A Nostalgic poll : Premier Padmini or Hindustan Ambassador. Which would you choose?

abhi413 · 26th December 2009, 17:08

Nostalgic is right!

While my Grandpa had an Amby, my dad's first car was the 'trendy' Premier Padmini. It used to be my Mom's favorite car as well! As a kid I always thought, why does everyone call it 'Fiat'?!

My vote goes to the Padmini. Too many sweet memories.

-NUT-case · 4th January 2010, 11:58

Fiat it is! I learned to drive in one at 16 on a highway trip and hit my first pedestrian in one on the same trip

( I know irresponsible of the driver to let me drive. My dad did not accompany us ). Jokes apart a fiat was a drivers car compared to an amby which was more suited for back seat travel. When i first drove an amby, it felt like driving a lorry.

We always had fiats with 2 diff body colours . The roof was always painted a
diff colour from the body haha!

We owned several fiats for nearly 25 years till my dad finally bought a M800 which at that time felt like a refined , modern and trendy car lol .

The fiat vs amby rivalry is like the Jawa vs bullet one . BTW my dad had a Jawa for nearly as long in which i learned to ride a motrorcycle.♠

CoolFire · 4th January 2010, 16:00

Padmini is a lot better to drive, but I struggled to fit in (I am 6'3"). So got to go with Amby's roomy interiors.

arnabchak · 4th January 2010, 16:14

Nostalgic.
Because I had one way back in the Mid 90's
I learnt to drive on this car and this being compact, always felt that PP performed better than the behemoth Amby.

Sujith1100 · 4th January 2010, 16:15

MY VOTE GOES TO THE UNCROWNED KING OF THE ROADS FIAT 1100 (MILLICENTO, SELECT, PRESIDENT, PADMINI). You name the features wanted for a race car and you have it (For the time they were the only cars available).

Style, looks, speed, acceleration, torque, lighter, superior handling, great at high speed curves, many many more

straightdrive · 4th January 2010, 21:27

Ambassador. Learnt to drive on both it and the Padmini but prefer the Amby's looks.

samsag12 · 19th January 2010, 09:38

Undoubtedly, Premier Padmini/Fiat. If anyone asks me to choose from a well maintained Ambassador and a rust bucket Padmini, I would rather choose Padmini with my eyes closed.

recshenoy · 19th January 2010, 09:59

Our neighbor used to own a Premier Padmini when I was child. That was the first car I sat in.
Once my father took it to our native and while coming back he struggled with half clutch and finally managed with a stone at rear tyre

ramzsys · 19th January 2010, 10:35

Well here's a comparison shot...from a local garage.

honeybee · 18th February 2010, 21:29

Looks like there still are Fiat and Amby afficianados out there in large numbers. I wanted to know more about the situation today:

1. Ambassador is still in production, though in different engine choices. I have never driven one and have always regarded one as being quite heavy. No doubt its aerodynamics could also do with a lot of improvement. Now, out of the choices given by HM on its website, you have a petrol engine with 71 bhp, two diesels and a CNG/Petrol combo, all three between 50 to 55 bhp. Can someone tell me which engine would be better suited for a reasonably good pickup (no burning rubber, but it shouldn't take forever to build up cruising speed), and a decent cruising speed (~100kmph)? Are the pedals hanging from up like in modern cars or sprouting out of the floor as the classic Ambys or Fiats have? Does anyone have any information regarding the day to day use of the present-day Ambassador? Any (detailed) reviews or second-hand information from friends/relatives who have purchased a new Amby?

2. Fiats are no longer in production. My uncle has a Fiat diesel which is now about 15 years old. He moved it out of Mumbai for PUC reasons. Is there any way the engine can be tweaked/tuned to meet the present-day pollution norms? Is an engine replacement possible/permissible, and if yes, what would be a good choice?

Any help would be much appreciated.

acidkill · 19th February 2010, 10:45

Amby anyday. Well my dad had the amby and my mom had the padmini. So for me the padmini is always gonna be a ladies car.

funkykar · 23rd August 2010, 17:54

Premier Padmini is my choice anyday any time!

Joy · 23rd August 2010, 18:23

Learnt to drive in a Premier Padmini. Also, driven my uncle's Ambassador on many occasions.

Love the padmini, so cute and the exhaust note is like a music. Only grouse the rear window does not roll down fully (used to hate it as a kid).

My vote goes to Premier Padmini.

n.devdath · 23rd August 2010, 19:02

Ambassador any day. It has that regal look that I find hard to resist and moreover the 1800ISZ engine makes it so smooth, at least on the engine side.

Just look at those Ambys used by ministers in the news and you cant resist the temptation to own one.

PAVAN KADAM · 23rd August 2010, 19:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by n.devdath

Ambassador any day. It has that regal look that I find hard to resist and moreover the 1800ISZ engine makes it so smooth, at least on the engine side.

Just look at those Ambys used by ministers in the news and you cant resist the temptation to own one.

Well, i love the Premier.

Why......?

Ambassador = Behaves like a lazy WHALE .

Premier = Sportive and nimble like a DOLPHIN.

Also ......!

You get down from an Amby, people mistake you for a CAB DRIVER,

But not the case when you do so in the Premier, people admire a well kept Premier.

