Commented on crimepillar's review
May 04, 2007 06:49 PM
check the build quality of the cars. you will cringe at the Baleno. There is no comparison. Check the suspension and handling of the Adventure, then you will know the difference. No, baleNO is less heavier than Adventure. It seats much lower and the 'illusion' of control is better on road. The suspe...nsions are basic, compare he tech specs for starters. The baleno is definitely quicker of the block, no doubt, but thats where the 'betterness' (for lack of a better word) ends! I have driven both of them and own one too. The adventure as a package is much better than any car less than 10 lakhs (on road price) in india now. The down side is part availability in case something goes wrong, while you wont face that with Maruti or any maruti car. To end this if you check the build quality, the baleno is a tin can, actually.Read More
Commented on crimepillar's review
May 04, 2007 06:48 PM
check the build quality of the cars. you will cringe at the Baleno. There is no comparison. Check the suspension and handling of the Adventure, then you will know the difference. No, baleNO is less heavier than Adventure. It seats much lower and the 'illusion' of control is better on road. The suspe...nsions are basic, compare he tech specs for starters. The baleno is definitely quicker of the block, no doubt, but thats where the 'betterness' (for lack of a better word) ends! I have driven both of them and own one too. The adventure as a package is much better than any car less than 10 lakhs (on road price) in india now. The down side is part availability in case something goes wrong, while you wont face that with Maruti or any maruti car. To end this if you check the build quality, the baleno is a tin can, actually.Read More
Commented on own review
Nov 27, 2006 10:57 PM
Hi,
1 Feel of the vehicle – excellent. Very good ground clearance, independent suspensions (the tech specs of the suspension is pretty amazing for a car at this price, you wouldn’t find it any car less than 12+ lakhs, no kidding). Very good high speed and low speed stability. Amazing presence on ...the road, a sure shot head turner (especially the red one, I have a black one though!). Brakes could have been better, but you will get used to it. Pick up is lovely through the gears, don’t over rev on low gears though, this will consume a lot of fuel.
2. have finished one service (from concorde). Concorde motors suck. Simple. Manipal motors are much better. Don’t choose concorde. The feedback from other fiat users is also the same, they say manipal motors service and customer friendliness is a lot better. Concorde motors live in the stone age of the customer centric industry/economy. They don’t care.
3. Fuel efficiency. Best so far (city driving) 10.4 kmpl, worst 8 kmpl. This car really responds to the way you drive, use the right gears in the correct speeds, don’t over use the clutch, shift to higher gears as you gain speed. And an average of 9.5 is easy. Which is very good for a vehicle this size (in terms of engine size and bulk – 1.3 tonnnes). One thing you need to keep in mind is this has a cast iron engine. Not aluminum or alloy. It is heavy.
Those are my thoughts, unsolicited comments – one of the best cars to drive, wonderful value for money (on road now with discount is about 6.2 lakhs, and you can get better deals from the sales person, so bargain. It is better than any other car in the sub 11 lakh category. Is my opinion. Not the quickest off the block, but sure makes up for it with its road manners and ability to hit bad roads.
Read More
Commented on own review
Sep 25, 2006 05:32 PM
hi Jumbo, if you are living in a relatively non humid city or twon ( say like bangalore), regular service of the car should be enough. It would make more sense if you get the anti rust coating if you live in coastal areas. 4.5k for it when you are in bangalore is a waste. If you go to good service c...enters and get a complete wash, they actually spray the underbody with diesel and clean it and if and only if there are any signs of major rust should you panic (which is very unlikely). My take on this is save this amount for a good amp (you can put in another 3k and get a decent one), cos you will need it in this car. I have a Blaupunkt system with 4 speakers. The clarity is nice, but if you like to on long drives and if you are in the habit of listening to music at over 100kmph, you better have a good amp along with the regular player. If not the 4.5 k can be used to get good sun film done. If both dont appeal to you, If you are more 'adventurous' you could go in for KnN filter and this 4.5k would cover some of it (i wouldnt suggest it though, until the warranty period is over). Else there is the good old remote locking you can go for ( i would suggest a very simple one, open, close, indicate, alarm as there have been issues with Fiat cars and other OEM car locking systems). Hope this helps! Ah, i almost forgot, get a good teflon coating job done (not at the dealer, they dont do a good job of it, and my car has proof along with dents!!) by a reputed 3rd party.Read More
Commented on sunilks71's review
Sep 18, 2006 04:03 PM
hi, it was a great review. All the best with the service. I am having a torrid time with it (Bangalore, concorde motors). Its a great machine, but the slight disappointment is the rear seat leg room, its pretty small actually. need to see if i can get that modified, but will probably wait till the w...arranty period is over. Mileage - She will drink if you push the pedal hard. Be ready for that!! Have a great time driving this vehicle!Read More
