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

Dippy · 5th June 2007, 14:27

We've had a lot of polls for exotics, luxury and other cars of the current era. So I thought of a different poll this time around. Imagine we were still in the pre Maruti era when only Padminis and Ambys ruled the roost. If you had the choice to buy one of these two which would you pick?

The Hindustan Ambassador OR The Premier Padmini

tsk1979 · 5th June 2007, 14:30

Premier padmini. Sleeker faster and love the sound.
Owned a 118NE too. Troublesome she was, but the gearshift was to die for.
A family friend owned a black Premier padmini which would zoom upto 120kmph.

typeOnegative · 5th June 2007, 14:31

Same as tsk...

I am fida on the sound.

suman · 5th June 2007, 14:32

Premier Padmini......have owned a 1100D as well as an Ambassador Mk II & I would love the Padmini experience all over again

arunforu1 · 5th June 2007, 14:36

ambassdor, big, royal & comfy ride, like the slow running elephant.

suren181 · 5th June 2007, 14:41

It always was the Premier for me. Was fun to drive, IMHO had a better braking ability than an Amby and numerous other features that had me drooling over it.

kpzen · 5th June 2007, 14:43

Premier Padmini all the way...
I still have a Premier Padmini 137D down south....

Rtech · 5th June 2007, 14:47

Padmini for me as well. Love that exhaust note! I never cared too much for the Amby. However, there is no denying the rear couch they call a seat is a great place to sit!

planet_rocker · 5th June 2007, 14:49

voted for Premier Padmini.

given the option buy another (yeah i own one 1988 model) - the S1 / S2 - for the gear box and differential and the optimized exhaust. the exhaust note of a stock one is to die for. i loved mine (when it was stock). i love the present one as well. i consider myself to be lucky to own one. this is the only car that makes me turn my head whenever i see one. i simply love my Planet...my baby! i had some scary experiences including spinning out on the first team BHP meet @ Kolkata, wiper conking off at odd times. but in the end i will go for the Premier Padmini.

well i am head over heels on 1100D's:

she is really beautiful - runs better than mine - sounds better than mine - but still i love my baby.

major · 5th June 2007, 14:52

Ambasaddor..Have very fond memories of travelling in my uncles car (As a kid), in trichur , kerala, with 8 to 10 people, and me on someones lap..and fighting for window seat with my cousins.

benbsb29 · 5th June 2007, 14:52

I havent driven both of these, so cant comment from that aspect. Havent travelled in a Padmini, so again, cant really say.

Summer vacations to Kerala during schooling meant pick up and drops, and local commuting in the humble Amby, and i should commend the way it glides over potholes, and the space it packs inside. Hence, voted for it.

Rtech · 5th June 2007, 14:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by benbsb29

Havent travelled in a Padmini,

Which planet are you from?!? Living in India and you haven't even sat in a Padmini?!?

superavi · 5th June 2007, 15:06

Learnt driving on the Padmini. And i think the rear roof part of the padmini is oh so sexy! I'd still like to own a Padmini, maybe jig it up by using someone's help and scare the daylights out of the others.

I had a 118NE as well, and loved the car. Kept her for a year and then sold her off. I loved the steering and the response of that car!

scooby05 · 5th June 2007, 15:08

this is great!!
what a thread to start. Dippy the great!
I learnt my driving on an Amby in '65 at the age of 12! at 13 graduated to lhd jeep.
at the age of 18, used to get the Amby[airconditioned] on 2 side wheels on hajiali circle, with friends after a couple of beers!
then at 21 shifted to fiats with all the rallying in it in the early '80's
miss them really

, should have kept the laast ones.
Have done Bombay-bangalore in 1 day in my Amby
done bombay-delhi in 1 day in fiat!!
Both very dependable cars. though we used to replace cars every 2 years in those times!!
those were the days my friend

amitoj · 5th June 2007, 15:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rtech

Which planet are you from?!? Living in India and you haven't even sat in a Padmini?!?

True.. Padmini is known as the-car-that-everyone's-dad-owned.

