the guy finally. My Dad and I went to the car's location and were waiting for him. After another long wait, to our surprise, the guy comes in a Santro. We were shocked and furious as we specifically told them that we need a tow truck and that a mechanic had already checked the car's condition. The Hyundai service mechanic said that they hadn't explained our situation to him at all! Then we asked him whether he can get a tow truck and he was like we don't tow cars and we had to arrange one on our own. We were again back to square one. My dad then called the local mechanic who then called a tow truck finally at 9 the tow truck had reached the car's location and took the car to the service centre.

So the moral of the story is that never trust Hyundai Road Side assistance as they are useless and don't provide any support whatsoever.

The next day they topped up the coolant and replaced the belt and went for a test drive to notice any other issues which were none according to them. We also opted to change the engine oil and general servicing as it had been more than a year since it was serviced along with wheel balancing.

Now there were 2 questions that were left to be answered, that is:

1. Why was the coolant tank empty as it had barely been driven 2000 km in 1.5 years.
2. How did the alternator belt tear suddenly out of nowhere as again the car was driven less and is driven by my dad and mom who are sedate drivers.

I asked these questions to the service advisor and his answer was that the car is old and wasn't serviced for a long time but me being a BHPian (a new one) myself, I wasn't satisfied with his answer. This is where I need your opinion, BHPians.

Any suggestions on what I should do are welcome

P.S: The car was back from the service centre 2 days ago but hasn't taken it out yet. Also please excuse me for my mistakes as this is my first big post on Team-BHP.

Here's what BHPian asit.kulkarni93 had to say on the matter:

Even if the car wasn't driven a lot. 8 years is sufficient time for weathering on belts. When was coolant last checked? Being a BHPian, You may not be happy with the service centre's reply but basic things need to be checked on a regular basis. Look for some leakage with a radiator hose or some elbow. Being a petrol i10, a water pump shouldn't be an issue.

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

8 years is a long time for this kind of issue to crop up, be it any brand car. So as long as it’s running fine now, it should be okay.

But the terrible thing here is in a city like Hyderabad Hyundai could not arrange a tow truck even after almost 6 hours. Now there is no excuse for that. That’s shady customer service.

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

Do check for indications of external damage like rat bites. That could explain both of your issues.

I don't expect the coolant reservoir to go from full to empty in 2 years unless there's a leak. Do check for the same.

Usually, the coolant (non-long life) change happens at 20k km / 2 years in most cars and the reservoir is more or less at the same level when last filled.

No idea on the alternator belt though but you should get some indications before the belt wears out completely/breaks but not sure on this.

Could be ageing as mentioned earlier.

Do remember that any RSA although pitched by the manufacturer is handled by local parties and their level of professionalism can vary regardless of the manufacturer. But the responsibility rests with the manufacturer since they sold you the package in their name.

Do raise a complaint about the same.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

We have not modified anything in the stock car. The only accessory we have installed is a dashcam that is powered from 12V (cigarette lighter) socket.

BHPian Capt.Ashu recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hello BHPians,

Request your assistance in the following matter:

My wife drives a 2018 Hyundai Grand i10 Sportz AT.

• Yesterday when she engaged reverse gear, the reverse camera did not switch on. After several failed attempts it switched on.
• On reaching her destination, she turned off the car engine and removed the key but the radio did not switch off. She replaced the key and turned the accessories on - off a few times but it did not work. She then restarted the engine and turned it off, then the radio was finally off.
• Couple of days ago, a few minutes after she locked the car, the hazard lights came on for sometime and then switched off again.

Other than our home's parking, she parks her car on road in front of her clinic where, as per her, presence of rats can be ruled out as there are lots of stray dogs in the vicinity.

We have not modified anything in the stock car. The only accessory we have installed is a dashcam that is powered from 12V (cigarette lighter) socket.

Last rain was about 15 days ago.

The car had been running trouble free until this issue.

3 years warranty has expired. The car was serviced by HASS at prescribed intervals.

I am sailing at the moment, so can guide her through WhatsApp only.

I have asked her to get the car's battery connections and grounding checked by our trusted FNG on her way to the clinic.

Your expert guidance will be highly appreciated.

To the Mods: I could not find an existing thread with similar issues, so posting it separately. If any such thread exists please merge this post with it.

