My new car is an XL6. A very nice car, buttery smooth and sleek. But on highways I sometimes miss the raw power of the Aria.

BHPian Roshith recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

As I bid goodbye to my gentle giant – as I call my Aria, it is a time for reminiscences. Mine was the Pure Model – 2011. This is also the longest we have held on to any car. 86000 kms and 10+ years.

Across the last 10+ years of ownership, the going has largely been good. She has taken us places across India – Pondicherry, Goa, Ooty, Coorg, Athur, Mugambika, Chettinadu, Kolli hills, Kodai, almost throughout Kerala – all the “big” family functions. My younger daughter after her birth came home in the car, my teary eyed elder daughter for the first time moved away to her hostel with her bulk of books and study materials in the car. When we were fortunate enough to build a second home in Kollam almost 70km’s away from Trivandrum where I stay – the Aria carried us in complete comfort with the last seat folded and a truck load of things, including a pestle set with nary a squiggle. She has never left us stranded anyway – even one of the infamous flood spells in Trivandrum was undertaken with elan. The Aria was a hot favourite among my colleagues too – from official trips to Kochi some countless weddings, food jaunts, baptisms, house warmings and what not.

I have been chastised, hounded and my car judging abilities pulverised to a pulp- the minute I decided to go for the Tata Aria instead of the favourites of those time like the XUV 500 and the all-time favourite Innova.

There used to be a polite silence when I drive up in the Aria which is my second car. We have an Ignis automatic too. If you have bought a Tata then people irrespective of their knowledge of things automotive feel somehow “qualified” to bad mouth your choice. If not anything else- it is the resale Value. Adjectives like Tata’s flop car, Tata trying an Innova, maintenance problems, rust issues, shoddy after sales service, resale etc. are bandied about.

The need for a new car:

We had a Bolero at that time. In three years, it had done around 35000 kms. Though it was a bullet proof vehicle – its brick like dynamics, not to mention that it was a bit tiring to drive especially over long distances made us look for a new car.

The Bolero was a tad done up with alloys, fender flairs and even a Hummerisque bonnet applique and Hella Rally lights which subsequently went into the Aria too. Of all the cars that I have owned, the Bolero was the one where there was almost nil depreciation for a three-year-old vehicle. I had brokers, acquaintances, friends queuing up when it was put on sale. The inability to keep up with triple digit speeds, lack of safety features, vibration and all convinced me to go in for a new car.

Since we had a smaller car in the house – at that time it was a humble Maruti 800 – we wanted a six or seven seater for the occasional long journeys and for those journeys when the in-laws or my parents would join.

Cars under consideration then – had looked at the Toyota Innova and the XUV 500 which was all the rage those days. I didn’t even need to test drive the Innova as it was known for its bullet proof reliability. But we couldn’t afford it back then.

The XUV 500 was seriously considered. We test drove the vehicle, but I thought it a bit gimmicky and “overdone” (no offence to owners of the vehicle). Also, had been hearing of some electrical gremlins in the initial batch of vehicles. Being in the advertising industry had noticed TATA Aria’s very slickly done TV and print campaign. It was christened as India’s first crossover. I liked the looks of the vehicle very much , though my wife said the front end looked like a TATA Indica cab. Test drive of the Aria was done at Das Motors and both me and my wife were impressed with the luxurious (at that time) interiors as well as the very high set seating positions. What impressed me the most was the smoothness of the engine or at least the perceived feel of it when you sit inside and close the door. It was truly built like a tank. My daughter liked the roof cubby pockets and the squarish designed interiors were also very interesting.

We were then sold on the Aria and decided to get it as we were offered a very good deal on the Bolero. I don’t remember the amount we got, but we got a very deal for the Bolero. In fact more than what we expected. Seat covers and the window roof guards were offered as freebies. I did the Teflon coating which was a “must have” accessory those days. We thus booked the Sardinia Red and I ordered the alloy wheels from the safari, as the Pure “Fabric” variant came with steel wheels.

The Aria was quiet a handful in Trivandrum city traffic, but on long journeys it was a literal locomotive and unlike the Bolero, one never feels tired even after a long stint behind the wheel. Even the passengers don’t feel too tired.

Ownership experience:

Many find it hard to believe but, in my 10+ years of using the truck, I didn’t have any major expenses. The TATA after sales service was the pits and after trying out two different service centres – I finally settled for an FNG near my office recommended by a friend whose Pajero Sport is also serviced there.

