Well! though I got no clue how to narrate or write ownership review I still try this in my own way.
My first car I learnt driving was a 78 Batch Ambassador. We had all interiors upgraded to Koya seats,Superking A/c,radial tyres,Isuzu import engine and it always looked posh. That was our first car and my driver who taught me driving used to tell-‘You are learning to drive in an ambassador that means you will be able to drive any car in the future with ease’- I really feel now that it is true. Once I learnt driving fully, I never felt the hugeness of the Amby and city traffic was like sweets for me. Later we purchased 98 Zen but still I always preferred my Amby.Its body was so thick that you even feel that its bullet proof and its suspension was like a sofa feel always. There is nothing much to talk about Zen but it was more stylish for me and I always felt difficult with low floor as I never like cars flashing head lights straight on your face. We sold the Amby later as it was getting too old but I missed it very badly and I have its picture in my office-framed.
My next car was Palio, great car. I was really happy with its sportiness as we had the sportz version and the power was awesome. But to be honest it’s a bad car, my a/c water leak could not be rectified, started fan belt noise and so very soon we sold it off telling the buyer all the problems we faced and gave for a very cheap price. My next car Indica,lovely car everything was nice but as too many drivers had to handle it very soon it got problematic and we sold it off. So after clearing all this, we bought i10 which is the perfect car. It is almost 3 years now and no major complaints yet and still feels new-touchwood. Anyway we have driven only 15,000kms so far. As you see all the cars we bought were on the small segment as my family always decided that for city conditions we should buy only small car but anytime we had to go for an outing or something we had to use two cars and so what is the point in having a car?.Next thing I wanted to buy a car which will be as sturdy as an amby and which will accommodate at least 6 happily. Since we have an I10 I thought to have a bigger car so we could use whichever is needed for the need. Next major issue was, I don’t want to crawl inside a car and I wanted to climb on it which is the best option for a tall guy like me as my knees used be stiff if its long drive. So we decided to buy a new one and then I started to look out for the models and study their + and – sides.\
The following are the cars which I found to be interesting for me,
1. Endy
2. Fortuner
3. Captiva
4. Cruze
5.safari
Actually speaking I was not initially interested in Aria coz it is from Tata and I did not want to spend such high price on them.
My first TD was Safari, the best feel and drive. I loved the comfort it gave in all rows of seating and so far that’s the best car which gave so much comfort for passenger seats in the rear and also I was so happy with the driving but then I found the new safari will be out soon but it is taking so much time that I got frustrated and even if they give new safari at 1 laky I will not buy. I wanted SUV because I preferred high driving position and I did not want shakes and pot hole vibrations to be felt inside. My next TD was captivating lost hope in the first TD itself because the TD vehicle was horrible and the drive was pathetic ,though I did convince myself that it might be because it’s a TD vehicle ,I was not happy with rear space or the third row seating. All together the first impression with captive was not happifying.My next TD was cruze, though it’s not under SUV I wanted to TD and check on it. Everything was perfect except the roof as it was too nearby for me when I adjust the driver seat height and also this is the car which made me think about Aria which I will tell about later.
Next TD was fortuner, one word all I can tell, it’s not my type. From the drivers view it was looking so huge outside and I was really scared if I could manage it as it was quiet a tall one for me.
Now when I was thinking about cruze, I had to spend 15 L on middle variant so that’s when I thought when a mid size Car I like can cost me so much, why should not I look for some vehicle of the same price range and I sorted out skoda, aria.Skoda was ruled out as everyone gave negative feedback on its service and parts. I started to look out for aria. First I started to explore its features and styling and I did start falling in love and my first look on aria was-I do not like this car. The features aria offered were excellent for the price its sold and I started exploring its test drive report, ownership report and other articles. All the reports gave out almost the same + and – aria. The down side of aria was poor third row space, price and other points may be. I then decided to TD ARIA and I loved it. Not so tall or huge like a Soviet offered car like driving experience and tremendous space and for someone like me whose jumping from hatch to a big MUV aria is perfect. Now I got confused between End and Aria so again I had so many comparisons and then I decided its Aria.Endy is also a cool vehicle but was not giving comfortable ride, enough glass area for driver view, third row floor was too low. I could manage with Aria little third row space but not with endy low floor.
Then mission TD aria started, I actually enquired with all dealers in Chennai for aria. The VST sales staff was the most ignorant and knew very little about the car. Then came in concorde and the sales guy was really having sound knowledge about aria and I decided to stick on with him. It was like an exam months with aria for me. I personally TD and I was happy and even with third row space I found comfortable but on the other side I had discussions on the forum with members and including dhaya who own it and every one cleared out my doubt and fear about TATA reliability and I was able to understand that this is a huge leap and try by TATA. The qaulityt, feautures and attention given on the car by TATA did make me feel that this car is special and will prove.
In the mean time I had TD thrice with Aria. I wanted to go for prestige 4b4 and then I got the news for 2 WD drive coming soon and I thought I could wait a bit and save some money. I did wait and when it was launched, only the top and base version was available immediate for sale and then within a months’ time I decided to go for 4wd and by then I TD 5 times with aria and once on 2wd just to make me content and assured and I was.
Finally we booked aria and the total cost was 17.50 and we paid some booking advance and then waited 15 days. The car did arrive as promised in 15 days and after we made the full payment, the car was delivered in a week’s time after completing RTO etc.
Prior to delivery I did visit the showroom and checked all the points-post delivery advice from the forum and it was satisfactory. We liked the grey color as our i10 was also the same color but we had the only option to look the color only in the internet as Concorde did not have any grey color aria delivered before or they had any real time pictures but still we booked the grey one with hopes that it will be good and when I saw the car for the first time, I was like ahaw! The color and look of aria was mind blowing and I started smiling and it was the same color like my i10 and the current i10’s are bit darker unlike the older ones. I did not drive the car from the showroom to my house as I thought I need some practice before I start. So then finished with all Temple procedures Aria is ready to navigate Chennai and I am just driving it so fully experience report is better after some time may be but initial driving experience is awesome and as I expected pot holes,shakes,vibrations –goodbye!
I am driving aria as easy as I am driving my i10 and the turning radius is quiet impressive for its size and in terms of power I will be able to tell when I kick it on an highway but for now I have not crossed 80 but otherwise the initial pick up and power is satisfactory.The car is sturdy and about the brakes, of course it is not enough but since I am used to hatch backs may be am wrong. Then with Interiors, the seats remain to be factory fit and may be changed soon and mine will be the only aria with system modification as I was not satisfied with the factory unit and the audio install was done by technocrat Chennai. I can say that it’s clean and professional.When i drive my aria,out of 10 at least 6 heads turn to it and am proud and happy.
karthick don't show the number plates on public forum, get the help of 350 Z and hide the number plates Asap.
xovy!this is the max I could write and 350 had removed my number plate images from the forum pics
![[clap]](https://www.theautomotiveindia.com/forums/images/smilies/Clap.gif "Clap [clap]")
, this is also my favourite angle of Tata ARIA.![[:)]](https://www.theautomotiveindia.com/forums/images/smilies/Smile.gif "Smile [:)]")