[SILVER-ARROW]

The year is 2012. Lots of action is happening across the Globe.
30th Summer olympics are held at London.
"The Avengers" movie is released to become highest grossing movie of the year.
Mr. Pranab Mukherjee is elected as India's 13th president.
Discovery of Higgs boson particle is announced by scientists at CERN.
Nifty crashed by over 900 points when a dealer for stockbroker Emkay Global punched a wrong order.
Got Married to my Girlfriend. This was the most important action of 2012 as this necessited requirement for new car.

BackGround

There was lots of action in our house regarding finalisation of our new car. We had 2007 model santro Zing which was loaned to us by my cousin who had relocated to Sharjah for Job but didnt want to part ways with his first car. Whenever he used to be back he used to utilise the santro zing for his commute. When he was away it was for us to use. It was a wonderful car to drive in city traffic and no fuss ownership.We are by no means light travellers, Santro used to barely satisfy our luggage requirements. However on a new member being part of our family now. The hunt for a bigger car started.

Cars Considered

Few primary requirements were identified as below

• It must be atleast a B segment Sedan.
• Must have large Boot capacity.
• Rear Legroom must be adequate.
• Fun to drive as i would be behind the wheels almost 99% of the time.
• Must be in popular demand so that there is no concern for parts avilability even if we are stuck in some remote location due to mechanical issues.
• Resale valve to be good if we think of replacing it 3-4 years down the line.

Cars which were considered were Tata Manza, Fiat Linea, Skoda Rapid, Honda city and Hyundai Verna. There were lot of deliberation and test drives. Below is list of comparison of the features list.
1. Tata Manza
Pros:- Spacious Interiors, Good ride quality, Efficient Diesel Engine.
Cons:- Lack of outright performance, After sales service Hit or miss, Questions about Resale value.

To add to cons the Showroom was desolate, Sales representatives seemed list bothered to explain all the features, no follow-up once we left the showroom.

2. Fiat Linea
Pros:- Wonderful car was pick of our choice, All around disc brakes, Turbo charged petrol was fun to drive, excellent ride comfort.
Cons:- Reliability was hit or miss, Concerns about after service, Low Resale Value in used car market.
One of our neighbour faced gear box issue on his 2 year old car. That settled the matter for us. Linea was dropped from contention.

3. Skoda Rapid
Pros:- Excellent Engine and solid build, Proper driving Dynamics.
Cons:- Boot space was a compromise. Unsure Aftersales service and Resale Value.

4. Honda City
Pros:- A practical car which ticked all the boxes really well. Superb 1.5L I-VTEC engine, Arrow shot design was instantly liked by all, Excellent Rear Leg room and Humongous Boot Space.
Cons:- Build quality was not at par with Germans. No rear Disc brakes.

5. Hyundai Verna
Pros:- 1.6 Litre Diesel and Petrol Engines were the biggest in this class, Reliability and good after sales suport.
Cons:- Fuel efficiency was poor, Interior plastic quality wasn't to our liking, Limited Boot space. The car didn’t seem to connect with the heart, though it was loaded with features. The design was a turnoff at least for me.

Booking and Delivery

After weighing the Pros and Cons. The car finalized was Honda city (V) – Manual transmission.
Complete experience from First visit upto delivery was really smooth. The service advisor was well informed and explained all the features in detail which helped us in narrowing down our choice of car. The test drive was done in the S variant. The Ivtec engine has low torque below 2000 RPM. But once you are past 2500rpm it just shoots ahead, the sweet sound of Ivtec kicking in is pure symphony for petrol heads. The gear throws are small and precise, steering isnt too light or heavy but ideal for city driving and provides enough confidence when touching triple digit speeds on highways. It had a huge boot space, with additional space below rear seats. Just one test drive was enough for us to seal the deal.
The total on road price came to abour 10,57,000 which included few accessories which were thrown in instead of monetary discount. 1.5 lacs was paid upfront while the rest of the amount was loaned from HDFC bank.