Commented on own review
Sep 04, 2006 08:07 PM
Sigh, this is the time when all Fiat bashers would rub their hands together and tell 'i told you so'
About 10 days back the adventure met with a minor accident due to which the crash guard underneath the bull bar was dented and due to which the front bumper assembly was pushed in and had to be repl...aced. Insurance check, Workshop (concorde motors) check. All done. Or so one might think. The friendly workshop service person says it could take anywhere between a week or 15 days to recieve the parts (the front bumper assembly with the bull bar!). I write to fiat, they write to cocorde motors. I write back again saying, Dudes, the problem is part availability and not the service, they write back to Concorde motors. Status Quo? I think the guys at Fiat have different day jobs, else they wouldnt be so indifferent and that, partly, explains the poor sales for the car too. Well, what can i say, hard earned money put in a very very good car but the company is close to indifferent. TATA - Fiat Alliance, in my book is way down south. Neither TATA (concorde motors) or Fiat have even the courtesy to inform me whether the part is available or what the ETA is. Caveat Emptor. Great car, service experience so far is pretty bad, response from the 'company' even worse. Lets see if its worth the wait (again)Read More
Commented on own review
Aug 16, 2006 05:06 PM
City - 9-9.5 with decent driving (no overspeeding, no going over 80kmph on long stretches on 4th). The trick (which i feel there are more than one) is not to let the higher gear groan at low speed, you will push the pedal more, and see the needle dip. Get optimal speed at every gear, move quickly th...rough first and second, as i become more proficient at it, i am sure we will be seeing 9.5 - 10 in the city. With all humility, i have to admit i have been able to get better fuel efficiency in many cars than the regular drivers. The trick is in sub 1.3 l cars, to use the 4th and 5th at speeds at 30kmph and 40 kmph itself, though you will sacrifice on the pick up/speeding front. But what i noticed in the adventures cast iron engine and rhino like stature is that, its better to stay at optimum speeds on each gear. to illustrate - Do not try to pull from 40kmph on the 5th, you will just figure out how deep the pedal is and wonder why the world is passing you by while the engine shows signs of desert baked thirst. The knack is keep optimum speeds, and the beast will transport you well and fast and without reminding you of boozard friends and relatives. But this is a knack i am still learning. Now that the first service is over, i am waiting to see what the difference will be. Dont expect more than 13 on the highway, cos once you cross 100kmph, you will need a buddisht monks celibacy resolve not to touch 130 and further and further..( i believe this machine can do 165 without breaking a sweat but you will be sweating when you look at those petrol bills).Read More
Commented on ubdtsharath's review
Aug 14, 2006 02:07 PM
pleasantly surprised to see 3 new adventures on road (indira nagar/white field area). The beast is back from first service. The job was good except for the fact that they forgot to clean the insides of the car, which eventually got done after pointing it out. Waiting to see the difference in mileage... now and open the engine up (that should be fun!). Previous mileage hovered around the 9 -9.5 markRead More
Commented on ubdtsharath's review
Aug 02, 2006 05:38 PM
hi bravo, i bought the car from concorde motors. get good upholstery done and the nature of the seats change. but they are good for the driver on long drives, good support.
Commented on own review
Jul 31, 2006 06:49 PM
hi sid, just took the adventure on a long drive this weekend. It behaved impeccably. Did not push it too much as its due for its first service. The on road price is 6.52 lakhs. Concorde motors have deals on this. you can bargain upto 45 k or more! Try to get goodies like sun film and central locking... free too. If you drive a hard bargain i guess you can get it (i didnt!). My suggestion would be try out both manipal motors and concorde motors in bangalore and get the best deal.Read More
Commented on suhas_shiv's review
Jul 26, 2006 07:43 PM
hi, i have had bitter experiences with metro ford (fraud) earlier, their sales people are smooth and offer you the world. After sales service is an ASS. Any accidental damage (in the service center) can be borne by the customer, but damage like this, you should be suing them. The complaint wont help... much. you will have couple of customer care managers at your door step trying to sweet talk you into letting them repair the car and thats it. Once that is done, they will avoid you like the plague. You do not deserve this. The consumer court is far more effective than it seems to be. Try your luck there.Write to all the leading magazines like topgear, overdrive (they are the industry mouthpiece, so unlikely that they will give you any space) BS motoring and Auto car. I have actually stopped using the ford and bought a new car, planning to sell the ford in some time.Read More
Commented on own review
Jul 26, 2006 07:37 PM
