May 28, 2006 11:04 AM
6691 Views
(Updated Jan 30, 2011 06:48 PM)
Further feedback after 5 years 30000 kMs: Not a bad car as I was thinking in between. I got the engine cleaned ( carbon removal approx Rs 3000/-)at Balaji Cars Thane and dumping Fortune cars who could not remove knocking & sluggishness.Using synthetic engine oil and turbo-diesel recently which has made it run smooth. To my delight smoke density -carbon emissions are progressively reducing on PUC checks- 16 in Jan 10, to 12 in July 10 to 9 in Jan 2011!( limit allowed 65).There has not been any unforeseen breakdown except one motorised window breakdown during monsoon. Recent mileage check shows av 14 kM/liter for 1440 kM out of which approx 400 on Expressway and balance in Mumbai & Thane city traffic. Power is adequate for 2-3 people to go fast but less for fully loaded car with 5 people and luggage and you cannot go fast uphill.
Hence not a bad car for the price and fuel economy.
ADDING A NEW REVIEW to share my experience as many had seen my earlier review. My duty to record my present opinion.
After using DLG model for 38 months, time to review performance after 17000 kms.which is at all not high but can give idea @ general performance particularly as compared to petrol version I had used earlier.
Purchased it from Fortune Cars Thane Belapur Road & getting serviced also from them. Compared to Petrol it does appear underpowered particularly on uphill in traffic jam.Use of premium Diesels (extrapremium etc) does help.I was hoping faster pick up after first servicing hoping that settings would be changed but did not happen.Finally I got settings changed for AC ON condition to have higher idling speed & power. It was earlier difficult to pick up speed even after a speed breaker
Provision of rpm meter has helped as it has taught me to have more than 1500 to get pick up.One can get access to dicky from inside itself which helps avoiding stoppage of car.
In Mumbai traffic on Thane Belapur Road,prize winner for pot holes, get 13 to 15 kms which does not hurt mental peace.
Suspension is not as smooth as Maruti but its robustness drives other vehicle owners a bit away from you so that you can avoid some pot holes. It became bumpy after only 17000 kM and bushes had to be replaced .
This car requires lot of maitenance as can b seen belw-
1) Battery & starter down in 13 months some 8000 kM. Fortune car unable to detect starter failure & car was again brought back to them after installing new battery.
2) Regular servicing was done as per theit stipulated periods but the charges are high.
3) When the car was brought for routine servicing after only 17000 kM with intimation of high noise etc, wheels were rebalaced, taper roller bearings changed etc at a cost of Rs 3000, not much improvement. They advised painting of engine but did not look at other problems as can be seen in next point
4) Car brought back in next week with complaint of high noise and bumpiness & they come out with sso many problems & replacement of ball joint, bush etc costing further Rs 8000!!
5) Car automatic window gets stuck up which I have avoided to get repaired with their high charges.
At the end, not a very satisfying experience may be because I was using Maruti earlier which had very few complaints in initial period upto 40,000 km.