View Poll Results: Padmini or Ambassador which would you choose?
Premier Padmini	300	55.56%
Hindustan Ambassador	240	44.44%
Voters: 540. You may not vote on this poll

26th December 2009, 17:08	#151
abhi413 BHPian Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Pune Posts: 215 Thanked: 118 Times	Nostalgic is right! While my Grandpa had an Amby, my dad's first car was the 'trendy' Premier Padmini. It used to be my Mom's favorite car as well! As a kid I always thought, why does everyone call it 'Fiat'?! My vote goes to the Padmini. Too many sweet memories.
	() Thanks

4th January 2010, 11:58	#152
-NUT-case BHPian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Chennai Posts: 263 Thanked: 13 Times	Fiat it is! I learned to drive in one at 16 on a highway trip and hit my first pedestrian in one on the same trip ( I know irresponsible of the driver to let me drive. My dad did not accompany us ). Jokes apart a fiat was a drivers car compared to an amby which was more suited for back seat travel. When i first drove an amby, it felt like driving a lorry. We always had fiats with 2 diff body colours . The roof was always painted a diff colour from the body haha! We owned several fiats for nearly 25 years till my dad finally bought a M800 which at that time felt like a refined , modern and trendy car lol . The fiat vs amby rivalry is like the Jawa vs bullet one . BTW my dad had a Jawa for nearly as long in which i learned to ride a motrorcycle.♠
	() Thanks

4th January 2010, 16:00	#153
CoolFire BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Tsr, Kerala Posts: 386 Thanked: 579 Times	Padmini is a lot better to drive, but I struggled to fit in (I am 6'3"). So got to go with Amby's roomy interiors.
	() Thanks

4th January 2010, 16:14	#154
arnabchak Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: MH-04 Posts: 1,346 Thanked: 1,165 Times	Nostalgic. Because I had one way back in the Mid 90's I learnt to drive on this car and this being compact, always felt that PP performed better than the behemoth Amby.
	() Thanks

4th January 2010, 16:15	#155
Sujith1100 BANNED Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: BANGalore Posts: 729 Thanked: 22 Times	MY VOTE GOES TO THE UNCROWNED KING OF THE ROADS FIAT 1100 (MILLICENTO, SELECT, PRESIDENT, PADMINI). You name the features wanted for a race car and you have it (For the time they were the only cars available). Style, looks, speed, acceleration, torque, lighter, superior handling, great at high speed curves, many many more Last edited by Sujith1100 : 4th January 2010 at 16:21.
	() Thanks

4th January 2010, 21:27	#156
straightdrive BHPian Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 259 Thanked: 6 Times	Ambassador. Learnt to drive on both it and the Padmini but prefer the Amby's looks.
	() Thanks

19th January 2010, 09:38	#157
samsag12 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: City of Nawaabs Posts: 1,626 Thanked: 262 Times View My Garage	Undoubtedly, Premier Padmini/Fiat. If anyone asks me to choose from a well maintained Ambassador and a rust bucket Padmini, I would rather choose Padmini with my eyes closed.
	() Thanks

19th January 2010, 09:59	#158
recshenoy Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Mangalore / Bangalore Posts: 1,129 Thanked: 256 Times	Our neighbor used to own a Premier Padmini when I was child. That was the first car I sat in. Once my father took it to our native and while coming back he struggled with half clutch and finally managed with a stone at rear tyre
	() Thanks

19th January 2010, 10:35	#159
ramzsys Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: NH209 Posts: 1,785 Thanked: 1,467 Times	Well here's a comparison shot...from a local garage. Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

18th February 2010, 21:29	#160
honeybee Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Dombivli Posts: 3,056 Thanked: 2,142 Times View My Garage	Regarding Fiats and Ambys Looks like there still are Fiat and Amby afficianados out there in large numbers. I wanted to know more about the situation today: 1. Ambassador is still in production, though in different engine choices. I have never driven one and have always regarded one as being quite heavy. No doubt its aerodynamics could also do with a lot of improvement. Now, out of the choices given by HM on its website, you have a petrol engine with 71 bhp, two diesels and a CNG/Petrol combo, all three between 50 to 55 bhp. Can someone tell me which engine would be better suited for a reasonably good pickup (no burning rubber, but it shouldn't take forever to build up cruising speed), and a decent cruising speed (~100kmph)? Are the pedals hanging from up like in modern cars or sprouting out of the floor as the classic Ambys or Fiats have? Does anyone have any information regarding the day to day use of the present-day Ambassador? Any (detailed) reviews or second-hand information from friends/relatives who have purchased a new Amby? 2. Fiats are no longer in production. My uncle has a Fiat diesel which is now about 15 years old. He moved it out of Mumbai for PUC reasons. Is there any way the engine can be tweaked/tuned to meet the present-day pollution norms? Is an engine replacement possible/permissible, and if yes, what would be a good choice? Any help would be much appreciated.
	() Thanks

19th February 2010, 10:45	#161
acidkill BANNED Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Chennai Posts: 420 Thanked: 137 Times	Amby anyday. Well my dad had the amby and my mom had the padmini. So for me the padmini is always gonna be a ladies car.
	() Thanks

23rd August 2010, 17:54	#162
funkykar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 2,686 Thanked: 6,882 Times View My Garage	Premier Padmini is my choice anyday any time!
	() Thanks

23rd August 2010, 18:23	#163
Joy BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Kolkata Posts: 305 Thanked: 26 Times	Learnt to drive in a Premier Padmini. Also, driven my uncle's Ambassador on many occasions. Love the padmini, so cute and the exhaust note is like a music. Only grouse the rear window does not roll down fully (used to hate it as a kid). My vote goes to Premier Padmini.
	() Thanks

23rd August 2010, 19:02	#164
n.devdath BANNED Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 4,287 Thanked: 2,816 Times	Ambassador any day. It has that regal look that I find hard to resist and moreover the 1800ISZ engine makes it so smooth, at least on the engine side. Just look at those Ambys used by ministers in the news and you cant resist the temptation to own one.
	() Thanks