[paragsachania]

Will always prefer a proper book instead of PDFs.

Our Baleno didn't come with owner's manual and a good BHPian friend mi2n helped me with the PDF when the car was booked. The infotainment manual is a book that we got at the time of delivery.

Incidentally only yesterday I got the manual printed into a proper book as I somehow ensure to read the owners manual end to end and for that paperbook is something I will always prefer.

[DicKy]

Originally Posted by Sankar

Yes, possible. But difficult to use. See for yourself. This is the maintenance schedule. If I zoom in to readable size full info is not contained and have to move left and right and keep doing that for each item. Left right Up Down. The app doesn't auto rotate either, it is stuck in portrait mode. Phone has a 6.4" display.

Screenshots actually don't do justice to how it looks on a 6.4" mobile screen. Because mobile screenshots on computer monitor blow up very well due to high mobile phone display resolutions.

Attachment 2388144

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But this is what I am seeing in the app for offline view. Different for Glanza and Etios? Or I am looking at the wrong section?

Originally Posted by Jeroen

She has driven this little car for over 6 years, more than 85000 kilometres and see did not know you could adjust the wiper intermittent setting....By the way, I don’t know about India, but here in the west the same has happened to sales brochures. Most brands do not have any paper documentation anymore. When you visit the dealership and ask for a brochure they hand you an internet address.

I know of a female driver who was surprised when we took out of the spare wheel from her car's boot, claiming she never knew it was there. Another acquintance of mine has been using his car for 10+ years and 100k+ kms. But everytime he unlocks the car for someone standing outside to get in, he quickly opens his driver side door to unlock the central locking. Even after I pointed out the big lock/unlock button in the dashboard just above the hazard lights button, he just doesn't use it.

About the brochures...
If we ask for a brochure they will just ask for our phone number to Whatsapp the brochure and price list. The last time I held a proper brochure was in the early 2010s.

[Sankar]

Originally Posted by GrammarNazi

Having the spare key is a legal requirement, and also essential for buying or even claiming insurance.

Originally Posted by Jeroen

Absolutely. although the spare key requirement might be an Indian specific requirement.

Spare key requirement is only for theft claim if one has first party insurance.

Originally Posted by DicKy

But this what I am seeing in the app. Different for Glanza and Etios?

Yes it is different. What you see for Etios is same format as the one for Crysta.
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I love books and manuals to read and to keep. Prefer printed books but what I can't have in physical form I have them as PDFs which can be printed and some are kindle copies. Given a choice I would take printed hard cover over any other medium. I have lost some excellent books over the years which I can't even buy now and so I don't lend them to anyone. I had the full workshop manual of 2nd gen Swift now only supplementary manual remains as I have given the main volumes to someone to keep when I sold that car. I should have probably kept it.

[revvharder]

I think they should provide it in both physical form and pdf forms and leave it upto the owner to decide whether he wants to keep a PDF in his device or physical book in his vehicle. I prefer book provided by the manufacturer, it's actually disappointing that manufacturers are skimping like this in the name of save the nature it's just like Charger in case of mobile phones one manufacturer does it and every other follows the suit.

I read the book once the vehicle is received and refer to it whenever needed for example previous gen WagonR had different jack mounting points and current gen WagonR has different and when I had a puncture in a remote area I just sat in my vehicle and read that then and there.

[JoaTMoN]

I always read user manuals cover to cover. I also keep them in my car at all times. So, yes I prefer having a printed copy of the manual.

[shankar.balan]

Originally Posted by Jeroen

I keep every piece of paper, other than the fuel bills, of all my cars. So I have a whole stack of folders, in my book case. The Alfa Spider and the Jaguar have two thick binders each!! I keep all the invoices from parts or parties that worked on the car, all the insurance papers, all the alignment reports, MOT certificates, valuation reports etc etc. I also tend to collect articles in magazines or the internet pertaining to my cars, print them and stick them in the binder.

If anything I can guarantee if you want to sell the car, potential buyers will be impressed if you have kept a meticulous record of your car. It is probably a good indication how well you looked after it.

One small caution; you might want to hide these folders/binders from your spouse. Because it is of course also a perfect paper trail for how much money you have been spending!

Jeroen

I am so happy to read this. Because I have been following very similar practices, being largely an ‘old economy’ person.

I believe this is a good practice. My father used to do this and indeed still does. I watched him when I was small and have continued the practice with all my own cars.

And yes, most certainly these detailed records tend to impress the prospective buyers quite strongly. But it doesn't usually result in them paying you any real significant premium for the vehicle. Or may be Im just a lousy negotiator.

