Engine is super-smooth, effortless cruiser on the highway, gear shifts are not felt at all except when shifting from 2 to 1.

BHPian adv.yzr recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Greetings BHPians!

It's been a while since we got our VW Taigun GT Plus 1.5 DSG. Purchased on Dhanteras in November 2023 and replaced our close to 15-year-old Maruti Suzuki SX4. I'll be sharing buying & driving experience in this post for the larger audience.

We had purchased SX4 in early 2009 and 2024 being at the corner meant completion of 15 years and the 10-15 year old rule in Delhi-NCR also meant that we have to take a quick decision regarding it and considered the following options:

• I currently reside in Panchkula and make weekly trips to Gurugram, so thought of considering its registration extended in Panchkula, and keeping it for another 5 years. The reason being, the car was driven only 97k km and was in immaculate condition and we didn't really feel the need to sell it off immediately.
• Keep driving till the end-of-life and get it scrapped and avail incentives being offered.
• Sell it off and buy a new car.

After many deliberations and discussions, we opted for 3rd option and then began the search for a new car. The budget was approx 25 lakhs, however, we also thought that we should restrict it to 15 and with the remaining budget replace our 7 year old Baleno diesel next year. So the budget remained in the bracket of 15-25 lakhs and hence the following cars were considered:

Cars considered:

• Tata Nexon: Had booked the pre-facelift XZ+S(D) given the massive discounts. was falling well below the budget and was good enough for highway drives.
• MG Hector: Fell within the budget and was being offered huge discounts on Diesel variant.
• Toyota Innova Crysta: Trust in the brand made us consider it but dropped due to waiting period.
• Tata Harrier/ Safari: Pre-facelift models were being offered at huge discount and were falling well within the budget.
• Honda Elevate: New car but didn't feel good spending 20 lakhs on it.

We were not willing to buy Maruti, Kia or Hyundai primarily because we were looking for a strongly built car and hence the case. We didn't even consider VW/ Skoda due to past experiences of near & dear ones who suggested that we shouldn't buy it owing to high maintenance.

We went ahead with Nexon and finalised the delivery date etc. on the condition that we will do PDI first and then release the payment. However, on the day of PDI, on reaching the showroom, the sales executive informed that he is on his way and will take an hour to reach, that's when we went to VW since we had to pass that 1 hour and the rest is history.

We looked at both Taigun & Virtus and Taigun GT appealed us more. Took a test drive of GT DSG and TC and found that DSG is leaps and bound ahead of TC and finalised the same. They gave a huge discount and better resale value of our SX4. However, family members were still apprehensive of the brand and after multiple visits to the showroom, test drives, they were convinced to go for Taigun but said that we should go for 1.0 Tsi TC due to 2 lakh cheap and better reliability. But I wasn't convinced and persuaded them to go for GT+ DSG since we drive mostly on highways and it will be a much better option in comparison to TC.

Finalised on the colour, which was pre-decided that we'll be going for Lava Blue, since it was a relatively new addition to the colour palette. The sales executive informed that he has 1 car in stock and when we went to stockyard to check, we got to know that it has been sold and was there till yesterday. We decided that we should wait and look for other options or go ahead with Nexon. However, in the evening we were informed that GT+ DSG LB is in transit and is the updated model with ES+Subwoofer and it fortified our decision to get the car as early as possible.

Did the PDI, loan formalities etc. and finalised the date of delivery i.e. 10.11.23 (Dhanteras) and finally got it home.

My Perspective after Purchase and 8k km of driving:

• Engine & Gearbox: Engine is super-smooth, effortless cruiser on the highway, gear shifts are not felt at all except when shifting from 2 to 1. Power on tap given the fact that I haven't driven a car with so much power & torque. Excellent confidence on highways, I consider it as a perfect replacement for our beloved SX4.
• Ride Quality & Comfort: Superb ride quality, I don't think any suspension noise creeps in as reported by other members or maybe I am liking the car way too much. Seats are good and best for 4 people. I did a 3k trip in December to Kanpur, Lucknow, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Khajuraho. Drove back non-stop from Lucknow to Chandigarh and I didn't feel tired or exhausted at all, such is the comfort I am experiencing.
• Fuel Efficiency: On highways I get 20-21 kmpl on cruising speeds of 90-100 which gets reduced to 18-19 kmpl on highway speeds of 110-120. In moderate city traffic, as observed in Panchkula-Chandigarh, I am getting 14-15 kmpl which gets reduced to 12-13 with instant acceleration/ heavy foot. Eco mode works efficiently and the switch from 2 cylinder mode to 4 & vice-versa is smooth and doesn't feel if it is running on 2 cyl. On my UP-MP trip, I got 18 kmpl overall.
• Niggles & Issues: Squeaking noise from driver side door. On undulating roads, the gearbox shifts to 1st gear and doesn't upshift even on manual input/ paddle shifter. Rest appears fine to me.
• Sound System: Feels good, sound quality is impressive, expecting improvements after coding.
• NVH: Smooth & Refined, can't hear the engine but get loud at higher revs. Car came with CEAT tyres, I have found them to be good.
• Service Experience: Average, I felt that VW Service center personnel are not that agile/ active as compared to MASS where they quickly attend to you and your vehicle, I am expecting a change in my perception.
• Overall Ownership Experience: Fantastic.
• Upgrades Planned: Fog Lamps, VCDS Tweaks, Bonnet Insulation (if available)

Accessories purchased from VW:

• Window shades: rear, side window
• Door visors
• Car Mats (fabric)
• Car Cover
• Trumpet Horn
• Luggage Net

Will keep you posted with new developments, experiences.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I own a used Maruti SX4 which I have been running on CNG for the last 50,000 km with zero issues and no power drop.

BHPian moto_rrevver recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Busting all the myths regarding CNG conversion

Hello Bhpians,

If you are not interested in a long reading session and just want the summary of the post, just go through the points in bold.

CNG conversion is 100% safe if done by a reputed and licensed dealer.

Introduction

First of all, I would like to state that I am a person who follows the user manual of anything religiously, not only cars and bikes, but literally every piece of equipment. If I had to opt for a new vehicle, I would definitely go for factory-fitted CNG, as what needs to be done is clearly mentioned in the user manual and I don't need to worry about the parts and replacement intervals.