It took us just 2 weeks from the process of booking the car to actual delivery, these were the days where waiting period of more than few weeks were unheard off. The Honda sales team were outstanding in their service.
Day of Delivery


Likes:-

• Overall looks - The 3rd Generation city was the best in visual apperance of all the generations launched till date. The arrow shot design and large windows complemented the car well.
• Steering Feedback - The steering is well calibrated to suit both city and highway runs.
• Gear Throws - Gears are perfectly tuned with short and precise throws.
• Suspension setup - Its on the stiffer side. At low speeds you can feel the potholes. Highway is where the car feels more at home. The suspension setup is perfectly tuned to have a comfortable and relaxed ride.
• Ground clearance - This was one area which was an area of concern. With just 165mm of ground clearance the car has to be nurtured over badly designed speed breakers. You have to be really gentle on the throttle and glide the car over speed breakers to avoid bottoming out. Upsizing the tyres will marginally increase the clearance.
• Driver seat - Has sufficient lumbar and back support. Have never faced any back issues even after driving for 8-10 hours at a stretch.
• Rear seat - Comfortable Rear seat with good legroom and headroom. 3 healthy adults can be accommodated easily.
• Boot Space - With 506 liters of boot space it was segment leader. Perfectly suited for travelers who travel heavy.
• Service experience - Good after sales service. No concerns whatsoever
• Reliability - Unmatched reliability of Honda.
• Sheer value for money - It has every modern-day practical feature one can ask for which no other car of this size offers in this price range.

Dislikes:-

• Air conditioner - The AC is slightly underpowered for the size of the car. Having no rear AC vents attentuates the need for having a stronger compressor.
• Mirrors - No autofolding ORVMS, when some other cars of same category provided it.
• Tyre - Tyres came with stock Michelin X1 rubber (175x65xR15). Tyres are undersized. Upsizing to (195x60xR15) is worthy upgrade to increase the grip levels and inspires more confidence when accelerating and braking. Providing 16" alloys would have increased the GC significantly.
• Build Quality - German and Czech cars had better build quality. Quality of sheet metal is inferior when compared to its german competitors. It is also prone to Rust faster in Humid conditions like Mumbai.
• Rear Brakes - No Rear disc brakes on any variant. Hyundai verna had the option of disc brakes on all 4 wheels in top variant.

Exterior Design

Honda had thrown the ball out of the park with 3rd Generation Honda in terms of Design. There is no doubt that the 3rd Generation City is more aggressive looking and came with a stance that had even the critics nod their head in appreciation. Honda described it as a unique 'Arrow Shot Form' that gives this car a powerful imposing presence. The distinctive grille, sharp headlights, sculpted bonnet and flowing lines deliver a distinctive road presence for the City will not be mistaken for anything else in the urban jungle. It has boldness and aggression. A sharp and edgy fascia with the big slated grille and a swoopy C-pillar design completes the sporty look. The tail lights and the rear-end feature a more fluid and contemporary design too It is an absolute looker from all angles. A Timeless design, it still appeals to the eyes more than a decade later.
Windows are big to make the cabin airy. The Beige interiors in the car kind of attentuates the space to make it feel bigger. (A) pillars dont hinder visibility and create blindspots on the Road.

Best angle to drool over the beauty to admire all the creases and curves.


Chrome Grill and Chrome Fog light Housing complementing the Red colour nicely.



Side Profile of the car showcases the balanced design language. Crease line running from the front headlight through the Doorhandles to meet the tail light. The side profile gets an all chrome door handle with the out door frame fitted with aftermarket Chrome Strips and all new wing mirrors in duotone shades with integrated turn lights on them. Panel gaps are proportionate everywhere.


Rear Left Profile


Rear Right Profile

Interior Design

Interior is where the Honda city stands out against its competitors.The dash is a dual tone affair with the top half in black and the lower half in light beige color shade. The quality of the plastics used in the cabin is good and have lasted till now. There’s a lot of storage bins and corners spread across the cabin which is very practical.
The sporty three spoke steering is leather wrapped and mounted with audio controls along with cruise control command buttons.The center console has brushed aluminum garnish around the center console. There are chrome inserts on the AC control knobs and the AC vents.The cabin is very spacious and offers superb visibility from the driver’s seat. Beige Interiors have stood the test of time really well. Grab Handles are equiped with Softclose Feature.

Visibility is Outstanding from both the Driver seat and Passenger Seat. Seats are comfortable, driver seat comes with Height,Recline and Reach adjustment while passenger seat has just reach and Recline.


All the three Pedals are well placed with sufficient space for Dead Pedal to rest your left foot on highway runs when cruise control is activated.


The rear seats offer good comfort and are included with a foldable arm rest and head rests. You also get roof lights for the front and the rear cabin. Notice the Centre console. No AC vents for Rear passengers, you feel their need in the hot summer. It isnt a deal breaker though.


