Tata Zest Ownership Review

[kiranpai16]

Re: Tata Zest XM (Revotron) Ownership Review

Congrats wincy wish you many trouble free miles ahead

I thought every new owner/person who has booked in october knew that Tata has changed from beige to black for all door pads. My dealer told me clearly on the date of booking that I will not be getting car with beige pad as Tata has made changes to them after listening to customer/various forum opinions.
I asked them if they could get me one with beige pads and raised the same in my call with Tata TSM.

Hello enigmaguy,

Good to know this. Curious to know when you had booked your car. I booked a Blue XT Revotron on 1st Oct, but have no information on this.

 

[enigmaguy]

Re: Tata Zest XM (Revotron) Ownership Review

Hello enigmaguy,

Good to know this. Curious to know when you had booked your car. I booked a Blue XT Revotron on 1st Oct, but have no information on this.

I had booked mine on Oct 15th. The dealer informed me that they came to know this only when they delivered a car with black pads to a customer who pointed out the difference since there was no official communication regarding this. Still the display cars at the dealer shows only beige pads but the SA's now inform the customers regarding this.

 

[kiranpai16]

Re: Tata Zest XM (Revotron) Ownership Review

I had booked mine on Oct 15th. The dealer informed me that they came to know this only when they delivered a car with black pads to a customer who pointed out the difference since there was no official communication regarding this. Still the display cars at the dealer shows only beige pads but the SA's now inform the customers regarding this.

What the expected delivery date given by TML to you.

 

[enigmaguy]

Re: Tata Zest XM (Revotron) Ownership Review

TML has not given me a delivery date yet and even my SA says no vehicle has been billed under my booking from TML yet but during booking i was given expected delivery date of 16th November 2014. Even today my SA stuck to that date but has not yet pestered me to make any more down payments to expedite delivery.

 

[wincythomas]

Re: Tata Zest XM (Revotron) Ownership Review

Took my car out for a drive to the airport. Since it was past 10 PM the roads were nearly empty. So I thought it would be the best time to put all the three driving mode (Eco, City and Sports) to the test.

Sports mode - As soon as I climbed the elevated highway after Hebbal flyover, I switched to sports mode. Although there was no immediate turbo rush as you would experience with a QDJ engine, the speedo meter would have happily crossed the 100 KMPH mark and took me through 140-160 with a very light foot on the accelerator. However I chose not to cross the 100 KMPH level before the Running in period is over and there were some slow moving trucks on all the three lanes which made me switch back to the city mode. My verdict on the sports mode - will save this one for my long drives after the run in period.

City Mode - I was on this mode (the default one) for the most part of my drive. One thing that I noticed with this mode is that it was getting difficult for me to limit the speed within 100 KMPH mark even with a light foot on the throttle. So I was just taking my foot off to slow down every once in a while. My verdict - With the city mode on, you don't even feel the need to switch over to Sports mode. This mode packs enough punch in itself.

Eco Mode - Towards the end of my drive for almost 10 Kms I used the eco mode. And to my surprise the engine did not show much of a lag as I was expecting. It did show a decent response to the throttle throughout the drive. Even after I was back in the city where you encounter numerous unscientific speed breakers, potholes, rough patches etc. My Verdict - I am going to use this mode till my running in period. And even after that most of the time during the night as the air conditioner will not suck more power out of the engine during the night.


I forgot to mention that it handles the curves at the speed to 90 with great ease. I noticed it on the flyover which connects the airport to the highway. I had the climate control on temperature set at 24*C and fan speed 2.

I am pretty happy with the way the car is performing right now as I am expecting it to get much better after a couple of servicing. Few more things which I liked about the car -

• Its tall stance. Feels like a mini SUV.
• The ground clearance. There is one particular speed breaker near my house which I could never duck with my old Maruti Alto. This one goes over it happily without any effort.
• The Bluetooth mike. The voice quality over the call is pretty refined. I have made and received few calls from inside the car and no one on the other side of the call realize that I was on bluetooth car stereo unless I told them. It was also able to pick up the voice of the backseat passenger with great detail.

So this is my first opinion about the drive quality. Any comments and suggestions are always welcome. Will write more about the bumper to bumper experience in the daytime once I start going to office from Monday

 

[wincythomas]

Re: Tata Zest XM (Revotron) Ownership Review

Guys your opinion on the ride review is still awaited.

 

[wincythomas]

All the owners of the ZEST is there anything that I am missing or you feel that does not hold good with your experience with the ZEST so far??

Nice initial review. image
Happy and safe driving.

Thank you Sampath. Do let me know about anything specific which you would want me to check and write about.

 

[TheMotorRomeo]

Re: Tata Zest XM (Revotron) Ownership Review

Thank you Sampath. Do let me know about anything specific which you would want me to check and write about.

Just out of personal interest I would like to know following things :

1. Did u like the music quality?
2. Heard impressive views about Zest suspension and comfort. In my short stint of few test drives I was not able to test it much as the roads around were good.. What are your views?
3. If you are compelled, then what all will be the negatives of this car.
4. If on inclination, do we need to switch of the AC and throttle ? Like in many other cars..or Zest is powerful enough.

