Commented on ravindrakmathur's review
Feb 22, 2010 07:31 AM
(Updated Feb 22, 2010 07:33 AM)
Dear Ravindra, Its really nice to know that there are people who are still loyal to the Premier Padmini. As you say it is a reliable vehicle but a lot of people who purchase new cars do not know that. Our Padmini is a 1972 petrol model and runs great even long distance. I am currently in New Zealand... & when I come back to India I plan to modernize the Padmini with power-windows, alloy-wheels, disc-brakes etc.
Anyway All the Best and Great Driving.Read More
Commented on Peedarp's review
Oct 28, 2009 10:48 AM
Hi Peedarp,
Just a line to state that the lines used to describe the Contessa will be most appropriate to describe the sub-standard cars (except Mercedes, Audi, BMW or Jaguar) sold in India today. Some of the (modern) ! cars produced in India have high levels of imprecision and just sold in large n...umbers to a gullible public.
I am a proud owner of a 1972 Padmini, two Contessas in India and a 1989 BMW 735 iL (the L stands for the limousine version) having 215 bhp, cruise-control and a long list of standard equipment such as an 8 speaker sound system in New Zealand. I look down on most cars if not the above mentioned and I do not compare cheap Japanese imports with my BMW 7- Series. I request that the Contessa be appreciated as she is. I do admit that the equipment levels in the Contessa leaves much to be desired but on the whole a FAR better-looking car than the blobs found in India today.Read More
Commented on abbiji's review
Oct 19, 2009 08:43 AM
(Updated Oct 19, 2009 09:28 AM)
Dear Mr. Abbiji Abba, I'm Jonathan Carun writing from Hamilton, New Zealand.
Home-town, The Nilgiris, South India. I'm currently doing my PhD in French here.
Your review was most informative and refreshing regarding the present automobile scenario in India. Your observations too were accurate.
...
For a number of middle-class Indians, purchase and maintenance of cars is not easy, buying a decent one is a luxury and going in for top-end makes and models, unthinkable.
Our first car was & (proudly, still is, a 1972 Padmini) purchased in 1997. A very cute car by first-world (classic) standards. And we appreciate the car for what she is. Since then we went in for two Contessas, purchased in 2005 & 2006 respectively.
It was always been my dream to own a Jaguar, Merc or a BMW. On arrival in New Zealand my wife & I purchased a 1989 BMW 735 iL (the 'L' being the limousine version).
It goes without saying that the BMW is beyond comparison to 'modern' cars in India today. The specification list alone will fill up all space in this review with the 1989 BMW 7-Series making antiques out of the 'latest' Japanese offerings.
As you have mentioned the cars available in India today are more of excuses than of machines. In New Zealand the difference between a latest model BMW or an older model is a couple of thousands of dollars - where one can work towards the goal.
Buying a decent (ordinary) car too is feasible with all makes at extremely competitive rates. Basic salaries are good so affordability is high.
In India, buying a Jaguar or a BMW is out of the question if one is not a business tycoon, politician or a film star !
I wish you All the Best for all future (refreshing) reviews.Read More
Commented on RamKumarg's review
Sep 17, 2009 11:01 AM
(Updated Sep 17, 2009 11:03 AM)
This a comment regarding the Standard 2000 by a review by Mr.Ram Kumar.
Dear Ram, this is Jonathan Carun from the Nilgiris, South India, currently doing my PhD in French in Hamilton, New Zealand. That was the most excellent review I have read in Mouthshut.
As an avid admirer of the 2000 when I w...as a teenager in the late eighties and nineties, I have now met a like-minded person.
In New Zealand my wife and I own a 1989 BMW 735 iL , which of course comes with a long list of standard equipment. In India, my family owns a Padmini and two Contessas. It is my dream to own a Standard 2000 and on return to India after my PhD I wish to go in for a 2000. We have the Rover Vitesse (V-8) in New Zealand and wish to acquire it but still my heart is set on my teenage fantasy.
Congratulations on your acquisition of one of (or) The most beautiful car(s) in India yesterday or today (I have very little admiration for most of today’s cars in India -except for Mercedes, Jaguar, Audi or BMW).
