Guide: Composing Your Ownership Review (Must Read)

[350Z]

Ownership reviews are an integral part of The Automotive India. Since day one, these reviews have benefited our forum by sharing truly unbiased long-term information about cars / bikes straight from the owners themselves. While we encourage all members to submit a review, do ensure to adhere to the following guidelines to help us maintain high standards of this community.

• Go through the Announcements section to become familiar with the basic forum functioning.
• Since it is going to be a “review” please refrain from posting a simple line or two for the sake of creating a thread.
• Being unbiased is the essence of an ownership review. Never hesitate to highlight the downsides of your vehicle.
• Put a relevant title. Heading like “Wow my beauty comes home!!” is not acceptable. But “Maruti Swift VDi – My Beauty Comes Home” is perfect.
• A review isn't necessarily expected to be long. Even a short, crisp and to the point write-up with relevant details will suffice (Eg: Fiat Punto Review).
• Keep your thread up-to-date timely with the logs of maintenance work and costs involved. It helps everyone including yourself for reference in future.
• Start by penning down the initial process of buying a car. Such as the idea behind buying, cars shortlisted, car bought and why this particular model? etc.
• Describe the buying experience with dealership and sales person. In case it is comprehensive, feel free to post it separately in Dealership Reviews section.
• Attempt to finish the review in one go instead on posting it in parts after considerable time gap. You can use "Topics in Progress" section to draft a write-up.
• You are not supposed to create a suspense review / incomplete review or asking members to guess the car. Such threads are subject to an instant removal.

The thread author can edit opening post of their review anytime regardless of the forum's default 30 minute time-limit:

• Please use this feature to include link(s) whenever you submit a major update elsewhere in your thread (Example).
• Any attempt to abuse this function will invite ban of user account. Please contact us if you’ve any concerns regarding your review.
• We’re no longer accepting title edit requests to highlight thread updates. If you’ve already done so, request revert to default title by reporting the post.

Note: Reviews that contain very less information will be moved to “Topics in Progress” Zone (hidden from public view) until the author adds sufficient details.

 

[350Z]

Please feel free to use following template to compose a review. Thanks to @Iron Rock for the tip.

Section One: Background and Buying Overview

• Explain the idea behind buying. Budget set, list of requirements etc. and outline the background of the research process in detail.
• List the vehicles considered and share the first impressions / test drive experience with them if applicable.
• Wrap up with the name of the car considered and bought in the end along with reason and similar details.
• Share the overall dealership experience by also highlighting the costs and splits, including list of accessories, discounts received etc.

Section Two: Initial Ownership Impressions

Mention everything about the first impressions of the vehicle you have bought from your own point of view.

• Exteriors and Design: How it compares with other vehicles in segment in terms of looks, style, and design, build quality, any special design elements / inspirations, other specifics (in case of vehicles meant for a particular purpose).
• Interiors and Features: Tell about interiors design, quality, fit and finish. Special features (if any) and brief usage of same, A/C effectiveness, Ergonomics, Audio System, Space, Electronics, Lamps, Dashboard layout and functioning, boot space, Music system, Ingress / Egress etc.
• Engine and Performance: Engine Capacity, Nature of engine, Engine Responsiveness, Acceleration, Turbo Lag (If applicable), Braking, Clutch, Torque, Fuel Efficiency, Gearbox / Gear Shifts and other specific mechanicals including 4WD if applicable.
• Ride and Handling: Comfort levels and seating position, NVH Levels (Noise, Vibration, Harshness), Manoeuvrability, Steering, low and high speed behaviour, Dynamics, body roll, suspension, tires / wheels, highway and city drive experience / off- road etc.

**Please add relevant photos to all the above sections and mix them with the text review for easier readability**

Section Three: Good Bits and Bad Bits

• Mention additional comments, summary or notes.
• Honestly explain the plus and minus points of the car and highlight any shortcomings and early niggles faced.
• Also include Service experience if any experienced so far.
• List of modifications planned in future etc.

Apart from regular updates in the thread, it's a good idea to keep updating about the fuel efficiency figures and details of each service (Eg: 5,000 Kms / 10,000 Kms etc) by including a precise service experience, costs involved with break-up figures, problems faced (if any) and their solutions.

Quick Tips:

• Upload as many pictures as possible. Minimum 5 - 10 of different angles.
• You may wish to blank out the registration number in the pictures to maintain privacy.
• Compose your review on word processors such as Microsoft Word to prevent inadvertent spell / grammatical errors.
• You can make use of “Topics in Progress” Zone to compose a draft which will be visible only to you and the moderators.

Good Ownership Reviews Examples:

• My All New Volkswagen Polo
• P3T3R's Crystal White i10 Kappa2 Sportz
• Ownership Review: Polo 1.2 TDI Comfortline (Diesel)
• My Italian Horse in Bossa Nova White - Fiat Punto 90HP
• Mahindra Scorpio VLX Mist Silver - 40,000 Kms and Counting
• Mahindra XUV5OO: "The Dark Knight" Buying and Ownership Experience

 

[350Z]

Quick update. Opening post has been updated with the following clause:

We’re no longer accepting title edit requests to highlight thread updates. If you’ve already done so, request revert to default title by reporting the post.

Your review's first post can be edited anytime. Please use this feature to include link(s) whenever you submit a major update elsewhere in your thread

Drive Safe,
350Z