[rev_hard]

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

Read the SX4 thread, and the SX4 v/s City posts. Can see the same argument many many times.

However, SX4 leads NHC in sales now.

What i would really like to know is -

Are City selling less than they were before? (eg. 4000 units for Jun'07 vs 5000 units in May'07)

Or, is it that SX4's strong sales have not led to reduction in monthly/quarterly/etc. sales of City? (eg. are City sales still at 5000 units per month, just that SX4 is selling 6000 units, hence termed more successful)

Also, the price difference between SX4 vs City(approx Rs.50000-80000 avg.) and GV vs CRV(approxx 5.5 lac - 6 lac) is rather huge!

I still feel we are comparing 2 soft-roaders of totally different segments and pocket-sizes.

p.s.: post should be deleted if deemed totally irrelevant

[hondadude]

Originally Posted by rev_hard

What i would really like to know is -

Are City selling less than they were before? (eg. 4000 units for Jun'07 vs 5000 units in May'07)

Or, is it that SX4's strong sales have not led to reduction in monthly/quarterly/etc. sales of City? (eg. are City sales still at 5000 units per month, just that SX4 is selling 6000 units, hence termed more successful)

NHC sales have gone down from an average of about 3000 to an average of about 2800. Definitely not a drastic reduction of sales. The pie is expanding so SX4 and Fiesta have contributed to overall growth of sales in C segment. So, it isn't a zero sum game as of now. We should wait for sales to settle down before we judge the impact of SX4 on NHC. To sum up, I don't believe SX4 has any significant impact on NHC as yet.

Also, the price difference between SX4 vs City(approx Rs.50000-80000 avg.) and GV vs CRV(approxx 5.5 lac - 6 lac) is rather huge!

The difference is 4 lakhs and not 5.5 or 6.

I still feel we are comparing 2 soft-roaders of totally different segments and pocket-sizes.

No, they are not in different segment. I believe that if one can afford to buy a 17L car, one can stretch to buy a 21L car.

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Originally Posted by hondadude

No, they are not in different segment. I believe that if one can afford to buy a 17L car, one can stretch to buy a 21L car.

What about the guys looking for a loaded Safari? The guy who has 12-13L stretching himself to 17L? Not everyone who has budget for 17L car can stretch to 21L.

4L is not such an easy sum of money, even for a guy looking to buy a 17L car!

[rangaraj]

Whilst most of the conversation has revolved around CRV vs GV both being petrol based. People usually buy based on a budget band they have -

1. Below 15L SUV (OTR)
- GV (a little more than that) and Safari are the only two that come to my mind

2. Strech to 17-19L (OTR)
- Endy & Tuscon

3. 19L to 23L (OTR)
- Pajero & CRV

4. 23L - 30L (OTR)
- X-trail

5. 30L - 50L
- Montero, X3, Prado

6. 50L+
- X5, VW, Cayanne, Merc etc.

I dont believe that folks who have budgets in this category dont both about FE, a few lacs this way that way (4-5L). Indians are conservative and tend to look for VFM. There is a very very small percentage of the population that would look at pure snob value. Look like there are a couple of slots that need to be filled with more players especially in the 10-12L space and the 12-15L space.

[rangaraj]

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

What about the guys looking for a loaded Safari? The guy who has 12-13L stretching himself to 17L? Not everyone who has budget for 17L car can stretch to 21L.

4L is not such an easy sum of money, even for a guy looking to buy a 17L car!

You took the words out of my mouth! Could not agree more..

[Steeroid]

Originally Posted by rev_hard

I still feel we are comparing 2 soft-roaders of totally different segments and pocket-sizes.

Nope. Internationally both these vehicles fall into the same segment, with the Vitara considered more of a serious off-roader (comparatively) than the CRV which is a tarmac specialist.

[rev_hard]

Originally Posted by Steeroid

Nope. Internationally both these vehicles fall into the same segment, with the Vitara considered more of a serious off-roader (comparatively) than the CRV which is a tarmac specialist.

Agreed Steeroid sir. Internationally these two refered S-UV's are "segment-pals/foes".

In India however, I feel the biggest buzz in one's brain when deciding about a new car is VFM*zillion.

Both GV and CRV are not VFM here in India in IMHO.(swiftish interiors for a 14lac + SUV, Honda features(or the lack of it mentioned below)).

The features that are standard on an Indian CRV are probably 50% of what is offered abroad (adaptive cruise conrol, sun/moon roof, swivel head-lamps with xenons, and the list is quite long)

Indians are yet again short-changed by Honda whilst still enjoying market leadership in that segment too!

Keeping everyones' view in mind, i'd say stretching one's budget from say 50lac to 60-65 lac might not be too dificult. But stretching the budget from 14 to 18 lacs is still something i dont see happening here in India very soon.

I really really like the new GV and i'm totally bonkers about the CRV. But i'm still not convinced that either is a threat to the other!

regards

rev

[hondadude]

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

What about the guys looking for a loaded Safari? The guy who has 12-13L stretching himself to 17L? Not everyone who has budget for 17L car can stretch to 21L.

I don't have hard data but after talking to salespersons and general observation, there are very few people who buy VX. Most of the Safari sales come from LX. That is one of the reasons, they stopped selling 4X4 versions in LX so that they can motivate people who want 4X4 to buy EX version (or so I was told by a salesperson)

4L is not such an easy sum of money, even for a guy looking to buy a 17L car!

No offense mate but have you talked to those who are willing to buy at 17L car? I have, and hence believe that 17 to 21 is quite possible. May be I have talked to wrong set of folks but then I don't have a data point otherwise and hence my comment.

[merve_extreme]

My cousin will be most probably buying this month.we are going for a test drive on Saturday.

[Ashutosh]

can u post some pics while ur at it^?

[anandpadhye]

Just browsed their website, Vitara is cheaper by Rs. 5000 in Mumbai than in Pune!

[GTO]

Checked out the Vitara last evening and man, the interiors suck! They have no place on a 15 lakh car.....the plastics and overall quality is more Swift / SX4 segment. Compare that to the superbly finished interiors of a CRV where the feel-good factor is miles ahead.

I dont see the CRV losing any fans just yet.

[anandpadhye]

How is the engine, ride and handling?
Any discounts?

[GTO]

Didnt drive it yet, but the guy gunning it had this to say:

1. Engine lacks outright power, especially in comparo to the CRV (Duh)

2. At high speeds, there is continuous bobbing / pitching.

3. High ground clearance a boon on our roads.

[BUSA]

Checked out the Vitara last evening and man, the interiors suck! They have no place on a 15 lakh car.....the plastics and overall quality is more Swift / SX4 segment. Compare that to the superbly finished interiors of a CRV where the feel-good factor is miles ahead.

GTO without even checking out the GV i had said the following a few days back just by the looks of it. I think the reason why MUL was able to price it cheaply is by borrowing parts from SX4/Swift

Originally Posted by BUSA

The problem with the GV is that MUL have done removed some essential features, my my, if i am buying a 15L car i would surely expect rear disc brakes to be as standard, shocking of MUL to say the least.

EDIT - Also the GV interior looks quite Swiftish, now thats not a good thing if you have a Swift and plan to buy a GV to find that a car costing 3times your hatch looks quite similar to it in the inside.