Ok.. i'm a biker (just got my new P220 DTS-i).. don't know how to drive (cars).. but dad isn't.. he knows how to drive.. so he's looking forward towards a good car under 5 lakh...
Options :-
1. i20
2. Ritz. (hate her arse)
3. Grande Punto (power is low acc. to me)
4. Getz
Personally, i would've gone for Fiat Palio Sports 1.6 (100 bhp, 137 Nm of torque for 4.5 lakh).. but the downside is 10 kmpl and my dad would kill me for this advice.. so please advice a good car from above shown options..
forget about getz and ritz. these two look pathetic.
Grande Punto is a terrific car but you never trust TATA service. They are one of worst when it comes to service and I heard that Palio owners has nightmares because of them.
i20 is a fast moving model and Hyundai have solid support and service structure. It should be the best choice.
If you think that TATA in your area can give excellent service, go for Punto.
OK so few points first
1. i20, hard to get under 5 lakh, the base model of the car was coming to 5.6 lakhs. If you can adjust with the price still I will still say i10 is better, cos it has the same engine as i20(leaving 1.4 crdi).
2.Ritz - Agreed, it looks pathetic, but maruti tag makes up for it. It can fit in your budget easily, go for diesel version if possible. The car is VFM.
3.Grande Punto - Best of lot, amazing looking car with fiat engine. I was almost about to buy it, but i thought to give it a little time to settle in India car market. As said by Desibond, After sales service can be a little problem but FIAT(TATA( is doing all it can to do away with this image.
4. Getz- Even though a good car, hyundai will be discontinuing it pretty soon. So, its better to cut this off the list.
-----------------------------------------
Posted again:
-----------------------------------------
OK so few points first
1. i20, hard to get under 5 lakh, the base model of the car was coming to 5.6 lakhs. If you can adjust with the price still I will still say i10 is better, cos it has the same engine as i20(leaving 1.4 crdi).
2.Ritz - Agreed, it looks pathetic, but maruti tag makes up for it. It can fit in your budget easily, go for diesel version if possible. The car is VFM.
3.Grande Punto - Best of lot, amazing looking car with fiat engine. I was almost about to buy it, but i thought to give it a little time to settle in India car market. As said by Desibond, After sales service can be a little problem but FIAT(TATA) is doing all it can to do away with this image.
4. Getz- Even though a good car, hyundai will be discontinuing it pretty soon. So, its better to cut this off the list.
btw, how much is base price of Swift and Hyundai Accent?
Swift VXI(petrol) comes under 5. Hyundai accent ex showroom price is 4.91. But please mind both the cars are way too old. A new model of swift is coming up next year, so it would be a good choice to let it slip as well. Accent is decent sedan, if some one can adjust with it being a old model.
PS : Someone should fix the damn edit and quick reply buttons.
yes. Accent is very old model but yes, it's good for 5-5.5L car. Swift has been in the market for long but is it selling like hot cakes and here in Bangalore Maruti is putting a 6 month delivery time for this car from the date of purchase. could be due to stock or to increase sales of their other hatchbacks.
Thanx for the suggestions.. Grande Punto has two variants.. 1.4 and 1.2 with 90 bhp and 68 bhp respectively.. so i think that 1.4 is way off my budget and 1.2 is underpowered.. i20 wins I think.. Personally.. i would really like to have Fiat Palio 1.6 Sports as the hatchback.. but again the question of the damn average comes in the mind..
nah. it's better to buy Grande Punto than to buy TATA Indica/Indigo cars.
And yes, Indigo Manza is considered as the best Sedan TATA ever designed. spacy interiors, dirt cheap price and Fiat engine.
If they can improve their service and support, they can capture sub 10L sedan category with Indigo Manza and Fiat Linea.
Also, there is an update from my friend that Chinese company VMW is releasing their SUV in India. This SUV is rip off of BMW SUV and will be priced inside 5L.
that wouldnt get anyone anywhere..would it?
*www.gaadi.com/cars/Hyundai-Getz-Prime-vs-Fiat-Grande-Punto
*www.gaadi.com/compare_cars_action....itz&carversion3=&submit=Compare+Selected+Cars
Given the circumstances, I guess Suzuki Splash AKA Maruti Suzuki Ritz is the best option for you. Try to get the Diesel one (preferred if performance is concern) or the petrol+LPG (if you are in a CNG city, then go for petrol+CNG which works out even cheaper to drive) if you want mileage. Its ugly, but hey, dads don't usually care about looks.
Best part is its very easy to maintain thanks to maruti's service network. My dad's 1999-2000 Maruti 800 EX is an example of maruti quality/service I can quote. Never given us ANY trouble till date, runs fine even now, looks great as ever and he still does not feel the need to upgrade to another entry level hatch because the tiny problems that DID crop up were sorted out easily in one of the several thousand maruti service centers at small prices. It too looks ugly but sometimes cosmetics need to take the back seat.
If you buy the Ritz now, you can rest assured that it will serve your dad for the next 10 years atleast.
Ritz is nice.. it shares the tried n tested "National Engine" 75 bhp diesel one from FIAT which is used in Indica Vista, Ritz, Punto etc.. Now the problem is that one needs to have about 30+ km run daily for a Diesel car to justify its maintenance costs.. besides the boot of the Ritz is small.. i20 looks futuristic.. but i think that its 80 bhp engine is a little underpowered.. Lets see.. i'm gonna take my Dad for a test drive of these two ones someday this week..
How about Swift DZire? Doesn't it come for ~5L and has a `big-car` type looks?
I'd say go for the Swift. Go for the Swift Diesel if you want, you will really like the performance. Maintainance is a little on the higher side though.
If not that, then the i20.
Ok.. thanx for all your advices.. i've settled for Fiat Grande Punto 1.4 Dynamic (1.4L, 90 bhp, 115 Nm of torque).. but dad's choice is i20.. so i'm gonna take him for a test ride some day this month and then we'll see...
Chevrolet Uva LS is also good.