Parts replaced:

I shifted from fully synthetic oil to normal mineral oil after a few years but I made it a point to replace the oil every 5000 KM including the filters. Major expense during the total running in of 86,000 km was I had to replace the clutch assembly at around 45000 kilometers and the first set of tyres again at around the 45000 mark. The rear dicky support struts gave away and I think the replacement cost a whopping 8k. One of the injectors was also replaced during the warranty period after which they had to be again serviced and recalibrated at around 30000 km . The wiper assembly unfortunately gave up the ghost. A new assembly was again costly (around 18 to 21K if I am not mistaken), but fortunately my FNG guy came to the rescue and it was quickly refurbished . Apparently, the gears had worn out and the gear from a Maruti 800 was used for this. The drive shaft was also corrected at the lathe along with new bushes. The starter assembly had also developed a problem and it was again repaired at a fraction of the cost for a new one. Polishing of rotor, Ac clutch overhaul were some of the other problems encountered over the years.

Even I find it hard to believe, but unlike Tata horror stories that I came across – some in this forum itself, the Aria has been very dependable – not once has it ever failed on the road (a puncture and a weak battery were problems that happened while she was parked in the house and hence did not leave us stranded).

I think the fact that I used to get even a small squeak looked after and a no compromise outlook on changing the oils stringently also paid dividends. Spares were also very easily available and at the most there was a two or three day delay in sourcing some parts.

A few years back I had the seats replaced for more comfort. Other than that I have tried to keep most things as original as possible.

Positives:

• The presence – Everyone made way for the Aria – the oversized Indica visage made sure that everyone made way for it
• It was a power House and could easily keep up and smoothly overtake most other cars on the road.
• The view – The high set view ensured, you were towering over others on the road and ensured a very commanding position
• The brakes – very sharp and gave you unlimited confidence though by Gods Grace never had to put it to the test.
• The Build quality – I had a Nano too, and compared to the Nano the build quality was really good.
• Very comfortable rear seats.
• Very dependable and trouble free.

Negatives:

• Wallowy nature – with just two people in the front seat, the car used to bounce” around a bit.
• The AC vents – The AC vents due to their design – could never be fully closed.
• Lack of storage space – though it had plenty of space for knick-knacks in the roof area – the lack of storage space in the dash board area was a real let down.
• The size – was quiet handful to park especially in crowded city areas.
• The major shock I had was when I put up the car for sale. Locally a few people in Kerala came and offered ridiculously low offers for the car . Luckily, I got a very good offer from Chennai by a young driving enthusiast couple and that is where she is now. All of us were very teary eyed and my daughters were crying their hearts out when we bid good bye to the car.

My new car is an XL6. A very nice car, buttery smooth and sleek. But on highways I sometimes miss the raw power of the Aria. She will be missed. She had taken us to so many places.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The Innova Hycross is expected to be unveiled in November 2022.

New images of the Toyota Innova Hycross have surfaced online. The latest images give us a glimpse into the hybrid MPV's interior.

While the Innova Hycross features a boxy exterior typical of vehicles in its class, it appears larger than the Innova Crysta, that's currently on sale in India. It has large sweptback headlamps and is expected to get a hexagonal grille up front. The rear features slim tail lamp units and a raked windscreen with a roof spoiler.

Inside, the Innova Hycross is likely to get a floating touchscreen infotainment system. Besides that, the test car has a beige roof liner and small quarter glass on the A-pillar.

The Innova Hycross is expected to be offered with two petrol engine options. Like the Urban Cruiser Hyryder, the MPV is likely to get a mild-hybrid engine, while higher variants could get a strong-hybrid option.

According to media report, the Innova Hycross is expected to be unveiled in November 2022.

Source: Naveen Gowda

The MPV's handling feels car-like and I am able to zip in and out of lanes, even though I migrated from a Maruti Swift.

BHPian humyum recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Just got our Crysta GX Diesel Auto delivered yesterday and have run the car for 130-odd kilometres.

In the stockyard, it was at 3, the dealer delivered it at 36 kilometres which are about the distance from the stockyard to the dealer's showroom.

