Oct 14, 2010 08:40 PM
15338 Views
(Updated Oct 14, 2010 08:40 PM)
I am writing review in small steps. I am quite impressed with many writers and their writing ability. Without the help of the so many inputs, it would not be possible to take decision so confidently. Thank you everybody for their great efforts.
We were searching for different cars for more than two years. Being our first car, our budget was limited. One more constraint was no loan, all cash. I was smitten by EMI of HDFC personal loan, and immediately closed it. Our budget was around 4L. Major hurdle for us was face off from 'suzuki' and 'tata'(personally disliked by both of us). Though these companies produce good engines, they are just doing that. Suzuki ‘Cervo’ which is really a good hatch not to be launched in India. Many of our friends own Alto, Swift, SX4, Desire, Indica, Indigo; but we were feeling personally to go beyond this class.
Short listed Polo, i10 and i20, after rejecting fooling fabia, ford figo, Chevy. Liked Jazz but price is insane. Etios was also on card but quite long to come and it looks like discontinued Renault. Toyota facing quality heat at world level. Once I even leaned toward Indica vista, it was upfront rejection from wife due to taxi image of Indica and engine noise. Punto though from fiat, served by tatas, so not that much positive about it. We didn’t just want be on four wheels but something really more rRajeev_Vermactable.
POLO: Visited the only show room in Pune. Seen the quality of built and claims made by Germans about service. It was surprise to see first service at 15000km. handling was quite good though not driven by me in dense circuit around 'Mangala' theatre. Built quality is really great. But their (VW) lack of confidence reflected in number of cars they are producing (900) per month and waiting of 4 months. Feature wise Polo was quite rigid. Since Fabia proved to be fiasco, they are cautious this time. One important thing I disliked by me about Polo is old engine from fabia. They could have put 1.2 TSI, 105hp petrol engine (27.7 kmpl highway - Source :https://autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/newreviews/207295/specs/volkswagen_polo.html?spec=VW-BPOL0221), which they are already giving abroad. I felt like cheated without this engine; but this way at least they are clearing unsold fabia engines. Certain claims made by company about giving flight ticket in case of flight miss due to malfunction of car etc interesting to know, but when actual time comes those buyers audible in complaints forum. I had read detailed review about problem in steering column by mumbai POLO owner and how guys from PUNE factory could not fix it. Passed it to tires and then Apollo people visit to tell tires are OK. Problem still persisted. I am not aware whether this mumbai buyer of polo even got a single rickshaw / taxi fare? With all these plus and minus I thought, if at all I get such problem it would be hell as only one dealer in Pune, company guys(locals) who cry when Vento leaves the plant in the Ad, will make us cry. Better to stick proven vehicle. I read rattling problems in Hyundai i20 though.
i20: I am fan of i20 looks(German designed). I am flat every time I look at it. Now icing on the cake is ORVM indicators, blue LEDs, climate control and so on. I read about insufficient cooling in i20. You are paying 6L with accessories, and sweating inside? One other minus point was FE of 11 to 13kmpl. Last was waiting of three months and no discount. We were planning for i20 Magna. My wife likes i10 more than i20. I was searching for what could be negative to i20, so I found good thread of i20 steering column problem. Finally it appeared like I have gathered enough negatives to advance to i10. Ultimatum to see new car at 'Dushera' was catalyst to close all other options.
Finalized Nextgen i10 Sports: Already driven i10 of many friends and liked quality the car. It was also looking rich compared to other hatchbacks of the class. One more reason to go for this was VTVT engine having 20.36kmpl ARAI. Though it cost 50k more compared to old model, with no discounts; we liked it. I was wondering how much dealers earn. I booked i10 Sports (blushing red) at Garve Hyundai**. I made cash payment.
I visited stockyard for PDI; I found hyundai factory invoice showing price of 3.69L placed in glove box. Here their base selling price is 4.49L for i10 sports. So they are earning 80k incl. taxes on the base price itself. Add on for us were 4486(octroi)+ Roadtax (@ 31k) + other charges (4500) + Insurance (@15k) I argued with sales person for doing registration, road tax, insurance by self (getting all ‘gyan’ from net)but he denied we will not sell. Go and buy if any dealer gives you carlike that. I asked him that in writing, but he denied. I remembered ultimatum so no way out. But I got discount for insurance as I got deal from outside for @ 10k and dealer matched it. This additional amount of @ 51k above base price, I guess they make @12k.
==PDI at stockyard: ==**I was allowed only for visual inspection at stockyard. Stockyard keeper got the car out and asked me to inspect. They were not ready to leave me alone as it was their responsibility. I was feeling odd. I declared it over since cannot drive car in yard as per their rules. I waited from almost whole day since told by salesman that you would be able to drive your car to show room which is @17km from yard. I was happy and waiting for drivers to come. It was 5.30 pm they surfaced but it was heavily raining. Stockyard keeper who became very friendly to me took my requisition first to tell driver you take his car. I know I will not be driving but at least able to sit in my car before I take it on my name. A phone call came from Garve directing them to bring 3 cars which has to clear passing that evening. I was seeing my whole day going drain. So I told them can’t I drive my car to show room? For me it was an opportunity to discover any problem while driving. Garve demanded in writing than you must give undertaking for transit if at all any damage happens I will bear the cost. I was almost carried away and started writing letter. Stockyard manager described me some incidents where there was no mistake by car drivers, but by other vehicles like trailers, auto etc; by which car got damaged. He also explained there is no insurance you will not be paid if at all anything happens. You are taking very big risk. I stopped writing undertaking and came back from yard.
Please remember while reading this, there is kind of war within the our mind to convince ourself to finalize the car. The intention is to reveal that and not to disgrace other cars / owners. Their sales figure speak itself.Will update the review as I progress.
Delivery : I took delivery of the car on the 'Dushehara'. SalRajeev_Vermarson had given us half an hour for delivery. He gave invoice, manual etc. Registration was yet to come, which he told to give in two days.As per his promise I could not find the reverse horn. I need to catch him for the same and multiple things to understand.Bringing own, new costly piece of car home was very challenging as became very cautious. I sat with the manual provided to understand how things work, what is where.
