I recently bid goobye to my Indica V2 after more than 5 years of
use.Thought my comments could be useful to those who are in the
same boat as I was five years ago: buying their first car, and
seriously considering this Tata diesel.
A few things first, so that you could assess whether the perspective
and experience from which I write these comments are valid in your
context.
Except during the first year of ownership, I rarely ever drove this car
personally. Since I am a bad driver, I had a driver to drive me
around.I hear that the car had been improved substantially in recent
years --turbocharged engine etc -- so my opinion on driving experience
may not apply.
The car did 70000 KM. Approximately a fifth of that would be on the highway.
The car was used mostly for a (long) city commute.
Nowcoming to the point: among the small cars, this one probably is the
least easy to drive and maneuver. On the few occasions I drove
it, I found it underpowered. Always beaten by Santros and Zens at
traffic intersections. Pedals took time getting used to. Clutch was
especially fuzzy: the engine would often die under my foot
becauseI'dn't apply sufficient pressure or release the clutch too
soon. I maybe a bad driver, but I did not face these problems with any
other small car, and do not face them with my new Corolla. Hence
my point: if you are an inexperienced driver lacking confidence, this
car is not for you.
Fuel consumption: about 12 in city and 15 on highway.
Exterior :Flimsy. Got to be, given the amout of weight this car pulls. Any
cyclist can drive a dent in your Indica. If it breaks yourheart to see
your car disfugured, don't buy this one. It has a tendency to attract
cyclists and bikers.
Interior: Plastics: so-so. Instruments and positioning: okay. Color scheme: not bad. A/C: ok.
Noise: tremendous. Even with windows rolled up.
Vibrations: Will rock you, surely. :-)
Space:FANTASTIC. No other B segment car gives you as much
space as the Indica does. If you are driven around and hence short
on space, this is the best small car for you. Sit in the rear seat and relax.
Plenty of leg room. Extremely nice seats faciliating a comfortable
posture: you don't have to sink to the floor as in other cars. Plenty
of room in the front seats too. When I was upgrading, I had a tough
time choosing my next sedan, because I have gotten used to Indica's
space and no C segment car gives you as much space as the Indica does!
In fact, the Corrolla's rear seat is not a lot wider than the
Indica's, if wider at all. Your family will love this car's
roominess.
Ride comfort: Extremely good for a small car.The suspension is the
best in its class. Handles potholes with aplomb.Wonderful while
cruising on the highway. While good on rough surfaces,
this car comes truly alive at 80kmph on smooth roads. Very
stableat high speeds.
Safety: Probably as good (or bad) as any other small cars, but
definitely feels safer. Especially on the highway.
Maintenance:Started costing me a fortune from the second year on. Into fourth
year, the situation was truly bad: went to the garage once in every two
months for some reason or the other. During its lastd
ays with me, left me in the lurch on the road on a couple of occasions
with breakdowns.
Verdict:Mixed feelings. I loved the car for the space, for comfortable ride,
but hated it for its lack of realiability and high running costs.
My recommendation: Go for it if you do not mind the inconveniences like
noise, vibrations, an occasional trip to the garage etc, but get ridofit after
2 (max 3) years. And of course, you'd go for this car only
because this is the only Rs 4 lakh package that gives you the same
amount of space and the same ride comfort as a C segment car.
If you want a low-maintenance, fun-to-drive car used only in the city,
the Indica is not for you.
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