But this is not the case, as I own a pre-owned SX4 petrol VXi 2008 and as soon as I bought it with 76000 km on the ODO, I did the CNG conversion after driving it for merely 1000 km and since then, I have driven it around 50k km on CNG with 0 issues and no power drop.

I see myself as a technically sound person and have been doing DIYs since my childhood, I am not scared of reading long research papers containing various technical terms, and I do a lot of reading in the fields of my interest including Automobile, so please trust me as everything I am writing is well researched and I personally practice the same.

Choosing a car

If getting a new vehicle and your requirement is for CNG, please go for factory-fitted CNG cars. If you are in the market for a pre-owned CNG car, get a factory-fitted pre-owned, less driven CNG car. If you are planning to buy a pre-owned car with a retrofitted CNG kit, stop then and there, it is a very bad idea trust me. If you are planning to buy a pre-owned petrol car and want to get CNG retrofitted, google the models which are CNG friendly, reliable and spare parts availability is not an issue.

After buying, drive the car at least for 2K km to test engine durability, before CNG conversion, as CNG conversion is expensive and if the engine is already in bad condition there is no point spending extra on a CNG kit. If you are planning to convert your already owned petrol car due to high fuel costs these days, please do your research and ask a few people owning the same model with CNG conversion, whether it is reliable after CNG conversion or not, if not, please drop the idea.

Myths and reality

1. Reduce oil change intervals

Please use fully synthetic oil from any reputed manufacturer and use the same grade as mentioned in the manual, change every 8K km.

It is kind of true but not only for CNG, even for petrol and diesel vehicles. Get regular oil changes done at every 8K km, this will improve the longevity of the engine, this has nothing to do with CNG conversion, some might say that CNG burns hotter than petrol, which is true, but diesel also runs hotter, and almost all the engine oils available in market are compatible with all 3 fuel types, so they are designed to withstand heat, trust the engineers and don't worry about it.

2. Replacing the air filter at every periodic service

Clean every 4K km, replace every 16K km, and use OEM filters only.

If you ask any CNG fitment guy, they will suggest you to replace it at every service, simply not required. Please check any user manual of any factory fitter CNG vehicle, in most cases you will find the replacement interval the same as the pure petrol model of the same car. The important thing to note here is that it should be clean and the car should breathe without any issues.

My suggestion - If it is cloth-based, clean it at your home gently with soap water every 4k km, and if it is paper-based, get it air pressure cleaned at any mechanic shop, it will not take more than 10 min and 50 bucks. Replace it at every 2nd oil change interval, which is 16K km.

3. Replacing spark plugs at every periodic service and adjusting gaps

Use NGK plugs, don't go for iridium, platinum or silver plugs, change every 16K km, take the temperature rating seriously.

Please don't waste your money on expensive spark plugs and please don't replace them before 16K km, the whole purpose of driving a CNG vehicle is reducing running costs, so please use it at least for 2 oil change cycles.

Take the heat range seriously, eg.- If the model name is BKR6E, '6' is the temperature reading, don't go for 5, don't go for 7, the shop owner may argue this point, simply don't listen, use the model specified in your user manual. No need to adjust the gap of a perfectly new spark plug, don't worry if the mechanic tells you that your ignition coil will burn, it will not burn please trust me, stick to the gap suggested in your manual.

4. Low pressure filter

Please use it, it costs 500 bucks (Lovato low-pressure filter) and keep the replacement interval at 16K km. If it is useless why factory factory-fitted CNG cars come fitted with these filters? Please ask this to yourself.

This is a controversial topic, so please listen to me before making any opinion. Compressor oil in CNG pumps can enter your CNG tank if the CNG pump is not maintained, and if compressor oil is in your tank, it will eventually enter your engine through the injectors, the oil entering your engine is not a big deal, as it will burn in the combustion process and it will be very negligible in quantity, but the injectors will clog eventually, which will reduce the power and eventually fail (When people say CNG engine loose power after few thousand kilometers, this is what actually happens and this is preventable, just use the low pressure filter).

The CNG injectors are not cleanable like petrol injectors, you will have to change the injector rail as it is not sold separately, and it is expensive. If you are convinced that this is a waste of money, just think of it as insurance for your injectors and get it fitted, as it is not going to harm anything.

5. Driving habits

If you are reading this thread, your sole purpose is to reduce the running cost, so please don't drive like lunatics, driving at a higher RPM will increase your running cost drastically, keep the RPM low, drive sanely in the city, on highways don't go beyond 90kmph. The engine of your car is designed to run with petrol and trying to run it using CNG is a big change for the engine.

Let me explain this in simple words, just imagine your petrol car is tested to run at 5000 RPM continuously for several hours, without any issues, the engine internals and cooling system is designed for that much load and temperature and let the temperature be "X degrees", if you drive the car on CNG at same 5000 RPM the temperature might go beyond "X degrees" which is not good for the engine components and cooling system, but if you will run the engine at 2500 to 3000 RPM on CNG the temperature will not exceed "X degrees" and this will increase the life of your engine significantly.

6. Starting the car on CNG

Cold start the car on petrol and drive it for at least 2 km before switching to CNG mode. Also, try to drive on petrol for 2 km before switching off the engine for long intervals. It is not a myth, it is important for the longevity of your engine valves.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

As per my strict budget, I had even booked a Bajaj Dominar 250 but for some reason, I decided to give the "consider a used car" idea a try.

BHPian moto_rrevver recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Introduction

Hello BHPians, before knowing my car and how I ended up buying it, I would like to give a brief introduction about myself.

I am a 90s kid from a small town Ghatshila in Jharkhand and my passion for automobiles and music is a gift from my dad. I am an Engineer who started my career during the pandemic in 2020 and guess what is the first thing that comes to the mind of a petrolhead as soon as he starts earning.

I went to Bangalore for my job and after 4 months our office got shut down because more than 50% of the employees were COVID positive, fortunately, I was not in that 50%. Returned home started working from home, started saving money for my first bike and it was July 2021 when I had to report back to the Bangalore or Pune office. I chose Pune as most of my family and friends are in Maharashtra.

