Car with lightest clutch.

quadmaniac · 25th June 2016, 20:39

A very old thread, but reopening if it interests new car buyers.

I am looking for a premium hatch or a sedan with a very light clutch - as light as possible for least fatigue of driving in the city. Before anyone suggests automatic, I am inclined to go for that too - however, there are limitations I'm aware of:

1. My budget is hard-limited at 9-10L OTR Hyderabad, which means around 9L ex showroom, and good auto options in this range are limited.

2. I've heard about rubber band effect in CVTs, which is why I often think that I'd also be ok with a light clutch manual.

For perspective, I use a Chevy Beat Petrol - and I think the clutch of that is average - it does pain my left foot for extended b2b traffic drives.

deetjohn · 25th June 2016, 22:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by quadmaniac

I am looking for a premium hatch or a sedan with a very light clutch - as light as possible for least fatigue of driving in the city. Before anyone suggests automatic, I am inclined to go for that too.

Baleno 1.2 MT got a very light clutch. I drove one a few days back and its super light. You just need to place your left foot on it and it goes down.

The downside being that there is no feel to it.

You can also try the new Figo 1.5 DCT. Its got very impressive safety kit as well.

Both cars are well within your budget.

balajisv · 25th June 2016, 22:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by quadmaniac

I am looking for a premium hatch or a sedan with a very light clutch - as light as possible for least fatigue of driving in the city.

You did not mention whether you are looking for a diesel or petrol?
Assuming you are looking for a petrol, you can look at Zest Revotron. The clutch is light. Also, you can look at Zest XTA if you are looking at diesel. I'm sure it would be within 10L OTR in Hyderabad.

quadmaniac · 25th June 2016, 23:23

I am looking for petrol mainly for nvh. I would prefer a premium hatch or an entry sedan. Even the ciaz vxi+ is around 9.6 otr.

I recently went to vw showroom to check out the ameo (no td yet) but the clutch seemed harder than my beat. However the car otherwise was EXTREMELY impressive. I would ask tbhp members eyeing a CS to definitely check it out.

Thanks for the tip though.. but the balenos waiting period is a major downer!

Dr.Naren · 26th June 2016, 00:37

Out of all the cars I own and also driven till date, My new Baleno 1.2 petrol has the lightest clutch coupled with butter smooth gearshifts

.

DCEite · 26th June 2016, 09:34

Xcent and Grand i10 have feather light clutch. Very smooth as well.

In fact the Xcent that I drive has such light controls (the clutch, steering, etc.) it takes a lot of stress and fatigue out of everyday driving.

Do check these out as well.

crazyro · 26th June 2016, 09:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by DCEite

Xcent and Grand i10 have feather light clutch. Very smooth as well.

In fact the Xcent that I drive has such light controls (the clutch, steering, etc.) it takes a lot of stress and fatigue out of everyday driving.

Do check these out as well.

I agree. I have driven the Grand i10 and it has one of the lightest clutch around. Makes city driving a lot easy.

landcruiser123 · 26th June 2016, 10:29

The lightest clutch I've operated is in an Etios Liva TRD. Baleno also has a very light clutch. Most Hyundais have very light clutches too.

I would suggest that you look at Ford Aspire Automatic. It should fall within INR 10 lakhs on road.

longsyntax · 26th June 2016, 20:33

Despite not being a Hyundai fan even though I actually drive an i20, I can vouch for the clutch. Smooth as butter. And fits your budget perfectly too.

quadmaniac · 26th June 2016, 22:36

Thanks for the replies guys. I have weird tastes - and so does my better half :P

Both of us don't like the looks of the i20 nor the Aspire (i20 looks too "funky" and Aspire -that weird central dashboard setup plus the horrifying chrome strip at the rear!)

The Baleno is promising though. I need to see if Nexa gives an AT for a test drive as well. Baleno fits perfectly into the budget, but the wife secretly longs for a sedan!

I think the best course of action is to simply continue with my Beat!

Apologies for the rambling - buying a car can be so confusing!

blue_pulsar · 27th June 2016, 00:23

Bhpians, I was thinking about a car with light clutch too. I currently drive a Swift ZDi and after 40k, its clutch has become hard which is causing pain in my left foot. And Bangalores ever increasing traffic does not help either. So I was thinking if buying a used 800 or even Zen for city commute would make any sense? Suggestions?

Thanks

landcruiser123 · 27th June 2016, 01:45

^^ Changing the Clutch a couple of times will be cheaper than the combined cost of running and maintaining 2 cars.

Just take it to a service center to inspect what's the problem. There is no replacement for the convenience that an automatic offers.

VW2010 · 27th June 2016, 08:34

As landcruiser said changing clutch is cheaper.

Also your options for fixing the problem are weak. You need an automatic for city drive and i may boldly suggest the Nano.

I know it sounds like a diesel auto and has a bad image. Take one test drive and you will realize how super convenient and super spaced car built for city driving.

Its not too heavy on pocket with 2 year amc etc.

ashis89 · 27th June 2016, 09:53

My daily drive is a 5yr 35k kms old WagonR. I also drive my friend's new Baleno petrol MT (<3k kms old) quite regularly. After driving them back to back, I don't find the Baleno clutch to be any way superior to that in my car. But the clutch has a short travel and lacks feel.

