Upgrading to a Premium Hatchback - Please Help

[akhilgopalg]

Hi
Hmm. i also had the same doubt. I think he was mentioning i-20 diesel

About auto shows, it's not always reliable. A thread is there in this forum itself discussing how much reliable these shows are. Please feel yourself how much a car correlates with your driving style. When we decided for a car for my wife, i opt from polo 1.6 , swift zxi after all those reviews/automagzs as they were the hottest hatch available. As am out of station, my wife test drove the cars(a crazy vehicle enthusiast ) and opt for punto 1.4 as it suited for her driving style. So i think there must be a communication between a machine and a human, whether it be computer programming or driving.

Agree. See, you can watch a comparo done by Overdrive in 2010. It has 13 real life tasks and most of these were done by guest testers. About other comparisons, i agree. I'm just saying that all autoshows have only negatives of i20,rather than positives. If only one show is telling the negatives, then we can conclude, they might not like i20. But,everyshow ?! Even shows from abroad like frm Europe. Regarding punto, only problem all autoshow say is it has less torque in 2nd gear(high gear) and the problem with fit and finish. Otherwise punto is a winner.

 

[nithin_v]

Hi Akhil,
Please drive the car and some times its will take couple of weeks to adjust to its drving style. Fiat gives a linear power delivery for the car and actually i enjoy gears. Gears are there for shifting man. I love manual geared car than AT. Fit and Finish was a problem but i think its improved in 2012 car. Hey if we can live with a Maruti, all these years then Punto is ok. Still its all the surface level approach of Autoshows, i love the machines which gives me the passion. The passion for drive, for speed etc. For me i only decide after test drive but will look on reviews to know the basic features and models.
Here Punto generates that accord with me rather than Polo, Swift and Fabia. Its my first fiat car in my stable.

 

[vishnunarayanan]

Honda Jazz would be the perfect VFM considering your requirements. A petrol car would be enough for you as your monthly run is below 1000km. But you will have to compromise on resale value if you go with Honda
Maruti Swift ZXI would be another option. It would be the safest buy. A proven product from a trusted manufacturer like Maruti with the best A.S.S...

 

[akhilgopalg]

Hi Akhil,
Please drive the car and some times its will take couple of weeks to adjust to its drving style. Fiat gives a linear power delivery for the car and actually i enjoy gears. Gears are there for shifting man. I love manual geared car than AT. Fit and Finish was a problem but i think its improved in 2012 car. Hey if we can live with a Maruti, all these years then Punto is ok. Still its all the surface level approach of Autoshows, i love the machines which gives me the passion. The passion for drive, for speed etc. For me i only decide after test drive but will look on reviews to know the basic features and models.
Here Punto generates that accord with me rather than Polo, Swift and Fabia. Its my first fiat car in my stable.

Will TD and confirm. Btw, the car is for my Dad. So, it all depends, if the car suits well with my Dad. My opinion matters less. . Read from Motorbeam that 2012 Punto has better fit and finish. Me too likes MT rather than AT, although i haven't driven an AT till now.Again, if you are saying, "Gears are for shifting ", then we cant buy a diesel, because diesel requires less downshifting right ?

Honda Jazz would be the perfect VFM considering your requirements. A petrol car would be enough for you as your monthly run is below 1000km. But you will have to compromise on resale value if you go with Honda
Maruti Swift ZXI would be another option. It would be the safest buy. A proven product from a trusted manufacturer like Maruti with the best A.S.S...

Agree bro. Resale value have to be compromised , for any petrol cars.

 

[anand_p_r]

One doubt here .all this time you were talking about i20 petrol ?

No all the time i was talking about diesel only. But as per the rumour, as the price of diesel cars gonna rise high, i felt diesel would be unreachable.

 

[anand_p_r]

Honda Jazz would be the perfect VFM considering your requirements. A petrol car would be enough for you as your monthly run is below 1000km. But you will have to compromise on resale value if you go with Honda
Maruti Swift ZXI would be another option. It would be the safest buy. A proven product from a trusted manufacturer like Maruti with the best A.S.S...

Honda has less resale value? i thought it would be pretty much around swift.

 

[vishnunarayanan]

Maruti cars are having a particular place in the society when it comes to resale value. Indian car buyers consider maruti to be the most reliable when it comes to resale value and service. Its true also. As you where considering the Fiat Punto it wont make much difference.
But if you go for Swift ZXi or ZDi(irrespective of model) it will fetch you more when compared to others.
But Honda Jazz is a benchmark when it comes to interior quality and the revv friendly motor.

 

[akhilgopalg]

No all the time i was talking about diesel only. But as per the rumour, as the price of diesel cars gonna rise high, i felt diesel would be unreachable.

Yep. 16/3/2012 - Judgement day.