Thanks.

Regards,

Ashu

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

Captain, I'm assuming that the car is able to start without any hesitation and that the cranking power is good - if yes, the battery has enough juice. However, given that the car is over 3 years old, please have the health of the battery checked, and do check for sulfation at the battery terminals.

I can suggest the following checks for the three issues you've highlighted:

• Reverse camera display not on - Without starting the engine, please slot the gear in reverse and if the camera display doesn't turn on, please check if the reverse light is on? If the reverse light isn't on, the issue could be with the reverse switch wiring.
• Radio not switching off - the key barrel could be malfunctioning - there is a switch at the end of the key barrel called the body switch in which a wiring coupler is fitted - if your FNG has a good electrician, they could open that alone, clean the contacts put it back and see.
• When the key is taken out of the barrel, is a click or khat sound heard everytime? If not, the key barrel is the culprit. A bit of WD40 spray into the barrel and then operating the barrel a few times will help.
• Hazard lights coming on for sometime - this happens when the security system senses a malfunction eg. one or more door unlocked. It can also happen when the circuit power gets reset.

The one thing in common for all the three issues you've reported is the Body Control Module (BCM). If there is an intermittent low power supply issue there, one or more issues with on board electricals can occur.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Recently, the lights turn off randomly; when I check, the ground wire connecting the harness to the car body is extremely hot.

BHPian ankurbhageria recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hi,

I am using a Philips genuine 35W HID kit on my Hyundai Grand i10 petrol. The lights have been working fine for four years.

Recently, the lights turn off randomly; when I check, the ground wire connecting the harness to the car body is extremely hot.

Please suggest how to rectify this problem.

Thanks.

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

Is the wire hot throughout its length, or at the place where it is connected to the chassis?

If the former, this could mean that there is an overload (faulty bulb or relay). You will have to change the faulty component.

If the latter, it could be a loose connection in the connection between the wire and the chassis. Check for any loose connection in the crimping between the wire and the terminal, or a loose nut or screw that fastens the terminal to the chassis. You could also remove the terminal from the chassis, sand off the contact area to expose the chassis and fasten the terminal again.

Here's what BHPian R2D2 had to say on the matter:

It looks like a short or an overload (that's what causes the wire to heat up) somewhere in the HID wiring harness. I would strongly recommend getting this looked into and resolved before it becomes a fire hazard. You really don't want to take a risk.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I could see that scooter-dude in the distance, turning his head and running away. “How can that guy do that? Did I not just almost die to save him? How can one be so inhuman?”

BHPian BhaskarG recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

That guy! He is going to cross!!

“BRAKE!!” said my instinct. And I jammed on the brakes. “Oh my God, not going to make it. That guy is going to die!” I panicked.

“DO NOT HIT HIM” said my instinct. I steered left. Car turned left and right. And a loud BANG!! I hit something. Sound of metal tearing. Car turned upside down. “God, either save me or make it quick and painless!”, nothing else came to my mind. I quickly glanced out. Sparks were flying below my head.

Car rolled again. This time landed on its wheels. “No trucks coming. That means no immediate impact. Maybe I’ll live?” I thought.

The Genesis

This is a car story. The story of my first car, a white Hyundai Grand i10.

It is written by a BHPian who did not know many things about cars then, but loved them to bits. I still do not know very clearly how the lungs and intestines work inside a car. I still practically do not know which breed of car is better to drive, because I have not driven many breeds.

I was new to cars. We never had a car in our household. Relatives who had cars, did not like a curious teenager near their cars. I learned driving only after getting a job. In 2013, I took my first class in a driving school near my place in Bangalore. I do not remember the name of the instructor, but that gentleman did teach me to put on the seat-belt before driving. I owe him big time for it, as you will know soon.

I had saved some money and started looking for cars. My budget was Rs 5 lac on road max. Very few cars were within my budget. My crush (VW Polo) was beyond my reach. So I was open and searching.

• Maruti 800: Loved it so much from childhood. But production was about to stop.
• Alto 800: It looks bad, man. Not going to be my first car.
• Wagon R: Boring. period.
• Chevrolet Beat: Super COOL! But dashboard was too high for a new driver.
• Datsun Go: Nah! Took a test drive, though.
• Hyundai Eon: Luxury Alto, that's it.