Search for a capable touring bike

As per my needs, I started looking for a capable touring bike as I travel a lot and mostly with a pillion, so a good pillion seat and comfortable riding posture were mandatory for me. As most of you have assumed, Dominar 400 was my first choice, it is a hell of a machine, but my budget was not allowing for it, so I skipped it and started looking into other options.

Option 1 Dominar 250 -

This thing was closest to the mighty D400 but it lacked an aluminum swingarm, was less on power and torque, and had less chunky front USD forks. It was costing me around 1.9 Lakh on road which was fine by me as I had capped my budget at 2 Lakhs.

Option 2 Suzuki Gixxer 250 -

Loved the engine, the refinement was way better than a few of the Yamahas, it was a complete package. Got to know why everyone bets on Japanese engines, unfortunately had to reject it due to not so not-so-comfortable pillion seat. It was costing me around 2.1 Lakh on road.

Option 3 Yamaha MT-15 -

It was rejected before even getting the test drive, due to an almost non-existent pillion seat, still, I went for the test ride as this was the bike my heart wanted, and I know I would have bought it if I had to ride alone. Fuel economy of 50kmpl, R15's engine with upright riding posture and street naked body, nothing else was needed to please me. It was costing me around 2.0 Lakh on road.

Option 4 Java 42 -

It checked all my boxes only con for me was low ground clearance which was manageable. The only reason to reject this was the price tag as it was costing around 2.4 Lakh for the variant I selected after the test ride. And for that price any day I'll pick the D400 after adding a few more thousands.

Conclusion-

After riding all the contenders, went for the Dominar 250, and booked the bike in mid August 2021. They promised the delivery after almost 2 months in October as they told me there is a semi-conductor shortage and I checked with other dealers too no luck anywhere.

So a long wait and excitement started, every day was feeling like a month now. Finally, the time came, I did not sleep the night before the delivery, thinking about how my first ride would be and what other places I wanted to explore on my new machine. Called the dealership 1st thing in the morning and it was heartbreaking to know that it would take 2 more months.

After waiting for 2 more months, it was October 2021 and again the same thing production was slow due to a semiconductor shortage. After waiting for almost 4 months I was frustrated. Started looking for other options. Duke 200 was never on my list but knowing it was a very capable and frugal bike with upright seating posture and a good pillion seat with the new generation Duke I went for the test ride.

1 thing to note I visited Java, Bajaj, Yamaha, Suzuki and KTM showrooms, the pre-sales experience of KTM and Jawa was the best they treated me like a customer who is out to buy a 2+ lakh bike should be treated. Loved the Duke, it had all the bells and whistles and lacked only a slipper clutch which I think should be included in this segment. Came back home and told my mom and my girlfriend (present wife) about the Duke and it was a big NO as soon as I said the words, KTM Duke. My mom termed it as a killing machine and my girlfriend was not comfortable in being a pillion of a chhapri bike according to her.

How the idea of a pre-owned car came into play

1 fine day I was discussing all this with a friend and he suggested I should look into the pre-owned car market as during the pandemic the costs were significantly low for pre-owned cars as the automobile market was buried into the ground.

Obviously, I loved cars since childhood and my family never owned a car so I was not very confident about the idea as there can be several issues with the car which can cost even more than the value of the car itself to do the repair jobs, though I was a good driver, had done multiple long drives on friend's cars and self-drive rental cars but I know owning an old car can be a pain if anything goes wrong. Still, I chose to give it a try.

Pre-owned car hunt began

Must haves -

• CNG-friendly engine, as it was a replacement for the bike so it should be economical. I didn't want to buy retrofitted CNG cars, either I wanted factory-fitted CNG or I wanted to do the fitment from a trusted dealer myself.
• For parts availability issues, I avoided discontinued brands in India.
• No rusting issues at all.
• No engine or gearbox failure history.
• It should be under 1.5 lakh as I was saving 50k as repairing budget.

Conclusion -

Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai (The un-safest brands in India). It was a replacement for a bike and taking it under consideration, any car is safer than a bike.

Started searching online platforms like OLX autos, Spinny, Car dekho, Truebill etc.

I was not looking for something specific in the car because I know under 2 lakh rupees you can't expect much and you don't have a lot of choices, I just needed a car with no rusting issues, a well-maintained engine and gearbox and as it will be an old car so the availability of spare parts should be good.

Test drive 1 - 2010 Swift vxi

• Good car peppy engine no major issues as such but many small issues. Very poorly maintained interior, over 1,00,000 on ODO, Broken engine mounts, noise from suspension.
• Cost 2 lakh non-negotiable.

Test drive 2 - Santro xing GLS 2011

• Again a good option, well maintained interior, 85,000 on ODO, good owner who loved his car (very important point), minor scratches and dents here and there (manageable).

Test drive 3 - My SX4 vxi 2008 petrol

• Went to a local dealer in Wakad, Pune, he had a lot of options but after looking at the SX4 something clicked in my mind. Original paint, No rusting issues, powerful 102 BHP 1.6 liter reliable petrol engine, only 76,000 on ODO, superbly well-maintained interior (better than Santro and Swift), I will get decent boot space after installing CNG, better built than both Swift and Santro, all 4 power window, rear defogger, wider tyres 195/65 R15 for better road grip, not so silent cabin but quieter than Santro and swift, no noise from suspension, electrically controlled ORVM's and everything in working condition.
• Costing only 1.5 Lakh with paper transfer.

Took the delivery

Took a test drive, went back home, searched for a mechanic on Google with good ratings, took him to the dealer, and got the car checked. After a thorough inspection below were the points highlighted by the mechanic.

• Tyres were 7 years old and dry rot needed to be replaced immediately.
• 1 engine mount was broken.
• Coolant hoses were dry not needed replacement soon.
• Suspension job was coming soon.
• Weak AC, needed cooling coil cleaning and gas charging.

Rest everything was fine he assured me, and he assured me that the ODO was not tampered, the engine or gearbox was never opened, and the car was not rusty.

Cost calculation by the mechanic as I instructed him all the parts should be original MGP.

