Aug 10, 2006 11:32 PM
4776 Views
(Updated Aug 16, 2006 07:24 PM)
Hey friend, honestly speaking I am sure that some day INDICA will replace all the PREMIER PADMINIS to become taxis in mumbai. It is too early for people to comment on this vehicle. Probably only after the vehicle has run for about 15000 kms or so, you will realise what kind of car it is, as in a good car or a bad car.
Dont jump to conclusion that XETA is a good car just because its cheap. Even chinese goods are damn cheap but when it comes to reliability, they can never compete with Japanese products.
TATAs should give us an INDICA with a totally new shape. I am tired of looking at that funny looking car.
Why doesnt TATA learn something from MARUTI or HYUNDAI or even FORD ? they give us fresh looking cars whereas with TATA its the same BULK with some minor cosmetics changes. TATA truly has an orthodox mentality, give me a new look indica !_______________________________________________________________________
Hey guys I received a lot of comments on the review I had posted on the INDICA XETA . And I feel that my review has not gone well with the readers. Well, honestly speaking I am not against TATA INDICA, I would rather say that it was the best looking car when it was launched in 1999. That car was designed by IDEA of Italy but was later modified by TATA ( The outsized mudguards with equally oversized plastic skirting / the Rear tail light).
Now the skirting around the mudguard doesnt look appealing considering the size of the tyres. Its a big mis-match. TATA should have given the INDICA bigger and broader tyres that would give it a mean look. Try viewing the new model INDICA especially from the rear. It looks pathetic. It really does.
The XETA is surely a good deal after you consider the price at which it is being offered. The car has good comfort and a very good paint finish. But if you see the sales graph of the cars sold in the small car segment for the last 3 months, the sales figures of XETA dont look so encouraging. Rather check the sales figures of the WAGON R. Though it is a much more expensive than the XETA, it the most preferred car in the small car segment today.
Now even check out the New Wagon R launched by Maruti Udyog. It really looks fresh and exciting. Maruti had the foresight to offer a new look car instead of just adding some plastic fitment to give it a new look. Also look at the New Zen that is scheduled to be launched in September. It looks like a next generation city car.
Friends, I really dont intend to defame the INDICA in any way and I have used the Indica DLS for 3 years and run it for about 47000 kms. My only grudge against TATA is that they are working on the lines of PREMIER AUTOMOBILES. This company called PAL had to close down because they failed to innovate and failed to excite the customer. They gave facelifts to the PADMINI by way of a new steering wheel, dual-tone horn, chrome bumpers with rubber clamps, new seat fabric, reverse lights and additional side indicator lights for the Deluxe versions, chrome plated plastic grills instead of the black plastic grills ! Yes friends these were the minor changes they made over the decades. Earlier people didnt mind but when Maruti came into the picture, the indian consumer taught PAL a lesson and today PAL is resting in the grave.
TATA is trying to keep a check on the expenses by limiting their innovations instead of making the INDICA a more value added product for the consumer. I am not surprized that TATA has priced the XETA at Rs 2.78 Lacs. It could have been even cheaper considering the TATA has been using the INDICA platform for the past 7 years and the same platform is being used for the INDICA, INDIGO and MARINA.
Looking at the INDICA does one really feel that the model belongs to this generation ? I really doubt . If you ask me I would bluntly say NO. I hope to see a fresh looking INDICA soon.