Driver side door comes equipped with windows lock button, ORVM adjustment toggle. Only the driver side window has one touch mechanism as standard for other windows you have to keep the noob pressed till the windows are closed or open.


Rear Door doesnt have must storage space. Only few coins and small items can be placed in the space provided behind window operation switch.

Engine

Under the sloping bonnet is the renowned i-Vtec 1.5liter 4cylinder Petrol engine. This 1497cc 16valve engine makes 118PS of power @ 6600rpm and has 146Nm of torque @ 4800 RPM under its belt. The engine is mated to a 5 speed Manual transmission.
The i-Vtec motor is a gem and super silent at idle. Have been fooled many times to crank the engine even when it’s running due to its high refinement and low audible levels. Its super refined below 2500rpm, but once your floor the pedal beyond 2500 rpm it just begs to be redlined. The nostalgia of the sweet tune of i-vtec kicking in is pure symphony to the ears.
Get the Engine oil changed as per service manual it will outlast the owner. Have been using full synthetic mineral oil since last 3 years once the 7 year warranty was over. The refinement level is astounding. Low end and high-end torque is impressive but mid-range is a bit dull.

Driving Dynamics

Light-weight steering and an easy to operate clutch makes this vehicle a great choice for those who have high everyday running. The visibility from the driver's seat is great and driving this car in traffic or in the narrow roads is not a major challenge. The car feels planted even at 120kph. Cruise control is a boon while on long highway trips. Steering though well tuned lacks confidence during spirited driving specially during steep turns. Body roll is bare minimum but shock absorbers are a bit hard so on rugged roads you will feel the bumps. On a highway the drive is very smooth and comfortable.

Tyres

Car came with 175x65xR15 Michelin rubber. Comfort is exceptional, road noise filtering inside the cabin is minimum. Tyres have been changed once at 41000 kms and again at 78000 kms.
Wheel alignment, balancing, tyre rotation is being done at local tyre shop after every 5K kms.


Junior Bhpian expressing his opinion on tyres

Safety Features

Pros - V model comes with ABS, BA (Brake-Assist), Dual SR Airbags, G-CON, Anti theft Engine immobilizer.
Cons - No Rear Disc brakes. The braking is just adequate and not perfect. Doesnt come with Isofix mounts for car seat, No three point seat belt for middle passenger.Seat Belt is used for baby car seat.

Fuel Efficiency

The 1.5-litre i-VTEC engine is mad fun while being decently fuel efficient at the same time. Had been getting between 14.5 to 15 kmpl in city/highway on stock 175x65xR15 michelin X1 tyres. Currently getting about 13.1 kmpl after upgrading to 195x60xR15 size Michelin X2 in Decemer 2020.

Yes you read it right. Fuel Efficiency of 25KMPL. This was on Mumbai Pune expressway With the speedometer never going above 80Kmph.

Service History

To date all the servicing has been done at HONDA ASS. However the service interval has changed. During warrenty period the interval was 3 months or 5K Kms whichever is earlier. After 7th year the service interval maintained is 6 months or 10k kms.
During ten years of ownership. Total cost of servicing has come to round about 14-15K every year (Serviced only as required per owner manual requirements, no fancy add ons entertained).

Detailing and care

It has been a ritual to get the car detailed every year to spruce it up and extend the ownership experience. 3M was the preferred detailing shop till about 2018. Now the services used are of Maxshine and they have been doing a phenomenal job.
Thanks to the dusty weather and open parking car needs washing every alternate day. If the car is outstation we prefer to just wipe of the dust with Jopasu duster.

Car attending a detailing session at Maxshine.

Few Memories from past Decade of Ownership

Anshi National park on way to Karwar.



Trip to Ahmedabad


Trip to Mangalore


50K kms Milestone


Complete car wash after a long road trip.


Ownership experience:
The car has worked like charm in all these years of ownership.
It has been a worthy companion for all our trips and has never let us down. It brings a big smile to your face every time you floor the Pedal.

[SILVER-ARROW]

Mid-Life Makeover or is it?

Odometer touching 100000kms just 12 days shy of 10th anniversary.