Yeah i would prefer padmini too... used to be so much fun pushing it in the rains over barely ankle deep waters

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

5th June 2007, 14:27	#1
Dippy Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 7,597 Thanked: 2,739 Times	A Nostalgic poll : Premier Padmini or Hindustan Ambassador. Which would you choose? We've had a lot of polls for exotics, luxury and other cars of the current era. So I thought of a different poll this time around. Imagine we were still in the pre Maruti era when only Padminis and Ambys ruled the roost. If you had the choice to buy one of these two which would you pick? The Hindustan Ambassador OR The Premier Padmini
	() Thanks

5th June 2007, 14:30	#2
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,724 Thanked: 22,978 Times View My Garage	Premier padmini. Sleeker faster and love the sound. Owned a 118NE too. Troublesome she was, but the gearshift was to die for. A family friend owned a black Premier padmini which would zoom upto 120kmph.
	() Thanks

5th June 2007, 14:31	#3
typeOnegative Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Vikhroli, Mumbai, India Posts: 1,503 Thanked: 28 Times	Same as tsk... I am fida on the sound.
	() Thanks

5th June 2007, 14:32	#4
suman Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Kolkata Posts: 4,589 Thanked: 281 Times View My Garage	Premier Padmini......have owned a 1100D as well as an Ambassador Mk II & I would love the Padmini experience all over again
	() Thanks

5th June 2007, 14:36	#5
arunforu1 BHPian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 254 Thanked: 7 Times	ambassdor, big, royal & comfy ride, like the slow running elephant.
	() Thanks

5th June 2007, 14:41	#6
suren181 BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 850 Thanked: 11 Times View My Garage	It always was the Premier for me. Was fun to drive, IMHO had a better braking ability than an Amby and numerous other features that had me drooling over it.
	() Thanks

5th June 2007, 14:43	#7
kpzen Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Faridabad Posts: 5,611 Thanked: 1,878 Times View My Garage	Premier Padmini all the way... I still have a Premier Padmini 137D down south....
	() Thanks

5th June 2007, 14:47	#8
Rtech Team-BHP Support Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 5,770 Thanked: 364 Times View My Garage	Padmini for me as well. Love that exhaust note! I never cared too much for the Amby. However, there is no denying the rear couch they call a seat is a great place to sit!
	() Thanks

5th June 2007, 14:49	#9
planet_rocker Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bong-land Posts: 2,323 Thanked: 426 Times	voted for Premier Padmini. given the option buy another (yeah i own one 1988 model) - the S1 / S2 - for the gear box and differential and the optimized exhaust. the exhaust note of a stock one is to die for. i loved mine (when it was stock). i love the present one as well. i consider myself to be lucky to own one. this is the only car that makes me turn my head whenever i see one. i simply love my Planet...my baby! i had some scary experiences including spinning out on the first team BHP meet @ Kolkata, wiper conking off at odd times. but in the end i will go for the Premier Padmini. well i am head over heels on 1100D's: she is really beautiful - runs better than mine - sounds better than mine - but still i love my baby. Last edited by planet_rocker : 5th June 2007 at 15:09.
	() Thanks

5th June 2007, 14:52	#10
major BHPian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: mumbai Posts: 53 Thanked: 0 Times	Ambasaddor..Have very fond memories of travelling in my uncles car (As a kid), in trichur , kerala, with 8 to 10 people, and me on someones lap..and fighting for window seat with my cousins.
	() Thanks

5th June 2007, 14:52	#11
benbsb29 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Brisbane Posts: 10,013 Thanked: 13,514 Times View My Garage	I havent driven both of these, so cant comment from that aspect. Havent travelled in a Padmini, so again, cant really say. Summer vacations to Kerala during schooling meant pick up and drops, and local commuting in the humble Amby, and i should commend the way it glides over potholes, and the space it packs inside. Hence, voted for it.
	() Thanks

5th June 2007, 15:06	#13
superavi BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: London Posts: 286 Thanked: 29 Times	Learnt driving on the Padmini. And i think the rear roof part of the padmini is oh so sexy! I'd still like to own a Padmini, maybe jig it up by using someone's help and scare the daylights out of the others. I had a 118NE as well, and loved the car. Kept her for a year and then sold her off. I loved the steering and the response of that car!
	() Thanks

5th June 2007, 15:08	#14
scooby05 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,145 Thanked: 192 Times	this is great!! what a thread to start. Dippy the great! I learnt my driving on an Amby in '65 at the age of 12! at 13 graduated to lhd jeep. at the age of 18, used to get the Amby[airconditioned] on 2 side wheels on hajiali circle, with friends after a couple of beers! then at 21 shifted to fiats with all the rallying in it in the early '80's miss them really , should have kept the laast ones. Have done Bombay-bangalore in 1 day in my Amby done bombay-delhi in 1 day in fiat!! Both very dependable cars. though we used to replace cars every 2 years in those times!! those were the days my friend
	() Thanks