Suggestions for a 1:1

[karansharma8783]

My dad is looking to buy a new 1:1. Our about 6-year old diesel Indica is just about on the verge of extinction and now really sounds more like a farm tractor Could you guys please suggest some good options. Our budget is about 5 lacs, max about 6 or 6.5. I don't have much idea about the individual cars, so can anyone also point me to a website about in the Indian compact car market containing reviews and prices and so on??

[bandhav]

You don't need to go to any other site to get the required information. We all are here for you.

Firstly you need to specify your or your dad's needs in more elaborative manner like Petrol or diesel? Hatchback or sedan? etc.

In case you guys are looking for a car with a diesel mill only, following are the contenders:

Maruti Stable
Hatchbacks
Ritz
Swift
Sedan
Dzire

Tata
Hatchback
Indica Vista
Sedans
Indigo CS
Manza

Ford
Figo
Sedans
Ikon

The list can go on as the price bracket which you have mentioned in one of the most happening segment of Indian Four Wheeler industry. So please specify your needs so that we can take the discussion further.

[karansharma8783]

Thanks for the suggestions Bandhav....I think Tata brand is safely out of our scope coz we have had enough of Indica and don't want more of Tatas Petrol or diesel, well there's not really any limitation here so could be either. You are right about the price segment being the most happening these days. How do you think these are generally in terms of mileage and after-sales service and are they hit among the Indian crowd :

1. Ford Fusion
2. Honda Jazz
3. Hyundai i20

Ford Ikon looks to be a good cheap option in the sedan category, should come easily in our budget but I heard Ford cars are not too great a hit, am I right in saying this?

[bandhav]

Ford Fusion: A great car killed due to apathy of buyers, Its a fantastic package of performace, practicality and what not bundled in one. You can procure one but this will reach the upper region of your budget.

Honda Zazz: A great car if it were 1.5 lakhs cheaper, this will be well above your budget.

Hyundai i20: A good modern contemptory car, in case perfromace is not of paramount importance, a nicely loaded 1.2 i20 can very well be your well within your budget.

Out of this I would suggest to go for i20.

[groundforce]

If you could stretch your budget by about 50k or so, the 1.6 Polo would be well worth considering.

[aritrim]

Avoid Korean cars, read Hyundai. By any cost. i10, 20, 30, 40 whatever.

Since you are in India, Maruti will be the best bet, considering the service network, spare availability, cost of spares and overall maintenance. Not to say the resale value after years of use.
Did I mention Great Mileage?

Ritz has good reviews for it, if you can live with it's shape nothing like it.

Ford, Honda etc are all jazzed up when you buy them, then the reality strikes when the car becomes bit old. Service network is there only in the metros. In between there is a big void. Ofcourse. Who's buying in between anyways? Cost of spares, trousers will fall on the ground. Leaving you in chaddis. You will curse yourself as why you bought the car.

Indian bumpy roads, traffic condition, cost of fuel are the prime factors for you to consider. These doesnt suit to the fancy and jazzy cars by the International Brands.

Chevrolet UVA won't make you feel the same if you owned a Camaro in the US. Not even Cruze. Reason, this is India and we have issues.

If you want a no problem people's car, opt for a Maruti and have a good night's sleep ever after.

[amarkatira]

In sedan Logan petrol/diesel both are real worth money.
New VW vento is also worth waiting I think.
Ford are no,no they are cheat.

[bandhav]

@GF:That would have been a great choice if this supposed to be karan's persoanl ride, but I think that his dad might not like to trade practicality for performance. Polo is not really great in terms of VFM, one should and can get better bang for his/her bucks.

@ari: I do understand that there is nothing whcih suits us better than maruti, but this is not a reason good enough to write others off. Hyundai makes pretty decent small cars and their growing market share is a prood of the same.

[groundforce]

(08-22-2010 11:22 PM)amarkatira Wrote:  In sedan Logan petrol/diesel both are real worth money.
New VW vento is also worth waiting I think.
Ford are no,no they are cheat.

I disagree, Amar. We've had different Ford models since 2003 and have never really had any sort of major issue.
The Vento starts at over 7.5, so this might be a bit of a stretch.

Karan, if you like to drive, you should TD the Fiesta. I hear there are certain models under the 6 lakh mark.

[aritrim]

(08-22-2010 11:23 PM)bandhav Wrote:  @ari: I do understand that there is nothing whcih suits us better than maruti, but this is not a reason good enough to write others off. Hyundai makes pretty decent small cars and their growing market share is a prood of the same.

Well ofcourse Bandhav, but Hyundai have still not delivered anything like a signature car like Maruti 800 or Wagon-R. Infact amidst so many cars, the signature models are still 800, Esteem, Gypsy and Wagon-R.

Whatever I have written is my personal view and opinion.

Every car maker who sells car in India should focus on 3 things.

- Our bad roads that makes the cars go haywire.
- Traffic conditions. State buses kiss cars and vice versa on roads.
- Cost of fuel

If I have to pay Rs 2000 for removing a 1 feet deep scratch from my paint with the authorised workshop, I will NOT suggest that company to a fellow friend of mine.

I am not a car harvester, but I go to the workshops regularly for my own and my friends'. Maruti beats the shit out of the rest when it comes to service, spares and maintenance.