[Reinhard]

Originally Posted by swiftdiesel

It's simply because there are more countries with a Left Hand Drive orientation than a Right Hand Drive one. That's why, even European cars sold in the UK come with LHD orientation. It simply doesn't make financial sense to re-orientate for a handful of RHD countries.

I already know the reason so nothing new in it. My problem is these car makers making money at the expense of basic safety of customers! And this design change trust me - will be about 1 person day of effort for a CAD-CAM designer. Don't want to spend even that much? Rest is anyway made by external vendors and put together. I don't see the problem in it.

Which is the biggest LHD market by the way? The USA. Check out the cars that FORD sells in India. Check the new Figo for instance. They have correct RHD control orientation. Its really about how much the car maker cares & respects.

Originally Posted by swiftdiesel

Suzuki or for that matter other Japs re-orientate because they acknowledge the same point I've made above. Japan, being a RHD country, cannot do business elsewhere if they didn't re-orientate; not so much for the European brands as the vast majority of their market is LHD.

Doesn't make sense at all to me. Trust me - number of countries with LHD is not just the measure at all. India as a single country itself has a large customer base - way more than a lot of LHD countries put together. So no I don't agree again.

Originally Posted by swiftdiesel

My Renault Lodgy, an European MPV had 2 reversing lights. The Duster has 2 reversing lights and so do many others. Why pick on EU brands? I don't know of any EU rule that mandates a single reverse light; correct me if I'm wrong. My Korean i20 has a single reverse light!

I know - and I'm not saying the Japs don't cut costs. I'm not picking EU brands if you read closely. (Although check majority cars made in the EU - VW (SEAT, SKODA, AUDI and the whole shabang from the group), MercBenz, FIAT, Citroen-Peugeot, Renault & you'll get my point still. The Renault Duster and Lodgy are not real Renaults. They are Dacia's designs from Romania. Only badged more premium in India as nobody would want to own an unknown brand). The EU has extremely detailed rules and regulations of absolutely the tiniest of details - even about where your vehicle can have DRLs, the minimum spacing required between LHS and RHS DRLs etc. In their specifications, the car MUST have ONE reversing light. Always the minimums are regulated sir, not maximum. No mandate of 2. So the car makers use it well to save money + make cars look good easily. India follows the regulations blindly in many cases. My point is that we need a mandate to have 2 reversing lights.

Originally Posted by swiftdiesel

This is a screenshot from our forum's Etios review:
Attachment 1651749

The point is, cost cutting measures are everywhere. It's not just the Europeans; we have the Japanese too, adopting these measures thanks to this country's archaic Foreign Direct Investment policies that don't provide a level playing field for all manufacturers.

Let's not discuss the Etios. NOM but I don't feel its a machine worth calling a "car". I never understand brand dynamics & so I never understand why people buy such a cheap vehicle with shameless cost cutting everywhere just for the brand and perceived quality at the expense of basic bells and whistles. If "Made for India = CHEAP from all angles" well...I'm glad the numbers aren't great in sales.

We resonate in the final point - all I'm saying is cost cutting at the expense of basic safety features MUST stop in this country now. Its long overdue already. Time for the market to dictate terms rather than the suppliers.

[Karthik Chandra]

Originally Posted by Reinhard

Let's not discuss the Etios. NOM but I don't feel its a machine worth calling a "car". I never understand brand dynamics & so I never understand why people buy such a cheap vehicle with shameless cost cutting everywhere just for the brand and perceived quality at the expense of basic bells and whistles. If "Made for India = CHEAP from all angles" well...I'm glad the numbers aren't great in sales.

,

Etios is the only 'SAFE' car along side the Polo in the sub 10 Lac price range with a 4 star crash test rating + a stable body structure. So IMO, the Etios is a machine that is worthy enough to be called not only a 'CAR' but a safe car.

The bland exterior and lack of features (read as features that give you bragging rights like auto this, auto that) is a compromise for a safe car.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian...rash-test.html

[shiva_s]

Amazing.... It's such a relief. I quickly went to the parking and checked the roll button.
I tried to find it in the Renault provided a audio information book but the same was for a touch screen. Thanks.

Did not realize that there is a roll button on the back of the stalk.
Renault provided a Touch Screen Audio information book instead of the booklet for music system in RXL.
Thanks to The Adventurer for pointing it out.

[shiva_s]

Reinhard, on the LHD orientation, I think when car makers can move the entire steering column, pedals, dashboard, door lock switches and other. Why not the LHD to RHD orientation? Does not make sense. I drive a Duster and the orientation on the left hand side.

[Repsol]

Nowadays most of the manufacturers have started having android auto and apple carplay functionality. Has anyone got any news on Renaults plans for adding the same to medianav units?

[Repsol]

Wanted to check one thing you all fellow Duster owners. I have got my 85PS RXZ on 19-June, and till now I have done 3100 kms, and each km has been pure bliss. But there is one thing which is irritating me from day one. There is a whistling sound from the engine bay all the time. I know that the turbo actually makes a whistling sound, but does that happen even at idling speeds too? Anyone else noticed any such sound?

[Tgo]

Originally Posted by Repsol

There is a whistling sound from the engine bay all the time. I know that the turbo actually makes a whistling sound, but does that happen even at idling speeds too? Anyone else noticed any such sound?

It might be the power steering pump. Its located under the front left headlight behind the fog lamp. It makes a whistling sound. More audible when you are turning the steering left or right. Put your ear close to that area and ask someone to turn the steering. The sound should increase.

