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#1
I was since few months Driving Dad's old Maruti 800(which is 16yrs young) for some time and never felt the need of another car. The M800 was serving me well and I did the necessary repairs related to the old age issues of the car and she was(still is) running just fine.
On a Fine Sunday Morning(29/03/2014) saw an ad in a local newspaper regarding ongoing financial year end discounts valid upto 31st March. It spiked an interest in me for the Wagon R as it was within budget and I have driven my friend's Waggie a lot to appreciate her practicality and ease of driving. So me and wifey took off to the nearest dealer at around 11am and saw a Stingray in glistening grey adorning some real estate of the shop floor. My heart immediately knew "THIS IS IT".
Asked the sales representative for the price, discounts, offers, etc. and found the VXi model to be well within my budget of 5Lakhs.
However I wanted the Optional model with ABS and Airbag and was ready to extend the budget for that.
They told me that VXi(O) model is made to order and it isn't there at their stock.
I told them to somehow manage and give me the optional model irrespective of colour. They told it will take time. I took a look at the Swift too but found it to be out of budget. So took a brochure and the price list and went to the market to do the weekly shopping.
In the back of my mind I was contemplating other options too and decided to test the Honda Brio. Though slightly out of budget, test drove the SMT model and found it to be ok, even the wife liked it.
After a discussion with her decided against the Brio.
Brio likes:
1. Spacious interiors, airy and roomy feeling.
2. Outstanding i-Vtec Engine with precise and slick gear shifts.
3. Height adjustable driver's seat.
Brio dislikes:
1. Outdated looking dashboard and controls.
2. Less boot space(maybe better than the Waggie).
3. Look of the rear(subjective).
4. Slightly above 5.2Lakh pricing without ABS/Airbag(Wagon R VXI optional comes at around the same price of the SMT).
That very Evening the Maruti sales representative called me and asked me whether I want to confirm the booking of the Grey Stingray as it was the only one piece of grey available in their stock and they have got another ready buyer. I asked him to give me another day to think it of and decide.
Next day I went to Office and called all the major dealers in the state(Assam) regarding the availability of the VXi(O) version but none of them had it in their stock and a minimum of 2 months was quoted. Most of them didn't even had the Glistening Grey colour. However in a nearby district(Tinsukia) one dealer told they have only one piece of Glistening Grey VXi and asked me to book it asap.
So I went to the dealer in my area and got to know their single piece was sold as I didn't confirm them the booking the previous day. Called up the Tinsukia dealer and told them that I will go the next day to book the car. I was in a mind that booking amount of a car is around Rs.5000 and will provide the rest of the amount by demand draft. That night I kept thinking of which model to go for- the VXi or the VXi(O).
VXi(O) has the added safety features but total delivery time will take more than two months.
VXi is readily available and as the Auspicious festival of Bihu is approaching, I can have it for Bihu.
Finally took the plunge and decided to get the VXi.
The next day(31/03/2014) dealer called me to deposit cash of Rs.2 Lakh and confirm the booking. I asked what for I have to pay so much in cash as I am ready to pay the entire amount by Cheques. They told me as only one piece of my desired colour is available and the ongoing discount is available only upto 31/03/2014, to avail the discount I have to book on that day itself. After some bargaining the amount came down to One Lakh(wonder if I could have lowered it even more). Somehow managed to gather cash of One Lakh by transacting money to two of my friends' accounts and withdrawing via their ATM cards as daily withdrawal limit of one card is Rs.40000.
Reached the dealer at 5pm and asked them to show me the car. They took me to where the car was parked among many others and wasn't even washed. And the representative didn't had the key to the particular car so he requested me to see another VXi car(will share the dealer experience later).
I gave them the cash and the cheques amounting to a total of Rs.4.87 Lakh on-the-road inclusive of registration and insurance.
Came Home and had to wait for another day as 01/04/2014 was bank holiday.
On 2nd April called up the dealer to inform me immediately when the cheques were realized. My cheques were realized by 7pm that day and I told them I will go to them the next day as it was already late and didn't wanted to get delivery during dark. Next day along with my Wife and friend went to take delivery and got my Glistening Grey Wagon R Stingray VXi with 5l of petrol sans any accessories.
