[vigsom]

Originally Posted by frankmehta

I just got back from Shaman Ford workshop at Lalbaug. They acknowledged the hard brake pads and did the needful. Somehow the slight pull to the left/right side is gone, and the steering is behaving itself very well.

Good;so after all it was the brakes and not the alignment.

[gaurav_chopra04]

Originally Posted by frankmehta

I just got back from Shaman Ford workshop at Lalbaug. They acknowledged the hard brake pads and did the needful. They also fixed the alignment of my right head light assembly, that somehow was not flush with the bumper. The car is perfectly fine now, and the brakes are perfect (they anyways were, this cleaning was done just for peace of mind)
Somehow the slight pull to the left/right side is gone, and the steering is behaving itself very well. Only on bad roads, it jumps around. But that is due to the stiff suspension.

Good to hear that the issues have been sorted... CONGRATULATIONS now. A great ride you got there frank.. I love the colour on that S.. enjoy your ride and drive safe..

Although the warrenty has been void, nothing goes wrong in cars these days for good 5-7 years at least..until its a skoda.. so noo need to worry and rest as you said jo hoga dekh lenge..All the best!

[R2D2]

Originally Posted by frankmehta

I will not change for them. I love my cars and I will tend to them. And I will realize my dreams.
PERIOD.

Bravo Frankie...bravo! That was inspiring. Many many congrats on your car. It looks really lovely.

Now we're waiting for you to ICE it.

Rgds,

[gaurav_chopra04]

Originally Posted by lamborghini

@gaurav: It was the same issue when we bought our Lancer. I was restricted to 195/60R14 to avoid warranty issues. That too after a lot of arguing.
It is the same with Maruti, and I am positive with other companies as well.

Sir.. what I actually ment was that one or two upsize wont have a mjor affect on the suspention unless one start ripping his/her car on bad roads.. 195/55/R14 is the perfect size for the lancer considering Indian roads..Rest if the company policies say so..I dont think we can help it..either we void our warrenties or drive the same way and wait for warrenty to finish.

[jassi]

^^ yeah warranty, extended warranty, wait for it all and then get the mods in :-)

[ghpk]

Oops I missed all the excitement, Anyway Hearty Congrats Frank,

Also there some scheme from Ford where you pay 8k for add-on 2yr. Warranty and it covers you for all service expenses like old etc & from screw to Blown A.C/engine etc.
my friend who purchased fiesta early this year was offered this extended warranty/scheme.

Anyway hope you are enjoying every bit of your new White Horse.

[frankmehta]

Originally Posted by benbsb29

Frank, firstly congrats on your new driving machine. You would definitely enjoy the experience.

I think what you have mentioned above about the disk cleaning is the answer to your pulling to the sides problem. It probably was possible that one side was applying retardation force slightly differently as compared to the other side owing to differences in the disks, and thereby causing the car to pull towards the sides.

yes, think it was the pads. She drives even smoother now.

Originally Posted by R32_GTR

Congrats on your new ride..

This thread is making me shy away from buying the '09 Honda City AT and making my life a bit difficult coz I cant decide:(..But considering the fact that I drive 30 - 60 kms everyday..the mind suggests the City..

Cheers..

I had the choice of the Honda City too (but didnt prefer the AT.)
I would have chosen the Fiesta even if the Honda was cheaper than it. Drive both back to back and you will know.

Originally Posted by superveloce

if you are an enthusiast and a petrolhead at heart then you wouldnt regret buying a fiesta S. but if you prefer an automatic for rush hour bombay drives then you are better of in a city. besides i think the automatic honda still gives better city efficiency than the fiesta S.

totally agree on that one. you just wont regret your purchase.

Originally Posted by shajufx

So to summarise, your following warranties are already void in effect ;
1) Suspension, drive train, wheel arms, related parts (due to larger rubber)
2) Electricals (due to ICE and Headlamp upgrades)

Now you should consider K&N filters and some extra exhaust notes (with a beautiful chrome tip too), so that every warranty related to the engine will get void.

You might be drilling few body panels for fixing of speakers, woofers, amps etc. thereby warranty on the complete metal body gets automatically void.

Now what else is remaining ? I think all valuables are covered. On a lighter note: Cancel your 3rd year extended warranty and ask them to refund that amount, atleast it might be enough for a good pair of speakrs.

