Tata has to work on quality. Review on Tata Indica Vista Quadrajet

I bought Vista Quadrajet Aura model on 17 Mar, 10 from ABS Motors after selling my Zen Estilo. Now here the story begins. It has same Fiat 1.3 Ltr, Multijet Engine, Fiat Drive by Wire Gearbox & Fiat Suspension.

1. Space :- Awesome. I feel like I am sitting in a car or say Sedan like Safari or Innova.

   
   




2. Comfort:- Compared to any car even Swift & Honda City, I can bet I find it better. I don't feel like I am riding, I get feel I am gliding. As per comment of 1 of my friend who has i10 1.2 " Boss the road & breakers where you are driving at 30 kmph, I normally apply breaks & take my car on 1st gear & on the top I am feeling Zero Impact inside Cabin on that pathetic road."

   
   




3. Engine:- Same Multijet engine of Fiat whose Degraded version is working in Maruti Suzuki. Why I said Degraded due to less gear ratio & Turbo kick at 2000 RPM whereas Turbo kicks at 1750 in Vista.

   
   




4. Mileage:- Without 1st service, I got 23 KMPL 80% without AC, 20 % with AC on Jaipur Highway when speed was limited to 80 KMPH & got 20 KMPL with 100% AC & heavy traffic.

   
   




5. Gearbox :- Its a pleasure to change gears as it gives a feel like changing it in a sports car.

   
   

6:. Looks:- Killer Boss. Amazing. Dual Barrel Headlamp, Porcelein White colour, High mount lights etc, etc, etc.

1. Inetrior:- I like it & better than i10 or Estilo or so popular hunk Swift.

   
   




2. Features:- Adjustible Driver seat & Steering, Defogger with Wash Wiper, Front/Back Foglamps, Integrated Stereo, Dual tone Beige Interior, Stylisy Front Windscreen etc etc.

   
   

After Sales Service:- Dealt as if I am at Maruti Suzuki Workshop. Greeted, all things heard, offered Antirust, Teflon, Engine Coating, AC family lounge with Plasma, Tea Coffee, 3 Feedback calls 1 from Workshop, 1 from ABS showroom, 1 from Tata Mumbai headoffice.

I got good discount + Temple, Footmats, Perfume & Mud Guards.

-ve :(

1. Ground Clearence:- For this size & weight of car it should be minimum 170mm.

   
   




2. Steering:- Bit heavy (Hydraulic) as compared to EPS in Maruti.

   
   




3. Sound System:- Pathetic quality. I tried al good settings & start getting squeky sound from Tweeters. I lowered sound & go back to default then it was ok.

   
   

Overall its a very good VFM car with loads of feature. 1 should look for it before considering only Swift or Ritz.

5000 Kms Update.

There was heavy Rainfall in Gurgaon. My Vista car shocker started making Chu Chu & thud sound. FE dropped down to 14KMPL over all. Left side power window start making tuck tuck sound. Rear left door sounded like Door opening in Ramsay movie. Got issues rectified in 2nd Service. But was charged 1000 as they changed Jumping Rod Arms & Bushes. Surprised but that Chu Chu sound appeared again after 1 week. Took it to service station & was told that shocker needs Oiling & greecing as shocker rubber might be hard. It will take approx 4 hours. Mileage increased to 16+ KMPL now as they cleaned Air Filter & Fuel Filter. Lets hope it keeps stable for some time. Integrated Audio System's Down press button not working properly. Will have to take it to Audio Service Centre guys.

Verdict :- Again I'll say its a VFM car if you are looking for space, features but yeah few small issues Crop every now & then. Still not too much worried as I have saved more than 1 Lacs as compared to Swift.

9000 KMs

Sine the time I bought the car there was a strange tuk sound from left tyre of vehicle. This issue was once in 20 times I turn the car towards left side while reversing. Notified that to Tata workshop but they were unable to hear earlier. It increased to 8 times in 5 occassions so now that sound was coming twice in 1 turn. Sound was so prominent & loud that people standing outside used to say "Boss your car has banged somewhere". Took it again & called there GM. Asked them to sit in car & hear it on test drive. Tata guys accepted this time. It took my Vista on 14/01/11 which Tata guys after 3 hours were unable to find & asked to leave car for 1 day. I left my vehicle on 15/01/11 & finally got it on 16/01/11 after multiple calls made to them & threaten that I'll file a complaint to Consumer Forum. Finally I decided to got to workshop & some how managed to do so & after my efforts of 3.5 hours, they returned my car with problem rectified & that too after my possible suggestions. There was bearing issue in tyre. Now Clutch & Pressure plate has an issue as well which again Tata workshop guys agreed & there is a seapage from Oil bound which stores oil even though there is no bump from that area. So again they have asked me to leave vehicle for 2 days. They will order Clutch Kit from Pune & it may take upto 1 month or more. Misrable life of mine. I wish I could not have thought of saving 40000 & would have bought a Ritz VDI which was costing 5, 35, 000 on road Gurgaon under Pre Budget price offer. I wish there is a time machine through which I can go in Past & stop myself of buying the pain of bearing Tata problems. Well life is all about struggles & every day you get up, you are ready for a new challange, however if you have a Tata car, every day you get up, you are ready for multiple new challanges, issues & sounds. Thats all I can say to express my pain. I request now to be very careful before buying this car.

Update after 14, 000 KMs.

Finally Clutch Assembly changed completely. Nuckle Bearning was faulty & it got changed completely to eleminate that Tuk Sound from Left Tyre, Suspension Bushes got hardened again, got it changed. Tata guys told me Clutch & Suspension bushes are common issues & every day 2-3 Vistas got the same rectified :( . All these happened Free of Cost. Mileage 17 KMPL (Local + Slight Long Route) with 100% AC

Update at 15, 500 KMs.

Gearshift still very hard. Clutch paddle making chu-chu sound. Went to ABS GGN again & clutch assemble changed once again on 22/08/11. Finally car running ok with Punto's clutch assembly. Suspesion bushes dried again. During test drive Tata Engineer agreed & said "Sir don't worry. We will keep on changing this free of cost & once warranty is over, part is only worth INR 34/-". Once again I observed same old tuck sound from left tyre. O God please don't tell me that nuckle bearing issue is back.... Mileage still 17-18 KMPL (Local + Slight Long Route) with 100% AC.

Verdict: If you live with this or that Tata issue, then its an overall good dea & VFM.

Update 24000 KMs.

Went to Tata for clutch & suspension issue once again. As always "Sir clutch is faulty & need change. Are you kidding me? 3rd time in 22000 KMs? Now 2 years are over so either get it changed on your expense (Costing 6000/-) or wait for breakdown on middle of Road. Craps & disgusting ppl.

Same response for Suspension". I got a chance to see a local Mechanic who resolved the Gear shift stuck issue by 95% & Clutch Hardness issue by 70%. Driven 1200 KMs post treatment. Total cost 600/-. There was a play in shift assembly. Suspension rattling, I am still living with it. Just got all suspension parts tightened so that ratteling can be rectified. Average still 17 Local & highway 21+ with 4 ppl + 1 kid 90% AC. Total 600 Kms, 500 Kms highway & 100 KMs local.

Tata niggling issues are always there. So no matter how much VFM a Tata car is, it still is enough to give you pains post purchase. Buy at your risk.