Jul 31, 2006 11:27 PM
43948 Views
(Updated Apr 26, 2009 08:15 PM)
I purchased to a Toyota Innova G1 Petrol (vvti) in March 2006. Since then I have done about 3000 kilometers in it on Bangalore roads (an ideal terrain test drive zone for any car) and Karnataka highways. Well.... here goes my feedback.
The positives first:
Space: S P A C E...... that's how it should be spelt for describing Innova. It's an 8 seater. But if you are going out for a party with friends, you fit in the whole damn group in to it.
Driving comfort. I have driven cars in 4 Indian cities - Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkata and Bangalore. Road condition wise I think Delhi and Mumbai are the best. Kolkata, contrary to the popular belief, is very impressive. But believe me, in Bangalore, to get relief from the innumerable pot holes and bumps (as if the traffic congestion was not enough to reduce your speed), you have 3 choices:
Stay at home
Travel on a hover craft
Get an Innova
Sitting on even the third row seat gives the pleasure of riding at the front row. The shock absorbers coupled with the bridgestone radials form a fantastic couple. The power steering is extremely efficient - gives a very low turning radius. The The power brakes are amazing (I had the misfortune of having to test its capabilities twice and both the times, it impressed me). Ample head and leg room for all the rows, lots of storage space, nice hand rests, height adjustable steering wheel, night view mirror, inbuilt 4 Panasonic stereo speakers - everything together gives a feeling of driving a luxury car (frankly it is a luxury car). A lot of people say that driving such a big car in Indian city roads is not a good idea. I beg to differ. If you are a good driver and you have a sensitive mechanics built in your car, you get used to the space crunch and can drive very comfortably.
Looks: Regarding the exterior, it’s really a matter of personal taste and choice. I always was fond of the American mini van looks – So it suits me fine. Nothing great though but you can compromise on it. The interior colour combination is very nice. Gives a plush feeling – something like a luxury car would give. All the controls are conveniently positioned.
Power….. POWER…. POWER…. This car gives me the pleasure of beating down the mean drivers on the road hands down. The high torque allows you to slow down and decently accelerate at even the 4th gear without any jerks in the body. A high torque, 2000 cc engine, 100 bhp generates an impressive power.
Negatives:
If you are worrying about how you would pay the car loan EMI…. Forget about buying this car. Because your monthly petrol bill is going to be equal to the EMI. Frankly, the mileage sucks. I don’t like running AC, hence without it, I get 9 kmpl in city roads and 12 in highways.
Within 2 months, the 2 AC knobs came out and had to be taken to the service center to repair it. Very minor issue but from a Toyota, you don’t expect such things.
A suggestion:
A lot of people blindly decide on going for a diesel model for any large size car. My suggestion is that think about your requirements and the economies carefully before you decide. In my case, following calculation drove me in taking the decision in favour of petrol:
The equivalent diesel model costs Rs 90,000 more.
I drive approx 700 kms per month.
On a petrol model:
Mileage: 10 kmpl
Price: Rs 55 pl
I spend: Rs 3850 per month.
On a diesel model:
Mileage: 12 kmpl (diesel gives slightly better milage)
Price: Rs 35 pl
I spend: Rs 2040 per month.
So that’s a savings of Rs 1810 per month if you buy a diesel model.
Now since the diesel car costs 90,000 more, I am spending that extra money right at the time of purchase. If you are buying through Car Loans, that's an extra 2000 Rs per month EMI for next 5 years. So your fuel savings are gone.
Secondly, to recover that extra Rs 90,000 cost over the petrol model through monthly recurring fuel savings of Rs 1810, I have to wait for 90,000 / 1810 = 50 months (4 years 2 months). By the end of that period, the cost of a diesel car maintenance would be much higher than the petrol model maintenance. Also diesel being Rs 20 cheaper is not a natural phenomenon but because of subsidies by the govt. With the world and Indian economics changing everyday and our infamous subsidy “raaj” being reduced slowly but steadily, you never know where the price difference of petrol and diesel would be.
Add to all these, the sheer pleasure of driving a petrol engine over a diesel one beats all logic. Test drive both and you will know what I mean…. hence my decision to go for a petrol model.
Conclusion:
As they say, a car should be designed for a man and engineered for a woman – meaning a well built strong body with ease of handling. Innova meets that criterion perfectly. Except the mileage factor…. The car is just amazing.
===== I am adding the follwing section after 1 year and 10000 Kms of driving the car
Initially my complaint was regarding the milage. But after the first service at the end of 1 yr and 10000 kms and also purchasing petrol consistently from a reliable station, I am now getting 11+ milage within city and basic usage of AC. I strongly feel that it's quite impressive considering that its a 2000 cc petrol car with such a huge and heavy body. No more complaints.
Infact the more I am driving this car, the more it makes me happy. It is almost a noise less car inside the cabin. The driving comfort is amazingly smooth. And the best thing is that even after 1.2 years of continous driving, there is not a single crankling or tinkling sound anywhere to be heard.
After a hard day in office, having an innova to drive back home is a blessing - especially in bangalore traffic jams.
Absolutely no complaints in life...... :-)
=======The following section is after 3 years and 24000 KMS.... it's still fantastic. I just love this car. No crankling sound as yet in the body (quite commendable after 3 years in bangalore roads). Not a single extra visit to the service station except the yearly ones. But I had to change my battery in between. It was dead after 2 and a half years. The car is simply impressive.