• Tyres - 20k to 25k
• Engine mount - 2k
• Coolant hoses (all) with labor - 2k
• Suspension job - 15k to 20k (with Swift parts as he told Swift and SX4 lower arm and link rod are the same and he was correct as now she is running with Swift parts only).
• AC job - 3K
• Car cost after negotiation 1.4 Lakh
• Repair cost - 50K
• Cost of CNG fitment from a reputed dealer - 50k
• Total - 2.4 Lakh I assumed at that time.

40k more than my budget but I was fine with it as it is a car, and I can spend 40k more than my bike's budget.

These are the pictures from the 1st day I bought it.

Experience after buying

I was more than happy but scared that if this decision went wrong, I couldn't undo it and my hard-earned 1.5 Lakh which I saved for this would go into the drain so to avoid further losses I decided to drive the car for 2K km and if any major issues don't come up then I will go for further repair and CNG fitment work.

1st issue

After getting the AC fixed went on a small trip to the Konkan coast with my friends and on Lonavala Khandala Ghat (Pune Mumbai expressway) the car started overheating. Stopped the car as soon as possible after reaching a safe place, and did not drive at all after overheating as I knew it would damage the engine. Did not think a lot about it at that time as nothing could be done, after the temperature was back to normal, we went there, enjoyed our trip, came back to Pune and meanwhile, the car did not overheat even once.

Solution

Got it checked by a good independent garage and thank God it was not a major issue the radiator was dirty got it cleaned it took 800 bucks for radiator cleaning and 300 bucks for opening and fitting charges. The mechanic sent me the picture of my clogged radiator from the inside and it was bad why don't people change their coolant on time "It is as necessary as an oil change" my mechanic quoted. After that till date, the car has never overheated, I have done a lot of long trips, and some high-speed runs too and never faced any issues after the repair.

High Rise sequential kit CNG fitment with RC registration

After driving 3K km that is 79K km on the ODO went for CNG fitment with a very reputed CNG fitment center in Pune. Others were quoting 42K to 45K for a good sequential kit with filter, as I did my research before getting the job done and I know the importance of CNG filters. For reference go through this thread.

But my guy was asking for 53K still I went for him as I know the brand or type of the kit matters less than fitment quality, so I spent extra for a hassle-free ownership experience, and I was right. Till date no issue related to CNG and the current ODO reading is 1 lakh plus KM. I change low-pressure CNG filter at every 10k KM service, as it is cheap, and precaution is better than cure.

He also said that no suspension modification is required for CNG in SX4 as the rear suspension of SX4 is built to last and it is one of the best cars Maruti has ever sold in the Indian market. I was happier with my decision after hearing this from a professional.

Fitment of CNG

Boot space after fitment

Getting new shoes for her

The old tyres were hard as rock and had 0 grip left in them it was a Bridgestone Turanza 300. I was searching for the best tyres available in the market, didn't want to change the size or speed rating which is 195/65 R15 91V, was looking for a soft compound as my car does not come with any safety features like ABS or EBD so the tyres were the only layer of protection for me, I don't care if fuel economy will take a hit as I already converted my car as Bifuel CNG/Petrol.

After a lot of research, I went with the Yokohama Blue Earth GT AE51, it costed me 26K for all 4 wheels, I know it is on the expensive side for a 13-year-old CNG car but it's not like that, I believe if you keep your things maintained and in good shape, it will always serve you well and never break down when you need them the most.

After getting the new tyres fitted, I felt the difference immediately. Went to an empty road, slammed the brake and it gripped the road firmly and no squeaky sound whatsoever, cabin became more silent and this is one of the best tyres for wet grip too. Only con is, it is a soft compound tyre so while taking it off the tarmac you need to be very careful and yes you will not get the best fuel economy.

Suspension job

Got all the moving parts of the front suspension changed, except the shock absorber as it was in a perfect condition. All genuine MGP parts used as Swift parts are compatible with SX4 so it was not a very expensive job. Steering rack bushings also changed.

Total cost with labor - 12000 bucks. This is the reason our Indian uncles are fans of Maruti, cheap maintenance. The genuine parts are even cheaper than the after-market ones.

Rubber parts

All the coolant hoses and engine mountings were about to give up so decided to get it changed before it completely gave up on me.

Used all Maruti genuine parts, some hoses were difficult to get and were taking longer if I ordered from MGP retail outlet so ordered them from Boodmo. I love this thing about Maruti's, any car, any make, any model you will get the genuine parts, for a few cars it may take some time after ordering, but I can bet that you will get all the parts.

Got all mounting and hose replaced as preventive maintenance costed around 10k including parts and labour.

Surprise repairs

It's a pre-owned 13-year-old car you will get some surprises definitely.

While changing the hose behind the engine there are 3-4 parts of engine cooling system line. 1 metal pipe connected to thermostat cover, thermostat and thermostat housing, and internals of this pipe and thermostat was a bit rusty so the mechanic suggested that if it goes bad it can result in coolant leakage issue and as for the job, he had already opened many components including intake manifold so he suggested that it can be done in the same labor charges now and if I plan it to do later I will have to pay the labor charges again, so I decided to change all of those 4 components including all the hose and mountings. Which costed around 10K.

The AC condenser fins were too bent which was not providing optimal cooling inside the cabin changed it with the original MGP condenser and it costed 6600 bucks after that the AC is working perfectly till date.

Accessories

I wanted it to keep her stock so no major mods.

• Remote locking system - As my car already had factory-fitted center locking so it was not a problem to add center locking remote, it took 20 minutes for the accessories shop guy to fix the Black Cat center locking system. It was not a necessity, but I did not want to unlock my car in the traditional manner by inserting the key. Costed 3500 bucks
• Parking sensors - I got Sonilex 4-point parking sensor and this is not optional, I believe parking sensors are a necessity for sedans. Costed 2000 bucks
• Window visors - To drive in monsoon with a little bit of window rolled down to avoid fogging. Costed 500 bucks
• Fog lamps - No fancy fog lamps only the 35 watt halogen ones from Uno Minda with relay for circuit protection which comes factory fitted with the SX4 Zxi. Fog lights are kind of important in Maharashtra's monsoon. Costed 3000 bucks.

Picture after fog lamp installation.

