[greatDrive]

Originally Posted by Samurai

Maruti has a website for Baleno where you can check out the brochure, specifications, photos, features, etc. Try beating that...

Despite all that.... I see petra winning the 17 to 10 over baleno.. does it not give you the idea about petra's positive side.

[camry93]

Originally Posted by greatDrive

Despite all that.... I see petra winning the 17 to 10 over baleno.. does it not give you the idea about petra's positive side.

Make that 18 to 10 for Petra. Goes to show that despite all the misgivings that some people have regarding FIAT, their souls crave for these cars. Its a very hearty car, the Petra.

To paraphrase Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers' hit (I Wont Back Down)

"Well I won't back down
No I won't back down
You can stand me up at the gates of hell
But I won't back down"

Needless to say, I'm a Petra owner.

[ritik123]

Originally Posted by camry93

To paraphrase Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers' hit (I Wont Back Down)

"Well I won't back down
No I won't back down
You can stand me up at the gates of hell
But I won't back down"

How bout this quote

"fools tread where angels fear to fly"

and the more appropriate song would be "Fools rush in"

[shuvc]

Originally Posted by Samurai

Your poll is similar to car comparison list by car makers, who leave out parameters that are weak in their model. In A.S.S which you chose to leave out, Maruti beats the hell out of Fiat.

That was exactly the intention here.
Whenever there is a comparison with FIAT cars, it always veers towards A.S.S. and thus the cars are flayed. The intention was to judge just the cars. Probably the poll would reflect heavily in favour of the Baleno as an overall package.

@lamborghini - I second your view strongly. I have had pretty bad experiences with both Maruti and Tata regarding A.S.S. and have learnt the hard way that a dependable road side mechanic can solve most of your problems for much less with lesser hassles . Another perspective : both cars are supposedly reliable and hence should not be needing too much A.S.S. So, lets still not keep it as one of the parameters.

[shuvc]

Originally Posted by typeOnegative

Max, the Baleno may win in resale value. But by how much?

While on this , what would be the resale value of the cars say in 5 years time ?

Am just guessing: Petra - 1.5L, Baleno - 2.25 L ?

[ritik123]

Originally Posted by lamborghini

but most baleno owners will get scared once past the 125 kmph mark from wheron the baleno starts flying (not in terms of performance. I mean literally)

Most baleno owners drive past 160 kmph. try doing that in a Petra.

[sridhar24]

Petra is a very solid and good car, its superior to Baleno in all respects except for FE and performance.

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by sridhar24

Petra is a very solid and good car, its superior to Baleno in all respects except for FE and performance.

Yeah? How's city traffic driving in Petra when compared to Baleno? How about A/C?

[normally_crazy]

Originally Posted by shuvc

I have deliberately left out A.S.S / Maintenance from the parameters - my replies in bold

Performance - Equal
Ride - Petra - all the way
Handling - Petra - all the way
FE - Baleno - all the way
Space - Petra - all the way
Interiors - Petra - only just
Build - Petra - legendary
Looks - Petra - Outright - even the most cynical beholder will admit this
Comfort - Equal

As for the maintainence and A.S.S - i say if you maintain ur car well and get it serviced regularly and use it like it should be - there wont be any cause for complaint - be it a MARUTI or FIAT.

cheers

[normally_crazy]

Originally Posted by Samurai

Yeah? How's city traffic driving in Petra when compared to Baleno? How about A/C?

Driving a petra in the city is as easy or good or bad as driving a baleno ! nothing about the car or its dimensions or power or torque that says you cant drive it easily in the city .

and the ac - works beautifully too. i have a palio S10 and till date havent felt that the ac of the palio is in any way inferior to that of the baleno or for that matter any other car in the segment.

cheers

[merve_extreme]

Originally Posted by ritik123

Most baleno owners drive past 160 kmph. try doing that in a Petra.

sell that argument somewhere else and FYI perta has a topspeed of 185kmph.Even the 1.6GTX feels rock steady at 160+,so it is the same for the petra(its even heavier).

and great guns about performance
Baleno
0-100=11.13 secs
topspeed=179kmph

Petra
0-100=11.33secs
topspeed=185kmph

this considering the fact that the weight of petras bonet alone=bonet+boot of the Baleno.The baleno is a good car but it is from a segment above(read c+ segment) the petra.IMO the baleno has poor gearshift feel compared to even the Maruti zen or the Esteem ot the Swift whereas the Fiat petra has comparable if not better gearshift feel than the zen.

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by merve_extreme

The baleno is a good car but it is from a segment above(read c+ segment) the petra.

Baleno is a C+ segment car? Where did you get that?

[deepakhon]

Originally Posted by Samurai

Baleno is a C+ segment car? Where did you get that?

Maruti intended to position it like that, but was not successful. This does not rule out the fact that Baleno is a wonderful car. So is Petra. It just depends on what attributes of the car you prefer more and if the car scores in those attributes, you would go for it.

[solly]

If I let my heart rule I would go for the Petra.. but will bargain hard threatning that I'll buy a Baleno!!

If I let my head rule will go for a Ikon 1.6 or a Used OHC 1.5 or Vtec!!

Never could digest the looks of baleno.. sorry guys..

[sivadas]

I have only one complaint about Petra. The turning radius is more than most of the other cars. This can be irritating at times.
And according to me, even a brand new baleno (except black one with alloys) some how appears quite old.