The bug to buy a new car was biting us since last few months and with so many new variants/models in market today we were lost for options. However on going through some useful threads by fellow Bhpians https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/buyin...to-longer.html (How a more expensive car can work out cheaper (if you hold onto it for longer)), https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/india...nt-killer.html (Resale Value - The Silent Killer), https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/ownin...rade-swap.html (ARTICLE: YOUR 5 year old car : Keep, Upgrade or Swap?), Prices of sedans hitting north of 20lacs and EV revolution on the horizon nothing was clear how the scene will be 4-5 years down the line. This planted the thought of restoring/modifying the existing car.
On weighing the pros and cons of buying a new car verses getting the existing car back in pristine condition. It was decided to nurture the current car for another 5 years till the registration is valid.

Car is mechanically sound and still drives like charm. This was the time to list down the upgrades which were necessary and ones which were preferential.

Necessary Upgrades:-
1. Rust had started developing in few spots underneath the paint. More pronounced were near on the Bonnet and few isolated places on body panels. Decided to go for complete repainting of the car.
2. Replacement of both front Headlights.
3. Complete overhaul of steering rack.
4. Changing of Rotors and Brake pads.
5. Complete beading check.

Preferential Upgrades:-
1. Matt black finish on chrome elements on exterior of car.
2. Brake Callipers coloured in Yellow.
3. Upgrade of ICE system.
4. Installation of LED cabin lights

Once the list was finalsied we started scouring for good FNG and Accessories stores.

A relative recomended an FNG which he has been using for his car servicing and modifications work, was impressed with the work carried on his Maruti swift Dzire 2014 model. His car was also in prestine condition.
All the Mechanical Work was done at Go Mechanic Workshop https://goo.gl/maps/KV5k5hCCV1Rv2G8d9

Mechanical Work in Progress:-

Dent Removal and Sanding of the car.








Appreciable amount of rusting inside the door panels thanks to the hard water used for washing the car.



Had to sand down the rusted parts and then it was treated with Red oxide and Epoxy coating to prevent rusting in future.

ICE Upgrades

New are cars coming with all the latest Gizmos and Touchscreen infotainment system. Our Honda city still had the stock factory fitted infotainment system which was way too outdated by current standards. Son was adamant we changed the infotainment system to a touchscreen one. Browsed through TeamBHP forum and the amount of options available for Infotainment unit were quite exhaustive. We were not able to finalise which one to go for, had even visisted multiple accessory shops to get a feel and understand firsthand the working/features of different models but still we were not able to make the decision.
We were in a fix untill Mr Expert Jumps in, Just by chance on casually browing through accessory shops in mumbai came across Modcar customs. Thought of giving it a try. Mr Agarwal the owner of the shop and Mr. Joshy Krishnan both are exceptional guys who give 100% to customer satisfaction. Mr. Joshy had a pioneer unit installed in his S-Cross. He has Dolby 5.1 surround system installed in his car, it was pure heaven to feel the notes and music of the songs. Was their to look out for just Infotainment unit but ended up changing the entire ICE system of the car, talk about impulse purchase .

The job done has been exceptional.
ICE updation was handled by Modcar Customs https://g.page/modcarcustoms?share

ICE components Installed.


Installation of speakers






Infotainment unit Installation








Installation of Amplifiers








Woofer


Dampening of Door and Boot

[SILVER-ARROW]

Some might ask did we take the right decision in nurturing the car after 10 years instead of splurging 20 lacs on latest sedan or buying second hand car from higher Segment. The answer to the above question will be resounding YES. As GTO proudly says its always better to own a car which is well maintained with 1Lac on the Odometer rather than buying a car which is abused with few thousands on Odometer.

Few Pictures of the resurrected beauty.
Tough to decide whether it is 10 years old or 10 years young.
















10 years of Ownership can be summed up in one line.
"If you take care of things, they Last"

[vb-saan]

Thread moved from the Assembly Line to the Long-Term Ownership Section. Thanks for sharing!

[ManasN95]

Super update Silver Arrow!

I own the same model, bought second hand in 2020, but a V AT.

Please share the costs of these upgrades and cosmetic changes that you performed, because I’m in the same boat as yours.

You didn’t mention anything about the steering rack? Did you carry it out?

[100Kmphormore]

Man this car looks awesome. I am contemplating buying my aunts 2011 City, it looks a little plain jane compared to the 2012 facelift but the mechanicals are sorted, will need a detailing + PPF. No engine trouble, new tyres and well maintained with 70k on the odo. I anyway will be going to FNGs for routine maintenance (wheel alignment, balancing, oil change etc).

