Thread Starter
#1
Hi Everyone,
Before I begin, I would like to thank TAI for giving me the opportunity to share my experience and also all the TAI'ans, who have shared theirs thoughts and opinions, which helped in buying this car.
Disclaimer : The experience I have shared in this thread is purely based on my own opinion and my views does not intend to disrespect the company, the car or any existing owners.
From what seemed to be an hunt for a hatchback, ended up buying a 'Second hand' and one of the most popular SUV in India .
To give a little bit of backdrop, our first car was an Hyundai Accent GLE (Petrol), purchased back in 2005. The usage of the car was minimal for the first 3 years or so, (had done about 25K, around 800Kms/month) including occassional long drives. Over a period of time the usage increased and my every day travel of 60Kms/day was burning a hole in my pocket, with the ever increasing petrol rates. Hence we decided upon buying a diesel car and sold the Accent. We had not decided on what car to buy and also dint want to exchange the car as the value might be less, when exchanged, than selling it.
My priorities were :
1. 'Diesel' car
2. Budget : 7-8L
3. Reliable ASS
4. Mileage of 13-14 in city and 18 in highways.
June, 2010 : I casually started enquiring about different diesel cars and this is when I got the chance to drive my friend's diesel swift. This is the first time ever I sat inside a swift and I liked it. Its high driving seat position (than the accent), power delivery & handling, maneuvering around the city traffic, made me feel this was the car for me, but then, wanted to check the other cars as well, as the VW Polo diesel was just launched and also the i20 crdi.
June 27th : Visited the VW downtown showroom (Magrath Road), but the diesel polo was not available for TD. Drove the petrol version and was quite impressed, besides the space. Was told a week or two, for the TDI test drive.
July 17th : Got a call from VW, that the diesel car was available for TD. The car that I drove was the Highline version.
Liked :
1. Exterior design, with simple lines looked elegant. Stylish head lamps, 15" alloys, high ground clearance, made it look and is, a sturdy car for Indian roads
2. Interiors were simply the best among the class. The black and beige combination, was pleasing to the eyes.
3. The Integrated Music system, short slick gear shift, the multi information display, that shows DTE, Outside temp, Clock, time for the next service, Instant FE, were just too good.
Disliked :
1. Space : What is a car without space, no matter how good it looks? This was the most disappointing, as the head room and the rear leg space was a concerning factor. With the drivers seat adjusted for a 6 footer like me, there was hardly any room to the passenger sitting behind the drivers seat and there was about a inch space between my head and the roof.
2. Loud clatter of the engine, even with the windows closed and AC on, that too for a 1.2L engine was irritating.
3. The petrol engine was much better than the diesel. Hardly any power felt on the TDI version, no matter how hard you press the accelerator in the 1st and 2nd gear.
VW Polo was dropped from the list.
On the very same day, visited the ORR Advaith Hyundai to TD the i20 crdi. Will share the experience in detail tomorrow. Till then some pics of newly acquired possession.
Before I begin, I would like to thank TAI for giving me the opportunity to share my experience and also all the TAI'ans, who have shared theirs thoughts and opinions, which helped in buying this car.
Disclaimer : The experience I have shared in this thread is purely based on my own opinion and my views does not intend to disrespect the company, the car or any existing owners.
From what seemed to be an hunt for a hatchback, ended up buying a 'Second hand' and one of the most popular SUV in India .
To give a little bit of backdrop, our first car was an Hyundai Accent GLE (Petrol), purchased back in 2005. The usage of the car was minimal for the first 3 years or so, (had done about 25K, around 800Kms/month) including occassional long drives. Over a period of time the usage increased and my every day travel of 60Kms/day was burning a hole in my pocket, with the ever increasing petrol rates. Hence we decided upon buying a diesel car and sold the Accent. We had not decided on what car to buy and also dint want to exchange the car as the value might be less, when exchanged, than selling it.
My priorities were :
1. 'Diesel' car
2. Budget : 7-8L
3. Reliable ASS
4. Mileage of 13-14 in city and 18 in highways.
June, 2010 : I casually started enquiring about different diesel cars and this is when I got the chance to drive my friend's diesel swift. This is the first time ever I sat inside a swift and I liked it. Its high driving seat position (than the accent), power delivery & handling, maneuvering around the city traffic, made me feel this was the car for me, but then, wanted to check the other cars as well, as the VW Polo diesel was just launched and also the i20 crdi.
June 27th : Visited the VW downtown showroom (Magrath Road), but the diesel polo was not available for TD. Drove the petrol version and was quite impressed, besides the space. Was told a week or two, for the TDI test drive.
July 17th : Got a call from VW, that the diesel car was available for TD. The car that I drove was the Highline version.
Liked :
1. Exterior design, with simple lines looked elegant. Stylish head lamps, 15" alloys, high ground clearance, made it look and is, a sturdy car for Indian roads
2. Interiors were simply the best among the class. The black and beige combination, was pleasing to the eyes.
3. The Integrated Music system, short slick gear shift, the multi information display, that shows DTE, Outside temp, Clock, time for the next service, Instant FE, were just too good.
Disliked :
1. Space : What is a car without space, no matter how good it looks? This was the most disappointing, as the head room and the rear leg space was a concerning factor. With the drivers seat adjusted for a 6 footer like me, there was hardly any room to the passenger sitting behind the drivers seat and there was about a inch space between my head and the roof.
2. Loud clatter of the engine, even with the windows closed and AC on, that too for a 1.2L engine was irritating.
3. The petrol engine was much better than the diesel. Hardly any power felt on the TDI version, no matter how hard you press the accelerator in the 1st and 2nd gear.
VW Polo was dropped from the list.
On the very same day, visited the ORR Advaith Hyundai to TD the i20 crdi. Will share the experience in detail tomorrow. Till then some pics of newly acquired possession.
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