• Bluetooth dongle - As SX4 did come with factory fitted Kenwood audio system which is more than decent I would say, but it lacked Bluetooth connectivity, so I bought a Portronics Bluetooth receiver named auto 12 which does its job very well for playing some music and taking calls using Bluetooth. It costed me 600 bucks only and it is holding up till date.

Bodywork

After getting my SX4 in perfect running condition it was time to retain its beauty, as these 13 years she had been through a lot which was evident on her body. Swirl marks, small scratches, deep scratches and small dents, all over the body thankfully no rusting.

Started searching for a good body shop and found Brotomotive on YouTube, was impressed by their work, it was near my house, so decided to give it a visit. Parikshit was there and he guided me with the process and gave me a quotation of a whooping 1 Lakh rupees. I don't doubt the quality of the job they do but for me spending that much on an old car was not worth it, so I went with my local trusted mechanic after he promised me that he would do the job with good quality paint and in a closed room under 40K and will give me 2 years of warranty if Paint bulging happens.

After the paint job, she looked fabulous.

Pictures after the paint job

Final result

After spending almost 3 Lakh rupees I have a reliable, less driven, perfectly working CNG/Petrol Bi-Fuel car which does not have a single unwanted noise or a single scratch on the bodyline as the paint job turned out to be amazingly well according to the price I paid. There is not a single switch or button in the car which is not in working condition.

I know many will say that I spent 1.5 lakh rupees on a car that is not even worth 1.5 lakh, but as I said I want it perfect or I don't want it at all.

Kitna deti hai

• CNG - City 15 to 18 KM per KG, Highway - 20 to 22 KM per KG
• Petrol - City 10 KMPL Highway - 16 KMPL

15th-year Re-registration and how it makes sense for me financially

Maintainance cost -

• Oil filter every 10K km - 200 bucks
• Engine oil every 10K KM - 2500 bucks for Castrol Magnatec fully synthetic
• Spark Plugs every 20K KM - 600 bucks NGK BKR6E 4 Pc
• CNG filter every 10K KM - 600 bucks
• Air filter every 20k KM - 500 bucks
• Spark Plugs every 20K KM - 600 bucks NGK BKR6E 4 Pc
• Coolant every 20K KM - 1000 bucks for Motul inugel ready to use coolant without water.
• Gear oil every 20k KM - 1000 bucks for Shell spirax 80w-90 Api gl-4 for manual transmission.
• Break oil every 20k KM - 350 bucks MGP
• CNG cylinder inspection every 3 years - 2000 to 2500 bucks
• So every 10K KM minor service and every 20K KM major service.
• Cost of minor service - 5000 bucks including labor
• Cost of major service - 8500 bucks including labor

No major repair coming under 5 years as all the major parts have been replaced including the tyres, front suspension and brake pads.

Re-Registration -

Paid the green tax and did the fitness test in Pune R.T.O. and now she is registered for another 5 years till July 2028. Costed me around 12K including brokerage.

Conclusion -

A proper shiny sedan in pristine condition for 3 Lakh rupees after all major repairs done, registered till 2028 with low maintenance cost (Because it's a Maruti). Total ownership time is almost 7 years till 2028 (if possible will extend it again for 5 years), and I drive around 10K per year so the engine will be in reasonably good condition for at least 50K KM more, that is 1.5 Lakh KM on ODO. Happy me!

Please let me know how you guys feel about my decision.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

For example, it will happen if I'm driving at 90-100 km/h and slow down to 20-30 km/h and pick up speed again.

BHPian Kaumad recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I have a 2008 Maruti SX4 ZXi which has clocked about 186k km.

Been facing a strange overheating problem over the past few months. I am listing out the behaviour based on my observation. Would love to hear inputs from members who can help me diagnose the problem.

Observations

• Overheating occurs only during highway drives where there is a “slow & go” situation involved. Say, cruising at 90-100 kmph and slow down to 20-30 kmph and pick up speed again. [Example Vellore – Chennai stretch]
• Overheating does not occur at city driving speeds. Also, does not occur when cruising at highway speed for extended periods of time. [Example Krishnagiri – Vellore stretch]
• During overheating, temperature shoots up to 115-120 DegC range, stays there for 2-3 minutes and drops back to 90-95 DegC range, as I pick up speeds back to highway cruising.
• Occasionally the temperature hits 125-128 DegC range. Not always, happens infrequently and stays there only for a few tenths of seconds.
• A/c cuts off when temperature crosses 105 DegC. Switches back on when the temperature drops under 100 DegC.
• During highway drives, quite frequently, the temperature drops to 45-50-55 DegC range. Stays here for 1-2 minutes and jumps back to the 90-95 DegC range. So, the temperature sensor is catching pockets of ‘relatively cooler fluid’, which indicates a ‘discontinuous’ coolant flow through the circuit.

Things to note

• Radiator has been changed recently to a new piece, so clogging of the radiator and external cooling circuit is ruled out. Fan was also replaced recently and comes on appropriately, so that's ruled out too.
• Coolant / water is all topped up and checked regularly, so fluid shortage is ruled out.
• Overheating almost exclusively occurs only during the “slow & go” highway drives, so essentially happens only during the ‘heat-soak’ period.

My gut feeling and hypothesis

• Cause 1 – there is a physical blockage / restriction in the engine block water jacket, which is causing the ‘discontinuous’ flow. This is my top concern as I really don’t want to dismantle the block jacket to diagnose the restriction.
• Cause 2 – the water pump is the culprit which is not pumping fluid continuously. If this is the case, then it would be an easy solution. Really hope this is it.

I'm keen on hearing perspectives from members – to see if I have missed anything. What do you think could be the cause of this intermittent but periodic and predictable overheating?

Please ask questions if I have missed mentioning anything important.

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

Check the temperature sensor.

I had a similar issue where in the needle would jump to high and then low in a minute. Such drastic changes in coolant are not possible with a proper warmed-up engine. I replaced the temperature sensor and also cleaned all terminals with contact cleaner.

This resolved the issue.

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

I would swap out the thermostat. It appears it is not controlling the temperature sufficiently and/or with way too much hysteresis.

Swapping a thermostat is even simpler than swapping the cooling water pump.

