Thread Starter
#1
Like everyone else, I also wished to drive fast and big cars one day. But didn't imagine when that big day would actually happen.
My liking for the safari started somewhere in 2008-2009 when my neighbor bought a Black Tata Safari. It was an eye catchy car with plush leather interiors.
But, my choice of a big car was not just a tata safari, but anything under the sun. I was even ready for a tavera, xylo, scorpio, qualis, sumo grande. As i said just anything under the sun.
The closest I came to buying a big car(another safari) was in April-May 2013 more on this later.
The installments of our santro was finishing off in June 2013 and we were ready for the second car. Having spend 40K INR for lifetime road tax in Hyderabad, for our Delhi registered car, we were never prepared to buy a new car here. And then selling it in half the price when we leave the city in future was too much a bother. But still the heart was not prepared for a pre-owned car. Somewhere during that time, Mahindra Quanto was launched and I found myself standing in Mahindra showroom to test drive the car. Unfortunately I didnt like the complete package. It would have been a great car but in my finance(7L) I was getting the C2 or C4 version in which I could get a Etios Viva Sportz Diesel or even a starting diesel model of i20.
I again started thinking about owning a small diesel car and test drove many diesels from Figo to Etios.. during this time I saw an ad on our company portal about a i10 kappa 1.2. Being a 79 bhp car and weighing a mere 860 kg, it looked like a powerful car I was waiting for. I gave in to the temptation and bought it straight away. Having known the person selling it, there were no second thoughts altogether. A quick diesel vs petrol calculation further fixed the deal. As this car was primarily for our highway drives, it fitted well in all aspects except size. I brought the car home.
After sometime(may be a month), I came to know that our VP's Safari is going off lease and he is not interested in buying it back. He was looking for the XUV now. This safari was a well kept car and I missed a chance of owning one with a small margin of time rather than money.
Most of our drives were on well kept toll roads, so never regretted the decision of owning an i10. Kept it ready for anything anytime. I was never let down by that car.
After my Goa trip in Sept 2013, I came to know that in October '2014' another Safari of a Senior director of our team would go on sale, as he is also not interested to buyback and wants an automatic sedan (now we know it is Skoda Octavia Elegance TSI, 180 bhp, Automatic). I was in no hurry and asked him to give me the final quote of the safari when it goes under the hammer.
Few points about our company's lease policy: A middle level manager can opt for a car he likes as per his approved slab, pay a marginal amount per month (15K for a Ertiga ZDI, just to give you a perspective) and after 3 or 4 years of ownership, give the car back to the lease company and opt for another car as per his current slab. Some people buy the car back, some doesn't. Those who buyback are also eligible for taking another car irrespective of their buyback decision.
But there is a catch here, you have to buyback at the price which the lease company decides for the car. They say that they take 3 quotes from various sources and sell the car to the highest bidder.
This is the reason why it is not certain that you would get the car you want. They can get a quote of some unrealistic, unbelievable amount too.
The good thing about these leased cars is that you know the owner and they are scratch-less (thanks to comprehensive insurance). The bad thing is that you cant decide the color or bid yourself.
So, finally got the Safari VTT 2.2 Dicor, Pearl-white, 41K driven, for a mysterious price I could afford. But, frankly speaking, selling a car to buy another is a costly affair, specially when you are the second owner of the car you are selling. In real terms I have taken a hit of 80K on the i10 to buy this. On the highway my petrol i10 would be more cost efficient than this diesel monster. But then the feeling of owning what you never thought you can is different.
Starting this thread to share my experiences with the vehicle. Here are the pics from a point and shoot camera. Apologies for the image quality, it was dark down there.
The best and the worst tyre image is also attached to provide an insight. The spare wheel is still unseen by me.
My liking for the safari started somewhere in 2008-2009 when my neighbor bought a Black Tata Safari. It was an eye catchy car with plush leather interiors.
But, my choice of a big car was not just a tata safari, but anything under the sun. I was even ready for a tavera, xylo, scorpio, qualis, sumo grande. As i said just anything under the sun.
