Nov 18, 2006 03:25 PM
7514 Views
Hi everyone !!
My brother wanted a good set of wheels ( specifically - a three box car) to use around Delhi. After a couple of months of trying to convince him about the merits of small cars ( easy to drive and park, good average and blah blah) and hearings his arguements for a larger car, we finally decided to at least try out some of the bigger ones (other than Esteem). Well, he had done a lot of research and one fine day, we went around to look at the Corsa and the Ikon ( Flair). On the way back, saw an Automart outlet and decided to have a look.
There she was - a Red 1.6 - my brother immediately demanded a test drive and came back grinning like the Cheshire cat. It had about 50 K on the odo and was a 2000 end model. All the features like AC, power steering, power windows etc were a standard on this. The price was very reasonable and the added benefit of the one year warranty on engine was enticing....
After a year, he had to go on a deputation and left the car with me to use. I was hesistant at first - Ford was supposed to be an expensive car and required a lot of fuel. During the same period, I also had to go leaving the car covered in front of the house. Returned after 2 month and tried to start, but it would`nt budge. Called my local mechanic and he got a battery and connected it directly ( the wrong way). No use - called the dealers guys and the fellow came and told me that the ECM has conked off - and gave me an estimate of 38 K to get the car moving again. A big problem as Ford spares are not available in the open market and the ECM is not repairable. Somehow, got hold of an ECM and started the car. By now, I was really pissed off with Ford.
I started using it for the commute to the office ( I wanted to check the ECM thoroughly). The intial weeks saw sedate driving and contrary to my expectations, it gave a mileage of 12 kmpl with AC on a tankful to tankful basis. I was surprised with the efficiency and started using it continously - after all it is an easy car to handle. The drive is very smooth and hassle free. I like the way the dashboard has been laid out ( a tacho is a necessity on this) and the AC is really good ( compared to the Esteem). The suspension is balanced - not too soft with limited roll. The braking and handling is excellant and the best part is the pedal to the metal effect - you push the accelarator and get to feel the 90 horses coming into action all at once - trying to push you back in the seat. The best part about the 1.6 is the Josh - you get it at low speeds also making it a pleasure to drive in the city where you need power. Aggressive driving saw the milege drop to 9 kmpl but suprisingly on the highways it has returned consistent figures of 17 - 18 kmpl with AC used 80 % of the time. The car now has about 80 k on the odo but is still running fine without any problems ( barring the ECM in the begining).
The drawbacks are a high rear which makes visibility an problem sometimes and the gear shift - very vague at times. Another thing is that after engaging the reverse, you have to wait a couple of seconds before moving - the gearbox gets angry otherwise.
My observations on the car :
Engine - Very responsive and smooth.
Gearbox - Good - but I prefer the shifting action of the Esteem.
Handling - Excellant
Brakes - Excellant
Lights - Very good.
Spares - Availablity outside is poor - dealers try to make a killing.
Maintainence - The dealers generally try to make a killing and have been the bane of Ford. I get it done outside - the guys at the dealership were trying to learn on thie car. But a word of caution - not many mechanics know this car. Some fool could easily damage the electronics and you would be left with a huge bill. Direct water wash of the engine is a definite no - no. Same is modifying the wires for some aftermarket equipment. I generally do the simple things myself - it is easier that way. The dealers definitely try to change the parts - beware.
Mileage - A lot depends on the individual driving styles. I try to limit the rpm within 2000 - 2200 to get a good mileage. The idle speed is around 1000 rpm and the redline is 5500 rpm. Keeping the air filter clean is also useful. I use the normal unlead petrol. Tyre air pressure checks are also once a fortnight or whenever petrol is filled. But I doubt if any one could resist the pleasure of really pushing this car - and so be prepared for a drop in the efficiency.
The production of this model has been stopped by Ford - unfortunately. Old cars in good condition are available in the market at throwaway prices.
I would definitely recommend this car .
