Dec 09, 2008 05:18 PM
16912 Views
Note: This review pertains to the Honda Gxi variant Am writing it under this category as there’s no separate category for Gxi.
This is my 2nd car in last 12 months... I had a swift Vxi which I sold off and got an exchange offer from my dealer of 2nd hand cars... so lets start the FIR - First Information Report. As I wasn’t too happy with my swift for various unknown reasons (Yes Service centre didnt know how to fix the issue) I had to part away with my lovely Swift 2006 Model...
All done with finances, signed up the papers (without even glancing if I am signing on a blank paper!! (no I was careful !) the car was ready to go with me in 45 mins.. checked the body line underneath, engine sound, under the bonnet etc etc tyres (will run for next 15k kms) all seemed well. Drove back to home and what a sigh of relief.
Black 2005 NHC Gxi**, (with Stanley leather beige seat color-not so great in condition )occupied up the parking space. Felt rear lights are better than the new ZX ones.
First week drove only some 45-50 kms.. too afraid to take it out as the RTO formalities and loan was underway.
2nd Week, paper, loan etc was transferred.. Drove to office 25 Kms- it was smooth like Makkann (Butter !) after driving Swift with bit of a hard power steering... Honda was a new experience to me... Honda bit longish due it being a Sedan was bit difficult for me to adjust to the driving habbit.. however as I covered 10kms.. got the feeling that this car was waiting for me !! Well atleast I think so :) RIDE: Its not a peppy car as swift... Honda with 77 BHP is decent and torque delivered at 2500 RPM is very decent for the city ride... didnt have to change the gears too often in the Honda as it is powered by 1.5ltr iDSI engin as compared to Swift’s 1.3 ltr (you might ask Why I am comparing Swift wwith Honda. reason is I havent driven any other car)..
FE : I filled 1000Rs of petrol twice.. both the time just as the reserve light glow on the fuel gauge... got an avg of 12.78 KMPL… for convenience lets round it to 13Kms / Ltr with AC ON 50% of the time Swift used to give me 13.5 so Honda was not so baddd at all !! Cons- May be my driving is not so good at present... so in future I am expecting the car to give me 14 KMPL (Lets wait and watch)
iNSIDE (Intel Inside ;) - iDSI engine does give a smooth noiseless drive.. cabin sound is minimal.. with stereo ON you cant make out sound from external sources unless someone honks (and all da time someone does honk ! ) - Beige Interior, with Dark Brown +Grey plastic Dashboard is neatly laid out- 2 Glove compartment is a plus
The previous owner had covered the seats with Stanley make leather covers, it looks cool !! but the age is showing up now atleast on the drives side... will change them as I recover from my current finance ups and downs !!! Cons- However after today's service the Ambipur Perfume bottle caused some discoloration of the Dashboard -(during service, the cleaners fixed the perfume upside down, casing the perfume to leak on the AC vent on drive side door... when I started to rub it with cleaning cloth, the dashboard discoloration was noticed.. stopped rubbing.. and pressed the cloth hard so that perfume can be absorbed by the cloth.... it looks bit ugly will try to use a non glossy paint or a boot polish.. lets see if that does any magic to cover the stain...
Dashboard Rattles during cold season - there is a rattling sound when the dasahboard is cold (AC is on or in nights).. during day time no sound what so ever !!
Clock is missing - Honda could have thrown in some freebies for the cost of the car....Note : Beige should be avoided at all costs as it becomes dirty and get noticed easily
Gear Shift - Smooth, less throw or travel between gears...
Power Assisted steering - Smooth, good for city driving, very responsive... however had some metal rubbing sound which incidently started as I drove to the service center... mechnic advised thats a minor issue and its the horn plate which is loose on the steering.. he corrected it whilst he serviced the car Tilt is smart – But as I am tall it doesn’t benefit me much !!
Cons- PS is very smooth.. so in highway driving it might be a challange.. I wish they have some intelligent system which can recognise and alter the smoothness and make it bit hard on highways...read somewhere that usually system does have it.. not sure as I didnt feel it...
Height - not so great- disappointed- on humps car scrapes underneath and the monies paid and EMI comes in front every time the car craves for eating mud and tar !!!
Spacing - Enufff leg space, ppl at the back have comfortable seats and lleg space too, .. Boot space is enormous.. you can load full size suticases (2nos and some 2-3 light travel gears (air bags) easily) good for a family of 4
Speaker System - The car has Alpine cassette player with Radio (Dont know who in the world thought it to be a system for Honda in the year 2005 ...is it as an option to have in a C seg car at all??) but as it came with the car no complaints... the system is decent and with good bass effect as the rear speakers mounted on the parcel tray (which part of the large spacious boot) gives a good bass effect... however if the vol revs higher you can find distrotions.. not a very good speaker system. Will change as Vitamin M is plenty...
Lights - Not great, but OK compared to Swift. Night vision is good compared to Swift's...Seats – comfortable , driver seat is height adjustable… not too much of a help..but good to have feature..Overall Style – OK - New Honda 2009 model does look very good…
Serivce Center visit - Professional experience-4, Mechanic - 4, respect for time -3.5, parts costs 2 (costly) (on a scale of 1-5, where 5 is good 1 is below average) Car had done 46k kms... was bit concerned as to how the previous car owner maintained the car- got the service history of the car for last 3 service ..car was regularly maintained every 3 months or so the car was given for servicing... hearing that it was a relief...Mechanic on the trial run mentioned that car is in good state... and all is ok mechanically.. so worth the monies spent 4.65lac
Oil change, fender clips etc was replaced Rs1495 was the bill...So thats it for now.. will keep updating as I run the car.
Thanks for reading.
