Oct 04, 2004 06:41 PM
4700 Views
(Updated Oct 04, 2004 06:41 PM)
Well..... read all other articles about getz with people saying that they have waited for 3-4 months for the car to be launched. But I top the list since I have waited for 2 years, since I last saw it in Auto Expo 2002. I took a test drive at Nimbus Hyundai Noida & here's what I gathered....
First instance when I saw Getz, it was standing besides a Santro Xing in the showroom. It definately looked much wider and bigger than the xing. As I stepped inside, it felt as if I am in a drawing room!! The windscreen is sooooo far placed that you cannot touch it while driving.
Remember, how you wipe your windscreen in foggy weather, or in rains from inside?? Its practically imposibble in Getz!! We Indians are never satisfied untill we wipe our screens with a soft cloth....... despite our blowers running at full pace, pointing at the windshield. Phychologically you will fild the interior space one-and-half times the Ikon's. The space above the dash is HUGE !! You can place your briefcase horizontly !! Instrumentation is very clear and practical.
The dials glow in a good green colour at night. Steering is same as Accent's. Gear is nice and trendy. Even the legroom at the rear is great. Boot space is also nice for a hatchback and is about 20-30 % more than santro's.
The dealer took me outside the showroom for a test drive. A seperate getz was ready for that purpose. To my surprise , the car looked much smaller!! Its only when it was standing besides a xing, it looked bigger. It felt like a size of a zen or indica, standalone. Theory of relativity, now I understood!! Now as I started the car, it was wisper smooth. Gear shift was very nice and chunky with short throws, less than santro's. Well the first obstruction I felt was the A pillars.
I coudn't take the car out of the gate as the A pillars blocked my view to a much extent. They are placed too far away and are very thick. You can eaisily miss a two whealer or other things on the road!! Its then when I thought how difficult it must be to drive a Getz on hills with all those sharp U turns. The pickup of the car was Ok types, same in the league of Xing's. The AC did feel to have an effect on the engine while running, but not to a much extent. Might be when the car is fully loaded. But I personally feel that the AC might not be that effective because of the huge cabin, that too with integrated boot!
One more noticable thing was that the engine was harsh when accelerated quickly through the gears, same problem as in Xing. But again the good thing was that the engine vibrations were not felt in the gear knob as in the Xing.
With all these plus and minus points, one obvious shoking thing was the price tag. At Rs 4.5 lacs, ex showroom delhi, for a base model, without tachometer and thinner tyres, does it really make sense?? Paying close to Rs 5 lacs on road, I can get cars like new Esteem, Ikon flair and be a member of 'C' segment. One more thing is that in place like Delhi, where you can see hundreds of new car on road, even a day after their launch, I did not see a single Getz on road till date!! I travel 70 km daily. Maybe that public has got a fobia of it beeing overpriced. In the present scenario, with huge price cuts being in fasion, dont be surpriced if hyundai cuts the price of Getz by 40-50 k, if the sales dont pick up. At that point of time dont regret your decesion if you buy Getz now !!
To sum up, here's what I gathered about the car.....
Getz is a very-very good car had it been for not more then Rs 4 Lacs. Still, you can buy it if you care for your comfort, huge interior space etc. But then dont get a jerk if people compare your car with indica or zen, and always thing that you are enjoying the best of your comforts sitting inside the car. To hell with what the world says!! On the other hand, if you want it for show offs and as a status symbol, you will still remain in the B sement after paying Rs 5 lacs. You decide!!!
I am personally very much inclined towards Flair. But recent reviews show that it is underpowered. Moreover it looked cramped from inside when compared to Getz. I badly need a car in this segment. M totally confused..... please help me out.
Getz or Flair. The question remains!!
