Car & Bike SX4 ZXI or ANHC

Status
Not open for further replies.
superczar

superczar

Keymaster
Time for me to take a quick decision:



SX4:

Pros:

- High GC and x-over roots means I (possibly) get to buy a x-over (always wanted one but for the fact that there is not a single x-over available at a reasonable price in India) - Thus hopefully this one car gets to serve me well in the city as well as on my driving vacations

- Really well loaded for the price - The ACS, the 205 tyres, the alloys are definite +s over the ANHC

- Price - At approx 8.1OTR in Pune, it's a considerable 1.4L cheaper than the ANHC

- The car felt (I may be wrong) sturdier and safer than the relatively flimiser feeling ANHC

Concerns

- I hate rattling cars, and most Marutis (incl my earlier swift) are notoriously prone to this

ANHC

Pros:

- The engine felt peppier and smoother (though don't care too much about the latter) than the SX 4

- The steering definitely felt a lot more lively and provided real feedback compared to the video-gamish feel on the SX4 steering

- With the ANHC, I really doubt I'll end up regretting my decision later

Cons

- Having said that, would it be really worth losing out on the crossover aspect of the SX4 and an extra 1.4L for the ANHC?

- I hate to come to a near standstill while trying to negotiate potholes and bumps, the low GC on the ANHC seems like a cause for concern

Unfortunately, I couldn't spot a bad bump or pothole during the TD (where are they when you need 'em? ) so couldnt quite try for myself

With a average 15K run in a year, I don't care too much about the mileage as long as the difference between the two isn't more than 20%

Any suggestions/pointers welcome

I am looking to reach a decision by the weekend
 
Out of those its the City hands down. But I'd say stretch and get a Civic atleast. SX4 has very little in the name of driver involvement. If you are not willing to stretch, you'd do yourself a favor by td'ing the Fiesta S. Also even if you don't buy, td the Cedia :P.
 
daviescool said:
How is the cedia sport model, i read it has a momo steering wheel and oz wheels. Only thing is that it is a bit heavy
Click to expand...

Have one since the last two and half years and has done around 35k - beautiful car. Zero problems till date. Other than an odd dashboard and window rattle that crop up on very bad roads, it has held up really well. Never ceases to amaze me what a good chassis can do to the dynamics of a car. Mitsu has so far been decent with their servicing of the car though it has never ever required any work at all. Hope it stays the same way lol. City FE is around 10-11, highway can go as high as 16 but I never get more than 10-11 as I floor the throttle whenever I see the slightest bit of empty road.

PS: Mine's an older model - doesn't have GPS, OZ rims and momo steering wheel. However I paid a lot less than what the current price is now.
 
Also even if you don't buy, td the Cedia
Click to expand...

hehe, what's Joseph's car for?

Anyway, I'll just ctrl V what I posted on team bhp abt this:

Have bought one off-beat car (opel corsa) almost 6-7 yrs ago, think I have suffered enough (despite the fact the car itself is great) in terms of A** etc

Which is the reason why Fiat/GM/Ford/Mitsu are not on my list at all... and unless these guys could come up with something mindblowingly better, I'd rather keep away

Making a great car is one thing, keeping the customer happy post the sale is something that Maruti does best ( I have bought 2 Marutis and 1 Hyundai after that first Opel) while Hyundai and Honda are getting there though are some distance away
Click to expand...

anyway, as for the city, here is the thing, I had my mind almost set on the city till I randomly TDed the SX4, the new VTEC (or VVT whatever they call it) and even though the power o/p hasnt changed much, the power dlvry characteristics is entirely different....

The steering is a bit meh (no thanks to it being a EPS) although the roll is not anywhere as bad as what you'd expect from a X-over platform...

The stock 205 tyres + alloys probably help towards that

Frankly, the new City was a bit of a disappointment... The 118 horses on paper apart, the car seemed to lack low end grunt, and the handling and steering (despite the low chassis and rack n pinion arrangement) were nowhere close to what I had expected

The civic again has the same problem of low GC

Anyway, i think a back to back TD on saturday should help clear the doubts...