Honda has less resale value? i thought it would be pretty much around swift.

God knows. We cant predict. As of now, Honda cars have enough resale value for the name the brand holds. If the diesel duties get hiked, petrol cars will be back in demand(sort of ) and hence jazz and brio and city demand will increase. Further, when Honda comes with i-Dtec motor in '14 , it 'may' or 'may not' be a success. Depends on the motor, price etc. If the demand for Honda cars increase, the resale value increases. Maruti will always give a better resale value because its very easy to maintain.

 

[Richie]

Hello Everybody,

My first post :)

Just saw this thread when I was searching for the next car for my parents and whoaa, bumped onto this thread.

I'm barging in here, so please let me know if that's not okay.

I read all pages and the discussion on petrol vs diesel seemed very apt. Our budget was 5L and didn't like any diesel cars within that range. So analyzed the situation again and thought of getting a petrol one.

Fuel: Petrol

We want a premium product and hence extended the range to 6L when we saw Jazz. Everybody liked it.
But now, we are getting suspicious about Jazz.
Reasons:
- very less number of cars in the market, bad resale value
- heard of expensive spares/after sales service by Honda
- A few features missing in the base model (we won't go beyond the base model) such as Fog lamps (~13k) , rear parcel tray (the sales guy quoted that rear parcel tray is 13-14k ) etc.
- a few of my parent's friends hadn't even heard of Jazz!

The other car we are considering is the new Swift Dzire :
Cons:
- a VERY common car!
- Majority of swift bookings were for diesel (I read somewhere that it was 80:20 split in favor of diesel for swift 2011 model, while an year before the ratio was 65:35, again in favor of diesel - I think I read it on another forum). Since these numbers were given for swift, dzire won't be an exception. Hence, we aren't sure whether the petrol dzire is worth it.
- issues reported such as rattling sounds after an year of so (common issues)
- claimed average is 19.1 for petrol. two of my friends' cars give ~ 12 kmpl. so not good as compared to jazz (~14)

Pros:
- cheap spares as compared to Honda
- interiors more spacious than Swift 2011 (we thought of swift earlier)
- fantastic after sales service
- better resale value

So, what can be done!
Comments appreciated. Very much!

Thanks.

 

[Jazzy]

Hello Everybody,

Fuel: Petrol

We want a premium product and hence extended the range to 6L when we saw Jazz. Everybody liked it.
But now, we are getting suspicious about Jazz.
Reasons:
- very less number of cars in the market, bad resale value
- heard of expensive spares/after sales service by Honda
- A few features missing in the base model (we won't go beyond the base model) such as Fog lamps (~13k) , rear parcel tray (the sales guy quoted that rear parcel tray is 13-14k ) etc.
- a few of my parent's friends hadn't even heard of Jazz!

The other car we are considering is the new Swift Dzire :
Cons:
- a VERY common car!
- Majority of swift bookings were for diesel (I read somewhere that it was 80:20 split in favor of diesel for swift 2011 model, while an year before the ratio was 65:35, again in favor of diesel - I think I read it on another forum). Since these numbers were given for swift, dzire won't be an exception. Hence, we aren't sure whether the petrol dzire is worth it.
- issues reported such as rattling sounds after an year of so (common issues)
- claimed average is 19.1 for petrol. two of my friends' cars give ~ 12 kmpl. so not good as compared to jazz (~14)

Pros:
- cheap spares as compared to Honda
- interiors more spacious than Swift 2011 (we thought of swift earlier)
- fantastic after sales service
- better resale value

So, what can be done!
Comments appreciated. Very much!

Thanks.

Hello Richie, welcome to TAI! I guess your query demands a new thread so the mods may shift it if they feel so. Anyways, regarding your predicament, I have a few thoguhts which are as follows-

> Jazz is not seen much on the road, as it is a Premium offering, earlier it was priced out of range of majority of car lovers but luckily now they have revised its pricing to the normal premium hatch price bracket. So theres nothing wrong in the fact that you don't see much Jazzs, rather its a boon since it offers an aura of Exclusivity which no other hatch can give you!!!
> Yes ASS/parts will be expensive no doubt. My 2nd service costed my 2800 bucks just for an engine oil change (no labour mind you, since it was a free service)
> If someone hasn't heard of Jazz then I pity them, no offence!

Okay now coming to Dzire-
> Yes its a very common car, but point is you will get good resale too because its popular
> Don't worry about diesel being more in use. It depends on your usage. If it warrants a petrol go for petrol & maruti K series engines are right up there with Honda's I-vtec motors mind you- free revving & fuel efficient...
> As regards rattling sounds, well Maruti cars are known, not to have the build quality like germans so it can happen
>Regarding Jazz vs Dzire FE, well again its subjective. Depends how you drive. Give it to a rough driver & he will show you that a jazz can deliver below 10 FE On a serious note, I get around 13+ in kolkatas heavy traffice while going to office & back. Maruti should be neck to neck with Honda motors as far as FE is concerned.