First Impressions:

1. The pickup is mindblowing, I mean, tap the accelerator and you will think let me get to 90 and you are already at 120, the masking of speed is just amazing. This is in eco mode, I haven't tried normal as well as power yet
2. The gears changes are seamless, but downshift sometimes is hesitant, like it will shift one gear and then shift another after a second or so, will check this out over time, maybe I am not pressing the accelerator hard enough at one go for it to shift 2 gears at a time. Downshifts in S mode are instantaneous, amazing for engine braking
3. The handling is very car-like, I was able to zip in and out of lanes even though I have migrated from a Swift and driving an Innova technically for the first time sans the test drive I did a couple of months back.
4. Mileage after our full tank yesterday has been hovering around 11.5 to 12 in Mumbai city traffic with a light foot and in Eco mode. I think this needs a bigger fuel tank as with a tank up, it was showing only 500 kilometres of range, I am sure that will change once it goes on a highway trip but still, I think a 65-68 litre tank should have been given. I am used to the Swift going like 700 kilometres on her 43-litre tank, so it was surprising that at 100 kilometres after full tank the fuel needle went down a bit, in the Swift it moves only at around 150-180 km.
5. AC is a chiller
6. Space Space Space, oodles of it and in utmost comfort. I have the 8-seater one and we got back from the showroom with 7 people in the car, just amazing.
7. Cruise control was easy to use and I got it going in no time.

More as I drove it, but if I were to rate the car - it's 5/5.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I tried the lowest possible temperature and the highest fan speed to recheck if the AC is functioning, the result was absolutely no cooling.

BHPian vsrikkanth recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

KIA Carnival AC stops working immediately after 40000 kms service @JSP Kia, Hosur Road:

I am writing this to document the ordeal I'm going through after the 40,000 kms routine service at JSP KIA- Hosur Road , Bangalore .

The car was taken in for service on 16-07-2022. During the service, one of the service advisors (service head) informed me that a service campaign to replace 2 hose pipes for the engine coolant is due and compulsory as per instructions from Kia. When I asked why the hose pipes need replacement, I was informed that the stock hose pipes are subject to heating which may result in the pipes getting cut- leaking coolant . I therefore agreed reluctantly since I was worried about components in the engine bay being disturbed during the process . The service was completed and the car handed over by 4.30 PM . Given the Bangalore weather and intermittent rains, I did not switch on the AC . I hardly used the car for the next few days after service and those short trips was also made without switching on the AC.

Fast forward to Saturday , we started early morning 3.30 AM to Hyderabad and by about 8 am when I thought I will need AC, I noticed that the blower was functioning but there was no cooling. I tried the lowest possible temperature and the highest fan speed to recheck if the AC is functioning, the result was absolutely no cooling. Shocked by this, I called up service advisor Raja at JSP KIA - Hosur Road, Bangalore to check if he noticed any problem with the AC. He confirmed that the AC was functioning fine and denied all possibilities of wrong doings/human error by technicians at the service centre. I reached Hyderabad without AC and took the car for inspection to Kia Aautomotive in Gachbowli, Hyderabad.

Upon inspection, one gentleman (possibly the service head) was quick to conclude that my front bumper damage may have caused the rubbing between the condenser and the copper tubing. I told him that the front bumper damage happened more than 2 years ago and it is not logical / believable that the condenser which took the impact before 2 years did not fail for more than 24 months . As an evidence to my claim, I told him that he is free to check the service records at all service centres where my Kia Carvival was serviced since they will have pictures / records of damages when the vehicle was checked in and out. Then MR.Naresh accepted the possibility of technicians accidentally causing damage to the condenser while replacing the hose pipes .

Post this conversation, I shared pictures of the condenser with the service advisor at JSP Kia Bangalore. He too accepted the possibility of human error but he insisted on physical inspection of the car once I'm back to Bangalore. Therefore , I was forced to drive overnight with my wife and 2 children without AC from Hyderabad to Bangalore. I took the car for inspection today and he denied even the remotest of chances that the condenser could have been damaged due to lapses by the technicians . According to him, this is due to the impact that happened before 2 years and he believes that the perfectly fine AC which went bad immediately after service is purely a coincidence for which JSP Kia will not assume any responsibility. I am attaching the photo of the condenser as well as the front bumper for reference of the distinguished Team BHP members. It would be an under statement for me to say that the logic presented by the service advisor is plain ridiculous! Now I request opinions/thoughts/advice from Team BHP members on what is the best way forward . I'm told that the condenser replacement will set me back by atleast 25,000/- not including gas refilling.