Contd...
On a Fine Sunday Morning(29/03/2014) saw an ad in a local newspaper regarding ongoing financial year end discounts valid upto 31st March. It spiked an interest in me for the Wagon R as it was within budget and I have driven my friend's Waggie a lot to appreciate her practicality and ease of driving. So me and wifey took off to the nearest dealer at around 11am and saw a Stingray in glistening grey adorning some real estate of the shop floor. My heart immediately knew "THIS IS IT".
Asked the sales representative for the price, discounts, offers, etc. and found the VXi model to be well within my budget of 5Lakhs.
However I wanted the Optional model with ABS and Airbag and was ready to extend the budget for that.
They told me that VXi(O) model is made to order and it isn't there at their stock.
I told them to somehow manage and give me the optional model irrespective of colour. They told it will take time. I took a look at the Swift too but found it to be out of budget. So took a brochure and the price list and went to the market to do the weekly shopping.
In the back of my mind I was contemplating other options too and decided to test the Honda Brio. Though slightly out of budget, test drove the SMT model and found it to be ok, even the wife liked it.
After a discussion with her decided against the Brio.
Brio likes:
1. Spacious interiors, airy and roomy feeling.
2. Outstanding i-Vtec Engine with precise and slick gear shifts.
3. Height adjustable driver's seat.
Brio dislikes:
1. Outdated looking dashboard and controls.
2. Less boot space(maybe better than the Waggie).
3. Look of the rear(subjective).
4. Slightly above 5.2Lakh pricing without ABS/Airbag(Wagon R VXI optional comes at around the same price of the SMT).
That very Evening the Maruti sales representative called me and asked me whether I want to confirm the booking of the Grey Stingray as it was the only one piece of grey available in their stock and they have got another ready buyer. I asked him to give me another day to think it of and decide.
Next day I went to Office and called all the major dealers in the state(Assam) regarding the availability of the VXi(O) version but none of them had it in their stock and a minimum of 2 months was quoted. Most of them didn't even had the Glistening Grey colour. However in a nearby district(Tinsukia) one dealer told they have only one piece of Glistening Grey VXi and asked me to book it asap.
So I went to the dealer in my area and got to know their single piece was sold as I didn't confirm them the booking the previous day. Called up the Tinsukia dealer and told them that I will go the next day to book the car. I was in a mind that booking amount of a car is around Rs.5000 and will provide the rest of the amount by demand draft. That night I kept thinking of which model to go for- the VXi or the VXi(O).
VXi(O) has the added safety features but total delivery time will take more than two months.
VXi is readily available and as the Auspicious festival of Bihu is approaching, I can have it for Bihu.
Finally took the plunge and decided to get the VXi.
The next day(31/03/2014) dealer called me to deposit cash of Rs.2 Lakh and confirm the booking. I asked what for I have to pay so much in cash as I am ready to pay the entire amount by Cheques. They told me as only one piece of my desired colour is available and the ongoing discount is available only upto 31/03/2014, to avail the discount I have to book on that day itself. After some bargaining the amount came down to One Lakh(wonder if I could have lowered it even more). Somehow managed to gather cash of One Lakh by transacting money to two of my friends' accounts and withdrawing via their ATM cards as daily withdrawal limit of one card is Rs.40000.
Reached the dealer at 5pm and asked them to show me the car. They took me to where the car was parked among many others and wasn't even washed. And the representative didn't had the key to the particular car so he requested me to see another VXi car(will share the dealer experience later).
I gave them the cash and the cheques amounting to a total of Rs.4.87 Lakh on-the-road inclusive of registration and insurance.
Came Home and had to wait for another day as 01/04/2014 was bank holiday.
On 2nd April called up the dealer to inform me immediately when the cheques were realized. My cheques were realized by 7pm that day and I told them I will go to them the next day as it was already late and didn't wanted to get delivery during dark. Next day along with my Wife and friend went to take delivery and got my Glistening Grey Wagon R Stingray VXi with 5l of petrol sans any accessories.
Contd...
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Nice review and pictures.
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. Not sure how it would look though, just giving it a try.![[evil]](https://www.theautomotiveindia.com/forums/images/smilies/Evil.gif "Evil [evil]")
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