One question, is the GC too low to live with as a daily driver? I have driven it a few times in city traffic and not faced any issues, except for once when i misjudged a railway crossing on the Mantralaya - Gooty highway, where i thought it was a flat incline but suddenly descended like a speedbreaker (thanks to the sunshine and cement colour that made it hard to judge, plus low slung view of a sedan). The bottom hit with quite a bang, while my brother in my Scorpio rode over it like it was a routine speedbreaker. Any changes to suspension that can help raise it to atleast 180 mm?

[svsantosh]

That yellow is sticking out sore on an otherwise good paint job and tasteful blacked out decals.

Wishing your car and you a good 10 more years.

[UD17]

Originally Posted by SILVER-ARROW

Some might ask did we take the right decision in nurturing the car after 10 years instead of splurging 20 lacs on latest sedan or buying second hand car from higher Segment.

Now that's what i call an intense ownership and of course a very wise decision to spice up the existing car rather than owning new.

I own the same color, minor facelift version from 2013 (precisely bought on Valentines day of 2013).Your thread prompt me to do some detailing session with my car. Thanks for such a detailed information.

One question: Where did you buy the seat covers? Looks lovely with the profiles and cushioning. Any model number or company name and place of installation with cost?

Thanks in advance
UD

[mercedised]

Originally Posted by ManasN95

Super update Silver Arrow!

I own the same model, bought second hand in 2020, but a V AT.

Please share the costs of these upgrades and cosmetic changes that you performed, because I’m in the same boat as yours.

You didn’t mention anything about the steering rack? Did you carry it out?

I too own a 2009 model Honda City, the steering rack started making noise at 60K kms. The steering rack was overhauled at a local mechanic garage, it costed me 4000 Rs including labour, the steering noise has not resurfaced till now @1.40L Kms.

@silver-arrow : The paint-job carried out on your car is fabulous, looks as good as a factory finished car. Can you share the costs involved in denting & painting works.

[SILVER-ARROW]

Originally Posted by ManasN95

Super update Silver Arrow!

I own the same model, bought second hand in 2020, but a V AT.

Please share the costs of these upgrades and cosmetic changes that you performed, because I’m in the same boat as yours.

You didn’t mention anything about the steering rack? Did you carry it out?

Thanks ManasN95. Had gone through your ownership review and installation of the CNG Kit too before taking the decision of restoration of our Honda city.
PM me your Email address, will share the cost breakup. Let me know if you need the contact details.

Steering rack was overhauled. Have attached the cost breakup of the mechanical work.

Originally Posted by 100Kmphormore

One question, is the GC too low to live with as a daily driver?

Ground clearance on stock 175x65xR15 isn't bad. Only thing is you have to nurse the car over the speedbreakers when fully loaded to avoid scrapping. Upgrading the tyre size is one of the options which can be used to slightly improve the GC. After having upsized to 195x60xR15 haven't scrapped the car even once.

Originally Posted by svsantosh

That yellow is sticking out sore on an otherwise good paint job and tasteful blacked out decals.

Totally agree with you buddy. Part of the original modification plan was to change the stock alloys to MOMO Massimo Matt black alloys. However they were not available in stock at Bombay tyres. Will post the pics once the stock alloys are replaced with MOMO alloys.
Try visualizing the car with MOMO Massimo alloys, may be it wont be such an eye sore.

Originally Posted by UD17

One question: Where did you buy the seat covers? Looks lovely with the profiles and cushioning. Any model number or company name and place of installation with cost?
UD

Thanks Buddy. The covers are from Autoform(https://www.autoformindia.com/)These were part of the accessories we took from Honda at time of purchasing the car. They surely have stood the test of time.

Originally Posted by mercedised

@silver-arrow : The paint-job carried out on your car is fabulous, looks as good as a factory finished car. Can you share the costs involved in denting & painting works.

Thanks for your appreciation buddy. PM me your Email address, will share the cost breakup.

[aneesh2M]

Lovely car and a great decision to revive the beauty rather than going in for a new car. In fact, now she is ready to for another 10 years without breaking a sweat.
I was going to suggest you to paint the alloys in black or gun metal but as you are planning to replace it I would just suggest to paint the calipers and drums in red instead of yellow as red would look better IMO.

[SilverHawk]

@100Kmphormore:

I own a 2010 Honda City iVTEC VMT.
The low ground clearance (GC) has been a pain throughout.
Honestly, even I have been looking for a solution to get the GC increased since a really long time, but couldn't find any perfect one yet.