Yeah apologies in advance for asking so much

 

[Godfather]

Re: Tata Zest XM (Revotron) Ownership Review

Thank you Sampath. Do let me know about anything specific which you would want me to check and write about.

Congrats on your purchase and initial feedback
Not sure if you have mentioned anywhere, but would like to know about the FE split.

 

[wincythomas]

Just out of personal interest I would like to know following things :

1. Did u like the music quality?
2. Heard impressive views about Zest suspension and comfort. In my short stint of few test drives I was not able to test it much as the roads around were good.. What are your views?
3. If you are compelled, then what all will be the negatives of this car.
4. If on inclination, do we need to switch of the AC and throttle ? Like in many other cars..or Zest is powerful enough.

Yeah apologies in advance for asking so much

These are few things to ponder about. Let me try to address it.
1. The music audio quality is not at par with what I heard in the Test Drive cars. Maybe I need to paly around with the equalizers and all.
2. The suspensions are well equipped to take the regular potholes and speed breakers smoothly.
3. Till now the negatives that I came across are - Absence of dead pedal, the Sun visors set is not of the same quality shown in the media reviews in TEAM BHP and TAI, The issue of mud collecting in the lamp assembly area, absence of remote boot lid opening, absence of bottle holders in side the cabin. These are the few ones for now.
4. On inclines, the car did pull fine on the city mode with climate control on. However did not check it in eco mode. I suggest you don't even try that on eco mode

Congrats on your purchase and initial feedback
Not sure if you have mentioned anywhere, but would like to know about the FE split.

Hi Shankar, to be honest, I really don't want to count on the FE meter for the mileage figures. I am going to calculate it tank full to empty. Right now I am waiting for the next refill to see what's showing up on the odometer.

 

[Godfather]

Re: Tata Zest XM (Revotron) Ownership Review

Hi Shankar, to be honest, I really don't want to count on the FE meter for the mileage figures. I am going to calculate it tank full to empty. Right now I am waiting for the next refill to see what's showing up on the odometer.

Exactly, that's what even i am looking at. Thanks!

 

[sealarit]

Re: Tata Zest XM (Revotron) Ownership Review

Hi Sealarit, at what mode do you usually drive in the city and on highways?

I usually drive in City/ Eco mode :: 60/40

 

[wincythomas]

Re: Tata Zest XM (Revotron) Ownership Review

Guys time for the bumper to bumper review (KMS driven - 450 including my night drive to the airport and back). Car delivered on 5th November evening.
I am using the eco mode with the A/c for my drive to office and back home. Total distance back and forth 38 KMs.
A/C on full time usual fan speed 1 and temp 24-26* (neat enough for the current Bangalore weather).
My office is located in whitefield and I have to cross the K R puram bridge (most notorious place for traffic snarls in Bangalore). It feels quite blissful treading this route when compared to my 2007 Maruti Alto LX. Throttle response is quite decent with the eco mode and climate control on. Mileage as per my calculation (I am not relying on the FE meter on the odo console) so far is around 10 + some decimals (hope this one to improve later on). Did feel some vibration on the fourth gear (not worried about this as there is no noise)
Eco mode quite decent to drive like a gentleman on the road. That's what I usually do most of the times. However, there are times (quite a lot) when you get bullied by the usual cab drivers and auto rikshaws. That's when the Sports mode comes handy.
My verdict - Eco mode is good enough for the city drive unless you are competing with the fellow road mates. Keep the window rolled and put the climate control to the test. You don't want your ZEST interiors soiled with the dust. Never hesitate to use the sports mode to surprise the guys who tries to bully you on the road. (beating a mid/full size sedan or an SUV on road is definitely going to make your workday stress free for sure)

Need help on the SMS display and read out function. None of this is happening with my I phone connected via blue tooth

 

[slashinv]

Re: Tata Zest XM (Revotron) Ownership Review

Many Thanks wincythomas for sharing your experience and drive mode recommendations ! Pls keep us updated as you spend more and more time with your zest

I'm sure if the PAWAN (initiator of this thread and the VERY FIRST OWERSHIP review on TAI for zest ) , is still following this thread.

Hi Pawan - it's been about 2.5 months since you took home your zest.
Pls share how's if your overall ownership experience so far ?
As you will be going for the FIRST servicing in few weeks, what are the issues/observations that you are going to get addressed by service center ?
what are FE numbers over these 2.5 months ?
any driving recommendations based on your experience are very welcome !

waiting to hear from you.

 

[bridge]

Re: Tata Zest XM (Revotron) Ownership Review

I am really convinced and charged to book Zest. But budget doesnt permit to go beyond XM. I have to take a call between XE and XM.

The only pressing issue right now is proper reviews on FE. There are no reviews where the owner has used the car for even 2000KM. I am not happy with figures around 10. If the FE figures are not good, I will move to Xcent.