If its this sound then its perfectly normal. Have found it to be more audible in the post 2015 models because the engine noise is muted in them.

[Repsol]

Originally Posted by Tgo

It might be the power steering pump. Its located under the front left headlight behind the fog lamp. It makes a whistling sound. More audible when you are turning the steering left or right. Put your ear close to that area and ask someone to turn the steering. The sound should increase.



If its this sound then its perfectly normal. Have found it to be more audible in the post 2015 models because the engine noise is muted in them.

Thanks @Tgo. Will check that, but the noise which I am talking about is even audible when I am driving at idling speeds with the windows down.

[Tgo]

Originally Posted by Repsol

Thanks @Tgo. Will check that, but the noise which I am talking about is even audible when I am driving at idling speeds with the windows down.

The power steering pump does make a loud-ish whine. Could be that only.

[jesrani]

I am interested in an automatic SUV around 15-20 lakhs price bracket. Annual running around 15K kms. So diesel seems like a good option.
Need high ground clearance as the place where we stay has bad roads. We also like to do road trips once in a while and need a safe car. Had been using SX4 earlier and now Honda City. Tired of manual gears in traffic in Mumbai.
How is the Duster 110 Automatic? Is it comfortable for a 6'2" guy. In Honda I find under thigh support to be poor and legs are not so comfortable in long drives. SX4 was a bit higher seated. Honda diesel engine is very good, though NVH could have been better. No problems with power. How does the Duster AMT fare. I am ready to give us some features and power if ride is comfortable.
Dad is more inclined towards EcoSport but it does not have diesel automatic and the bigger problem is small boot for me, for road trips.
Checked out the Jeep Compass but seems huge, both in size and budget.
Not interested in Safari, Scorpio and the likes. XUV seems good but is still bigger (longer) and would not prefer that.
Does that leave me any other option but the Duster?

[T-Rex]

Ditto, I have 2016 Oct made 2017 Jan purchased Duster 4WD Adventure edition and have been breaking my head over this whining noise. But I guess it's normal. It's more irritating because I spent a lot of time inside the car while it's parked while working. So I need to keep moving the steering a wee bit to reduce the intensity for at least a couple of seconds.

[sandeepmdas]

Originally Posted by jesrani

I am interested in an automatic SUV around 15-20 lakhs price bracket. Annual running around 15K kms. XUV seems good but is still bigger (longer) and would not prefer that.
Does that leave me any other option but the Duster?

I have both these cars, the XUV500 W8 MT and Duster 110 AMT. The Duster is new, clocked 4700kms only. The XUV has clocked 44000 kms approx. I haven't driven the XUV auto so I cannot comment on that.

Although the XUV is a huge vehicle, I always found it is very easy to drive and park, as the all round visibility is excellent.

As far as the plush ride is concerned the Duster wins hands down. It also has better road manners and can tolerate hard cornering very well. Steering is lighter than the XUV and the brakes are snappier too. The AMT has a jerky feel, which is inherent to this type of transmission. But this is certainly not annoying.

Buttt:

• the XUV has far better front seats, much better than the Mercedes C-class
• 6 airbags
• 4 disk brakes
• proper automatic, not AMT
• cornering lights which are very useful in ghat roads and the like

Also do keep in mind that when you go long tours, both the Dusty and the Xoovy are 5-seaters. There's no boot space in XUV with all seats up.

The mileage I get for the XUV averages at 12.5 kmpl, while the duster, as of today, returns 15.15 kmpl.

Hope that helps. Cheers.

Edit: there's this car, Creta that comes in AT spec too.

[jesrani]

Originally Posted by sandeepmdas

.

As far as the plush ride is concerned the Duster wins hands down. It also has better road manners and can tolerate hard cornering very well. Steering is lighter than the XUV and the brakes are snappier too. The AMT has a jerky feel, which is inherent to this type of transmission. But this is certainly not annoying.

Buttt:

• the XUV has far better front seats, much better than the Mercedes C-class
• 6 airbags
• 4 disk brakes
• proper automatic, not AMT
• cornering lights which are very useful in ghat roads and the like

Hmmm.... How are the Duster seats on long drives? Are they very bad compared to XUV? Is the under thigh support good? How is the acceleration on the AMT?

[Repsol]

Originally Posted by jesrani

Hmmm.... How are the Duster seats on long drives? Are they very bad compared to XUV? Is the under thigh support good? How is the acceleration on the AMT?

Duster's seats are pretty average, but the ride quality kind of compensates for this. But still on a long drive, I would prefer a bit better seats.

[xjosephjacob]

Originally Posted by jesrani

..
How is the Duster 110 Automatic? Is it comfortable for a 6'2" guy. In Honda I find under thigh support to be poor and legs are not so comfortable in long drives. SX4 was a bit higher seated...
Does that leave me any other option but the Duster?

6`2" ? Stay away from Duster- no one will be able to sit behind you in the rear seat because of poor legroom. The front seats are poorly contoured in the first place and offers below average overall support. The seat-back is short in height, which means you don't get necessary support at shoulder area. The seat base provides only mediocre under-thigh support.

Ride quality is just one part of the experience. The new XUV has a proper automatic, and is head and shoulders above the Duster when it comes to drivability, cabin experience, refinement and overall quality levels. If the contest is between XUV and Duster, my recommendation would be XUV- at the end of the day what serious difference does a 25 cm length difference and 7 cm width difference make.