Mar 09, 2007 01:10 PM
20050 Views
I have driven over 18000 kms in a span of 2.5 years. While that may not sound like a lot, I have been through all sorts of terrains. So, here's my scorecard for the car:
Build Quality: Outstanding. It may be a car designed for the third world countries like Brazil and India; built in Halol, Gujrat; but the Bavarian character shines through. The Body-on-chassis layout is better than the monocoques and jelly-beans any day. This is one car built ot last and will do so with very few rattles and creaking body panels.
Refinement: Pretty good. The engine has a lovely burble and makes a nice racket when revved; I love the sound of a Corsa driving by at slightly high revs. But the noise really doesnt intrude into the cabin and NVH levels are very acceptable
Driveability: Room for improvement. The steering is well weighted and the three spoke wheel(similar to the Astra) feels grippy. But it is kinda leaden at slow speeds. Not frustratingly so but you do have to wrestle with it just a bit a very low speeds. However, once you pick up momentum, things look a lot better. The steering suddenly feels more lively and precise, just a slight deflection causing the car to change direction nicely. A hint of understeer on the straights and a some of oversteer on the corners, enough to give you a cold sweat at the back of your neck in case of panic maneouvres. This car may feel a tad stiff in bumper to bumper traffic; but give it a decent stretch of road and slot it into the third gear and it gives you a nice silky feel.
Power: Adequate. Like the steering, there's an ambivalent character here too. At low revs, especially with the AC switched on, the car feels decidedly sluggish. You almost feel as if its lost power till you jab the clutch and throttle. But once the revs build up, power deliver is smooth and lush. There a rich torque band in the 2nd at around 3000 rpm and if youwork it well, the power delivery keeps going even as you upshift and hit 4000 rpm. Now, this aint no boy racer or hot hatch, but will do a very good job or keeping up with the Jones's Ford Ikons and Hyundai Getzs, and keep you entertained while at it. Hitting three figures is easy and quick and you dont realize it till you actually look at the speedo. Bottomline is, dont expect a drag race monster and you wont be disappointed. 88PS or some 85 odd bhp looks good on paper, but doesnt really translate to track dominance; but whatever pawer you have on tap is enough to see you through 5 days a week. On the weekends, when you really need a kick, go flinch your friend's Honda City 1.5 VTEC(the old one Pal, not the new City ZX).
Handling and Suspension: Fabulous. One of the talking points of this car. Gives you a ride far better than eny car in its segment. I've driven everything from the Getz to the disgusting Swift Vxi. Even bigger cars like the Lancer do not quite match up. Bumps and potholes are reduced to mere thuds. I've never had the suspension bottoming out the way it does on the Santro, even when I've hit a bad pothole at slow, mediu or fast speeds. This car truly gives you a mature ride and is comfortable on just about any roads. The ride is plush in city at moderate speeds and satinesque on the highway, with enough feedback to the driver to be reassuring.
Transmission: Very Good. The gearing is a little short, but that adds to the driveability of the car. It can pull cleanly in the third from speeds as low as 20+. The gearshift is a little notchy but fairly liveable. It must be mentioned that the best way to get a good average from this car is to drive it as unhurriedly as possible. I usually reach the fifth gear as soon as possible and let the on-board microprocessor take over. The ECM keeps it at just over 1000 rpm and the car cruises at 30+ kmps with my foot completely off the accelerator. In city traffic, I often need to brake to reduce speed as per the vehicle in front, but as soon as I release the brakes the vehicle automatically gathers speed back to its state of mean motion. This way I've managed 13 in the city, without the AC. Overall, the tranny is very good. It could have been more lively, but hey, I'm not complaining.
Cabin Space: Fair. Ok, its not a space wagon. The driving cockpit can be easily termed as cramped. As a first timer, used to the Santro's tall boy design I had a tough time getting in and out without looking awkward. But once you get the hang of it(left leg first, bum on the seat, a little slide and swivel) you not only do it with elegance, but appreciate the way the car wraps around you. All controls are easily accessible, even when I'm reclined. The rear seating bench is not too roomy either but is a lot better with the front bucket seats pulled forward a bit. However, for all the stinginess in space in the passenger section, you do get a very nice boot. Unlike normal hatches where the luggage space fills up with just one big suitcase or rucksack, this one can hold a surprisingly large amount of stuff. Just to give you an idea, I once shifted from one dwelling to another, with my Corsa alone. The split rear seat further adds to the flexibility. Overall, a decent bargin and eminently liveable.
Service: Excellent. GM doesnt make cheap cars. Even though the Corsa Sail is a budget product by their standards, you still pay more than small cars. And GM treats you like you've actually purchased something special. I can contrast this with Hyundai and Maruti service that I've expereinced first hand. The service folks at the two service centres I've been to(Venus in Bhubaneswar and Talera at Pune) are top-of-the-line. Remember that a car is a complex piece of equipment and service is an integral part of the whole car owning deal. And the GM service has really made me glad that I bought one of their products. Surprisingly for a premium product, the service costs are pretty affordable. And spares for the Corsa are much cheaper than other GM cars like the Astra. I do not know much about the new Chevy brand of cars, but fixing my Corsa has never been bled me dry. On the topic of repairs, the only problem I've ever had with this car has been electrical in nature. The AC swithc gave way twice till the servie engineer at Talera gave me a permanent solution. Another very wierd problem I've had with my car is that of the rear windshield shattering on its own, twice due to the defogger heating up the glass while the windows were rolled up. It was a bewildering and unpleseant experience, going through it not once but twice. But since then I have disconected the defogger's contact at the back and I'm at peace now. Overall, the GM service wins top marks and is a very good reason for deciding in favour of any GM product.
To sum it up, it has been a wonderful experience with the Corsa so far. I'll never think of selling it off; rather when I'm done with the EMIS or when I'm able to finally buy my BMWs, I'll keep this around for my son to drive around in as his first car.