I will successfully reach your point 1 (above) by tomorow. Most of the remaining things in few months. And luckily I havent taken the 3rd year warranty yet !

LOL. we ford owners will always be in a warranty plight. but it will not deter us from ABSOLUTELY enjoying our car. I now repent spending 5.5k on the third year's warranty. Pretty pathetic. I am paying extra for it and voiding it myself (on the first day!)

Originally Posted by lamborghini

@gaurav: It was the same issue when we bought our Lancer. I was restricted to 195/60R14 to avoid warranty issues. That too after a lot of arguing.
It is the same with Maruti, and I am positive with other companies as well.

its better to live with a warrantyless maruti than a warrantyless ford. that much I can tell you. It's a bigger scare as parts are expensive, and if something expensive blows, then its a big hit.

Originally Posted by vigsom

Good;so after all it was the brakes and not the alignment.

yea, the alignment is spot on, and so is the balancing.

Originally Posted by gaurav_chopra04

Good to hear that the issues have been sorted... CONGRATULATIONS now. A great ride you got there frank.. I love the colour on that S.. enjoy your ride and drive safe..

Although the warrenty has been void, nothing goes wrong in cars these days for good 5-7 years at least..until its a skoda.. so noo need to worry and rest as you said jo hoga dekh lenge..All the best.

thank you! FINALLY I hear the right words. if not 5-7 years, atleast 3 years, so I atleast don't repent!!

Originally Posted by R2D2

Bravo Frankie...bravo! That was inspiring. Many many congrats on your car. It looks really lovely.

Now we're waiting for you to ICE it.

Rgds,

oh yea, the plans for the ICE are big this time. Bought all the equipment already. Waiting for one amplifier to arrive. Till then, planning if something unique can be done.

Originally Posted by gaurav_chopra04

Sir.. what I actually ment was that one or two upsize wont have a mjor affect on the suspention unless one start ripping his/her car on bad roads.. 195/55/R14 is the perfect size for the lancer considering Indian roads..Rest if the company policies say so..I dont think we can help it..either we void our warrenties or drive the same way and wait for warrenty to finish.

I didn't know even other companies were as stringent. But havent read about suspension troubles as such in 2-3 years, so its ok.

Originally Posted by jassi

^^ yeah warranty, extended warranty, wait for it all and then get the mods in :-)

naaaah. all in! NOW!


@ghpk: thanks. but the offer is no longer there ya.

[frankmehta]

Ok, so I had promised, the day I got my car, that I would be typing a looong First Impressions Report (FIR ) on the Car, the buying experience and all the other experiences I have had till now.

To make things easier, lets speak about each in a chronological order.

Booking:

Booking the car was a big dilemma, as till the last day, we were not sure whether to book our car at Bhavna Ford (made to order, would have ordered Black there) or Shaman Ford (the car you see now, white in colour. And Already PDI'ed by me even before booking it)

The last day I had presented Shaman's discount and final quote to Bhavna, who said they would match it. BUT, the car would take '10 days' (in his language, and I was wary about this from Shaju's thread) for the car to come. I thought, Shaman is giving me a good car (not a lemon) and it's lying in the stockyard. Why wait for a new car to come? Let's book with Shaman. I called up Bhavna Ford and apologized to the salesman who had done a lot of hard work and running around for me. But eventually, Shaman got the order because of ready availability and a higher discount offered to me BEFORE Bhavna decided to match up to it.


07/08/09: The Day of the Booking at Shaman:

Mom, Dad, Dad's friend and me went to book the car. The people at Shaman were very co-operative, and made the booking look like we were booking a cake/ordering some food for the next week. It was a breeze. We just sat on the table, no need for any negotiations (because I had done a lot of bargaining before that)
Finance was quick, documents were all there (since Dad is a stickler for perfection and had all his documents ready days before we went) and we walked out of the showroom within half an hour with our car booked. Of special mention is the fact that they didn't mention that they would be throwing in Sun-film with the car too, which I had requested in the earlier stages, and forgot about it totally. (it was there on the day we went for delivery)


The Run-Up to Delivery:

How the 7 days passed between booking and delivery, only I know. I dreamt about the car, dreamt about going for long drives in it. Dreamt about ICEING it and also dreamt of racing all the cars at every signal
HOW Shaman managed to complete the formalities of the Finance, Insurance, Registration and PDI in the last 3 days was very commendable. And KUDOS is in order for that. Never ONCE did they give us false hopes, and were always of the opinion that we would get our car after 17th of August. The day before delivery, the lady at Shaman (Mrs. Anushka) sprung us a surprise saying the car is ready for delivery, and registration is done. She gave us our number and we were excited as HELL. I went and bought an IDOL for the car too.



