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

abhijit 2284 · 11th June 2007, 09:16

the padmini all the way . our first car was a green padmini with whitewall tyres , as a matter of fact so was our 2nd , 3rd, & fourth car.

Was very lucky as some or the other relative or friend had one or the other variants by the time I started to drive when I was around 16 , so was able to drive all -floor shift , bucket seats , coloumn shift , with ac , witout ac , all the BE ,BU,BE-AC models.

Plus a friends elder cousin had a souped up model with free flow , polished head et all plus with tubeless kumno& aloys -all that around 1992 - amazing grip and pick up as far as I can remember.

though I learnt on the 118NE and still love it the padmini is one of very favourite ones.

in contrast the amby is a very babu car

gd1418 · 11th June 2007, 11:33

Try imagining the PMs of pre Rajiv Gandhi era traversing in Padmini/Fiat and you will find their power dwindling.

Amby oozes power..Remember those days when even the mighty trucks & buses too would meekly stand aside when an Amby with a flashing red beacon atop would zip by.

Quote:

Originally Posted by abhijit 2284

the padmini all the way. In contrast the amby is a very babu car

1100D · 11th June 2007, 19:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by gd1418

Try imagining the PMs of pre Rajiv Gandhi era traversing in Padmini/Fiat and you will find their power dwindling.

Amby oozes power..Remember those days when even the mighty trucks & buses too would meekly stand aside when an Amby with a flashing red beacon atop would zip by.

Agreed, when you dont have it in you, let your car do it for you!!!

.anshuman · 11th June 2007, 22:15

i would choose the padmini for its fun to drive factor,lovely exhaust and reliablity.

midlifecrisis · 12th June 2007, 17:58

I've driven both the cars for a long time... heck, I learned driving on an Amby (Mark 4 I think)
The petrol Amby we had was one remarkable car and I've even creamed Maruti's on Bangalore roads( late 80s - early 90s). The Amby was difficult to handle, but the power made up for it.
The Padmini was dull in comparism. Underpowered and a bad turning radius for a car its size. Really hated the car.

planet_rocker · 12th June 2007, 18:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by midlifecrisis

The Amby was difficult to handle, but the power made up for it.
The Padmini was dull in comparism. Underpowered and a bad turning radius for a car its size. Really hated the car.

eh?? atleast someone "hates" the padmini. well i never found the padmini to be underpowered (i have driven the amby as well). it also depends how well the cars are maintained - mechanically and physically. a properly maintained stock padmini / amby will run better than a not-so-well-maintained padmini/amby.

talking about turning radius - i never cared for it.

well the present amby is quite powerful as compared with the padmini - it comes with a lot of goodies and facial changes - but still it looks dated.

@ Amby - owners! i am very sorry guys

Revvhead · 12th June 2007, 19:25

hey dippy, thats a great thread you started man

i'd take the premier padmini any day.
had a 1970 1100D, and we had it for 30 years!!

had a mark 3 amby as well, but the padmini won outright
compared to the amby, the handling, the gearshift was awesome
and did she have an engine

i have done 120 in her, on worli seaface with 4 guys in the car!!
(my father turned down the fulel mix after that!!! ha ha)
and that was when she was 25 years old.

she used to corner awesome too, as compared to the amby , and cabin ergonomics were far superior.

i remember hanging the rear end out taking the curves on haji ali (well the rear end used to hang itself out and i just use to use the slide), then i'd turn the hard left coming from haji at worli naka, and the entire right side would dive and the wheel would scrape the inside of the wheel well !!

thanks to sam once i was "loaded" (read as 5000 bucks!!) had an awesome single cd system in her, mounted on the tray below the dash with some very unique shock absorbing!!

my amby of course had the famous pioneer system with the siz buttons with equaliser and orange/ green lights!!

of course the xhaust note was the best!!!

just as someone else said, i'd love to drive one gain, and even better have a sleeper Fiat!! ?( had a dream of twin carbing it and all!!)

