My New Indica Vista Aura (Quadrajet). Finally after long time I got my first car and here is the complete story: I was planning to buy a car from last one year, but due to various circumstances it was getting delayed. I started with confusion between Petrol and Diesel. In petrol options were Wagon R and Santro and in Diesel Indica Vista Tdi, Vista Quadrajet, Indigo CS and Swift D.
Budget was 6 lacs maximum, but I was looking for something on the basis of following criteria:
1) Value for money
2) Space and comfort
3) Running cost (Fuel efficient and maintenance free)
4) Power
5) Service network.
After
lots and lots of discussions and calculations, I decided to go for some
Diesel car as my tentative running is 2500 kms per month, including
1800 on highways and 700 in city.
I
started the elimination round, the first was Swift as it is BIG NO on
my very first and second criteria, even though overall it is fine car
and performs good in most of the criteria’s, from driver’s perspective
it is great car, but if you love to see smile on your parents face this
is not the right car, I traveled a lot in Swift P as my close friend
owns the same and we use to pool the car on weekends from NCR to my
hometown Mathura and it just accommodates the 3 adults in rear, even
though it looks very big from outside.
Anyways
now I have three choices Vista Tdi, Quadrajet and Indigo CS. Tdi and CS
shares the same engine and having almost same specifications. Tdi is
real value for money and TATA really worked hard to reduce the engine
Noise inside the cabin, but it is still very noticeable specially when
you compare it with Quadrajet or DDIS and same is the gear shift, it is
better then old Indica and Indigo as it is single cable operated, but
Quadrajet’s gear shift is simply superb, other wise it is a must buy
car.
Now
the final was between Indigo CS and Vista Quadrajet, initially I was
biased towards CS as it looks cool from outside, nice boot and it is
tried and tested, but when you sits inside the Vista, it really
‘Changes Everything’, it gives a feeling of sedan from inside along
with lots of features, I think the top model have everything except ABS
and Airbags, the a advance car should have. Space is almost same in
both the cars, Vista have a margin on comfort part because of its
lumbar support and adjustable steering and pilot seat. I found the
power window controls of CS at odd place; they were placed near gear
shift.
Now
it was the time to test the metal of both the cars, so I decided to
take proper test drive of both the cars, I called the Sterling Motors,
Noida and asked for test drive of both cars, next day I got the call
from executive and he asked me the time and venue as it was Friday and
I was leaving for Mathura and the carpool was waiting for me, I asked
him to make it in next week, but for next week he was on leave for
Holi, anyways I got the test drive after Holi.
I
called the executive for TD in lunch time as my friends were also
interested to test the new Vista. So we 4 planned to take the TD and we
were thinking the one guy will come with the car and we will take the
TD in empty roads of sector 62, but the guy came with one driver, not
we were total 6, the guy said ‘Sir koi dikkat nahi hai aap charo peeche
baith jao’ and we 4 were comfortably in, then we reached in sector 62.
I
took the TD first AC was on, total 6 adults in and surprisingly pick up
was excellent, car was flying like as I alone is in it. This movement I
start loving the car, seats were very comfortable and Noise was no
where. Gear shift was super smooth, it was dancing on the tips of
finger and with in no time car was at 90. Overall it was very
satisfactory drive and that time I decided to buy the Vista Quadrajet
Aura.
I
asked him to bring the CS next day for TD, even it was decided that I
am going to buy Vista, but I want to give a fair chance to CS too, next
day with same situations we took the TD of CS and the car was really
cool, and in 5 lacs it is a proper sedan that too diesel great VFM but
the short comes are:
Old technology
Noise levels
Gear shift is not that smooth
AC makes the car slow
Positives of Vista:
1) Quadrajet,
its gem of engine, even it is best in class. Quadrajet delivers 190nm
of torque @ 1750 rpm while Swift and Dzire deliver the same 190nm @
2000rpm. Torque is very linear, power is equally distributed in all
gears and you can feel the same on highway.
2) Lower NVH as compared to DDIS.
3) Real VFM, everything is there in car including decent stereo.
4) Handling is superb, gas filled shock absorbers make the drive delight.
5) Braking is excellent, add ABS and it will be unmatchable.
6) Pick is superb and overtaking on highways and Delhi’s ring roads is just fun.
7) Decent discounts and less waiting period as compared to Swift/Dzire.
8) Futuristic looks.
9) Space, Comfort and Nice interiors.
10) Tilt stearing and adjustable driver seat make the long trips comfy; it is just like personalizing the car.
Negatives:
1) Boot is little short, even it is bigger then old Indica and Swift, but I think Palio have better boot.
So
this was the story behind the decision to but Vista Quadrajet, also I
want to share few interesting incidents that depict the quality of car.
1) I
asked one of my friends to TD the car, AC was on Windows closed and
soft music(Ghazals) was playing on very low noise, he tried to start
the car, even ignition was already on, that makes me laugh and he
admitted that Vista is as silent as his city from Inside.
2) I
drove to the BP petrol pump in Jasola for fuel filling and parked the
car close to diesel pump the Serviceman confirmed ‘Sir Diesel dalna
hai?’ I said yes, he again came and confirmed ‘Sir Diesel hi padega
na?’ I asked ‘Kyu kya hua Diesel hai nahi kya?’ then he replied ‘nahi
sir Diesel car lag nahi rahi na, awwaz bhi nahi aa rahi is liye pooch raha tha’ this put a smile on my face.
