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This is Honda City Diesel ownership review. Covering buying, ownership and maintenance experiences.
This is my first car also my first Ownership Review of a car. Before going to the ownership review, let me reveal about the Owner and History of Owning Process.
The Owner:
In short, a Mechanical engineer who like travelling, Photography, discover, admire about the Indian History, knowledge behind the Indian History.
The Search Begin….
I accepted a job in a city which is Clean and Green. A long back dating to year 2010 (rotate the mosquito coil in-front of you), I joined a job in a city which is Clean, Calm and Green. The city is culturally very rich; their food is famous all over the state. Why not? It is international fame for their food. The city was ruled and invaded by so many emperors and countries. Just holds a lots and lots of History within it. The City holds different landscapes. This city is center for major devotional attractions of the place. All the devotional places linked to big Puranas and big acts of god (stories of God). And it tells lot more and more. The City is Mangalore.
The City inspired me to own a car. The cars which I considered in that time is Hyundai i10, Maruthi Swift, Ritz and Chevy Beat. Finally I loved to own the Beat (Transformers movie also influenced me). The telescopic Steering, Instrument cluster on the whole the dash board, which I found is more attractive than others.
But unfortunately, I had to move out of Manglore within 6 months before planning for the purchase. I regret for myself to leave Mangalore.
My next destination in near North Karnataka….but it didn’t requires me to own a car. In otherwise it will be just waiting outside. So Kept on Hold to buy the car. But refined my search, at end of the 3rd year, I realised my requirement will not be satisfied with Hatch back.
The Final selection Process
When I’m not satisfied with Hatchbacks, the next segment which I chosen is Compact Sedan (Obvious). The cars I considered is a Swift Dzire (But don’t want to own a Maruthi, I don’t know Why?), Etios (not impressed me), Ford Fiesta classic (Simple design, looks clean and neat), Honda Amaze.After looking the compact sedan, still not satisfied. Expanded my search to the Sedans. By this time SUV become so popular. By the time Honda Diesel release were expected. So waited for the release.
Final selected list of cars
1. Honda City 2014
2. Ford Ecosport
3. Volkswagen Vento
4. Hyundai Verna
5. Ford Fiesta Classic
So I listed my requirements, selected the car. I created new thread, about my selection of my car. http://www.theautomotiveindia.com/forums/automotive-library/17022-structured-approach-select-your-new-car.html
Verna - Looks Good. But hand some issues with suspension. Not really interested to own a Hyundai.
Vento - Strong design. But missed some features, it is not comes up during my analysis.
Ecosport - Waiting period of 6 months. So dropped. But being a SUV, storage space was less for my requirement.
Fiesta Classic - Really impressed on looks which is simple and good. Old model may go out anytime soon. Does not give new car feel in 2014.
Honda City - Topped against all in my analysis. My likes are look of the car (except the grill), dash board and features, safety features in base variant, mileage, rear seat leg room ( really required for my mom who has a problem with the leg) and the list goes on.
I followed the launch of City in Diesel, finally it launched. So I went to my native (Pondicherry) to know the On-Road Price during Pongal (Sankranthi) times. Had look of the vehicle. Finally Booked on 27th Jan.
Booking Details: 27th Jan, Honda City i-Dtec, SV MT, C.Red colour in Pondicherry.
It all set to get the delivery by 20th Feb 2014. But I changed my variant to variant V MT 4 days before the delivery for the extra features like alloy wheel, fog lamps, rear camera etc for another 50 to 60K which more profitable than after market accessory (Need to avoid warranty issues, after market product researches).
After changing variant my booking priority status was 3rd as per Model, Colour, Variant. 9th position in mixed colour wise. But this status was not changed at all till the June 2014.
I had to followup with SA, Sales Manger on continuous basis to know my booking priority status. I had to raise complaints to Honda Customer care to know the priority status.
Honda is terrible on inform about the customer booking status. Not happy at all for the process which followed by Honda. Honda delivers the car quickly in metro cities. It is not worried about other cities customers and their booking status. Dealership experience also not happy because of Honda as a company. Even the ticket status can be known in online. Why the car companies is not transparent in updating the status of customer booking?
So I gave the colour option as "any colour except Black". Still Honda could not able to deliver my car in 3 months standard waiting period. So I had to miss my my wife Birthday and Daughter birthday without our first car.
THAVAM, (a tamil word, I think it called as "tapas" in Hindi) (a person praying to the god to get boon) continued to get my car. After the thavam, arjuna gets some ashtra in mahabharat. So I named my car as "Ashtra".
A enthusiast traveler needs a vehicle to fulfill his desire. A car is for me like living all round the year in spring season which is called as VASANTHAM in tamil.
Both together I name my car "Vasantha Ashtra". Yes she got a name now.
Finally I got the news from the Dealer in June month saying that my car will be delivered by mid of June. Again It got delayed with several issues from the dealer and Honda (which I'm not interested to share here). I got the VIN details 28th June. Finally the vehicle is reached the dealer with July 5th. The teaser pic attached in Honda City thread, pls click the below link.
http://www.theautomotiveindia.com/forums/indian-auto-news/14701-2014-honda-city-first-look-page-12-a-94.html#post393830
Some Important Links on my thread
1. Maiden Voyage to Navagraha Temples (covered only 4 Temples) - Mileage Report
2. Detailed Ownership Review
3. Review Posted in Facebook by TAI-Mods.
4. 2nd Mileage Report in Highway with fully loaded Honda City
5. Power Socket Mobile Charger
6. 1st Service & Under Body Coating
7. Seat Cover & its Design
8. Projector Headlight & DRL
9. Floor Mat - Digifit 3D mat - Black Colour
10. Trunk Mat - Digifit 3D mat - Black Colour
11. Car care Products - Suggested by TAI-gers
12. Pen Drive - My Audio Bank
13. Dash Board Photo Frame / Digital Photo Frame (V/VX Model)
14. How to Delete the Paired Mobile Phone from Head Unit in Honda City
15. High Beam Bulb upgrade to 4300 Kelvin (White Light)
16. Horn Upgrade
17. My First Accident Experience - Rear Quarter Panel & Bumper
18. 3rd Service Report
19. Door Sill Plates
20. Wrapped Front Grill
Some Important Replies in this Thread
1. Reply on Projector Head Light & DRL Installation
2. Reply on Fogging issue in Projector Head Light
3. Honda City Diesel Engine Clogging issue
4. Service Schedule & Maintenance cost
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