hi omar/Abhi,as told in my review, the suspension and handling is class leading. you probably have to look at the cedia to get the same experience. The good parts: handling, suspension, ergonomics (though the finish of the plastics is not all tha great, but it works) build quality (the best i have s...een so far, excluding skoda and the d segment). The only problem i have faced so far is that there is a slight rattle in the right side, from the panel where the speaker is corrected, should be fixed in the first service. Mileage to date has been 9+, which is surprising, a pleasant surprise i should say, when it weighs 1.2 tons unladen and with the 1.6 engine with 100 bhp. Usually improves after the first service, thats what i have noticed in other cars. As for the user group, i couldnt locate it Abhi! planning on getting sun film done after the first service. Apart from that, i am thoroughly satisfied with the car. So far So good! About the running in - there are 2 schools of thought - one that says you should really open the engine before 1st service and the 2nd says that you should not! i am not too sure which one works, though i am doing the latter now. If you guys know anything more about this please do let me know!Read More
Commented on own review
Jul 12, 2006 03:26 PM
Hi mahendra, i am from bangalore. I am expecting the 'delivery' by the 14th. I guess it depends on the color you choose (the delay). you can bargain for further discount if you go for tata motor finance option. you should ensure that they are giving you the mats and mud flaps at least, this is not p...art of the std equipment. Other stuff you can bargain on is central locking, sun film and teflon coating, all these is worth below 5k, i havent mentioned the audio system as theirs (blaupunkt or kenwood) is pretty expensive (and only 4 speakers). I dont know if you have 'concorde motors' in Delhi, if yes check them out too. Pressurize them for the delivery or ask for the money back if you have other options of dealers! Nothing is worth waiting so long in this consumer driven market!!Read More
Reviewed Fiat Adventure
Jul 11, 2006 06:17 PM
13665 Views
(Updated Jul 17, 2006 02:59 PM)
Finally!! The car was delivered on Friday (though I was called be the dealer at 11 AM and went to the showroom at 1:30 PM and then got the delivery at 5:30 PM, the delay being put down to the number plates not arriving on time! lesson learnt, fix the time, ensure that everything is done!)
For...Read more
Commented on ubdtsharath's review
Jul 11, 2006 06:07 PM
hi,
I booked the adventure on the 8th of july. Tips to buyers: look for good deals, discounts and freebies. They are available. I dont bargain too much but got a 40 k discount on the ex showroom price, mats mud flaps and teflon coating (really important if you are worried about the paint job, and... believe me the kind of paint job these beasts have is worth preserving) as a part of the deal. If you dont ask, you will pay! On the money you save, look to do up the interiors with some rich leather and decent music system. The offline comment about the fuel economy is that TATA is giving a conservative estimate as they do not want to over commit - wise move. Feedback from other owners to the dealer have been positive. Apart from the untested fuel economy part, if you are looking for the bang for the buck, this is the car and petra 1.6 comes second. You get pirellis tubeless tyres(25 % more expensive than standard tubeless tyres that you might buy). Alloy wheels (though not shiny, they are good) which would set you back by 20k if you want to buy it. Rear wipers, fog lamps, which would set you back by 3k if you buy yourself. The side boards and roof clips/ski roof/whatever, would cost you another 3k. All this comes as standard equipment! And the freebies could be more if you could bargain better than me.The build quality of this machine is probably similar to that of a skoda (lift the boot with one hand, you will realize the amount of metal in it), which in simple terms means - safer. if you are better at bargaining than me you could get a free music system or central locking, which are the only things missing!Read More
Commented on tubu_cruise's review
Jul 04, 2006 10:23 PM
Though i have not owned a Fusion, i have had my share of infuriating experiences with the Ford dealers. They lie, cheat and they are they really dont know what customer service means. The employ shylocks. I agree with what navin has said. They have to be dragged to the consumer forum. Once my car ha...d an accident and instead of tellng me the estimate for the damage, one of them was trying to sell me 'Waxol' coating for the car at 3k!!! I actually had to write to forums, magazines and threaten them with libel, else they wouldnt even do the work they are supposed to do. My only joy with the vehicle (which by the way is decent) was while driving it. Metro Ford in Bangalore is a no no. I dont know about the other dealer in Bangalore. But if anyone is moving or wants to buy a Ford car from Metro ford, my suggestion would be - dont. Also Ford reviews are extremely hyped. The fiesta is not as half good as they claim it to be. Abhishek Bacchan gets money to drive it, you, my friends would have to spend a lot. There is a basic design flaw which is under played or goes un noticed. Any experienced driver will notice it when you get in the drivers seat of the car. First thing you see is that the positioning of the seat is not right!! This is going to cause a lot of unfortunate incidents in the long run. Caveat emptor is all i can say.Read More
Reviewed Bajaj Pulsar
Jun 17, 2004 12:59 PM
3126 Views
(Updated Jun 17, 2004 01:01 PM)
For all those who own a bajaj pulsar 180 (the non dtsi model), my condolences while trying to get your bike ''serviced'' at the authorized service center.
A good water wash for a bike (a thorough one, the friendly down the road service center offers) takes 30 minutes.
To change the gear oi...Read more