Some of the unanswered questions in my mind:

• If the condenser was impacted along with the front bumper before 2 years, would it really take this long for the AC to fail ?
• If the condenser was indeed impacted before 2 years , how come none of the service centres across Hyderabad/Bangalore/Chennai catch this issue?
• 3. If JSP KIA, Bangalore is trying to hide the lapses of technicians behind a long existing bumper damage , how do I escalate this ?
• Is aluminum welding reliable if KIA hangs me out to dry with this issue ?

Update:

It was a wrong diagnosis. Apparently my right wheel landed in the crater and the damage was under the area around skid plate. That kind of twisted the condenser clamp and the copper piping rubbed against the condenser causing the damage and leak. Another ASS was able to diagnose this and explain the reason to my satisfaction. They even showed the area of impact. The old ASS who performed the routine service never checked the AC and upon raising a complaint they have probably lied that the AC worked fine when the vehicle was in their custody.

It happened before the routine service due to infamous Bangalore roads. It was a blind turn and I did not see the deep crater coming. Any car except Thar would have suffered some damage. The old ASS should have caught it if they had done their checks properly. Kia mandates 42 point check which includes AC too but am sure they won't check unless customer reports any issue. But it was a coincidence that the AC failed immediately after the service. The only fault of ASS is not running all checks and lying that the AC was functioning properly when they gave delivery. Given the climate in Bangalore, you will never notice AC issues immediately.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Crossover-styled MPVs are intriguing. This trend was kicked off in India by the Maruti XL6 which is based on the popular Ertiga.

BHPian Arsenic recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

The above video had me thinking - which truly is better as a family car, an MPV or an SUV/Crossover?

This discussion has become interesting in recent years due to the rise of the 7-seat mid-size (US: compact) crossover segment thanks to cars such as the MG Hector Plus and Tata Safari, which means that no longer are we just comparing Innova vs Fortuner, but we can now also make a comparison for lower segments, such as Carens vs XUV7OO.

So, let's begin.

MPVs

Advantages

• Sometimes, the third row may end up being better than an equivalent SUV/Crossover. (case in point: my Innova Crysta vs my friend's Fortuner)
• Usually better road manners due to the lower ground clearance.
• Generally, easier to manoeuvre and park on narrower roads. (larger vans like the Carnival and Vellfire are exceptions)

Disadvantages

• Less ground clearance makes MPVs less rough-road friendly.
• Limited to no off-road capability. That being said, the RWD Crysta is probably better off-road than the FWD Safari/Hector+.
• No options between 45-85L. It's a straight jump from the Carnival to the V220d/Vellfire.

The Interesting Middle Ground: Crossover-Styled MPVs

Crossover-styled MPVs are intriguing. This trend was kicked off in India with Maruti's XL6, based on the popular Ertiga. In 2022, Kia threw their hat into the ring with the Carens, which was effectively a stretched version of the Korean automaker's highly successful Seltos compact (US: subcompact) crossover. Globally, examples include the Toyota Veloz, based on the Ertiga-sized Avanza and the Geely Okavango pictured above. These are a decent choice if you want the practicality and versatility of an MPV with the height and road presence of an SUV.

7-seat SUVs

Advantages

• Some SUVs (like the MG Gloster pictured above) actually do offer decent third-row space for adults.
• Amazing off-road capability! All body-on-frame SUVs currently on the market are RWD, if not 4x4.
• More abuse-friendly than monocoque MPVs. (but not any tougher than a BOF Marazzo/Crysta)

Disadvantages:

• A lot more body roll compared to a monocoque MPV.
• Expensive for a properly refined model! Even the top-end Scorpio-N breaches the 30L mark in some regions.
• Larger SUVs are trickier to pilot on narrow roads compared to smaller MPVs.

7-seat Crossovers

Advantages:

• Monocoque construction means that ride quality is comparable to a Carens/Ertiga/Carnival.
• Ingress/Egress is closer to an MPV than a big butch SUV.
• Generally cheaper than large body-on-frame SUVs.

Disadvantages:

• There is still some amount of body roll due to the ground clearance.
• Not as good off-road as a body-on-frame SUV, since most crossovers are FWD.
• 3rd row comfort usually isn't as good as a body-on-frame SUV or an MPV.

Do share your thoughts on this matter, BHPians!

Here's what BHPian Nilesh5417 had to say about the matter:

If the definition of a family is 5 and more than occasionally 5+2 (kids), nothing beats a proper MUV. I shopped around a lot before I decided to finally accept it and got a Marazzo. Family trips with 5+2 at least till Kolhapur from Pune have never been more fun and comfy. Sometimes even Goa (usually with 5) with a stop on the return leg. Marazzo has also been exceptionally car-like when I drive it alone for work or within the city and great FE is the icing on the cake.