14/08/09: The Day of the Delivery:

Now, this day was like a special day for us, since it was very auspicious (Janmashtami) and we were getting a BIG car after 8 years. Dad and I reached the showroom at 1000 and there, we saw our car (dirty, not gleaming, as she had not been cleaned since she went for registration)
Dad finished the formalities (sorry, I cannot vividly describe those, since my car was standing in front of me, and I was pretty awestruck for those 20 minutes to pay attention to that procedure)

DONE. The car was formally ours. We could drive off in it. Mom, Dad and Sister did the pooja, and I took some photos. We tipped the logistics involved, and thanked the Sales people. Gifted Mrs. Anushka a ganapati idol and sat in the car for the first time. They gave us a Fuel Receipt of Rs. 500 (not 5 litres, that receipt can do 10 litres)Dad was about to drive our car for the first time. it was perfect!!


THE CAR:

Driving her Back from the Showroom:

I know, you'll are eager to know the first impressions about the car. Here's what I feel about it (took over from the car at the next signal, as Dad moved to the rear seat saying, "Beta, you are the new generation, this car is your's. ONLY your's. You are better off driving it. I will rest in the rear seat.")

I will not comment on the drive back from the showroom, as we drove as slowly as possible (as is customary, no one rips a car on the way from delivery.. LOL) and it was uneventful. Parents found the rear seat slightly cramped, since I like to push my seat all the way to the back while driving, but Mom (who has a back problem) said that her lower back was better supported, both in the front and rear seats (due to the upright seating position), hence longer drives for her would be better than the Esteem, where he her back would give in within 4 hours of a drive.


Tyre Change:

Ok, so I dropped these guys and went in for a tyre change with Dad. Michelin Pilot Preceda 2's were chosen to do the job and I bumped up the width by 10 mm (205/55R15).

Starting her Up:

Ok, so the tyres were on. Sat in the car. Started her up (man, the sound of the engine starter is SOO addictive. Gives one that big V6-V8 feel while turning the key)


The KEY:

OH Yea, the KEY. It's beautiful. Nice and chunky. With the keyless entry controls on it. There is also something UNIQUE on the key, which I didn't see on the HIGHEST specced of cars. That's the BOOT release button. Pretty James Bondesque. Just press the button the key twice and the boot opens with a satisfying click.

The Drive:

Back to the drive. After starting her up, I depressed the really tactile clutch, slotted the short throw gear knob into first (yummy, the way the lever works through the gears) and released the handbrake (which, incidentally has the sexiest button I have operated) and let the car go.
The throttle pedal is something one needs to get used to, though. It operates by the DRIVE BY WIRE (DBW) technology, which has been installed for reduction of emissions, apparently. Now the DBW doesn't have a the razor sharp response of a cable-only Accelerator. You need to prod, wait for a millisecond and THEN, all the juices are flowing. The engine is turbine smooth, and the way she revs is a TOTALLY different experience altogether.
The Power:

Step on the gas pedal and she flies. Like she's on a bed of butter! I have been really really holding myself back since she's being run-in right now, and have set limits of 3000RPM in any gear and a speed of 80-90 KMPH till I cross a thousand KM. After that, all hell can break loose, but for now this is the most I can push her. Mind you, it's not easy. The free revving beauty of an engine, the Duratec, mated to the most mechanically perfect transmissions and a very raspy, throaty exhaust note, all make it very very very difficult to restrain the right foot. You could call it a different kind of exercise, where the foot muscles are held back by the calf muscles, JUST so the foot doesn't depress the gas pedal more!!!! The growl from the Engine after 2500 RPM reminds me of the music that used to emanate from my cousin's corsa sport in London, when I went for long drives in it. This is only more refined, smoother, tractable and revvable than that.

