hi friends ,
this is my first post in teambhp . i hope i am not wrong in writing here but if yes then mods pl. redirect me.. I have bought an i20 CRDI 1.4 Crystal white magna few days back and would like to share the experience with you ...
First of all the decision…
Choice was between diesel hatches --i20, SWIFT , Punto, Ritz , Fabia,(no Vista becos was getting rid of old faithful Indica and wanted a change).
Ritz out becos of small inside, slightly weird behind( I liked it/wife did not),and a very loud whishing/windy sound from outside back end when TDing at high speed > 85-90 kmph( HAS NOBODY NOTICED IT ? fellow accompanying us said it is not just in the TD car-it is in all Ritzs !!!?) ( haywire aerodyanmics becos of chopped off rear??)
Swift out becos of loong waiting period for a 4 year old car, no discounts/freebees whatsoever,somber interiors, ‘take it or leave it’ attitude of Maruti guys, no newer versions in Diesel. ( Otherwise THE BEST HATCH )
Punto out becos of LOUD engine inside, heavy feel for lady driver, reports of poor interiors/plastics/Fiat ***( otherwise my fav.)
Fabia out becos of old tech engine.
I20 IN becos of genuine novelty value, head turning good looks, very easy driving, very very peppy engine(1.4 l !), luxurious interiors, excellent fit/finish, silent cabin,great seats….
Buying experience….
Tded crdi at M R hyundai Loni road new showroom. Guy gave me TD on some customers car , so never went back to him , liked the TD though ;-)
Decided on i20 after poring through teambhp for Months and months till my 7 year/ > 2 lac km Indica refused to budge( still sold off for 72 thou !!)
Went straight to Capital Hyundai , NOIDA .thay didn’t have to work on me so it was a cake walk for them. Still Vikas took us to the open air stockyard for finalising color in daylight. IMHO red is the best in this car but I already had red in Feista so went for the next best which Is crytal white.)
Booked on 12th sep, promised del in one and half months time( after Diwali). No update for 2 weeks, called them, Vikas on leave, nobody has any idea about my car, shout at manager, gets back with engine no, says car not dispatched becos of floods in S. India and will be further delayed. Then suddenly 2-3 days(1 day before Dhanteras) later get call that your car has come ,pl.come and take it !!!!. Scramble for insurance through brother in Religare( get it at ~ 4000 rs cheaper than showroom insurance rate of 18000), rush for draft at my bank,(pay 2100 RS commision for 6 lac draft !) deliver it to the showroom and extract promise for deliver y next day(dhanteras) at 4 PM.
Next day 3.30PM reach showroom to see 45 cars lined up for delivery !!. Keep pushing them to get work done. Had managed 5000 rs freebees through contacts with showroom owner ;- ) so got seat covers,mats(ill fitting--? of i10), and mudflaps(hyundai monogrammed) free !. No other mods done. Finally get dirty car at 7.30 PM in darkness , tip the helpers, Pujariji mumbles a few shlokas, puts nimbus under the wheels and I am off ! Drop keys in wife’s hand(filmy style!) as surprise purchase of Dhanteras(she did not know car had reached showroom ).
INITIAL IMPRESSIONS …..
Pros –
Head turning good looks, typical Hyundai beauty(head lamps. Rear lights, parking lights, flowing lines/design).Good height/width/length
Novelty value
Very silent inside( NVH <<<<)
Plush, luxurious feel inside
Smooth flowing console/dashboard design( BMW !!)
Radio/CD display unit at a distance away from unit( can be darkened while driving to avoid glare)
v. comfy seats
great hatch door opening mechanism ( via central locking)
great cabin space
great rear head rests
cooled glove box !
boot light
Very perky, powerful and responsive engine. Feather light acclerator. Minor lag felt till 1800 RPM, then zooooooom , Total silence at speeds > 100 , no feeling of engine strain/ body or steering vibration/wind noise/instability( Innova like at high speeds).Easily beats all other small cars and am sure will beat sedans too once I try.
Cons –
Left leg/shin very close to underside of driver side plastic console below steering column.Keeps hitting the console if seat shifted even slightly forward. I am not too tall(5’11) or fat. Seat height not adjustable so nothing can be done about it. Felt it in the TD cars too. Worry that in case of sudden braking even if I slide a little bit forward on my seat , might crash my shin into the console L. ( any body else felt this ??)
Cost cutting on silly/irritating things like—
-no vanity mirrors in either side sunshade,
-no cabin light above IRVM, only single light in between front and back seats.
-Poor horn
-Pathetic speakers ( this is REALLY irritating ) , very pedestrian sound
Retro looks and gill mechanism of AC ducts
Outside engine noise significant( typical diesel mill )(?> than Verna)
Cup/bottle holder in between driver and front passenger seat protrudes too far back towards the rear seat leg space.3rd person sitting in back has to spread feet to either side uncomfortably.
Rear seat ride is bumpy and harsh( maybe will smoothen out later?)
Tools in boot and stepni are not tied/velcro-ed/screwed down, so can hear them bumping in the boot when going over humps
Gear shift is soft and spongy , not the sharp notchy type I have in my Fiesta
Rear view mirror appears inadequate/too small for rear view(have got used to it now but in big car with boot would definitely need rear parking assistance)
I have the feeling that the rear tends to wiggle/slip just a liitle while turning at high speed, but will have to confirm that after actually driving at good speeds after run in period.
To be cont…………..pics etc
Last edited by GTO : 5th November 2009 at 12:53.
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