And then I saw her on the road one evening. It was love at first sight. A new model was launched by Hyundai few months back, tail-lights were captivating. Rushed to the showroom the next day. The Grand i10 Magna costed Rs. 4.94 Lacs on road, perfectly within my budget. Booked it there and then by paying Rs 5000 as booking amount. No airbags, no ABS, just pure love.

“Why do you need ABS? These are gimmicks.” said my uncles. I was not going to fall for any gimmick.

“Buy a heavy car.” said my colleagues. This Hyundai looks heavy. Doors close with a thud. Good!

“Buy a cool looking new model”, said my friends. Yes, and looks matter. I was going to be the first among my friends to buy his own car. Great!

So when I brought home my brand new shiny white Grand i10 in early 2014, I did not know all this stuff that we BHPians talk about. My buying decision was based on 3 things: looks, colour and how the car felt inside. I did not care about what NCAP ratings were, what steering feel was and how important were airbags and ABS.

I perfected my driving skills in this car. Drove this car all around. City, highway, villages, hills, picnics, road trips, everywhere. But still I did not know what handling, feel and feedback was. I was the only one in my group with my own car, after all. Never got the chance to extensively experience another car till that time. That was the pre-Zoomcar era.

Sometime later I came to know that my car has scored 2 stars in NCAP crash tests. But anyway, it was of better build than most other cars in my budget. “I am a good driver. Nothing will happen. Be positive”, I justified.

One of the early shots of the car in front of our building:

My much senior neighbour bought a WagonR. I was so happy with my choice:

The Nemesis

So, as you know by now, I was deeply in love.

Now fast forward a few years till 2018. I was driving having some alone time with my car on a beautiful day. It was supposed to be a 100 kilometers highway trip from Guwahati, and I had already covered about 60 kilometers. Smooth roads, traffic was minimal, and hence I was cruising along at about 80-90 kmph on the 4 lane highway. There are wide, solid medians with gaps after every 5-6 kms. I met with a spine chilling mishap in one such gap in the median.

I saw in the distance that there is a gap in the median, and looked for any vehicle waiting to take a U-turn.

None in sight.

There was a scooter-dude riding on the wrong side of the road, approaching me. “This dude might try to cross the road” I thought, but the dude slowed down and waited at the side of the road. “Good. He has seen me coming” I maintained the speed.

“DUDE! What are you doing?” Scooter-dude started to cross the road. There was little distance to brake. Honk. Hooooonk! But the dude is ignoring me.

That guy! He is going to cross!!

“BRAKE!!” said my instinct. And I jammed on the brakes. “Oh my God, not going to make it. That guy is going to die!” I panicked.

“DO NOT HIT HIM” said my instinct. I steered left. Car turned left and right. And a loud BANG!! I hit something. Sound of metal tearing. Car turned upside down. “God, either save me or make it quick and painless!”, nothing else came to my mind. I quickly glanced out. Sparks were flying below my head.

Car rolled again. This time landed on its wheels. “No trucks coming. That means no immediate impact. Maybe I’ll live?” I thought.

The car stopped on its feet. On the other side of the road. Facing the opposite direction. After rolling 2 times.

This happened maybe within a second or two.

I was inside, numb. My mind was active, but my body failed to respond. I could not move. I could see that scooter-dude in the distance, turning his head and running away. “How can that guy do that? Did I not just almost die to save him? How can one be so inhuman?”

However, some people came rushing for help. I gathered my senses, and assessed the situation. I took off the seatbelt, and got out of the car calmly. I was not hurt in any way.

Still everything was feeling like a dream. Then reality sank in. 1 hit and 2 rolls. A concrete post was uprooted and lying in the middle of the road. The car was damaged all around. I was lucky. REALLY lucky.

My beloved car had taken the hit and safely cocooned me inside. Not a single scratch on my body!

What happened could not be undone, but I learnt a few lessons from it:

• There are idiots on the road. Give them the respect they deserve.
• Honk! Let sensible people think you are an idiot, but honk for the idiots’ sake.
• Wear a seatbelt. I owe my instructor for creating the habit. It saved me.
• Drive safe.