Ultimate call is yours, Dzire has a boot jazz doesn't but remember both can hold 316lts so theres no difference with a boot on. Sit inside both cars & judge the head/leg room yourself. I think you will find the jazz to be equally spacious if not more as far as headroom & legrrom is concerned. Dzire though does offer auto transmission if you are interested.

Cheers
Jazzy

 

[Richie]

Hello Richie

......Cheers
Jazzy

hi Jazzy,

Thanks for your inputs. What you are saying makes perfect sense. The Jazz is a very niche car while a dzire is just the common man's choice! A total VFM car.

btw, we had a few more discussions within the family and we also considered the option of taking getting a CNG/LPG kit on a dzire petrol after a few years (if we do that). Any take on that regarding mileage/ride quality?

Regards.

 

[Jazzy]

hi Jazzy,

btw, we had a few more discussions within the family and we also considered the option of taking getting a CNG/LPG kit on a dzire petrol after a few years (if we do that). Any take on that regarding mileage/ride quality?

Regards.

Well, CNG/LPG kits can be fitted on cars but that will void manufacturers warranty, unless the car comes fitted with one. My suggestion is if your'e buying Jazz please don't install CNG/LPG. Actually theres no point in spending so much on a premium hatch & then spoiling all the driving fun by doing this. Rather you should look at cars like Spark, WagonR which comes factory fitted with these options.

Cheers

Jazzy

 

[akhilgopalg]

Fuel: Petrol

We want a premium product and hence extended the range to 6L when we saw Jazz. Everybody liked it. The other car we are considering is the new Swift Dzire :
Thanks.

Between the Jazz and the Dzire, I would say go for the Jazz . As Jazzy said, both have its own pros and cons. Both being similar only in the sense that both has excellent 1.2L motors. Agreed with the fact that Jazz is still unknown amongst many Indians. Even many of my relatives dunno about jazz . Almost every youngsters know . Dzire will fetch you a bit more on resale value. But, why arent you considering the Swift ZXi? Dzire has almost/exactly the same interior as that of Swift. The boot though is larger than Swift's but is still smaller than Jazz's humongous 384L. But, most of us wont be needing the 384L, do we?

> Yes ASS/parts will be expensive no doubt. My 2nd service costed my 2800 bucks just for an engine oil change (no labour mind you, since it was a free service)

Ultimate call is yours, Dzire has a boot jazz doesn't but remember both can hold 316lts so theres no difference with a boot on. Sit inside both cars & judge the head/leg room yourself. I think you will find the jazz to be equally spacious if not more as far as headroom & legrrom is concerned. Dzire though does offer auto transmission if you are interested.

Cheers
Jazzy

As you are a jazz owner, no objections. But, someone on fb asked about the cost of Headlight of Jazz and someone said(after confirmation with dealer) its only 2.1K or so. Many said, its not on the high side and is still cheap compared to Ford's Headlights.( Fusion owner said Fusion's cost around 5K). I don't know about this, as I'm only experienced to Maruti's. Just shared what i came to know.

btw, we had a few more discussions within the family and we also considered the option of taking getting a CNG/LPG kit on a dzire petrol after a few years (if we do that). Any take on that regarding mileage/ride quality?

Regards.

Please don't opt for CNG/LPG. If you need to save a few bucks in that manner, go buy a diesel. First of all, as jazzy said, it will void your warranty. Secondly, it will ruin your car. If you want such a car, go for a one, which is factory fitted like Wagon R .

 

[vishnunarayanan]

Please don't opt for CNG/LPG. If you need to save a few bucks in that manner, go buy a diesel. First of all, as jazzy said, it will void your warranty. Secondly, it will ruin your car. If you want such a car, go for a one, which is factory fitted like Wagon R .

I do agree with you. Jazz is a world class product with a super silent engine which loves to be revved(petrol heads will love this) . It was sold in smaller numbers only due to the high price tag.
Now it would have gained sales numbers if the waiting period was low.
Dont go for LPG/CNg in this. It will destroy the wonderful machine.
If you are concerned about fuel go for diesel.

 

[anand_p_r]

I got a chance to drive Brio today. Rode for around 10-15 kms. Almost the same power, torque of that of Jazz's. I could feel the low torque at lower RPM's. But, it gains quickly and i dint feel that it is an issue. Good fit and finish interiors. Great handling, smooth ride, good suspension. Boot space is low, did not like the rear glass, tail lamps. But still I'd say it would compete with all the i10's and ritz's !!