Pricewise, the difference between the two is fine (a ~1.3L diff) but I can't help feel that the SX4 is way better loaded than the ANHC despite the lower price tag (175 (wtf) + steel rim vs 205 alloys, ACS, ht adjustable seat (that matters quite a bit) )

Also, the SX4 fits into that need of mine where I'd prefer rge stability of a sedan most of the time yet have something thats capable of taking bad tarmac/tracks with aplomb

Having said that, I know the ANHC will be more or less a zero headache buy, cant say the same bout the sx4

yet, I also know that the maintenance cost of a sx4 will be substantially lower (so less headaches there)
 
To be honest I haven't driven the new SX4 but the old one had no grunt at all. But what I hated more is the EPS. Surprisingly the EPS in the swift is so well weighed in and precise but the EPS in the SX4 is just plain rubbish. I'm not sure how Maruti screwed up that bad.

I do agree to what you say about the rest of the things. The SX4 will hardly ever or maybe never scrape anything and will take bad roads without too much trouble. The ANHC might struggle in such places. Also its better loaded than the ANHC in terms of goodies. So maybe its not a bad choice at all.

Personally though I'd buy neither of them as neither of these cars have a soul and there was absolutely no emotional connect when I drove them. In comparison, I loved the Fiesta S and felt it was a way way better car. Sure it looks dated and the interiors are old and bland. But the way you could throw around the car from the word go was second to none.

Also its a car that has sold rather well over the last few years so I'm sure it won't have any service issues or part availability problems unlike the corsa. Ford is typically a lot better than GM in after sales service and reliabity as well.

PS: The Ford will be even cheaper than the SX4.
 
^^ will skip the ford for the same reason stated above

Frankly, I want a headacheless car... One for which the svc center guys call you proactively and pick it up from your office on a weekday morning and drop it back the same day before the evening...

Something only Hyundai/Maruti/Honda (possibly) can manage (let's skip the big - and way out of budget - guns)

Also, the ANHC seems like a no-brainer but I am getting enticed by the crossover aspect of the SX4 platform....

The new engine actually seems to have more grunt than the ANHC on the low end (which didnt feel 118bhp for sure)... I cld be wrong though and the saturday TD should reveal more

In any case, the power dlvry and handling of the SX4 is fairly comparable to the ANHC

And as for the lack of a soul, tell me about it... The connect with the road the Corsa gives with its dated hydraulic power steering and its taut chassis coupled with a short body on a largish wheelbase... plain wow!

Thing is everyone wants a "soft" steering now, the lighter the better- which is why nearly every car south of 20L seems to have gone the videogame steering way :(
 
Go with the SX4 itself. Most of the bugs have been worked out by now as well. Plus you seem like you're looking for a car that you can (ab)use over Indian back-roads - definitely not something you can do with the ANHC.

The steering is a bummer though.

Frankly, the only reason to go with the ANHC is if you live on status symbols or you need a decent auto transmission.

Edit: Actually why not live your dream and get the Safari itself :lol: Or are Pune roads a bit cramped too?
 
btw why not try test the new verna automatic petrol or diesel

btw the Verna manual has 1.6 and 116 hp don't remember

it can draw max 195 kp speed where i test drvier using my friend car at highway :) give 17 km

and city 11 km at good speed without A/C with a/c at highway 14 km ;)

or u can try this the new ford fiesta 1.6 sport edtion...
 
Crazy_Eddy said:
Edit: Actually why not live your dream and get the Safari itself :lol: Or are Pune roads a bit cramped too?
Click to expand...

who cares when its a Safari.. u can hit anyone who comes in the way.. its their mistake.. can't they see a mini hummer coming?? :P
 
SC, please dont get hung up on the 205 section tyres on the SX4. They are JKs and crap. They provide almost no grip. Please upgrade your tyres the moment you get the car. No need to upsize 205 is perfect for a car like the SX4. But at least get a good set of tyres like the CPC2 or something....

The ANHC has crappy interiors(I dont know about the slightly newer ones though). I hated the plasticky interiors. However, you cant go wrong with a Honda.