I wish you All the Best and may you have many a day of enjoyable motoring !Read More
Commented on sckamath's review
Sep 17, 2009 10:27 AM
(Updated Sep 21, 2009 07:20 AM)
Dear Mr. Shrinivas, This is Jonathan Carun writing from Hamilton, New Zealand. Hometown -The Nilgiris, South India.
I have noted your comments on the Padmini.
I wish to state that you might not have looked at the overall (international) automobile picture.
While I (proudly) own a Padmini and two... Contessas in India, and recently aquired a 1989 BMW 735 iL in New Zealand, my (FIAT) car in spite of modernity lacking, still commands my respect as well as that of real (internatonal) car enthusiasts.
I am indeed comparing the car to ALL international models to date. One of the aspects mentioned was that the (FIAT) car can be opened anytime-that is really helpful as a few days ago when my BMW battery went down, I had a real tough time having the car opened (only opened after reading the BMW manual). Of course owning a BMW is fine- everything is automatic from the transmission to the climatic-control plus a whole lot of standard equipment (like an 8-speaker sound system, cruise-control, fully automatic computer-monitored operations, etc.)(the equipment list alone will take up all available space in this comment) not even heard of in many cars in India (except the Mercs, Audis Jaguars and other BMWs).
I wish to state that simply owning a 'new-generation' car in India does not mean the Premier Padmini should be demeaned or looked down upon in anyway.
After owning a BMW 7-Series, I, look down even on the Mercedes E-Class. (the S-Class is of course my competitor).
I suggest anyone writing negatively on Padminis or Heralds to get themselves an Audi, Merc, Jaguar or a Beemer, if they really can compare a beautiful 60's Italian car with the (for me) antiquated cars (yes, I do mean the 'latest' ones) available in India today. Second-hand Honda Accords sell for as little as New Zealand $ 500 and just to finish off, the reliability and chassis-strength of certain 'modern cars' is another matter altogether.
Read More
Reviewed Fiat Premier Padmini
Aug 26, 2009 10:05 AM
19129 Views
(Updated Aug 01, 2013 11:08 AM)
As a serious car enthusiast, I rate 5 stars for the Premier Padmini. I'm Jonathan Carun from the Nilgiris, South India, currently in Hamilton, New Zealand. The car performs well in its category and I should say certainly surpasses the newer-generation cars in visibility, comfort and of course Fr...Read more
Commented on benguela's review
Aug 25, 2009 06:01 AM
(Updated Aug 27, 2009 08:19 AM)
Dear Mr. Jaikishan, as another proud owner of a Padmini, it is good to read your write-up.
I'm Jonathan Carun from the Nilgiris, South India, currently doing my PhD in French in Hamilton, New Zealand.
My family's first car was a 1972 Premier Padmini bought in 1997.
This car has without fail del...ivered performance and protected my family from injury, when the Padmini had a frontal impact with a Maruti. The other car's repair charge amounted to around Rs.15,000/- (the workshop wrote the receipt for the Maruti's insurance), while we had a broken headlight and dent in surrounding area amounting exactly to Rs.1450/-
Since then, we have two Contessas in India and my wife and I have recently acquired a 1989 BMW 735 iL (six cylinder), with top specifications compared to any car in India today.
(in fact we look down upon any Mercedes S-Class in New Zealand). We plan to bring to India on return, the 7-Series BMW, also, if all goes well, a Rover SD1 3500 (V8), (ressembles a Standard 2000),
a Mini and a Chevrolet Impala-1959).
Nevertheless we have a special place for our Padmini in our hearts.
It was soon after we purchased a Padmini that I met my future wife !
When I return to India with a couple of dollars, I wish to acquire a
Standard 2000 and if finances permit, a Standard Herald and modernize our evergreen beauty, our Padmini, with power- windows, steering, disc-brakes, alloy wheels, A.C/heater, heated/air-cooled seats and a whole lot more ideas from our BMW.
My best wishes to All P.A.L and Standard enthusiasts.
VIVA PAL (Long Live) !Read More