Yes also to the fact that these car files, such as they are, are best kept away from the spouse’s line of sight - its best never to let them know how much one is generally spending on one’s cars and golfing equipment and suchlike.

In my case I am anyway constantly getting berated by the spouse, because of my consistent (some say excessive) spending, on my scale model car collection - but this is more from the stand point of space (lack of display and storage space really) rather than money.

Thing is, nowadays, or at least in the last 3-4 years, I have been reading about the mass destruction of trees and habitats and so on. And thats what has pushed me in the direction of trying to go as paperless as possible.

But still, I love books like this one. To read and to learn from and keep. They are also in a sense, collectors items. (Hoarders Items more like!)

[fhdowntheline]

We are in an era when even college students prefer ebooks or pdfs , so what to say about printed car user manuals.

[WorkingGuru]

Millennials & pre-millennials of India, will almost always prefer paperbacks. It helps us realise the car as a treasured possession.

Keeping things organised & neat is an individual trait. It needn't be just for the car. A responsible person will keep a file of documents for all the relevant valuable possessions they own.

Taking long term care of your car requires imbibing a good understanding of its working. Car companies should realise their target market are not from Europe or US markets where vast majority of people grew up relatively well-off & didn't need to care much about certain aspects because business practices were organised, well controlled & consumer rights were protected.

[dhanushs]

While the online version would be more "Searchable" and you might get critical info quickly, I still prefer the physical version. Infact, I love the instructions and information stickers on the vehicles too. I make sure to read all of them.

[alphamike_1612]

I am all for the green earth policy etc. All in good faith. But I would prefer having a downloadable e manual that can be printed if need be. I cannot stress on the importance of this. The last time I needed a manual was when I had to change a headlight in my Alto 800. My phone was at 5% battery, I didn't have an in car charger/powerbank and it was getting dark. Guess what came to my rescue? The hard copy of the owner's manual that my father had put inside the glove box when we purchased the vehicle 9 years ago! It was right there in its plastic cover and after I got it, It was hardly a 10 minute affair.

Had i had enough battery in my phone, i wouldn't have disturbed the physical manual, i would have instead googled and found the manual online or a youtube video thst shows me how to do it. At 5% battery, there's no way I'm opening a YT video or a 100 mb PDF and sitting and searching for it.

In short, having a printable e manual ensures that while the company harps on its Green Policy, those few DIYers (yes, changing a headlight has now become a mechanic's job in the eyes of the common car owner) and "purists" can print the manual and keep it as a ready reference.

Another very small experience of mine, I have noticed that subconsciously I avoid touching my phone with my hands soiled, as is the case most times when you change the oil and I wash my hands multiple times with soap and dry them clean before I touch my phone, however the printed manual, I just use as is, gingerly touching the edge of the paper so as to not affect the printed material. I wonder how many of us would touch our phones if we had a doubt in the middle of the process.

Also, what's to stop the manufacturer from changing items in the e manual without any prior intimation/logical reasoning? Where's accountability going to go in all this?

[Siddarth_Ramani]

I understand the 'Use less paper and go green initiative'. But having online only User manual does not make sense, especially for off-road vehicles like Fortuner. There may be network issues or server down from Toyota's end itself, what should one do in those scenarios?

They should give the online version + user manual in the infotainment screen itself. Now I don't know if all the manufacturers put user manual in ICE, but that could be a reasonable replacement for printed version. But then again what if you need user manual to fix the infotainment screen. Ahh the misery!!

[PrideRed]

The online version is easy to search however if app is not developed well can become pain. Most offer offline download which should help in no network area. However a physical manual doesnot hurt or atleast there should be an option to buy one.

For service I prefer online tracking because it's easy to look through, compare and online offers more option like service estimate, online booking etc.

[GeeTee TSI]

As with most things centred around sustainability, this trend is here to stay. I am fine to buy an OE original issue 'paperback' edition (accessory?) for bedtime reading

Don't even get me started on how to ascertain if the damn feature mentioned in the manual is applicable for my car (Skoda, I'm looking at you!)

[sanjayrozario]

Thanks for starting this thread. Even Skoda has resorted to this nonsensical practice. At best, auto companies should make it downloadable. What if someone is stuck in a remote place with a patchy network. The service manual was the best resort to counter the SA's practice of over-servicing & over-billing. Also, the process to access Skoda Slavia's manual is a pain.

[adi.mariner]

The Car's infotainment screen is big enough. Why not have a soft copy stored somewhere in the internal storage for easy access and reference when required.