Revvhead · 17th June 2007, 17:55

hey, i cant believe that this thread has come to a sudden halt
find it hard to believe that there a so few opinios on this topic
(esp with opinions coming out of every orifice on most other topics)
been waiting to read abt other peoples experiences with these two
so here's a bump up

CrAzY dRiVeR · 17th June 2007, 18:45

Amby for me-

Down here in the south, people have always voted hands down for the amby. the numbers prove that.

The seat comfort is still amazing. And guess what? Its a real tall boy! (and i drive a WagonR, i should know)

Anybody having any confusion, please see Rudra sir's car!

Absar · 17th June 2007, 18:49

I'd choose the Premier Padmini over the Hindustan Ambassador anytime. The Ambassador has been one of my dislikes ever since childhood. It looks like a bulky airfilled car (like a strong man with his muscles filled with air). The driver looks ridiculous driving it too. The Premier Padmini is a much better car. Long long ago we had one. It was petrol at first, it did about 50k km (i think) with that engine and then was transplanted with a diesel engine which did 70k km and it was such a great car.

A

P.S.: and oh I'm sorry for my opinion folks! No offence meant!

1100D · 19th June 2007, 02:09

Padmini was Italian, by which it means that it had "curves" not "Fat"

Just incase someone wanted to give me the Non-fat, Non-italian Herald, well that was skinny.

planet_rocker · 19th June 2007, 12:28

so till date the Padmini is the choice of most of the members as per the poll

the padmini is definitely curvy just like a "curvy" super model and i find the Padmini very hott even today

but what happened to the hard core Amby guys - Rudra da, Mr Niaz Ali.

Mav · 23rd August 2007, 00:02

Padmini for me as well .... learnt to drive on it and my first car

tatyavinchoo · 23rd August 2007, 13:54

Padmini for me. Learnt driving in this car at the age of 12. My Jiju had a 87 model. Used to just glide on the road. FIAT rocks. !!!

doctorkats · 24th August 2007, 02:52

amby anyday.................

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

11th June 2007, 09:16	#76
abhijit 2284 BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Aurangabad Posts: 206 Thanked: 113 Times View My Garage	the padmini all the way . our first car was a green padmini with whitewall tyres , as a matter of fact so was our 2nd , 3rd, & fourth car. Was very lucky as some or the other relative or friend had one or the other variants by the time I started to drive when I was around 16 , so was able to drive all -floor shift , bucket seats , coloumn shift , with ac , witout ac , all the BE ,BU,BE-AC models. Plus a friends elder cousin had a souped up model with free flow , polished head et all plus with tubeless kumno& aloys -all that around 1992 - amazing grip and pick up as far as I can remember. though I learnt on the 118NE and still love it the padmini is one of very favourite ones. in contrast the amby is a very babu car
	() Thanks

11th June 2007, 22:15	#79
.anshuman Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Good-Gaon Posts: 7,763 Thanked: 11,124 Times View My Garage	i would choose the padmini for its fun to drive factor,lovely exhaust and reliablity.
	() Thanks

12th June 2007, 17:58	#80
midlifecrisis BHPian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 122 Thanked: 6 Times	I've driven both the cars for a long time... heck, I learned driving on an Amby (Mark 4 I think) The petrol Amby we had was one remarkable car and I've even creamed Maruti's on Bangalore roads( late 80s - early 90s). The Amby was difficult to handle, but the power made up for it. The Padmini was dull in comparism. Underpowered and a bad turning radius for a car its size. Really hated the car.
	() Thanks

