[Vid6639]

I did 40K kms on my Figo before I sold it and 15K so far on my Ecosport. Figo service bills never crossed 5K and there was no mechanical failures or issues. Minor niggles were there but always taken care of.

Ecosport has been even more reliable than the Figo. Compared to the Figo which had small niggles, there were none in my Ecosport.

Yes the ride is hard and the FE is not great. City and highway are between 14-16. It's very difficult to get even 16+ on the highway. I get 13-14 in city with medium traffic and 14-16 on the highway.

[sbala]

Owning a Fiesta 2006 model. I am nearing 130000 kms. Regular service never crossed Rs. 5000 and as Vid said there were no mechanical failures so far.

[ramzsys]

Come on folks, let's not perpetuate the 'my friend told his ford is costly to maintain'. Yes, it was during the ikon/mondeo/escort days.

The Ecosport has been there in the market for about 2 years and within the warranty period for most owners; heavy running diesel owners should have touched 40-60k, and except clutch/belt related service, it should be in the 6-8k per 10k km, which is on par with the Swift and i20 diesels.

Fellow bhpian MAS' thread on his Fiesta 1.5 tdci which has covered 90k or so can help get an idea about Ford service costs.

Some accident related replacement parts are high though.

I owned 2 fords in the past and own 2 fords at present.

[Chillout]

I have been driving a Fiesta 1.6 sx for over 6 years and have covered over 50000 kms. Average service cost has been around 5000. Never had any major mechanical issues, however the minor ones like Central power window switches and Power window motors seems to be highly priced. I had to change the Power windows switches twice in 6 years and power window motor once. The switch cast Rs 2400 and power window motor was close to 4500. Also trust me you wouldn't get any issue in the first 3 or 4 years. If these small items cost so much , then I am sure the major parts would be exorbitant. My friend purchased a Honda city around the same time as mine but hasn't had any issues with switches or any other minor mechanical niggles. From that perspective yes, Ford is slightly expensive to maintain, but that is offset by the pleasure that one gets with the ride. BTW the initial battery came with the car lasted close to 6 years which itself is amazing.

[prakash_ajp]

Originally Posted by RavSam

Yesterday I went to a friends home whom I had recommended the Ford Ecosport and they bought it.
But now they say that the maintenance cost is high!
They like the looks, features and GC of the car but not happy with the service cost and engine noise and over-all plastic quality.

The best thing to do is to test drive, take a close look at the car and if possible, request your friends to share the service bills. There's no point in just going by what someone says, even if that person owns that particular car.

[RavenAvi]

The Figo Aspire 1.5L DCT variant will not be available immediately at launch but will come some time later, as per a report in Shifting Gears.

One of the most awaited variants for this model, which is the 1.5L, 110 BHP, dual-clutch automatic will not be available for sale right from the day of launch.

This model will be introduced a bit later, probably to understand how the initial pricing works, and later introduce this engaging combination.

The 1.5L TiVCT petrol motor produces segment-best 110 BHP of power & 136 Nm of torque matched to a 6-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox delivering 17 kmpl.

Shifting Gears

[PrideRed]

Originally Posted by sbala

Owning a Fiesta 2006 model. I am nearing 130000 kms. Regular service never crossed Rs. 5000 and as Vid said there were no mechanical failures so far.

This what the current generation Ford cars are about! There are as reliable as Suzuki/Honda, cheaper to maintain plus fun to drive.

[ashua]

Originally Posted by RavenAvi

The Figo Aspire 1.5L DCT variant will not be available immediately at launch but will come some time later, as per a report in Shifting Gears.

Wish there was a thumbs down/dislike button for news like this :(. I for one was looking forward for TD the 1.5 DCT. I am considering it alongside the Ecosport AT as the second car in our house.

[ashutoshb]

Went to the showroom (Noida Ford) to take a look at it. Wasn't that impressed with the interior quality and space. If I compare it with the Xcent, I somehow found the Aspire to be less roomy, both in shoulder space and leg room. Once you sit inside, you do feel that you are in a smaller car.

What the salesperson said:
# Pricing to be disclosed on the 27th. Test drives also to start by then.
# One can make a booking from today onwards, by depositing 30k.
# The base petrol 1.2 can start from as low as 4.7L - 5.4L.
# If one is not satisfied with the price of the booked variant, he/she can get a full refund of the booking amount.
# First deliveries expected in mid September.

