Car & Bike Time to change my ride !

[egobrain.exe]

Hey guys,

My Hyundai Santro'99 just turned 11 this year .. and my dad has finally given it a thought that we should have a change. Though I had worked upon my Santro to give it some performance modifications and made it really fast .. i also feel its time for a change. Now, that im more passionate about power and speed of the car i have, this time i thought lets buy something which has got enough power and performance when it comes to stcok engines! My Santro which came stock with like 60bhp under the hood was then made to run with an output of 80-85bhp with the same 1.1 litre engine!! My dad has told me that he has a budget around 6 lacs to spare for a car which is kind of strict and cant be extended. So, now .. what comes into my mind is .. should i go for a petrol or a diesel car? I am leaning towards diesel more is because .. i have to pay for the fuel myself out of my pocket-money so becomes less expensive for me!( though i get 2 full tanks a month from my dad ) and also .. diesel cars have a much better power output than those of petrols. So, far .. im leaning towards 1.4 CRDi i20 .. just because it looks good .. has got good interiors and also way more comfortable than what many cars have to offer ! Also, there are Fiat Punto, MS Ritz/Swift, Nissan Micra as its competitors. But Punto goes out as they have issues with the ASS, Nissan also has the same .. and looks ugly too. But Swift/Ritz come real close .. I like Ritz more than swift, it looks aerodynamilcally better ! But doesnt come to real comparison when it comes to finishing and interiors to i20. So, please guys.. suggest me whats better and would like really fulfill my needs !

TIA,
egoB !

 

[Neo-N]

Firstly, spill out the secret formula used to make ur Santro breath out 80-85bhp.......!!! :O

Now for the query:



The i20 is the best bet in your list if it suits ur budget. Go for it with eyes closed.

Among the others, here is my preference list:



1) Maruti Suzuki Ritz: Newer model compared to the Swift. No plans of MS to introduce any newer variant in near future. Great Fuel economy & Maruti ASS. Looks can be subjective.

2) Maruti Suzuki Swift: Tried & tested steed. Same engine as the Ritz. Great fuel economy & Maruti ASS. But the New Swift is going to launched in April 2011.

3) Fiat Punto: Excellent build quality & cute Ferrari 612 Scaglietti like looks. ASS is improving (now with TATA). But maintenance costs are still heavy.

4) Nissan Micra: The new name for 'Ugly'. Looks like a cross between a VW Beetle & an Alien Spaceship......!!! To top it, that nincompoop Ranbir Kapoor endorses it!!! Avoid....

 

[egobrain.exe]

Firstly, spill out the secret formula used to make ur Santro breath out 80-85bhp.......!!! :O

lol ... Firstly, A K&N High performance intake kit with a Liquid Cooled intake . Added to that .. HKS Stage 3 free flow exhaust system with Headers(this makes the average go way below expectations!) ! And to finish is a Pete's box ! .. helps it !!

Now, yes even i20 is looking as the best option .. but my friends suggest that for RAW POWER go for RITZ .. :S

 

[Neo-N]

^^ Okk.... That's quiet a few mods under the hood..... Must be sad to change over to another ride.....

As for the RAW POWER statement, ask your friends to elaborate what 'RAW POWER' exactly means.....!!! Lolzzz

The i20 is a complete package. Good Looks + Good Interiors + Refined, Responsive & Fuel Efficient Engine + Ample Space + Excellent ASS

The Ritz has almost all of the above but the Looks & Space Departments take a beating.

 

[egobrain.exe]

The i20 is a complete package. Good Looks + Good Interiors + Refined, Responsive & Fuel Efficient Engine + Ample Space + Excellent ASS

hahhaha .. i like the sense of humour you have!! mods yeah .. pretty much into such things ! Yeah .. i guess you're right !! .. but they say .. after 3-4 years of running... these toys start making some noise and ask for moolah to be spent on them ?? any take on this ?

 

[Neo-N]

If u really want a car that will go on & on & on & on...... buy a Honda.....

I have an Accord 7th Gen that has clocked ~ 1,25,000 Kms & is running strong even now...... Absolutely mint condition.

But to be frank, all new age cars are built to last. U just need to take care of them regularly & then u won't have to spend moolah all at once.

U maintain the vehicle well with small but regular monetary inputs over 3-4 years & it doesn't rattle. But if u battle it out with the car for 3-4 years without spending on it's routine requirements, then it is bound to demand the moolah!!!

It is like a wife..... U keep her happy with small gifts & the marriage remains happy for years. U ignore her & her small needs & she demands a divorce & moolah to go along!!! Lolzzz

 

[tifosi]

lol ... Firstly, A K&N High performance intake kit with a Liquid Cooled intake . Added to that .. HKS Stage 3 free flow exhaust system with Headers(this makes the average go way below expectations!) ! And to finish is a Pete's box ! .. helps it !!

Now, yes even i20 is looking as the best option .. but my friends suggest that for RAW POWER go for RITZ .. :S

Liquid cooled intake? :S

Are you sure about the Pete's box? AFAIK Pete's tuning boxes are available only for diesels.

 

[Neo-N]

Liquid cooled intake? :S

Are you sure about the Pete's box? AFAIK Pete's tuning boxes are available only for diesels.

Lol..... I missed that.... Yes, Pete's tuning box is available only for Diesels.....

 

[FaH33m]

How about a 1.6 Polo ? There was news that these wont be launching in India but I just saw one on road today !

 

[Pat]

Well, the i20 CRDi will not fit your budget! I would recommend you to go for either Ritz or Swift if planning for diesel! They are probably the hottest selling diesel cars in the market right now!