What happened afterwards, deserves a story of its own. I did not let my car be declared as totalled. Repaired it, and drove it again. All I say is that it was an experience of 2 lifetimes.

The Resurrection

That incident happened four years back, and now I cannot find any photos of the actual crash. Maybe I got emotional deleted them long back. Maybe. However, I do have have some photos of the repair job.

Okay, to sum it up, here is what happened: I braked and swerved. Car lost control and hit a concrete post in the road median. The post uprooted, and fell on the road. Taking the impact, the car rolled over 2 times: first a front flip and then a side flip. It finally landed on its wheels on the other side of the road. The damage was significant. The crumple zones had been compromised, roof, left side, back side, took significant damage. If there were any structural damage was to be seen later. Police arrived and took the car to a nearby parking lot. Had to pay the crane guy Rs 3000 for a 5 minutes job. Phew!

Next few days were hectic. Police work, RTO work. Got the vehicle lifted back to a Hyundai workshop (Saraighat Hyundai) at Guwahati. The service adviser was a likeable, humble person. My first question to the adviser was "Can you repair it?". "Yes, not much engine damage." he said. So far so good.

There were a couple of hurdles along the way. My car insurance policy was with SBI General. I have an agent who takes care of my insurance. He takes care of all premiums for car, bike, health etc. I do not bother much about renewal dates. He covers it up for me.

Hurdle 1: My insurance policy had expired the day before. My agent tells me that the renewal is not yet processed. I was paperless and clueless. I could not bear the repair cost, if the policy does not cover it. I would have to scrap the car! Luckily, it was solved soon. Do not ask me how. My agent did it.

Hurdle 2: My IDV was 2.8 lacs. The repair estimate was bordering on total loss case. I was no expert in cars, but it seemed to me that the car had significant structural damage. Finally the Service Adviser at Saraighat Hyundai got the estimate down to 2.1 lacs, just below the threshold.

The work began. They took a full month to repair my machine. My service advisor was worried that the straight line manners of the car may be compromised post repair.

Finally the wait was over. We took extensive test drives. Car was behaving as new. Straight line manners were good. These guys at Saraighat Hyundai did a fantastic job. As a final settlement, I had to pay 8k from my side. Remaining 2.02 lacs was borne by SBI General.

There she was, shining like a brand new car! As beautiful as she can be! And thus, my friends, I brought my car home for the second time.

So, that is it, friends. I am leaving it to you guys to figure out the technical things. Here are some pics in chronological order:

Stripping and fixing:

Finishing up:

Almost ready:

Here's what BHPian V.Narayan had to say on the matter:

Thank you very much for sharing this real life incident and being candid about your decisions and thoughts. Your sharing will give valuable inputs to young driver-owners today that a NCAP 1 or NCAP 2 or NACP 3 car is not a tin pot crap as some derisively term it. After all in the 1950s to 1990s people did drive and accidents did happen and people did survive without NCAP. NCAP is good and we should strive for the best rating we can afford but we should not assume that a lower NCAP rating car is a death trap. The shell of the car itself , the seat belt and airbags are our first and best line of defense that take care of the first two-thirds or three-fourths of protection. All other features address the balance. I am not saying don't go for NCAP rated cars - we must buy the best we can afford but those of us who drive non-rated cars are not driving death traps as has become the fashion to state in the last five or six years. Of course any car driven too fast or too rashly is a source of danger to its occupants and others on the road.

While the accident per se is not the topic of the thread but you have not stated - (a) what speed were you doing; (b) how many metres ahead were you scanning constantly; (c) did the pedestrian suddenly jump out from behind some obstruction (like a stationery bus) or is it that you were distracted and thus saw him one or two seconds later than you could have.

Most readers of Team-BHP know these salient points but permit me to state them. These are norms I have followed in my now 43 years of driving on highways or fast roads:

• Don't dwell on day dreaming or random thoughts or (now) on cell phones.
• Scan and track the road 200, 400 or even 600 metres ahead so you can spot the makings of trouble a few seconds before it reached you or you reach it. Your watchful mind while driving, like while flying, has to be a few minutes or tens of seconds ahead of the car.
• Beyond 80 or 90 kmph you are not really saving any serious amount of travel time after you factor in tolls, tractors, impediments on the road etc.
• Most in India assume you will honk to warn them.
• Slowing down, moving to the left, letting the other guy pass, taking evasive action yourself is usually more effective than hoping the other guy will do your bidding.
• At 120 kmph we are hurtling at 33.3 metres per second or one football field every 3 seconds.