As you need to, partly drain the cooling liquid system. I suggest you drain it completely, flush it and refill it with new cooling liquid as well.

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

Just being inquisitive, can you throw some light on whether the new radiator that was swapped was in line with the OEM part?

Because any change of radiator from the OEM (under sizing or different material of construction) will give an overheating indication during hard acceleration.

Also, you can go with 70:30 mix of coolant and distilled water.

Here's what BHPian Indian2003 had to say about the matter:

I don't think there is something wrong with the cooling system. I would place my bets on your clutch. It is not uncommon to overheat with a slipping clutch.

Place the front wheel against the curb, pull up the handbrake and try to drive over in second gear. The engine should spin but the car won't move if the clutch is worn.

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As much as I miss my old car, I am super thrilled with the new driving possibilities that this new SUV will offer.

BHPian Dr.AD recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

13 years, 137,000km, and Sold!

Feels like the end of an era for me.

I finally sold this car after using it for close to 13 years (July 2010 to May 2023), and after driving more than 137,000km.

I hadn't updated this thread for a while. The reason was that there was nothing much to update in an "old faithful" Maruti. The car continued to serve me well, with minimal maintenance and no serious issues, even for such an old car.

Although I used this car primarily as a beater car, I still did (and thoroughly enjoyed) a few long drives in this car in 2022 and also in 2023. It came in handy when the conditions were tough. When last year in the monsoon, I did a long road trip across the ghats of Maharashtra, where the monsoon scenery is breathtaking but the road surfaces are terrible, the car that handled it all for me was Dusty, my old SX4!

Dusty got her name in a similar monsoon drive back in 2016. And then even in 2022, she faithfully supported me in another such drive.

Before wrapping this thread up, please allow me to share a few parting photos of Dusty in this Maharashtra drive in the monsoons of 2022.

Somewhere on the rural roads of Maharashtra:

Dusty loved such monsoon drives:

At Mulshi lake, under pouring rain:

Mild off-roading to manage the overflowing parking lots at Kaas:

She enjoyed such small rural roads, no matter what road surface looked like:

A parting shot from that drive:

Overall, the car served me well. In 2022, even in her final full year with me, the car required nothing much apart from routine service. Oh yes, I changed the tyres in 2022. I bought her brand new Michelin Primacy 4 ST in the stock size (205/60/R16) in September 2022. And when the car was finally sold in May 2023, the tyres were still quite new with just around 5000km run on them.

In 2023, just a couple of months before selling the car, I did my last complete service on the car. And this time, apart from the usual oil and other fluids change, I got the front brake pads and brake discs replaced. The engine mounts were also replaced this time.

When the car was sold, she was still in very good mechanical condition with recent service done, reasonably new Michelin Primacy 4 ST tyres, new brake pads and discs at the front, new engine mounts, and generally in good health.

The final odometer at the time of selling:

I have always felt, from my own experience, that the bond between the driver and his car becomes much stronger during solo drives. If you do plenty of solo drives, especially through not very easy conditions, and spend days with your car alone on the road, the car talks to you. She becomes your family.

I did plenty of solo drives with Dusty, and she indeed used to talk to me. We have had long and philosophical conversations for hours and days, out on the open road, in rural areas as well as on the highways, with sometimes rain and sometimes sun for company. Those are all the wonderful memories I will cherish.

Of course, although Dusty was not my primary car for the last 4 to 5 years now (that role was taken by another very talkative car, my Red 320d), it was a very emotional moment for me to say goodbye to Dusty.

What next?

Although Dusty is gone, the spirit of Dusty still lives in me, and thankfully for me, that spirit has reincarnated itself in a new avatar. My new Dusty is 4x4, has 150hp of turbopetrol engine instead of the 103hp, NA engine of the old Dusty. If the old Dusty could tackle bad roads on the hills, the new Dusty can tackle the hills without any roads. Instead of the 5-speed manual transmission in the old Dusty, the new one comes with a smooth 6-speed automatic transmission. The only things that remain the same are the color and the spirit to go on drives through tough conditions. In fact, I am hoping that the driving spirit reaches new heights with this new replacement of Dusty.

Please allow me to introduce the replacement of Dusty (please pardon me for sharing a photo from the delivery time and not from a road trip - that is yet to happen), my 2023 Mahindra Thar Petrol AT 4x4:

As much as I miss the old Dusty, I am super thrilled with the new driving possibilities that this new Dusty will offer. The moment I get free from my current work schedules, I will start road-tripping with the new avatar of Dusty. Of course, toad tripping with the 320d will continue too. These two cars are so different from each other, and they have such minimal or no overlap, that they both offer unique driving experiences and road trip opportunities, and I plan to use them both to the fullest.

I will, at the right time, create a new thread and share new stories with this new avatar there. That may take a month or two.

But it is time to wrap up this old thread. 13 years is the longest I have owned any one car, and full credit to Dusty's reliability and utility value for that record.

With that, let me call this "The End" of this Dusty story. Thank you very much for reading this, and for being with me throughout this decade-long story!

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The car has become increasingly difficult to drive in Bangalore Traffic, my dad is in his late fifties and sometimes complains about leg pain.

BHPian Piyush_Kanthak recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I have a 2007 Maruti Suzuki SX4 ZXI, this is our first car, it has only run 30,000 KM, it has finished 15 years in Bangalore and has been re-registered for the next 5 years. The car has no major issues, the engine is in excellent condition, there are no rust issues as such. It has been driven only by my Dad and I will start driving this year.

The car has one major issue, the clutch is very hard. It has become increasingly difficult to drive it in Bangalore Traffic, my dad is in his late fifties and sometimes complains about leg pain. I am suffering from a herniated disc and have been banned from driving a manual transmission.

There are 2 possibilities to this problem.

1. Installation of auto clutch. Here are some of my concerns:-

• Is it viable to spend 60K on a 15 year old car?
• Will the 15 year rule be enforced in Bangalore, just like Delhi NCR?
• Will this auto clutch be reliable?

2. Buy a New car, budget: 10-11 lakhs on road max.

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

My 1st cousin had the SX4 and he had installed the auto-clutch in it. He was extremely happy with the outcome and it was reliable too. Never gave him any trouble. He has since switched from his SX4 to XL6 auto and Ignis AMT.