Recently, travelled a lot around Rajasthan in the Kia Carnival and my belief is only more firm.

With all its compromises around GC, FE, road manners when loaded, relatively lower set of features, low luggage space unless you get a roof rack or pack light etc, it is still your best bet for a comfortable family trip IMO.

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

As of today, the best cars in the Indian market to ferry 7 people comfortably with their luggage are:

• Kia Carnival
• MG Gloster

Honourable mention to the Innova Crysta and Tata Hexa. A family car needs to carry 6 or 7 adults in adequate space and comfort along with their weekend luggage. No other car fits the bill.

Everything else is a compromise. You’ll have to make do with a super cramped and/or poorly positioned third row or zero boot space or inadequate powertrains or bouncy ride for the third row or lack of width for seating 3 abreast in the middle. Every other car, be it XL6 or Carens or Kodiaq or Fortuner or XUV700… they all suffer from some combination of this.

All talk of body style is redundant as far as the end customer is concerned. As long as the product meets the requirements at a fair price, it will be in business.

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

It depends on what constitutes a family - is it a mix of elderly + kids, no.of family members etc. For my family of 2 adults, 1 elderly and 1 kid, I feel my Octavia is a family car.

And big SUVs cannot be a good family car, at least for mine. My mom has arthritis and climbing up those big SUVs like Fortuner, Endeavour etc. is definitely not an option.

So one size wouldn’t fit all. But in general, an MPV or a 7-seater crossover seems to be a good fit for most as a family car.

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

I'd go for a traditional MPV like the Crysta, any day. The one thing that I hate about Monocoque is the way the car squats down when fully loaded. The Crysta in turn gets more comfortable when fully loaded and perfectly tackles bad rods. Sadly it's a dying breed, with the Crysta Diesel axed, what do we have now?

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The Hyundai Stargazer rivals the likes of the Maruti Suzuki XL6 and Kia Carens.

Hyundai Indonesia has released a set of teaser images of its upcoming Stargazer MPV. The new model is expected to be launched in Indonesia sometime in August 2022. It will be positioned below the larger and much premium Staria MPV in the brand's lineup in the Indonesian market.

The teaser images showcase the MPV featuring a unique set of LED DRLs, quad-pod headlamp setup, H-styled connected LED tail lights and Hyundai's latest Parametric jewel grille up front. The teasers also reveal the silhouette of the Stargazer, featuring the typical MPV styling.

Hyundai currently has no plans to bring the Stargazer to Indian shores anytime soon. However, if launched, it could be positioned in the competitive MPV segment taking on the likes of the Maruti Suzuki XL6, Mahindra Marazzo and the Kia Carens.

The best fuel efficiency figure we got from the Innova diesel was 14.7 km/l.

BHPian adigup recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

To give some background, we own a Toyota Innova Crysta 2.7 Petrol Automatic (2019) at home, which is mostly driven by my dad for his everyday commute (he thinks it's the best car on this planet and he can leave anyone behind with the 2.7-litre engine). I am able to get my hands on it at least once or twice a week and I can say that am very much familiar with the car and have been able to take it on family road trips. I love driving the car and revving the 2.7-litre Dual-VVT-i motor (which I later regret seeing petrol prices at Rs 11x.xx).

I have driven a cousin's 2.4 G Manual, which definitely felt great because you can never go wrong with a diesel Innova. The car never fails to surprise. It feels very lively and reminds me of our old 2013 2.5 VX Innova.

One of my very close friends has a 2.8 ZX AT and while I always got the chance to drive it with him in the city, I never got the experience of the motor beyond 3,500 rpm and 75 km/h. Recently, our group of 4 friends planned a trip from Delhi to Landour and back, we decided to take the 2.8 ZX AT as the other two Innovas in our group are 2.7 ZX AT (mine) and 2.7 VX MT (another friend's), and seeing the petrol prices and some other factors we didn't even think of the 2.7s.

Out of 4, the two of us drove and I can clearly say that I got to fully experience the 2.8-litre diesel. The total trip was around 630 km and I drove 300 km which was in Delhi and on the Meerut highway (till Chhutmalpur) and then my friend took over from there. The best part was that since we have a ZX at home, I felt at home driving his car (or like there was no difficulty getting 'familiar' with it).

