Update: March 11, 2007
Updating my earlier review
https://mouthshut.com/review/Maruti_Suzuki_Swift_Di-119320-1.html
after almost touching 1000 km on odometer & driving out on highway for a 600km trip to Shirdi on poor roads. But let me 1st honor my obligations to you, the readers.
1st, I thank all who gave my review an excellent rating & leaving encouraging comments and making my review, the review of the day.
2nd, I convey my heart-felt condolences to those who left caustic comments. They made choices that make them jealous of my studied gamble.
One person who I cannot ignore attacked me on my English, commenting… “And your English, frankly, sucks”. My friend, let the users decide on who sucks & what.
The update:
Comfort: Seems to be increasing every day. Ride quality is excellent, very comfortable. Driving comfort is better than that in a Qualis. Though the roads were bad, the car was comfortable. On bigger bumps, it jumped more frivolously than my Esteem, however, as the driver, I was firmly on road, at all times.
a) Driver comfort: 8 out of 10. Could have taken even a 10 on 10, but for the under-thigh support & left side armrest. I hope they do something about long-legged individuals like me for under-thigh support. Not everyone is as slim & trim as you, Mr.Jagdish Khattar. I, for sure, will be getting extra cushions. Left side armrest is a sore that they have forgotten. Costs Rs.1350.
b) Rear-seat passanger comfort: 9 out of 10. All 5+1 kid were comfortable. In Swift, I do not have to push behind all the way thus the rear passenger comfort is enviable. Leg space is great, ride over bad roads is slightly jumpy because of stiffer suspension.
Driving pleasure: Wow! Just wow! Nothing beats this one.
a) Engine: 10 on 10. It does make slight noise that gives away that it’s a diesel when you are standing in front of the car.
Power is truly brute. Till the 1st service kept it below 100 at all times & keeping speed-o-meter stick between 60-80 as recommended; hugely frustrating for this car is meant to be driven much faster. At least that’s what the acceleration told me. I pulled faster when above 1600rpm & overtook every vehicle when needed on the pesky 2-lane road bustling with traffic, including huge Honda with double the engine size on Petrol.
Once you understand the brute engine power, you also enjoy the noise of accelaration when turbo kicks. It also gives an ardenalin rush & makes you feel like: BOND! At least in the car department;-)
b) Road Grip: Whoppie! 10 on 10. I overtook many cars on narrow roads & it obviously took a lot of acrobatics. Not once did the car lose its road-grip. As I give it for 1st service, I hope that at higher speeds, the road grip shall not desert me.
c) Headlights: 8 out of 10. Not 10 on 10 because there is no 10 on 10 on this one since I believe day light driving is best. However, of the 4 hours I drove last night, I doubt anything else can drive you better! Headlights are sufficient & have a good distance focus feature(doesn’t matter on highway).
Fuel Efficiency: Swift Diesel returned an average of 18.31 kmpl(kilometre per litre) on highway. I had to change gears quite often than I would have had to if I would have driven to Satara or Gujarat. I hope it will improve. City average, I am quite unsure of since I have a habit of leaving the car ON with AC, but all the same, it gave me 12.3. This is the only department where I have not given points, since I am not sure & I had better expectations.
Suspension: 7 out of 10. I have a few grudges, but I am not sure they are because of suspension. 1st, it is slightly jumpy for rear passangers. 2nd, I am sure rear wheel touched the body on at least 3 occasions, without provocation. There were huge thuds on comparatively smaller crevices of road at about 60 kmph. 3rd grouse, there is a small noise, which I hope is not from shock-abs.
Body fittings, interiors, & accessories: 4 out of 10. Plastics are ok. Beige interiors are A MUST for car worth 6L+. Parcel tray, music system are absent. Rear-view mirror is bad. Maruti sure takes risks with its reputation by not providing proper accessories. Also, NO ZXi equivalent!
Extreme caution: Maruti dealers threaten to void warranty if electricals are not fitted from them. Case in the point: AutoCop I want to get installed will cost me 10k at dealership but elsewhere, it costs Rs.3300. Fitting charges at dealership: Rs.1200, At AutoCop authorized dealer:Rs.325. Do something about this Mr.Khattar. I also have a photograph taken at a dealership that says Maruti Udyog Ltd will void warranty if outside electrical fitments are done. When complained to MUL(CRN:340730) they reiterated that there is no such order, but have not taken any action.
A request: Pl rate my review so that I am encouraged to bring you more. Also, leave comments or email me if I have forgotten to rate anything you want to know.
Update: April 1st, 2007.
Drove to Pune and back last Sunday in Swift Diesel VDi. First service done & was told to race as I please, I was looking forward to this drive, if only to test out peak speed, power & stability.
Speed: Tried to evaluate top speed & drove till 160kmph & slightly above when I lost courage to go any further. The accelerator still had way to go, but I felt I was losing traction or was simply paranoid about tyre-burst since it was a hot day with full blazing afternoon Sun. When satisfied with top speed trial(who wants to drive at 160kmph continuously anyways), I reverted to my regular highway driving only to realize that I crossed 150kmph mark without even knowing, meaning the car is rock steady at those speeds & the noise level too is way below ANY CAR, forget diesels.
Noises: The noise in the rear was due to a) Poor fitting of tailgate & b) Something in suspension. These were taken care of by Sai Service & now there is no known noise yet. The problem of some thudding sound in the rear has also currently vanished.
Maintenance: Service cost me less than Rs.600, lesser than even a petrol Swift. Don’t know why?
Fuel economy:My Swift Diesel VDi average fuel economy currently in city is 13.45(AC on all the time, within South Mumbai, no highway travel). Highway average actually should not be calculated when going at these high speeds in excess of 140kmph, however, for records sake it gave me a highway average of 17.64kmph. I have also shifted to normal diesel on advise of Sai Service. They say the mileage would become 17 in city and 23 on highways after around 4000kms. Lets see… this is the only one deptt I am unhappy about till now since my expectations are higher.
Sore: Rear view mirror is BAD. Still waiting for any action on my complaint to Maruti. Indians have a habit of being complacent once they turn market leaders. Shame Shame…