I checked if the latest Gen. suspension set-up fits on the old model, but, found out that it won't be a viable option. Honda has done some modification in the car's frame itself to get some increase in the GC.

Based on personal and my sister's experience (she owns a 2013 iVTEC VAT), these are some practical solutions:

1 a) Install 185/70/R15 tyres (my sister installed Apollo Alnac 4Gs in her car and is pretty happy with them) - the increased Aspect ratio will provide additional GC - Price - appx. INR 5000/- per tyre.
1 b) Install Rogerab spring buffer in the Suspension springs (all 4) - INR 4200/- (Amazon)
* do not go for 70 aspect ratio tyres without the suspension buffer
* Ride might feel a bit stiffer, but not much different compared to the stock set-up.

2) Install 16" wheels from newer generation Honda City plus equivalent tyres
* Suspension buffers might be mandatory in this case too.

3) Keep the tyre pressure 01 PSI more than prescribed.
*will obviously lead to bumpy rides, but a good choice over getting the Oil Sump damaged.

In my case, I have Rogerabs installed (no 70 Aspect Ratio tyres yet), and found a decent positive difference.
Considering the bad state of roads at Pune (especially during monsoons), my car did well with the set-up.

Also, over a period, I've made some changes in my driving (read braking) habits.
While approaching a speedbraker (SB), we tend to go hard on brakes, which in-turn lowers the front suspension even further, that's when the impact happens.
It's better to anticipate the height of SB, reduce the vehicle speed beforehand and then approach the SB.
Turning down to lower gear beforehand and ensuring flat suspension of the car before approaching the SB is equally practical.

Cheers..!!

[RRM]

The best and the only design of Honda City which I liked and still love it. You have taken good care of it. Take care of it like a kid and it will serve for life. De-chrome also looks great. This care can last for another 10 yrs for sure

Wishing you more happy miles

[SILVER-ARROW]

Originally Posted by SilverHawk

@100Kmphormore:

In my case, I have Rogerabs installed (no 70 Aspect Ratio tyres yet), and found a decent positive difference.
Considering the bad state of roads at Pune (especially during monsoons), my car did well with the set-up.

Cheers..!!

What is the profile of tyres on which you installed Rogerabs. Can you share the details where was the work carried out. I am a frequent visitor to pune, might visit the place if your feedback is positive. Many people with 3rd Generation Honda city have this query and would like to go this route to improve GC.

Totally agree with your observation. Approaching speedbreaker at low speeds and crawling over them in 1st gear takes care of most of the Speed breakers.

Originally Posted by RRM

The best and the only design of Honda City which I liked and still love it. You have taken good care of it. Take care of it like a kid and it will serve for life. De-chrome also looks great. This care can last for another 10 yrs for sure

Wishing you more happy miles

Thanks for our appreciation buddy. Yes, she definately has special place in my heart. Will nurture it for years to come.

Originally Posted by aneesh2M

Lovely car and a great decision to revive the beauty rather than going in for a new car. In fact, now she is ready to for another 10 years without breaking a sweat.
I was going to suggest you to paint the alloys in black or gun metal but as you are planning to replace it I would just suggest to paint the calipers and drums in red instead of yellow as red would look better IMO.

Thanks for your kind words buddy.
Good Suggestion on painting the alloys Gun metal black. Will definately give it a try if the MOMO alloys arent available any time soon.

[SilverHawk]

@SILVER-ARROW

I'm currently using Apollo Alnac 4Gs (185/65/R15), bought from Balaji Tyres, near Bhumkar Chowk, Wakad - https://goo.gl/maps/xDaPn1yGPp9VP6CC7
Mobile - 097671 64042
Price: INR 4,750/- per tyre (now the rates have probably gone 15% higher)

It's been a year and a half and I personally found the performance of the tyres phenomenal..! Bought them somewhere in May 2021 to go-through the monsoons well, and the tyres delivered way better than my expectations.
(got 3 of my friends installed them too - all are happy)

Installing Rogerabs:
Bough them from Amazon: https://www.amazon.in/ROGER-City-200.../dp/B0B2JSBLWH

Fitment Done at Lucky Auto - Tathawade:https://goo.gl/maps/1zSU7Wd21wEE7Vfb6
Mobile: 09822666815

It's a Castrol certified garage, and has been my go-to place since a long while.
The owner is an honest man and never advised / charged anything beyond logical reasoning, certainly deserves a recommendation..!