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

Thank God you walked away from such a crash without any injuries. While you didn't post any pictures of the crash, the images of repair is more than enough to give us a scale of it. It just shows how important seatbelts are.

Couple of points from my side:

• Your car is technically a Zero star rated car. The absence of airbags and ABS would've ensured that rating. A two star rated Grand i10 should come with those features.
• I can feel your love towards the car in the effort you put in repairing it. Personally, I would've let it go. The damage is so extensive. I wouldn't trust any garage to do a factory job. But since you repaired it, I can only say that be even more cautious with the way you drive. V.Narayan sir have already listed out everything for you.
• Just like ABS and Airbags, ESP needs to be made mandatory as soon as possible.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The Grand i10 was powered by a 1.2-litre petrol engine that made 82 BHP @ 6,000 rpm and 114 Nm @ 4,000. The engine was paired with a 5-speed manual transmission. It was available in two variants - Magna and Sportz.

The Hyundai Grand i10 is no longer listed on the company's official website indicating that the car's production has been stopped and it is no longer available. With this move, Hyundai now has three hatchbacks on sale in India - Santro, Grand i10 Nios and i20.

The Grand i10 was powered by a 1.2-litre petrol engine that made 82 BHP @ 6,000 rpm and 114 Nm @ 4,000. The engine was paired with a 5-speed manual transmission. It was available in two variants - Magna and Sportz.

The Hyundai Grand i10 competed in the B2 segment with other hatchbacks such as the Maruti Suzuki Swift, Ignis and Ford Figo.

Thanks to Manivannan for sending this information in. Heartfelt gratitude for sharing it with other enthusiasts via Team-BHP's share page.

The Grand i10 NIOS Corporate Edition is said to be priced from Rs. 6.11 lakh.

Earlier this month, we had reported that Hyundai is gearing up to introduce a Corporate Edition of the Grand i10 NIOS. Now, according to a media report, the car is priced from Rs. 6.11 lakh (ex-showroom).

The Grand i10 NIOS Corporate Edition is based on the Magna trim. It comes with body-coloured electrically operated ORVMs with integrated turn-indicators and 15-inch wheels in a new design with gunmetal finish. The car gets a 6.75-inch touchscreen infotainment head-unit with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity instead of a 2-DIN audio system. It also comes with an in-cabin air purifier with gesture control and Hepa filter.

The Grand i10 NIOS Corporate Edition is offered with two engines. These include a 1.2-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine that makes 82 BHP @ 6,000 rpm and 114 Nm @ 4,000 rpm and a 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder diesel unit that puts out 74 BHP @ 4,000 rpm and 190 Nm @ 1,750-2,250 rpm. Both engines are paired with a 5-speed manual transmission. The petrol engine is also available with a 5-speed AMT.

Grand i10 NIOS Corporate Edition prices:

• Petrol MT - Rs. 6.11 lakh
• Petrol AMT - Rs. 6.64 lakh
• Diesel MT - Rs. 7.19 lakh

Source

The Corporate Edition is based on the Magna trim but gets additional features.

Details of the upcoming Hyundai Grand i10 NIOS Corporate Edition have leaked online.

The Grandi i10 NIOS Corporate Edition will be based on the Magna trim. On the outside, the car receives a few updates. It comes with body-coloured electric ORVMs with integrated turn indicators and 15-inch wheels in a new design with gunmetal finish.

On the inside, the Corporate Edition gets a 6.75-inch touchscreen infotainment head-unit instead of a 2-DIN audio system. It has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The car also comes with an in-cabin air purifier with gesture control and Hepa filter.

The Grand i10 NIOS Corporate Edition could be offered with a choice of two engines. These include a 1.2-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine that makes 82 BHP @ 6,000 rpm and 114 Nm @ 4,000 rpm and a 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder diesel unit that puts out 74 BHP @ 4,000 rpm and 190 Nm @ 1,750-2,250 rpm. It may not get the 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine option.

Source