While I always loved the initial grunt and power of the 2.8 on the city, it just felt very bland and unenthusiastic compared to the 2.7 on the highways. The steering felt heavy most probably because of the heavier diesel engine and the engine noise was typical diesel, and I clearly prefer the throaty sound of the 2.7 over that. It definitely felt effortless pulling it from 0 to 60, after which I started missing the 2.7 very much.

In 2.8, I could not feel much of a difference driving the car in Power and Normal mode (Eco was quite significant). The revs are at around 2,000 rpm while the car is at 110 km/h, and it tends to get noisy inside the cabin.

At the same time, in my 2.7, every mode feels different. The engine isn't as torquey but once you get going, the car picks up pace in no time. I am also 100% sure that past 70 km/h, it will be the diesel 2.8 in the petrol 2.7's ORVMs. When the car is at 120 km/h, the revs are at 2,000 rpm, and the engine noise is minimal at that point.

It is past 60/70 km/h where the petrol 2.7 gets to show off and really get going. The car isn't much of a drinker if driven sedately. One can manage anywhere between 8 to 12 km/l.

Overall, I feel 2.7 petrol is far more superior in its ways, and the only reason the 2.8 felt good was:

1. Fuel efficiency
2. Low-end grunt
3. Good for city speeds and quick overtakes (overtakes are equally effortless in the 2.7 petrol)

Getting back to the trip, we managed to get a fuel efficiency of 12.1 km/l (and the highest of 14.7 km/l was seen) with 4 on-board and 4 medium-sized suitcases (the petrol would have returned a fuel efficiency of 10.5 km/l at the max). This also included driving on the hills of Mussoorie in traffic (around 120 km in all).

Lastly, I was a little surprised to realise that the diesel Innova gets a smaller fuel tank. I wish Toyota had given it the bigger 65-litre tank in the petrol.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I need one more year to comfortably commit to a 25 lakh car. Two days back I get a call from my friend in town that one of his friends is thinking of selling his Innova.

BHpian jonesanto recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Guys, I need to make decision on a used car purchase with a tight deadline.

I have never purchased a used car, I have an immaculate condition 2006 Elantra, which is my daily drive in and around the city. I use my brother's Innova for long drives. I sold my Octavia last year and I am starting to think maybe that was a bad decision, but the offer was too good to pass. I finished my house construction in Kerala which we started in 2020 Feb. March 2020 we went to first lock down, then everything changed. It left me with no money when I finished the house construction and from someone using an Elantra and Octavia, it has to be an upgrade, and in this market I am easily looking at big 25 ones if I need a proper upgrade, so I am not looking to purchase anything now.

Brother's Innova is their company vehicle which is used for outstation business trips and at times there has been date clashes that both needed the car on particular dates and so on. Brother also owns a Fortuner and he sends that car. This makes a little uncomfortable even though he is family, and I am sure my bother doesn’t mind and it is just all me.

I need one more year to comfortably commit to a 25 lakh car. Two days back I get a call from my friend in town that one of his friends is thinking of selling his Innova. The guys is abroad now and looks like he is not coming back permanently anytime soon. Car belongs to a reputed business guy in town, single owner, all services done at Toyota only. Car is old, shape changed not sure which model and we decided to take a look at the car.

We went to see the car, first impression, the colour has changed! Red flag. Yes it has changed in RC too, asked about it and the son wanted it to look different. He had spent a lot of money on interior too, new seat covers, good audio system, neat and clean interiors. Drove the car, it drives well. Few issues here and there but nothing big. Checked body, under body, engine bay. Good tyres, battery is 2018. In general, not bad. Then we checked the RC and it is a 2008 model. No way I am purchasing a 14 year old car. I told my friend the same and he said, you need a car for like one or two years, this is in good condition, Innova is reliable and it will easily serve my purpose. Then I spoke to my trusted mechanic and he said, if it’s maintained well, take it. What? Then I asked my brother, he is like, you are using my Innova, why do you ask me? Just take it if the price is right.

Then I realized one thing, not one person is going to say no to an Innova, no wonder it is one of the most popular MUVs in India. Even my wife, who doesn’t know anything about cars said if all good, go ahead.

Usually I am a person very clear on what I need and what I don’t need. Desperate times call for desperate measures? I need a car for outstation drives, I don’t have long drives every month, let’s say once in three months one Bangalore trip.