However - for such an old car - personally I'd never spend so much on an auto-clutch installation. Its definitely better to sell the car in good shape, and get a replacement. I'd say keep the budget slightly stretchable as in our market the available options increase significantly per additional lakh you can spend. Anyway you seem to keep your cars for a long time, which will mean a little long-term extra spend per year on buying a better car.

In fact - currently there is a large list of pre-owned automatics available in the market. Platforms like Spinny can be worth a look. My experience there has been good too, quite a few times. This will bring better cars at lower budget to you, thereby reducing the feeling of losing a larger car to get a small one now.

15 year rule possibility aside - anyway the SX4 is a fairly old car now. My gut says, you'll spend a lot for the auto clutch, and still feel like getting a new car after 6 months. Thats a lot of money at risk then.

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

In my experience Maruti petrols always came with a light and easy to operate clutch; was your car's clutch always hard? Have you spoken to MASC about this? I would advise to go for a new car if you really need an automatic but considering you have only done 30k kms in 15 years, perhaps you can make do with an auto clutch (no personal experience with those so cannot say much). Do let me know if you are selling the car though I would be happy to buy a bhpian owned low mileage SX4 ZXi

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

15 years on stock clutch. It is likely that the pressure plate has lost its springiness and the release bearing may have worn out.

The clutch plate as such is good since you have not mentioned any slippage.

I suggest you replace the whole clutch set comprising of Clutch plate, pressure plate, release bearing, slave cylinder. The clutch pedal feel will return back to how it was when car was new. It might cost you around 10k which is far cheaper than the auto clutch and your left leg will thank you.

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I won't be traveling too much in it as Bangalore requires the 2 wheeled convience when heavy congested traffic is involved.

BHPian nikhildrao recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I summon you to help me find my first car. The budget is just around 2 lakh, but I ask of the members to help me with all your might. The car will have to be safe as I will be moving around with my parents in it , so airbags and ABS/EBD is a must. The car must be relatively affordable to maintain and easy to live with (read as "no breakdowns"). I won't be traveling too much in it as Bangalore requires the 2 wheeled convience when heavy congested traffic is involved.

With the above criteria in mind, I have shortlisted these cars as the ones that will meet my lofty expectations -

2006-2008 Toyota Corolla (post facelift)

MS SX4 ZXI petrol (diesel is out of budget)

2nd gen Honda City (dolphin nose)

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

2-lakhs isn't a lot of money for a used car and when you have this budget, it's more important to focus on a clean well-maintained car.....rather than any particular model. Cast a wide net of models and pick the cleanest, newest car you can find.

Also be open to the Civic. It's a great car and a depreciation disaster, you'll see Civics trading at lower prices than the Corolla.

Would suggest you to consider budget hatchbacks like the Swift, Brio & i10. They are all fun to drive and will be cheap to buy / maintain.

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

Back in 2017 perhaps you might have found genuinely good examples of SX4s Citys and Corollas for 2 lacs but today I doubt it. The used car market is still highly inflated at the moment so either wait for the bubble to burst or look for something like a facelifted Zen or a Chevrolet hatch

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

The used car market is overhyped and overinflated! I can see 12-13-year-old Ford Figos being sold for 2 - 2.25L! 13 years back this car was sold at 4.5L on road!

The market has gone crazy just like the IT JOB market - Major corrections are expected soon.

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

Sorry to disappoint disappoint you, but for your budget, you may not get a well maintained car. More often it will have some complaints even for a very old car. Start browsing more and .sure you will be end up with a budget of about 5L to get a niggle free car

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Since my current car is an SX4, one of my concerns about the new Verna was its ground clearance.

BHPian vivprasad recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Visited the dealer in the morning today. They had the Turbo SX(O) in MT and DCT, the former in white, and the latter in black.

1. I liked the look of the car, definitely smart, especially the sharp contours and the rear profile. Also felt that the contours are way more obvious in the white car, as opposed to the black. The positioning of the front number plate could have been a little lower, but the sensor just below must have come in the way.
2. The white car, naturally, looked bigger than the black, which was a good feeling.
3. One of my concerns has been the GC, since I drive the SX4 Zxi with a 180 mm GC. Apart from the road issues, getting in and out of the car is so much more convenient. The new Verna seems to have the old 165 mm GC, though nobody in the Dealership was ready to say so, arguably because the official brochure doesn't mention it. Getting in seemed a bit of an effort, but once seated, it was comfortable. Since the steering wheel can go up and down, in addition to being telescopic, it was possible to adjust the seat to a decent height, making the movement in and out easier, but not as in the SX4.
4. The motorized recliner seat function is a delight, though, for the height adjustment, one has to pump a manual lever.
5. The rear seat has ample space now. Also, the slightly scooped-out shape of the top made me feel that there was adequate head space. The legroom was fine.
6. The sunroof could have been bigger, if not panoramic.
7. The trunk shape is good, not quite, but almost a clean rectangle, since the rear wheel humps don't encroach too much into the boot space. The fully exposed speaker hanging from the trunk lid may be a problem when handling large pieces of luggage.
8. The sound of the engine was discernible, but not intrusive, with the windows closed. I revved it upto 3K rpm, but after a few seconds, the engine started revving down automatically since the car was stationary.
9. Selecting the ambient light colour was fun.
10. The red rear LEDs looked smart. The curved DRLs in the front did not go fully with the otherwise sharply contoured edges.
11. The white car, interestingly, had a black shark-fin antenna. The all-black interiors were smart. I had my reservations about it but after seeing it in flesh, it's smart.
12. And yes, it took just about 10 secs to start to feel the seat cooling!

Still to test-drive.

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There was evidence of the engine oil being present in the intercooler hence it's likely that the turbocharger seal could have given up.

BHPian scorpian recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

1,66,890 kms Major Service Update

So having done 166890 kms and a recent Kolhapur trip, I decided to go in for a major service at MASS.

Jobs Planned/Demanded

• Oil change with engine flush
• Oil filter
• Air filter
• Diesel filter
• Cabin filter
• Front suspension overhaul with new shock absorbers/link rods/top mounts
• Intercooler cleaning

Unexpected jobs were noticed during check up. Oil leakage from the intake manifold, doubt on turbo seal leaking due to oil being found in the intercooler.

