Oct 06, 2004 11:23 PM
3747 Views
(Updated Oct 06, 2004 11:23 PM)
Hi guys,
I was just going through the reviews, I appreciate that people do have great opinion about this car, I took a new one in july 2003 a vxi version. I had compared and tested all the cars(petrol) by 7lacs budget and my search narrowed to honda city and baleno, the old city which did have an executive look amused me externally but inside it was too much of cheap 80s plastic look, besides the entry and exit was a bit difficult for me.
I opted a Baleno after a lot of communications with the product manager in MUL, he helped me a lot in clearing my doubts, and ofcourse at that time the price also came down pretty well. So I finally took one.
The external front look reminded me of some american GM car with a large hood and chrome, personally I love it, but the back and side are great too but a change is due on the tail lamp cluster, maybe a clearer and brighter lamps would do the job, do compare the back with that of a skoda, it shares almost same shape(somewhat) but the clear lamps make it look greater, inside is roomy and quite, a chilling ac would cool you in seconds, I bet its the best in that class.
Controls are powered( even the ac vent selector) those come powered only in skodas higher version(NO OTHER CAR UNDER 10LCS HAS IT), hey here we are talking about a 7 lac budget car mind it... steering response and gear shifts are cool, good brakes too. Company could provide 14inch discs with 195 tyres.
City ride is smooth as some other friends have quoted but its a monster on the highway, a smooth ride on fifth at 60kmph and you feel some adrenaline rush in you, thats where this car acts instantly, shift it directly to 3rd and punch down, man it shoots to a 110 kmph with ease, just in third gear!! I' ve pushed it to a max of 165 kmph in 5th and 4th gears.
Mileage in city has been between 10 to 12 max, cant push more on lower gears, the flat torque helps a lot, on highways its gives me 18kmpl. I'm happy, was reluctant and had a baaad opinion until I test drove one, now its my PRICED POSSESSION!!