This family has not put an ad anywhere and they will only sell the car to someone they know. So I told my friend, let’s say, without thinking, if it’s for 2 lakh or something I can think because it is an Innova. And they actually agreed if it is for me. My friend had put a good word for me and his friend wants the car to go to someone who will take care of it. Money is not an issue here.

This put me in a difficult situation, I know no one will give an Innova for 2 lakh irrespective of what the condition is. Me and my friend went to Toyota service with this car, did a proper check-up. Brake needs new master cylinder and booster and they said it will be 15K with labour. Shocks are in decent condition, nothing major, lower arm bushes can be changed they said, nothing urgent. Then small things like, wiper change, one bulb gone etc. A major service has been done in 2019, guessing they were planning to use it and then COVID struck. Work done in 2019 is complete clutch overhaul, brake pads, some gaskets changed due to oil leak, AC full service. EGR cleaning. A normal service done in March of 2022 for 10k. Vehicle has done 1.7 lakh kms. They also said that the car has not met with any major accidents.

Did I miss anything? If did, please feel free to point it out.

I am not looking to purchase any other used cars. I did not even want purchase this, but do you guys think the car is good for another 2 years? Should I get this car or not?

This is the only pic I have and it looks new inside and out because they did a lot of work in 2019 and then it was not used due to COVID:

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

My cardinal rule with used cars is:

• Never buy one with over 40000 - 50000 km
• Never buy one that's over 5 years old.

But this is an Innova & it's dirt cheap. The price is way below fair market value. Go for it, but get a pre-purchase inspection done from a Toyota dealer. If it clears that test, just pay the 2-lakhs the same day itself and take her home.

If you use it for a longer time, good. If you resell it within 2 years, you'll actually make a profit. Have two 1st-gen Innovas in my closest circle, both are ~15 years old with 2+ lakh km on the odometer, and regularly do Mumbai-Goa and Mumbai-Ahmedabad trips. One of the owners recently got a full body paint overcoat at the Toyota dealer as he still doesn't want to sell it.

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

I don't see any reason why you are making such a fuss over the age of the car. If the price is right, you should go ahead and buy the Innova. You have checked out the MUV with the ASS and they gave a positive report and it is a Toyota. If I were you, I would just check the underbody for rust and if found negative, complete the deal.

Older cars may not have the bells and whistles you might expect from the modern ones, but they can still serve you well.

I bought a 10 year old Ambassador and transplanted her petrol engine to an Isuzu diesel and used the car for nearly a decade. Even my current ride is getting a bit long in the tooth but she ages a lot more gracefully than me.

"Age can not wither her nor can custom stale her infinite virtue" Shakespeare said that for a woman which can equally apply to a well maintained car.

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

Just 1.7L run Innova diesel for 2lakhs? Damn, that sounds too good to be true. Go for it man.

If some cabbie was reading this thread, he would have already reached out to the person and picked it up cash down by now am sure.

Here's what BHPian narayans80 had to say on the matter:

You have already taken to a Toyota ASS and they haven't thrown you any red flags mechanically. I hope you've already confirmed there is no accident history.

For a clean, first owner Innova with just 1.7 lakh on odo, 2 lakhs is too good to be true. I've seen 6 lakh INR Innovas with 2.5-3 lakh on the clock.

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

I know you've already made up your mind of buying this Innova and as someone who's family has owned an Innova 2.5 Diesel since 2011 I can tell that you have struck literal gold.

Ours has been converted from Type 2 to Type 4 and has run a similar 171,000km, my dad has colleagues offering him around 10-12 lakh for our car so 2 lakh is as I said, literal gold for an Innova with 1.7 lakh on the odo.

Heck, get a nice head unit with Android Auto and Apple Carplay along with a speaker/subwoofer upgrade and maybe some nice alloys if you wish and I guarantee that you will be happy enough to keep the Innova for another 4-5 years let alone 2. Plus the Gen 1 Innova is a hard car to replace, only another Innova or something more expensive will do.

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As a family tourer, the Carens fits perfectly. My elderly parents who were never keen on taking road trips are now looking forward for the next one.

