Thread Starter
#1
And I can't get out of it. " ..... U2
That's right. Famous words from the U2 song which perfectly applies to my situation right now.
I've been a happy camper with a Wagon-R LXi (2004) for all these years . Sometime earlier this year, the time had come for an upgrade. It was a mix - taking both the car and the personal needs into account. My apologies if this post is a little long-winded, please grab some popcorn! Here are some essential details first:
1. Location: Bangalore
2. Budget : 8.5 lakh (total value)
3. Fuel type: Petrol (monthly running : 600km average)
4. Priorities: Fun to drive, Safety, Comfort, Low maintenance, luggage space. In that order.
5. Seating capacity : 2-3 most of the time.
6. Purpose : regular city use, outstation trips once a month or so.
7. Segment : sedan
8. Main requirement: A fun-to-drive trailblazer on the highways, and easy-to-maintain , convenient car for the family in the city!
History:
I decided on an upgrade/new purchase a few months ago. After reading about and test driving numerous vehicles (and still doing so) , simply because I was not sure what I wanted, till now. The heart always says get the car YOU WANT TO drive. The head says , " Get THE CAR that CAN DRIVE you and family around". It's always a tough one to solve!
And then I thought, why not try to appease the heart AND the head?
Option 1 : GO ALL NEW
a. Trade in Wagon R and get....
THE Ford Fiesta Classic 1.6L Titanium : Yep, you guessed it. I love the damn vehicle. I must have test driven it 6-7 times now and my heart keeps coming back to it. Not to mention the numerous review threads on this car and 350Z's epic ownership review thread that I must have spent a few cyber years reading up on! This would be a single car that I have for all purposes - city as well as the highways. I cannot emphasize how much I love the damn transmission and handling of this baby. The old-ish design doesn't bother me too much.
It's 8.73 L on road right now, and I am trying to negotiate a good deal as well as understand the waiting periods.
Pros: Money spent is under control. You've bought the car your heart wanted. It's a new one, so it will (hopefully) last you a long while. There's just 1 car to maintain.
Concerns : Can 350Z and other fiesta owners weigh in on the maintenance of this vehicle? Rumours are that this vehicle may be phased out next year, but I hope that the ASS for this won't be affected? Any other concerns about this car that I should know about ? I've hardly talked to anyone who actually owns a Classic 1.6L petrol out there, and hence the question!
Option 2: Mix it up : Heart + Head
This option includes a couple of things, trading in the incumbent, buying a pre-owned vehicle for my heart, and finally purchasing a convenient hatchback for the head!
a. Get a Ford Fiesta 1.6S (used) :Yep you heard me right. I've heard so much of this bad boy that I can't wait to test drive it. This will be purely for me, for my out-of-town drives as well as using it within town when I am alone.
b. Get an hatchback (new): This could be manual or Auto (prefer if it's auto, the missus can drive it confidently too).
options: A-star, i10, Ritz, Brio
This would be the budget buy. The key here is ease of convenience, maintenance , reliability, and usability for the larger group.
Pros : I've got a car for my heart, AND one for the head! I've proportioned out the budget accordingly, and weighted more for the head (less guilt factor)! Family can drive around easily and nobody touches the bad-boy except me!
Cons: 2 cars to maintain (can be done though). Fear of buying a used car.
Concerns:
1. Fiesta 1.6S : (i) how is the A.S.S for this? The car is out of its warranty period. (ii) Are the parts of this available fairly easily in order to maintain? (iii) What else should I be concerned with about this car? (iv) Not sure what a good deal is in the used car market. The car I know has clocked about 40K kms , 2008 model, fairly good condition. What should the pricing be around?
2. Hatchback : Never tried out an Auto-tranny much in India. Is it easy to maintain? How are small vehicles like the A-star AT?
I'd love for you good folks to weigh in on this !
Drive safe, folks!
Escape Velocity
That's right. Famous words from the U2 song which perfectly applies to my situation right now.
I've been a happy camper with a Wagon-R LXi (2004) for all these years . Sometime earlier this year, the time had come for an upgrade. It was a mix - taking both the car and the personal needs into account. My apologies if this post is a little long-winded, please grab some popcorn! Here are some essential details first:
1. Location: Bangalore
2. Budget : 8.5 lakh (total value)
3. Fuel type: Petrol (monthly running : 600km average)
4. Priorities: Fun to drive, Safety, Comfort, Low maintenance, luggage space. In that order.
5. Seating capacity : 2-3 most of the time.
6. Purpose : regular city use, outstation trips once a month or so.
7. Segment : sedan
8. Main requirement: A fun-to-drive trailblazer on the highways, and easy-to-maintain , convenient car for the family in the city!
History:
I decided on an upgrade/new purchase a few months ago. After reading about and test driving numerous vehicles (and still doing so) , simply because I was not sure what I wanted, till now. The heart always says get the car YOU WANT TO drive. The head says , " Get THE CAR that CAN DRIVE you and family around". It's always a tough one to solve!
And then I thought, why not try to appease the heart AND the head?
Option 1 : GO ALL NEW
a. Trade in Wagon R and get....
THE Ford Fiesta Classic 1.6L Titanium : Yep, you guessed it. I love the damn vehicle. I must have test driven it 6-7 times now and my heart keeps coming back to it. Not to mention the numerous review threads on this car and 350Z's epic ownership review thread that I must have spent a few cyber years reading up on! This would be a single car that I have for all purposes - city as well as the highways. I cannot emphasize how much I love the damn transmission and handling of this baby. The old-ish design doesn't bother me too much.
It's 8.73 L on road right now, and I am trying to negotiate a good deal as well as understand the waiting periods.
Pros: Money spent is under control. You've bought the car your heart wanted. It's a new one, so it will (hopefully) last you a long while. There's just 1 car to maintain.
Concerns : Can 350Z and other fiesta owners weigh in on the maintenance of this vehicle? Rumours are that this vehicle may be phased out next year, but I hope that the ASS for this won't be affected? Any other concerns about this car that I should know about ? I've hardly talked to anyone who actually owns a Classic 1.6L petrol out there, and hence the question!
Option 2: Mix it up : Heart + Head
This option includes a couple of things, trading in the incumbent, buying a pre-owned vehicle for my heart, and finally purchasing a convenient hatchback for the head!
a. Get a Ford Fiesta 1.6S (used) :Yep you heard me right. I've heard so much of this bad boy that I can't wait to test drive it. This will be purely for me, for my out-of-town drives as well as using it within town when I am alone.
b. Get an hatchback (new): This could be manual or Auto (prefer if it's auto, the missus can drive it confidently too).
options: A-star, i10, Ritz, Brio
This would be the budget buy. The key here is ease of convenience, maintenance , reliability, and usability for the larger group.
Pros : I've got a car for my heart, AND one for the head! I've proportioned out the budget accordingly, and weighted more for the head (less guilt factor)! Family can drive around easily and nobody touches the bad-boy except me!
Cons: 2 cars to maintain (can be done though). Fear of buying a used car.
Concerns:
1. Fiesta 1.6S : (i) how is the A.S.S for this? The car is out of its warranty period. (ii) Are the parts of this available fairly easily in order to maintain? (iii) What else should I be concerned with about this car? (iv) Not sure what a good deal is in the used car market. The car I know has clocked about 40K kms , 2008 model, fairly good condition. What should the pricing be around?
2. Hatchback : Never tried out an Auto-tranny much in India. Is it easy to maintain? How are small vehicles like the A-star AT?
I'd love for you good folks to weigh in on this !
Drive safe, folks!
Escape Velocity