12th June 2007, 19:25	#82
Revvhead BHPian Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Bombay Posts: 447 Thanked: 21 Times View My Garage	hey dippy, thats a great thread you started man i'd take the premier padmini any day. had a 1970 1100D, and we had it for 30 years!! had a mark 3 amby as well, but the padmini won outright compared to the amby, the handling, the gearshift was awesome and did she have an engine i have done 120 in her, on worli seaface with 4 guys in the car!! (my father turned down the fulel mix after that!!! ha ha) and that was when she was 25 years old. she used to corner awesome too, as compared to the amby , and cabin ergonomics were far superior. i remember hanging the rear end out taking the curves on haji ali (well the rear end used to hang itself out and i just use to use the slide), then i'd turn the hard left coming from haji at worli naka, and the entire right side would dive and the wheel would scrape the inside of the wheel well !! thanks to sam once i was "loaded" (read as 5000 bucks!!) had an awesome single cd system in her, mounted on the tray below the dash with some very unique shock absorbing!! my amby of course had the famous pioneer system with the siz buttons with equaliser and orange/ green lights!! of course the xhaust note was the best!!! just as someone else said, i'd love to drive one gain, and even better have a sleeper Fiat!! ?( had a dream of twin carbing it and all!!)
	() Thanks

17th June 2007, 17:55	#83
Revvhead BHPian Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Bombay Posts: 447 Thanked: 21 Times View My Garage	hey, i cant believe that this thread has come to a sudden halt find it hard to believe that there a so few opinios on this topic (esp with opinions coming out of every orifice on most other topics) been waiting to read abt other peoples experiences with these two so here's a bump up
	() Thanks

17th June 2007, 18:45	#84
CrAzY dRiVeR Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bangalore / TVM Posts: 18,002 Thanked: 78,816 Times View My Garage	Amby for me- Down here in the south, people have always voted hands down for the amby. the numbers prove that. The seat comfort is still amazing. And guess what? Its a real tall boy! (and i drive a WagonR, i should know) Anybody having any confusion, please see Rudra sir's car!
	() Thanks

17th June 2007, 18:49	#85
Absar BHPian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Madras Posts: 560 Thanked: 10 Times View My Garage	I'd choose the Premier Padmini over the Hindustan Ambassador anytime. The Ambassador has been one of my dislikes ever since childhood. It looks like a bulky airfilled car (like a strong man with his muscles filled with air). The driver looks ridiculous driving it too. The Premier Padmini is a much better car. Long long ago we had one. It was petrol at first, it did about 50k km (i think) with that engine and then was transplanted with a diesel engine which did 70k km and it was such a great car. A P.S.: and oh I'm sorry for my opinion folks! No offence meant! Last edited by Absar : 17th June 2007 at 18:52. Reason: P.S.
	() Thanks

19th June 2007, 02:09	#86
1100D Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Calcutta Posts: 4,390 Thanked: 4,116 Times View My Garage	Padmini was Italian, by which it means that it had "curves" not "Fat" Just incase someone wanted to give me the Non-fat, Non-italian Herald, well that was skinny. Last edited by 1100D : 19th June 2007 at 02:13.
	() Thanks

19th June 2007, 12:28	#87
planet_rocker Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bong-land Posts: 2,323 Thanked: 426 Times	so till date the Padmini is the choice of most of the members as per the poll the padmini is definitely curvy just like a "curvy" super model and i find the Padmini very hott even today but what happened to the hard core Amby guys - Rudra da, Mr Niaz Ali.
	() Thanks

23rd August 2007, 00:02	#88
Mav BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Noida Posts: 27 Thanked: 0 Times	Padmini for me as well .... learnt to drive on it and my first car
	() Thanks

23rd August 2007, 13:54	#89
tatyavinchoo Newbie Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: MH-02 (Amchi Mumbai) Posts: 8 Thanked: 0 Times	Padmini for me. Learnt driving in this car at the age of 12. My Jiju had a 87 model. Used to just glide on the road. FIAT rocks. !!!
	() Thanks

24th August 2007, 02:52	#90
doctorkats BHPian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Noida Posts: 315 Thanked: 2 Times	amby anyday.................
	() Thanks