The Torque:

The torque is quite frankly, a sea change from the Esteem I had been driving. Be it any gear, anything above 1k RPM is driveable. You JUST don't run out of lugging power. Refreshing, and very convenient. This is what makes me LOVE driving the Fiesta. She turns into a monster as soon as you put your foot down (in any gear) but you can still potter around at high gears and low speeds, all day. Traffic drives have become less fatigueful and the side and lower support from the front seat, alongwith perfect positions of the pedals and gear lever ensure you will never get out of the car tired.

Handling:

Handling is ONE aspect I just have to praise Ford for. By george! Drive this one, and you won't feel like driving the plane janes in this price range! The way the car sticks to the road, the way she responds to slight changes in direction on the steering, the feel of the road underneath, the leech like grip and the massive amounts of torque, all makes this a monster on turns. No body roll as such, and a razor sharp steering make this one a pleasure to drive! I have been taking corners at speeds I wouldn't have dared to take in my Esteem or Zen! PP2's at work here again!!

Airconditioning:

Airconditioning is SUPER. The blower is very loud at high speeds, but highly effective even at lower speeds. The cooling is quick and the button to switch on the AC deserves special mention, since it feels very high quality. The airconditioning itself is far superior to many cars I've sat in, and cools the cabin within a few minutes. Very efficient, and you JUST don't come to know when the compressor comes on and goes off, such is the wizardry in the car.

Noise, Vibration and Harshness:

The NVH levels of the car are something you must experience!! Rapid progress with the right noises, the induction growl of the engine, the rorty exhaust and the LOUD horn(yea, thats something I don't like).
Vibrations are JUST not felt in the gear knob and the car itself doesn't vibrate much. I'm telling you, the centre of all this is the Duratec engine!! It's a polished diamond!!!!

Stalks, Controls and everything in between ;-)

Of special mention are the stalks and controls around the steering wheel. The knob to switch on the dim lights, headlights and fog lights reeks of quality and is a far departure from the other cars. Especially the Marutis. The headlight throw is decent, but what is amazing is the fact that they are running on 55W bulbs. I had the same throw with 130/100 bulbs in my Esteem. Maybe we can attribute this to the technological advances in reflector materials and designs. The fog lights come with 55W bulbs too, so I won't be changing the headlight bulbs (as promised earlier in the thread: i just dont think they need the change)
I didn't like the speedo and odo console though, and would much rather prefer the OLDER Zxi dials (with added chrome rings from the newer ZXi)
Lighting and visibilty are good, but as mentioned earlier, you JUST can't see the signal lights flashing on the console.

Cabin Lighting:

Cabin lighting also deserves a mention, as the cabin has as many as 5 lights (ONE FOR EACH PASSENGER). This is unheard of, and the effectiveness of the lights will never have you wanting for more.
Kudos to ford for that.

Kaanch Cleaners:

I didn't like the Wiper arm design, but the blades do a decent job. Will upgrade to Bosch Aerotwins/Normal blades in the next monsoon. Speed is adjustable infinitely, and the effectiveness of the wipers at high speeds and heavy rains is good. Not great. The washer is awesome though, and has a lot of force. So grime can come off quickly.

The Ride:

The ride, frankly, is a little on the harsh side, and the Mumbai roads just keep getting worse by the day. SUCKS to be on a bumpy road in this car, since you hear the thuds and bumps in the cabin, and the larger bumps hit you hard. Had a hairy moment too, splaying one of the PP2's into a LARGE pothole at the speed of 70. Felt like crying after that, since the jolt was massive and the passengers were shaken up. Cursed the Mumbai road authorities in unison.


The EXPERIENCE:

It's very easy to gather insane speeds on the car in very less time, and the S, which has a remapped ECU makes this job even simpler, with increased lower end torque and a more free revving engine. The torque just gushes at you at times, and you feel you are driving a diesel.

The TYRES:

You'll must be wondering why I haven't mentioned the PP2s yet. I am going to speak about them now.
The moment I changed from the Goodyear NCT-5's, I noticed one very interesting thing. The noise from tyres that I am so used to hearing, was GONE. Only the smooth engine's roar and some road noises. Yes, the PP2's are eerily silent. They have immense grip, and the car after the NCT-5's seems like a different monster altogether. The torque is delivered in a much better way and the car just gains momentum like never before. The PP2's are gems, and highly recommended to anyone who buys a new car. Just go for them, and you will know the real character of the car.

