Apr 11, 2010 01:42 PM
9488 Views
After a lot of market survey, I had xeroed onto to the following cars
i10 kappa
Estilo
Wagon R Duo
A Star
Santro was ruled out as my wife had some special dislike for it. Wagon R duo , I dint like for two reasons, one there is no gas where I live and new design for the car is in the offing, so no point going for an outgoing design no matter those madhavan ads, cutre ads though. Estilo looked good on all parameters but realized that it did not have K Series engine, the height of the car will reduce its driving fun and stability and most imp of all it looks like a DABBA. i10 looked like a competent choice but from its looks im ust say it has a very standard look the way cars have looked for a long time, there was no oomph factor esp when u see it standing next to a star. second is mileage is v poor, during its best times it may give u 14 compared to minm of 18-19 of star. thirdly, its not maruti so spares will b relatively expensive and I really dint want to pay shahrukh for my car and lastly it was good 40K more for Kappa engine compared to A star.
we went for blue a Star and let me tell its a stunner if u see in broad daylight. the sporty look wins your heart every time. its like marrying a pretty girl visa vis an ordinary one, imagine the pleasure of seeing katrina standing at your door every time you come back home, in this case the car stands outside in garage. the rear seat windows are v small which my wife instantly disliked reacting in typical Indian way which believes " bada hai to behtar hai" . I realized its so becos it adds to the looks of the car and any bigger window is not req. if windows r what u r looking for , pl buy 800, it has largest ones. the rear seats are little cramped compared to other cars, but I found it comfortable to sit behind with two other people. also how many times are someone going to be sitting behind.. in nuclear family times of today, the front seats matter most 99% times. similary boot space is sufficient if u r not shifting your household in your car
coming to driving exp, I must say its a bliss, when you turn the car at high speeds on corners. the highest width and lowest height in its segment gives you the confidence that its going to be safest. the engine sound is so less that in the beginning, I wouldn't even come to know car has started and keep twisting the keys. mileage is round 20, my bike gives 35 and it doesn't have ac carries only two people and doesn't have back rest. its so affordable that it makes sense to take your car out to buy vegetables only also.
I am really happy with the car no matter all these negatives news around. i10 sells cos of shahrukh but he also sells navrtan oil, chaddi, baniyan, saabun etc. so I really dont believe what he says. what I experience is the biggest truth and I'm convinced I got it perfectly right with A Star. a true STAR