BHPian furyrider recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Impressions of my Kia Carens diesel MT after 2000 km and 1 month of driving:

• Overall FE stands at 19.1 kmpl tracked using Fuelio.
• As a family tourer, the Carens fits perfectly. My elderly parents who were never keen on taking road trips are now looking forward for the next one. Family is extremely happy with the vehicle. I always thought that they were not interested in road trips. I now understood that the choice of vehicle makes a lot of difference.
• The engine and gear box keeps getting better. The sluggishness in low gears has gone down considerably. On the contrary, I must’ve gotten used to the vehicle.
• AC works well. I’ve set the temperature to 24 in auto mode and never changed a setting ever since.
• Windows still rattle on rough patches and broken roads. This is not annoyingly loud, but you can hear the rattle nevertheless.
• Stock MRF tyres are good. Road noise is not that intrusive.
• I am yet to find a perfect equaliser setting for the stock HU/speaker combination. The music though clear lacks loudness.
• The range of the front parking sensors seems low. Sometimes while backing up I wonder if they are even working. I have a pillar opposite to my parking and the car never makes a squeak until I get really close to it.
• Fuel gauge is typical Hyundai/Kia. The fuel gauge stays full until the first 250 odd kilometers and then begins it’s rapid descent. I think we had a thread on the same topic recently. My old Grand i10 had the same issue.
• Definitely not a driver’s vehicle. You can spend quality time with your family on road trips though. The vehicle happily munches miles in the background without breaking a sweat.
• Cruise control works well. The controls are easy to use and you don’t have to take your eyes off the road for activating/deactivating it. The pause button is within the reach of a thumb.
• Headlights. I feel my oldGi10 had better lighting. Sigh!
• Noticed a glitch in wireless CarPlay. Sometimes, the song stops playing for no reason. Clicking on the play button plays the song for a song and pauses again. The only workaround for now is to restart my phone. I am yet to test this behaviour via wired CarPlay.
• I felt front seat lack proper lumbar support. I got a backache on the first long trip. After fiddling around and adjusting the seat to my proper driving position, this seems to be sorted now. Since I will be the only driver for this vehicle, I don’t think this will be an issue for me.
• SVC denied to change oil when I went in for the first service. I told them that I would pay for the oil and labour, they still denied. They told me that since this is not a recommendation from the manufacturer, they cannot go ahead with the oil change. I tried talking some sense, which did not work. Otherwise, service was a normal affair.

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I got the Carens primarily for my parents and they love the comfort, easy ingress and egress provided by the car.

BHPian vivekkkp recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hello all,

Got my Carens Prestige Plus D 1.5 delivered yesterday from JSP autocore. The delivery was a very smooth and memorable affair. I had booked the car on Feb 22'nd and the SA assigned was Mr. Srinath. He was updating me on regular basis regarding my booking status and was always available to answer my queries.

On March 29th I got a call from my SA that the vehicle has been allotted against my booking. He asked me to complete the payment at the earliest as he warned me that from April 1'st there is a price hike expected. I insisted on getting the PDI done before making the payment. We fixed an appointment on March 31'st to get the PDI done at their stockyard. Used the TBHP PDI checklist for the same and didn't find any flaw in the car. I transferred the outstanding money immediately so that the vehicle can be invoiced at the existing price. I also chose the insurance (Reliance General) from the dealer as he was able to undercut the best policy I could find. I have one doubt about this insurance though. Own damage is covered for a period of 1 year and 3'rd party liability coverage is for 3 years. This is the first time I have come across such terms.

Come April 1, my SA told me that the cost of my variant has gone up by 60k and the vehicle registration cost will be done as per the hiked rate. He asked me to transfer an additional ~11k as the excess in registration cost compared to the previous vehicle cost which I did promptly (based on XUV7OO thread). While registration I had opted for a number of my own choosing (my twins birthday) and I had to pay 25k (20k DD in the name of RTO Bangalore and 5k cash to the agent dealing with my registration) towards this.

Surprise surprise on April 8th my SA calls me again and says there was some confusion at the RTO with the vehicle registration. The total cost of registration would indeed be based on the original price of the vehicle and not on the hiked value. He requested me to email him a cancelled cheque leaf so that they can process the refund to my account.

The dealers have no stock of any accessories including the mat and mudflaps. Decided to get the 3M Nomad mats for all the 3 rows for around 10k

Here are some pics taken during the delivery. Excuse for the low clarity:

I got the Carens primarily for my parents and they love the comfort, easy ingress and egress provided by the car. Have driven about 100 km post delivery and do not find the car lagging in the power department. Its more than sufficient for the city usage and occasional highway drives.

Another pic of the car in my parking lot. I absolutely love this shade of the car:

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