Stopping Power:

Braking is really really strong, with a very awesome pedal feel. If paid attention to, you can hear the pedal go in (hydraulics) and the servoing of the pedal is just PERFECT. it's light, yet tactile. The pp2s aid in the braking, with their astounding, leech like levels of grip and wonderful stopping power. ABS is there, but I haven't braked hard, since even these mechanicals need to be run in.

There, this was a round up of what I feel about the car. DO chime in with your responses. I would be happy to hear them.

More reviews coming up after some more running in!

[frankmehta]

ON THE NEXT LIST OF PRIORITIES:

1. Front Windscreen Film: As is usual, Garware Cool Vision.

2. HSRP: High Security Registration Plates. For looks and security.

3. Door Scuff Plates: Esteem door edges were perennially scratched, since I have a tendency to wear large shoes that may hurt the car.

4. ICE: LOTS of it ;-)

Dash Kit and Wiring Harness ordered.

5. Good keychain and leather tissue box from Stanley.

6. MAYBE, just maybe, an Underbody Coating at the next service.

[jassi]

^^ way to go frank - keep em mods coming :-)

on a side note - is there some thread on hsrp. How does putting hsrp give more security? If we all put these hsrp, would we all be more safe on the roads :-)

[shajufx]

Originally Posted by frankmehta

HSRP: High Security Registration Plates. For looks and security.....Good keychain and leather tissue box from Stanley.... MAYBE, just maybe, an Underbody Coating at the next service.

I was quoted 950 for HSRP, not yet decided on it. Curious to know about the keychain and tissue box from stanley, I never knew they have those. And I am lucky to be offered an underbody coat (at the first service) as a compliment from the dealer (for all the troubles I went through).

[quickdraw]

I remember looking at the S and I also mentioned the way it stood out. Ford cars have this certain charm I feel. I am very happy for you and cant wait to see how the ICE will come through.

[frankmehta]

Originally Posted by jassi

^^ way to go frank - keep em mods coming :-)

on a side note - is there some thread on hsrp. How does putting hsrp give more security? If we all put these hsrp, would we all be more safe on the roads :-)

there is a thread. i just searched for high security number plates and got it. i ordered mine today. they cost me 1200 bucks!!!!!

Originally Posted by shajufx

I was quoted 950 for HSRP, not yet decided on it. Curious to know about the keychain and tissue box from stanley, I never knew they have those. And I am lucky to be offered an underbody coat (at the first service) as a compliment from the dealer (for all the troubles I went through).

i will buy the keychain and box and put photos of it. a black tissue box to go with the interiors and a white leather keychain. or beige.

Originally Posted by quickdraw

I remember looking at the S and I also mentioned the way it stood out. Ford cars have this certain charm I feel. I am very happy for you and cant wait to see how the ICE will come through.

cheers man. i know it does stand out, but thats always not a good thing. might attract the wrong kind of attention after icing

[jesal]

Originally Posted by frankmehta

there is a thread. i just searched for high security number plates and got it. i ordered mine today. they cost me 1200 bucks!!!!!



i will buy the keychain and box and put photos of it. a black tissue box to go with the interiors and a white leather keychain. or beige.




cheers man. i know it does stand out, but thats always not a good thing. might attract the wrong kind of attention after icing

i think they cost 600 now at milan subway. 1200 is too high, i dont know why you are installing this in the first place since the govenrnment will again later on make you buy new ones again in future.

[jesal]

Originally Posted by frankmehta

there is a thread. i just searched for high security number plates and got it. i ordered mine today. they cost me 1200 bucks!!!!!



i will buy the keychain and box and put photos of it. a black tissue box to go with the interiors and a white leather keychain. or beige.




cheers man. i know it does stand out, but thats always not a good thing. might attract the wrong kind of attention after icing

i think they cost 600 now at milan subway. 1200 is too high, i dont know why you are installing this in the first place since the govenrnment will again later on make you buy new ones again in future. i remember getting these done for 200 bucks earlier on, on my 1983 800 which still has those plates. its called embossed plates which in todays world is called high security plates. need to find that bugger again who will make for 200 bucks lol