 

[universal]

go for diesel only if ur monthly travel is more than ~1700kms or ur goin to keep the car for more than 5 years...u do ur calculation....find the cost of ownership after x no of years.....then decide petrol/diesel

 

[egobrain.exe]

Liquid cooled intake? :S

Are you sure about the Pete's box? AFAIK Pete's tuning boxes are available only for diesels.

Liquid cooled intake is something which keeps the engine temperature normal as ive installed header which make the engine too hot ! thenormal intake doesnt work too well for that !

As far as pete's box is concerned .. u may be right by saying its only for diesels .. but i just gave it a name and actually meant a PETROL TUNING BOX !

--- Updated Post - Automerged ---

Well, the i20 CRDi will not fit your budget! I would recommend you to go for either Ritz or Swift if planning for diesel! They are probably the hottest selling diesel cars in the market right now!

i20 Era will cost me 6.37 to be exact! that will do ..

 

[sydras]

You can ignore the Micra and the Polo. They are 3 cylinder engines designed for fuel efficiency. The missing cylinder makes a lot of difference when performance is concerned .

You can look at the Ritz and the Swift with the K-Series engine. Both I believe give you a peak power output of 84 bhp and an almost similar power to weight ratio of 84BHP/Ton. But after owning a Hyundai, I don't know if you would be satisfied with Maruti's build quality and the Swift's depresssing interiors. If you're considering the Ritz, I wonder if you could consider that weird shaped car as an enthusiast car. The Swift would be a much better bet IMO.

The i20 is a heavy car that wheezes by with a 1.2L petrol engine in higher gears and low speeds. I don't know about the diesel but I think that it's out of your budget(Both BS III and BS IV models in i20 diesel are available btw. The BS III variants are obviously cheaper).

Even in the petrol, you could afford only upto the last but one variant i.e. the i20 Magna.

In the i20, the rear legroom is less and front visibility is poor. It does look eye catching from the outside but it seems to me that Hyundai designs all of their cars from the outside to the inside with the least focus on in cabin ergonomics.

The i10 would better suit your requirement from an enthusiast point of view and balance out many other things. It's simply screwed together much better than the beat(which IMO is the worst built hatchback in India currently) and dare I say, feels refined compared to it. I think it's better put together than the marutis too. It has a peak power output of 79 bhp (5bhp less than the K-series) but I don't think it would make much difference.

The Figo diesel with a 1.4L is the best diesel engine in hatchbacks with 68bhp of peak power output and almost no turbo lag. It's a spacious hatch and the last but one ZXi variant might fit into your budget @ 6.1L (the top end titanium is avbl @6.5L).

Just realized that you're from Delhi where cars would be cheaper. Prices I've quoted are Bangalore prices.

 

[egobrain.exe]

How about a 1.6 Polo ? There was news that these wont be launching in India but I just saw one on road today !

1.6 were launched ! is good .. but has a waiting period of about 5 months in delhi

--- Updated Post - Automerged ---

You can ignore the Micra and the Polo. They are 3 cylinder engines designed for fuel efficiency. The missing cylinder makes a lot of difference when performance is concerned .

You can look at the Ritz and the Swift with the K-Series engine. Both I believe give you a peak power output of 84 bhp and an almost similar power to weight ratio of 84BHP/Ton. But, I don't know if you would be satisfied with Maruti's build quality and the Swift's depresssing interiors. If you're considering the Ritz, I wonder if you could consider that weird shaped car as an enthusiast car. The Swift would be a much better bet IMO.

The i20 is a heavy car that wheezes by with a 1.2L petrol engine in higher gears and low speeds. I don't know about the diesel but I think that it's out of your budget(they have both BS III and BS IV models available btw).

Even in the petrol, you could afford only upto the last but one variant i.e. the i20 Magna. The rear legroom is less and front visibility is poor. It does look eye catching from the outside but it seems to me that Hyundai designs all of their cars from the outside to the inside with the least focus on in cabin ergonomics.

The i10 would better suit your requirement from an enthusiast point of view and balance out many other things. It's simply screwed together much better than the beat(which IMO is the worst built hatchback in India currently) and dare I say, feels refined compared to it. I think it's better put together than the marutis too. It has a peak power output of 79 bhp (5bhp less than the K-series) but I don't think it would make much difference.

The Figo diesel with a 1.4L is the best diesel engine in hatchbacks with 68bhp of peak power output and almost no turbo lag. It's a spacious hatch and the last but one ZXi variant might fit into your budget @ 6.1L (the top end titanium is avbl @6.5L).

Just realized that you're from Delhi where cars would be cheaper. Prices I've quoted are Bangalore prices.

Really appreciate your views ! But i am not so keen on petrol cars ... just calculated .. ill be drving around 40-50 kms a day ... so diesel is what is needed !! Now, I feel the TEST DRIVES will clear my views and will be the real decisive factor !

Budget is flexible upto 6-6.5L !! lemme know more ..

 

[MaxFSB]

^^ the i20 with 6 speed diesel. or wait for the toyota etios hatch to come around. Other than that buy the Figo top of the line and pimp it out with the 1L or so you will save in buying it.

The Punto diesel ( the new TD with 90 BHP ), is an amazing product, and if you read the recent JD power survey, Fiat was second to Maruti only in customer satisfaction and After sales support. So do take a test drive of the Punto as well. They have improved their standards.

 

[egobrain.exe]

I know, i20 is topping my list as of now. But, i say a no to Figo. It maybe a good car, but really dont like it! And about the punto, the 90 bhp one goes way beyond my budget. Costs upto more than 7Lacs for a hatch. Too much. But, i am considering the 1.3 Multi-Jet Emotion Punto. Waiting for the scheduled TDs !!