Diesel is primarily chosen for cost savings. If you take cost out of the equation, modern diesels do not need any special care as compared to their petrol counterparts. The only thing with your usage will be that for such short runs your engine may not even come to optimum operating temperature if the ambient temperature is cold. It will sound and…[Read more]

The i20′s engine is the most powerful and the most refined. Polo has the better suspension. Maintenance costs are similar for all 3.

It is a bit complicated to just compare engines, especially when the figure on paper is at the flywheel, an engine component that you may not even see in years of ownership of the vehicle. Also there are many other components which give a vehicle different characteristic behaviors such as suspension components, steering components, chassis…[Read more]

I see two reasons – One is that enthusiasts who would not take a Mauti / Hyundai over a Fiat and there are more enthusiasts down south than in any other part of India. That is why a lot of 1.6 GTX or S10 Palios (stock / modded) are seen there. Two is that there are a lot of curvy / hilly roads which are not exactly flat and / or straight, this…[Read more]

Puntos and Lineas sold reasonably well for the first 2 years after their launch. Its only in 2012 and 2013 that they have seen a slide in sales figures. They were never market leaders but they had steady sales till early 2012 at least.

The i20 is the better car but the Dzire will be cheaper to maintain if you are buying diesel

Maruti’s cheaper maintenance has more or less become history. Service costs are now very similar bw the Swift/Dzire, i20 and even the Polo. i20 has more space, better build quality and feels premium. And it has perhaps the most comfortable front seats of all hatchbacks.

I would take the i20, its cheaper to service than the Dzire unlike the Maruti perception, also its got some features that are better like the 6 speed gearbox and the reverse sensors with camera, though others like auto lights, wipers, DRL’s are attractions for a first timer. The rear bench is also quite accommodating in the i20 which is not the…[Read more]

I completely agree with the experts..
i20 is more premium and more solidly built and has excellent space and comfort when u compare it with the cramped Dzire…

I am no fan of superfluous features like push button start or auto headlamps or auto wipers. But the thing is, most Swift/Dzire buyers are conservative and value oriented. They are upgrading from or would have otherwise bought the Alto/WagonR and like. This is the reason behind the majority of sales being of the lower models and the brand loyalty…[Read more]

@Shreyans: Certain components of the i20, especially in diesel, can be terribly expensive. Example: injectors: Fiat MJD cost Rs 10,000 apiece, Hyundai, reportedly Rs 20,000 a piece, fuel pump: Fiat MJD: Rs 20,000, Hyundai: Rs 40,000. These are Fiat prices, Maruti prices for the MJD will be even lower. Until HMIL starts production of the diesel…[Read more]

True that. But then, nobody changes things like injectors. The i20 diesel engine has built quite a reputation for life and reliability. With the regular service cost if the i20 and the Swift/Dzire now being at par, the superiority of the i20 as a complete product shines through.

Plenty of options. You have the top end Ritz petrol. Nissan Micra is a very compelling package. And the Brio is an all time favourite.

Considering cars in the budget closer to the Figo Titanium, its the Ritz / Brio / Beat that have their own pros and cons. The Figo has handling, good space, bluetooth. The Ritz has the highest headroom, largest no of service centers. The Brio is quick, handles good, the best within the city. The Beat has a funky design at the dials, the rear door…[Read more]

Clutch replacement depends on the usage, if the user does not use half clutch or clutch slippage a lot then it will last more. On the other hand, someone with the habit of always using the half clutch or using clutch slippage for revving the engine while in gear will burn the clutch faster. That said, the expense will depend on the vehicle and…[Read more]

A Scorpio clutch can last a good lakh km or so. Genuine replacement costs about 7k in the market and about 15k from Mahindra. Hydraulic clutches cost a lot more to replace than cable operated clutches.

Swift VDi for better interior space and comfort..features and price..
Polo comfortline for better boot space, looks….

The Swift L and V models get a ‘do not buy’ rating from me for their unacceptably weak brakes.

I always recommend people to go for the top end variants for the sake of the safety kit, in which case I would ask you to raise the budget else look at the Ritz / Figo / Vista. Regards.

Hyundai Verna is loaded with Features.. it has good mix of cabin space, boot space and good comfort for 4…
Hyundai has excellent After-Sales-Service and resale value and maintenance is also good…
Though it doesn’t have the best suspension and handling is a curse when speeding on highways…
Rapid is a drivers’ car..it has good driving…[Read more]

In my opinion, it depends on what you need out of the car. Shenoy has put out the pros and cons of both in brief. So if you want a feature loaded car for the sedate driver, its the Verna but if you are not willing to sacrifice on the driving dynamics and the stronger body shell then you would be better off with the Rapid. There is no car which…[Read more]

Rapid Diesel average service bills including oil changes may go upto 8000 INR

Consider Hyundai i20, FIAT Punto 90 & Tata Vista D90 which wud fulfill ur demands…. amng this, D90 will be my pick since it offers good amnt of space, comforts & features which makes it a true VFM hatchback in the premium segment…. Regards

The three contenders are clear here. The D90 if you want VFM, the i20 if you want a long feature list (not necessarily features which are highly useful), the Punto if you want a drivers car and on a product to product comparison the best you can buy. Regards.

I completely agree with @Amit

Here is an answer of a lighter note, please do (or) NOT take it seriously. The Punto is the hot girl from college everyone wants to date and marry but being concerned about society / family / friends (and their opinions) people end up dating and marrying the supposedly cultural / socially acceptable etc girl (typically a Swift / i20, the great…[Read more]

Well Said @Amit.. i agree with you… and now we should really stop fighting for i20 and Punto..each one has their own choice..i request this to all the members

Its not a fight! Its just way too funny when people with half or extremely poor knowledge try to sum things up. I am just trying to help the really poor knowledge which has come from sales people or random internet sources, in essence its not first hand information. I have a car from both brands and hold nothing for or against any brand. But…[Read more]

Hi Abhijeet, since there is so much negativity that people easily get access to from others who have no experience of Fiat, it tends to affect the buying decision at the moment when we sign on the dotted line. It even happened to me, though I was and am thoroughly convinced about the product, just before going out on so many lakhs even I had…[Read more]

Team BHP is a heavily moderated forum, hope you know that and understand what it means. Owner reviews here say exactly what I say, don’t pay heed to those who don’t have first hand experience, they love to bash Fiat for no apparent reason.