Parts purchased by me were Motul Xtec Oil, Liqui moly engine flush and oil additive. Monroe front shocks, Rane link rods, MGP top mounts.

The intake manifold was removed and new gaskets were placed and re-installed. Post which there is no leak. Intake manifold was also found clean post last 20k kms cleaning when EGR was blocked. I had personally cleaned the intake manifold last time as the ports had narrowed down confirming my doubts that EGR is a no-no for the long life of the engine.

Post this the car has become silent and more comfortable to drive. The front shocks had become stiff and were causing a lot of body roll. With the new shocks, it's a lot smoother and more comfortable.

As I type this, the turbo has been removed for preventive maintenance to be given to TEL authorized center for a check and replacement of any component required.

Why am I doing this all?

I find it difficult to find a suitable replacement for the car frankly. It's very comfortable and has an amazing boot capacity and post a remap is a pleasure to drive. I plan to keep it till 3.5lac kms at least with periodically maintained.

Turbo Service Update

I had got the turbo sent to TEL authorized service center for a check as MASS suggested to have it checked due to the presence of oil in the intercooler.

Being proactive I had it removed and sent to TEL who dismantled it and replaced the minor kit, and cleaned it completely to free up all slightly jammed internals due to carbon accumulation.

Post overhaul I have noticed it spools faster and there is a positive change in the way the car picks up speed.

Total cost of the turbo overhaul came to 4000 rupees. New one at mass costs 36k and the same one if bought directly at TEL costs 28k. Comparatively, 4k was a minor cost paid as now the turbo has a new life and continues its service for a long time to come.

With this, the car is up to date with everything being taken care of. I am good to go for another 2lac km.

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I repeatedly said sorry but he was not ready to listen to anything & even abused my parents.

BHPian Lovecars recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hi,

This happened to me on 18 Nov 2022 at Kashmere Gate, Delhi. I was parking my car (SX4) and it accidentally touched a Celerio's bumper standing there. A police representative came out of the car furiously and started beating me and hurling abusive words about me and my parents.

He dragged me out of my car. I said I am sorry and I will get his car bumper repaired but he was so furious that he continuously abused me. I repeatedly said sorry. Meanwhile, his companion threatened me that he can do anything to me instantly and he has his profile picture with some political leader.

I got scared by this. I repeatedly said sorry but he was not ready to listen to anything and kept "harassing" me. My father also tried to calm him over the phone and said sorry but he was being very rude and did not pay heed. He asked Rs.30,000 for this but after repeated requests from everyone, he agreed to Rs.5000.

• Is this bullying and harassment just because he is a policeman justified?
• I paid him Rs.5000 from my hard-earned money which is a huge amount for the damage caused. Was it necessary to pay him? (I think insurance covers this).
• I am mentally depressed by the incident.
• Is there anyone who listens to a common man?

I have never had such an experience before. I usually say sorry for even others' mistakes just to avoid arguments and save my mind for the day. I realised that day that the common man doesn't have any powers. Those in power know very well how to extract money from us. If you don't have any influential links (like I don't have) then you have to bear their pressure and be a scapegoat.

I kept shivering for at least 3-4 hours after the incident and cannot come over it even now. But giving my hard-earned money saved me from the cobweb of court and police. I would, any day, like to avoid them as they are well mastered and have strong links which could further pressurise my family.

After the incident, I felt that the phrase "The power of the common man" is only true in theory and those in power take full advantage of that.

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

Write to his superior, media and tweet to the Law Minister along with lodging a complaint in the PMO grievance web portal. This high-handedness shall cost someone else tomorrow. If he has not taken your ID then please proceed. He should apologize for this rude behaviour.

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

When did this happen? If the injuries are still fresh get an MLC done in a government hospital and file an official complaint against him to the respective DCP, call PCR and file the complaint there also and also tweet on all the police media handles along with his photo and share your incident how he thrashed and extorted Rs.5000 after demanding Rs.30,000.

I request you to never step out of the vehicle when any incident happens lock the doors roll the window a bit, gauge the situation whip out your phone record him also dial 100 so that there is always a record that such an incident did happen. You need to understand that even small dings or dents can get you a head bashing which in several cases has resulted in death, it is a vile world out there and you need to protect yourself. Get a dashcam too.

Don't be afraid, you have the power of social media and if you have any lawyer friend the cop is in for a ride plus you'll get compensation for harassment and physical abuse too. You can consult lawyers on the forum too.

I now read that it happened on 18th Nov. If you have any photos of the assault it would help your case. MLC will not help as the wounds might not be fresh but file the complaint to DCP and tweet about it to respective authorities. Our delay in action results in such officers going unpunished.

Here's what BHPian Nissan1180 had to say about the matter:

He is abusing his position as a policeman. You can write to the PMO grievance portal. However, because the police are now meant to serve political interests and not citizens, there is a risk that hoodlums might bother you or your family because the PMO complaint portal takes in all your details.

Honestly the police in other countries behave better with criminals than those in India do with law-abiding citizens.

Don’t be depressed- think of it as a terrorist who attacked you. We cannot defend against such acts because they are committed by people who do not identify with basic human values.

Here's what BHPian Yieldway17 had to say about the matter:

Sorry this happened to you. We are still a country with laws on paper and a bit of the Wild West otherwise.

I remember an incident a decade back when a middle-aged two-wheeler rider was repeatedly slapped by a low-level politico/gunda on the road in front of everyone because he dared to shout at him for riding on the wrong side of the road. I had never seen a grown man cry out of humiliation before and it was heart-wrenching.

Plenty of people helped him after the incident to get him some soda and water to recoup himself and to put on his bike and send him on his way but none of us could ask the other guy anything and mostly were helpless similar to him. We all could have been him. Just the sad state of this country and a decade or so with smartphones and cameras only have marginally improved the situation.

If you want to pursue this, the only option is to use social media and amplify this incident to the max. If you don't want to pursue this, you need to let this go of your mind and just have to move on to not feel bad at yourself and for your own mental health.

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