The closest I came to buying a big car(another safari) was in April-May 2013 more on this later.
The installments of our santro was finishing off in June 2013 and we were ready for the second car. Having spend 40K INR for lifetime road tax in Hyderabad, for our Delhi registered car, we were never prepared to buy a new car here. And then selling it in half the price when we leave the city in future was too much a bother. But still the heart was not prepared for a pre-owned car. Somewhere during that time, Mahindra Quanto was launched and I found myself standing in Mahindra showroom to test drive the car. Unfortunately I didnt like the complete package. It would have been a great car but in my finance(7L) I was getting the C2 or C4 version in which I could get a Etios Viva Sportz Diesel or even a starting diesel model of i20.
I again started thinking about owning a small diesel car and test drove many diesels from Figo to Etios.. during this time I saw an ad on our company portal about a i10 kappa 1.2. Being a 79 bhp car and weighing a mere 860 kg, it looked like a powerful car I was waiting for. I gave in to the temptation and bought it straight away. Having known the person selling it, there were no second thoughts altogether. A quick diesel vs petrol calculation further fixed the deal. As this car was primarily for our highway drives, it fitted well in all aspects except size. I brought the car home.
After sometime(may be a month), I came to know that our VP's Safari is going off lease and he is not interested in buying it back. He was looking for the XUV now. This safari was a well kept car and I missed a chance of owning one with a small margin of time rather than money.
Most of our drives were on well kept toll roads, so never regretted the decision of owning an i10. Kept it ready for anything anytime. I was never let down by that car.
After my Goa trip in Sept 2013, I came to know that in October '2014' another Safari of a Senior director of our team would go on sale, as he is also not interested to buyback and wants an automatic sedan (now we know it is Skoda Octavia Elegance TSI, 180 bhp, Automatic). I was in no hurry and asked him to give me the final quote of the safari when it goes under the hammer.
Few points about our company's lease policy: A middle level manager can opt for a car he likes as per his approved slab, pay a marginal amount per month (15K for a Ertiga ZDI, just to give you a perspective) and after 3 or 4 years of ownership, give the car back to the lease company and opt for another car as per his current slab. Some people buy the car back, some doesn't. Those who buyback are also eligible for taking another car irrespective of their buyback decision.
But there is a catch here, you have to buyback at the price which the lease company decides for the car. They say that they take 3 quotes from various sources and sell the car to the highest bidder.
This is the reason why it is not certain that you would get the car you want. They can get a quote of some unrealistic, unbelievable amount too.
The good thing about these leased cars is that you know the owner and they are scratch-less (thanks to comprehensive insurance). The bad thing is that you cant decide the color or bid yourself.
So, finally got the Safari VTT 2.2 Dicor, Pearl-white, 41K driven, for a mysterious price I could afford. But, frankly speaking, selling a car to buy another is a costly affair, specially when you are the second owner of the car you are selling. In real terms I have taken a hit of 80K on the i10 to buy this. On the highway my petrol i10 would be more cost efficient than this diesel monster. But then the feeling of owning what you never thought you can is different.
Starting this thread to share my experiences with the vehicle. Here are the pics from a point and shoot camera. Apologies for the image quality, it was dark down there.
The best and the worst tyre image is also attached to provide an insight. The spare wheel is still unseen by me.
![[:)]](https://www.theautomotiveindia.com/forums/images/smilies/Smile.gif "Smile [:)]")
![[lol]](https://www.theautomotiveindia.com/forums/images/smilies/Laugh.gif "Laugh [lol]")
![[cry]](https://www.theautomotiveindia.com/forums/images/smilies/Cry.gif "Cry [cry]")
). So, I dont need to change anything that requires SVC intervention.![[thumbsdown]](https://www.theautomotiveindia.com/forums/images/smilies/Thumbs%20Down.gif "Thumbs Down [thumbsdown]")
![[frustration]](https://www.theautomotiveindia.com/forums/images/smilies/Frustration.gif "Frustration [frustration]")