[Rajeevraj]

Since I saw the reports that the Aspire soft launch was today, stopped by at the Ford showroom (Elite Ford-Marathahalli-Bangalore) to see if they had the car. Was greeted with several banners and balloons indicating the launch. Fortunately they had a car on display too. Some impressions

Showroom Experience

• No crowd in the showroom. I remember I had gone the day Ecosport launched and the same showroom was like a market.
• Was overall pretty decent (unlike the experience at Hyundai when I went to see the Creta)
• Was greeted as soon as I entered and was taken to the display car. It was under a canopy decorated with balloons.
• Model on display was the top end diesel Titanium+
• SA seemed well trained. At least had all the basics right. Including the variants, features/differences among variants.
• Did not have much info on the AT. As discussed here, looks like that may be available only a little later.
• Highlighted the 6 Airbag USP of the car a few times.

The Car

• First time seeing it in flesh. Liked the looks from most angles.
• Opened door and stepped inside. Door seemed quite flimsy (Compared to the Ecosport-More on that below). Overall felt a little flimsily built. But in line with others in the segment.
• The seats are leather in the Titanium+. Visually did not like it too much. Did not look as nice as in the pictures. But felt comfortable to sit.
• Cabin was bright and airy
• Dashboard looks very good. The media system is carried over from the other Ford cars and seemed very easy to use.
• The AC Panel is not same as the Ecosport and is a smaller rectangular unit.
• Steering was tilt adjustable. No reach adjustment.
• Indicator/Wiper stalks are interchanged. Now same as the Japanese and Koreans. The SA was calling it out as a feature.
• Overall felt reasonably spacious. I was able to sit comfortably behind after adjusting to my driving position (I am 5'11)
• Boot was on the smaller side (359 ltrs). Slightly smaller than competition.
• Looked a little under tyred.
• No info shared on the price. Launch and TD's will happen in Aug 1st week.

Comparison with the Ecosport on build quality

• After getting down from the Aspire, spent some time in the Ecosport to compare the quality.
• Ecosport doors felt more solid and heavier. Overall the Ecosport felt solidly built as compared to the Aspire.
• Interior quality seemed to be on par at least in a quick comparison. Ford has not seemed to cut corners there.
• Ecosports AC control panel is bigger and chunkier in keeping with the image of the car. Good that they did not carry it over to the Aspire. Would have looked a little out of place in the smaller car.
• The Ecosport is now available within 2-3 weeks.

Summary
A good product from Ford. Not as solid as I expected. But it looks good, is feature rich, with some segment first features, a good AT variant and I think will be priced well. If Ford puts some marketing muscle behind this and ensures a good supply of cars, both the xcent and the Amaze will need to worry.

Side note and OT: Could not help comparing the Ecosport with the Creta which I had seen a couple of days back. The Ecosport still makes a strong case for itself. And with the top end diesel at 13L OTR Bangalore, it is a full 4 L cheaper than the Creta. I would still give it serious consideration if I was in the market for a SUV kind of vehicle.

Side note 2: No Fiesta on display even. No wonder that they are not able to sell a good car.

[Contrapunto]

I had dropped in at my local Vibrant Ford today. The top-end diesel trim of the Aspire was on display. Initial impressions

- Looks nice. Though I prefer black/grey, the beige dual tone theme will appeal to many. It looks nice, even though the plastics, if your touch them, are a bit hard. But then, be realistic, at these price points, what do you expect?
- The climate control, with its knurled knobs, look nice, as the reviewers have commented. The switches felt good to the touch. Certainly not cheap.
- The seats felt comfy. In fact the seats felt larger than both the old Fiesta and the current EcoSport seats. Not sure if its true, but the veterans and current users can confirm for sure. IMO, even the seat compound felt better, with a nice mix of firmness and suppleness.
- The front seats are at a correct height, not really too low- which is a problem with many brands (like Hyundai and Honda). The seat height adjust had a healthy range, and the front door opens wide enough. I have a chronic back problem (and I had a little ache today) and I could sit fairly comfortably without twisting my back at the hip point and without my head hitting the roofline of the car, which forces me to twist more (thus increasing the pain). This is a gold test for me for "design success" of sedans. Ciaz passes it with aplomb. Apsire is 90% there. Most expensive sedans fail this test :-(
- The rear seats are comfy and not too low either. The seatback angle looked quite good

- The boot size was what you can expect. It had an "international travel size" suitcase flat on the floor and there wasn't much space around it (maybe a laptop case or two) and space for another suitcase on top of it maybe.