If you want to hold to the Beat, you look at getting a low mileage automatic, anything from i10 Auto to the City Auto. Their prices will vary between less than a quarter of your budget to half of your budget. City will meet you sedan requirement too. They are proven cars and this will save a lot of money too.

25th June 2016, 20:39	#46
quadmaniac BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 435 Thanked: 119 Times	Re: Car with lightest clutch. A very old thread, but reopening if it interests new car buyers. I am looking for a premium hatch or a sedan with a very light clutch - as light as possible for least fatigue of driving in the city. Before anyone suggests automatic, I am inclined to go for that too - however, there are limitations I'm aware of: 1. My budget is hard-limited at 9-10L OTR Hyderabad, which means around 9L ex showroom, and good auto options in this range are limited. 2. I've heard about rubber band effect in CVTs, which is why I often think that I'd also be ok with a light clutch manual. For perspective, I use a Chevy Beat Petrol - and I think the clutch of that is average - it does pain my left foot for extended b2b traffic drives.
	() Thanks

25th June 2016, 23:23	#49
quadmaniac BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 435 Thanked: 119 Times	I am looking for petrol mainly for nvh. I would prefer a premium hatch or an entry sedan. Even the ciaz vxi+ is around 9.6 otr. I recently went to vw showroom to check out the ameo (no td yet) but the clutch seemed harder than my beat. However the car otherwise was EXTREMELY impressive. I would ask tbhp members eyeing a CS to definitely check it out. Thanks for the tip though.. but the balenos waiting period is a major downer!
	() Thanks

26th June 2016, 00:37	#50
Dr.Naren Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Bangalore Posts: 5,121 Thanked: 17,276 Times View My Garage	Re: Car with lightest clutch. Out of all the cars I own and also driven till date, My new Baleno 1.2 petrol has the lightest clutch coupled with butter smooth gearshifts .
	() Thanks

26th June 2016, 09:34	#51
DCEite Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: NCR Posts: 3,590 Thanked: 3,481 Times	Xcent and Grand i10 have feather light clutch. Very smooth as well. In fact the Xcent that I drive has such light controls (the clutch, steering, etc.) it takes a lot of stress and fatigue out of everyday driving. Do check these out as well.
	(2) Thanks

26th June 2016, 10:29	#53
landcruiser123 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Chicago Posts: 3,002 Thanked: 6,919 Times	Re: Car with lightest clutch. The lightest clutch I've operated is in an Etios Liva TRD. Baleno also has a very light clutch. Most Hyundais have very light clutches too. I would suggest that you look at Ford Aspire Automatic. It should fall within INR 10 lakhs on road.
	(1) Thanks

26th June 2016, 20:33	#54
longsyntax Newbie Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Chennai Posts: 12 Thanked: 5 Times	Despite not being a Hyundai fan even though I actually drive an i20, I can vouch for the clutch. Smooth as butter. And fits your budget perfectly too.
	() Thanks

26th June 2016, 22:36	#55
quadmaniac BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 435 Thanked: 119 Times	Re: Car with lightest clutch. Thanks for the replies guys. I have weird tastes - and so does my better half :P Both of us don't like the looks of the i20 nor the Aspire (i20 looks too "funky" and Aspire -that weird central dashboard setup plus the horrifying chrome strip at the rear!) The Baleno is promising though. I need to see if Nexa gives an AT for a test drive as well. Baleno fits perfectly into the budget, but the wife secretly longs for a sedan! I think the best course of action is to simply continue with my Beat! Apologies for the rambling - buying a car can be so confusing!
	() Thanks

27th June 2016, 00:23	#56
blue_pulsar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,113 Thanked: 408 Times	Re: Car with lightest clutch. Bhpians, I was thinking about a car with light clutch too. I currently drive a Swift ZDi and after 40k, its clutch has become hard which is causing pain in my left foot. And Bangalores ever increasing traffic does not help either. So I was thinking if buying a used 800 or even Zen for city commute would make any sense? Suggestions? Thanks
	() Thanks

27th June 2016, 01:45	#57
landcruiser123 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Chicago Posts: 3,002 Thanked: 6,919 Times	Re: Car with lightest clutch. ^^ Changing the Clutch a couple of times will be cheaper than the combined cost of running and maintaining 2 cars. Just take it to a service center to inspect what's the problem. There is no replacement for the convenience that an automatic offers.
	() Thanks

27th June 2016, 08:34	#58
VW2010 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: electricity Posts: 2,947 Thanked: 4,558 Times	Re: Car with lightest clutch. As landcruiser said changing clutch is cheaper. Also your options for fixing the problem are weak. You need an automatic for city drive and i may boldly suggest the Nano. I know it sounds like a diesel auto and has a bad image. Take one test drive and you will realize how super convenient and super spaced car built for city driving. Its not too heavy on pocket with 2 year amc etc.
	() Thanks

27th June 2016, 09:53	#59
ashis89 Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 3,650 Thanked: 12,177 Times View My Garage	Re: Car with lightest clutch. My daily drive is a 5yr 35k kms old WagonR. I also drive my friend's new Baleno petrol MT (<3k kms old) quite regularly. After driving them back to back, I don't find the Baleno clutch to be any way superior to that in my car. But the clutch has a short travel and lacks feel. If you want to hold to the Beat, you look at getting a low mileage automatic, anything from i10 Auto to the City Auto. Their prices will vary between less than a quarter of your budget to half of your budget. City will meet you sedan requirement too. They are proven cars and this will save a lot of money too.
	(1) Thanks