That engine in the Honda is worth the moolah. I dont know how people say it doesnt have character. Rev the engine till the redline. Then you tell me whether it has character or not.
 
However, you cant go wrong with a Honda.
Click to expand...

xactly what am thinking Nikhil

although the heart wants the sx4 (frankly, for nothing else but what eddy said "Actually why not live your dream and get the Safari itself", yet am practical enough to know that 90% of my usage is city/expressway and as good as the safari maybe for the remianing 10%, the sx4 will be better for the 90%, yet (hopefully) prove itself worthy for the remaining 10...while the city will perhaps be better for the 90% but incapabale for the rmeianing 10)

yet the mind says get the anhc for the satisfaction factor

in any case, am not a very exacting customer and practically speaking, I'd hardly know the difference between the JK 205s and the R2D2 (or C3PO) you recommend except for oh, these other tyres make less noise"

yet i think and believe that I can extract a good deal out of the limited capabilities of any car than the supposed petrol(or diesel)heads that throw jargon and paper specs at you on technology/automotive forums

PS: The safari comment bought out my unspoken desire - to get a vehicle that sits somewhere between the (supposedly) refined City and the beast safari... looks like the sx4 it is unless the saturday TD brings out something as yet undiscovered

amen!
 
superczar said:
looks like the sx4 it is unless the saturday TD brings out something as yet undiscovered

amen!
Click to expand...

atleast td a Ford Fiesta 1.6 S & Mitsubishi Cedia Sport too for ideas sack?
 
The Cruze is hopeless for the city. As Eddy said, the cluthc is really heavy and turbo lag is waaay too much.

SC, ANYONE will realise the difference between the crappy JKs and a good set of rubber. You dont have to be a rally driver to use them to their potential. To convince people they need good quality rubber, this is what I do.

1). Do you drive at above 100/120 kmph on the expressway?

2). Chances are you do. So, is there ANY moment in your driving experience where you have not had to brake suddenly even once? Or a sudden lane change manoeuver?

3). Chances are oyu have. Simply put, you need good quality rubber. the JKs give up the ghost of grip at 100kmph or so. Comfort is secondary. Safety is primary. This is even more important when you have a wet road. The difference between a crappy tyre and a really good tyre shows up when the road is wet. The JKs will just slide on and on and on.

If possible, drive someone's SX4 which has better rubber and compare it to the TD you had.
 
No no, I dont deny that...
So for example when I had to change te tyres on my corsa, the dealer suggested Michelins whatever # for the same reason as above
Thing is I couldn't tell the difference between them and my older Bridgestones for the life of me :')
 
TBH..from your posts i type this...

Your heart is set on SX4... you love the car..you do. :).

Your practical-brain is telling to be sensible and get a honda. Lolz.

TBH..both are great cars. they are. I have driven them both and loved them. As you say Honda is bit more of a classy and the SX4 is a bit of rebel kinda thing. Driving position i love is in SX4. in Honda i was bit low i guess. Inside city i did not find any piratical difference in engine pickup or anything. I guess in full time AC Honda was better, SX4 was once or twice chugging me. But overtaking is fun in SX4.

And ASS.... maruti wins hands down. The parts and service are excellent. honda parts are expensive.
 
Driving position i love is in SX4. in Honda i was bit low i guess
Click to expand...

The SX4 lets you switch b/w the two driving positions (ht adjustable seat to choose a sporty low n backslung stance or a raised SUVish stance and in-between)

You nailed it BTW

I didnt find a considerable difference between the two in either the power delivery or handling

Yet as you said, the Honda would be the sane sensible headacheless choice

Sigh!

Tomorrow should be decision day
 
After owing a Fiat and Suzuki (Palio and Swift) i will definitely opt for a Honda. The cars speak for themselves and with 15K running every year in Chennai traffic ANHC probably the best city car hands down.

SX4 has a much much harder steering compared to the ANHC. Also i just cannot live with the rattles which Suzuki offers with their products.

Also as for the A.S.S. ofcourse Suzuki has a better network is definitely cheaper but you don't need much of A.S.S. if you own a Honda.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top Bottom