Has class leading safety features. I want to applaud Ford for their focus on safety, unlike many other mainstream brands who seem to be introducing them only under duress.

The driving manners can only reveal themselves with a test drive, but if I was in the market for an economic sedan, I would definitely consider this seriously.

TBHP review, where art thou?

[vijayvelprakash]

Did someone manage to TD any variant of Aspire in Bangalore?

[Rajeevraj]

Originally Posted by vijayvelprakash

Did someone manage to TD any variant of Aspire in Bangalore?

TD's will be available only after the official launch next week.

I think Ford messed up their schedule. It's been a long time since the car was revealed fully. Then a long gap before the media drives were done. Then another gap till the soft launch and opening of bookings. Now another wait for the proper launch with prices. In between, nothing to keep the audience interested. They need to learn a little about marketing in India from Maruti and Hyundai.

[Chillout]

Saw the car today in person, for some reason it did not click for me, was it beacuse I have been driving a Fiesta for over 6 years or have been spoilt by the SUVs. Anyway if this is your first less than 4m sedan, this car should be one of your top 3 choices. The finish and interiors are good. Rear seat space is less than the Fiesta classic. The response that Ford was expecting isn't there.. Apparently the walkins have been lukewarm at the best. Ford has to price this reasonably well to gather the attention.

[atnyia]

Guys, I also had a look at this car yesterday at Harpreet Ford in Info City.

Staff Experience: Not good. Mainly because of the body language of the sales executive. It's disappointing as the car looks exciting.

The car:
1) I guess apart from the driver (that's me), the rest of the family could not see it as upgrade from Getz! The rear bench isn't any wider and three people can only 'adjust'. The Getz has a better recline angle of the bench. Front seats are much better.
2) With the height adjustable seat, I was quickly able to find the perfect seating position where I could see bonnet. All round visibility was good from the position. The steering felt great and despite the criticism of dials, I found them to be okay. (The steering is too good to look at dials)
3) The ergonomics are great at front seats and everything makes sense. You can see what's on the display on AV(N?) without lowering your eyes. Cubby holes, cup holders are perfectly placed. The storage area under the ACC is perfect. It is the best placement that I have even seen. And yes, the seat is better than Elite I20.
4) Plastics are hard. But who cares. This car is targeted at 'Aspiring' young/MNC crowd and makes an excellent case of first car. It has all one would have wanted at this price.
5) Alloys look good but look small. To me, its okay. What is not okay is Apollo 3G rubber. Spare would be an Alloy as per the executive. In the display car, it was a steel one.
6) There is no handle anywhere on the boot. I guess it is electrically/gas operated (no idea). It is deep enough and big enough unless you are frequent flyer with heavy luggage.
7) I also checked under the hood. The engine is neatly packed and it looked great (I see a 20-25 years old technology in Getz). The executive told it was Petrol top model but to me, it looked like a diesel.
8) No beading at the doors. The rubber beading is on the area where door closes. Not sure what's the point. Door without beading looked cool to me.

Cost Cutting:
1) No Reach adjustable steering. Does it matter when I can see the bonnet with the perfect grip on the steering? Not at all.
2) No Auto Dimming mirrors. It would have helped but manual is just fine.
3) No Reverse Parking Sensors, no projector headlamps, no vanity mirrors, no claddings in the hood and the boot.


In my perspective, 6 Airbags overcome these cost cuttings by a wide margin. But the gloom on sales guy's face was telling a different story.

As per the discussion, the Titanium+ will come at Dzire price point (8 Lacs Ex Showroom). I think a 1.5L turbocharged 100 BHP diesel with 6 Airbags and Sync is a steal.

This car is not generating enough hype. But, at Dzire price point, this will become a sleeper hit with a word of mouth publicity.

Bad pricing kills the good cars. Ford is not doing that with this car.

This car will be available from August 7 as per the executive. So will be the TDs.