[FONT=Arial]I am looking for an sedan / SUV[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]budget is 7-10 lacs (the range is bit flexible because it would be on Company Lease). [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]Time line : By June 2010[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]Requirement : family of 3 ( me 5 10 35 yrs old , wife and 3 yr old), plus occasional guest(s) shall drive it around 10-20 kms on weekdays and ~ 40 kms on weekends, 3-4 times out of station drive ( ~ 1500kms ) in a year. I am very happily currently driving a Santro for the last 4.5 yrs and intend to keep it as a second car. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]Must haves :[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]good to drive around, good seating position, ABS, 10+ kmpl in Bangalore city, [FONT=’Times New Roman’]Tubeless tyres, High ground clearance of 165 mm +, Power Steering, Power Windows, side mirrors should be controllable from Driver seat. [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]Good to have:[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]Big Discounts, Black / Grey interiors, Indicators on Right Hand side, Steering mounted controls, [FONT=’Times New Roman’]Airbags, Fog lamps, Music Player , defogger[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]Wont mind: [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]beige Interiors, [FONT=’Times New Roman’]EBD/ESP, Alloy wheels, Cruise control, climate control[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]I need a car which i will keep for next 5 years.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]So far I test drove the following[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]Car : Fiesta 1.6 SXI : [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]Plus : Great to drive , great handling, good level of equipment , Black dashboard, classy Interiors [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]Minus : ~ 9 kmpl , nearest service station at least a hour drive, Indicators on Left Hand side, no Steering mounted controls[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]CAR : Fiesta 1.4 diesel SXI[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]Plus : 17 KMPL, good level of equipment , Black dashboard, classy Interiors[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]Minus : turbo lag , less power, nearest service station atleast a hour hour drive, Indicators on Left Hand side, no Steering mounted controls[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]Car : SX4[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]Plus : high level of equipment ( it has almost everything in my wishlist), big car feel, value for money, nearby service station [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]Minus: not so great looks, interiors is a let down, ~9 kmpl, [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]Car : swift ZXI[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]Plus :Great to drive, great handling, Black dashboard, nearby service station[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]Minus: no steering mounted controls, inside space , its a hatch[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]Car : Swift diesel [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]Plus : Great to drive, great handling, Black dashboard, nearby service station[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]Minus: No zdi , inside space , its a hatch, no Steering mounted controls[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]Car : Scorpio Mhawk top end [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]Plus : captain seats, high level of equipment ( it has almost everything in my wishlist), big car feel, value for money[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]Minus: bit bulky to drive , parking at my slot is not so easy , service station far away, not so nice interiors, flower prints on seat upholstery[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]Car : Manza diesel top end[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]Plus : price , high level of equipment, big car feel, value for money, nearby service station, Space,[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]Minus: Fit and Finish, not so great for city drive, ie not zippy, Tata After sales experience[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]Car : Ritz ZXI[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]Plus : Price, Practical car, good to drive, good handling, good level of equipment, nearby service station[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]Minus: Flimsy dashboard, blue interiors, bad looks[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]I am also considering the following cars. I have not test driven them, but my perceptions are[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]Car : Verna Diesel[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]Plus : great to drive , spacious , nearby service stations, reasonable spare part cost. Great After sales service network[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]Minus: no Airbags, no steering mounted controls, top end is expensive[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]Car : Honda City [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]Plus : good level of equipment, great to drive , spacious , nearby service stations, Great After sales service, 13 kmpl[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]Minus: expensive to buy and maintain, costly spares[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]Car : yeti [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]Plus : SUV , good level of equipment, [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]Minus: YTB launched , Skoda spares are expensive, Bad After sales service, no nearby service station.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]Car : Optra Diesel high end ( cruse low end is bit above my budget)[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]Plus : Great looks, good to drive [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]Minus: price , resale , After sales service, no steering mounted controls[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]I am, not looking at Dzire (odd looks ) , Safari , Logan( unless they put a 90 bhp engine) , Ascent ( out dated). Since I am Ok to wait for 3-5 months , is there any new car launch that I should wait for , say a new Elantra / Verna / Fiesta / Nissan ? [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]I want Team-BHPians suggestion / aid in selecting my car ![/FONT]