All About Automobiles

Immense Loss - Please be Careful

2009-05-04T00:17:00.000-07:00

Hi,

We lost our very dear 'Gulati Uncle' in a tragic car incident last night.

He was coming back from sector 14 Gurgaon when his car – Hyundai Santro 2008, caught fire (witnesses say there was a loud blast, and fire near car's rear side) – he lost control over the vehicle and it overturned. He was not able to get out of the car as the central locking, power windows had failed and died of 95% burns.

We would urge everyone – driving powered windowed cars to keep a hammer or anything that could be used to break open windows in emergency – most importantly please get your vehicles inspected for any sort of engine or transmission leaks, the most common cause of car fires in these hot months.

Shef and Manks

Your Car’s FREEZING out there!

2008-01-02T04:05:00.000-08:00

First of all we wish our readers a very Happy and Prosperous 2008! While you are partying hard and getting cozy in your home do not forget that poor automobile that’s facing those freezing temperatures.

If you’ve not been generous to your automobile, its not too late! We recommend the following tasks be performed by you or your trusted mechanic:

Check the coolant; coolant should be flushed and refilled every two years in most vehicles.
Change oil every 5,000 kilometers; consider changing to a "winter weight" oil if you live in a cold climate.
Check the battery and exhaust system.
Be certain the heater and defroster are working properly.
Keep the fuel tank at least half full, decreasing the chances of moisture forming in the fuel lines and possibly freezing.
Check tire tread depth and tire pressure.
Check to see that lights work and headlights are properly aimed.
Equip the vehicle with yellow fog lamps.
Replace wiper blades every six months

Engine and cooling system
Winters only magnify existing problems like hard starts, sluggish performance or rough idling, so make certain the engine is in peak condition. Check the cooling system, too. Coolant should be flushed and refilled every 2 years. Your mechanics will not necessarily know this, so don't wait for their nod on this one.

Oil change

Check the owner's manual to see if your driving habits are considered to be "severe service." This type of driving requires more frequent oil changes, have the oil changed accordingly, usually every 3-5,000 kilometers.

Other musts

The battery and exhaust system are other "must check" items. These should be examined using professional equipment. Make certain the heater/defroster are working properly and keep the gas tank full. In addition to staying ready for the road, a full fuel tank decreases the chances of moisture forming in the gas lines and possibly freezing. Make sure that you let the engine run on idling for at least 7 minutes, before driving off in the morning.

Exterior concerns

Now for the outside of the vehicle: tyres, lighting and wipers. Both tire tread and tire pressure should be checked weekly. Lights should be inspected regularly. Check to see that bulbs are illuminated, and headlights are properly aimed. Make sure that you drive on a low beam during fog. Fog reflects back the high beam, decreasing the visibility further.

Handling Emergencies

Even the most meticulously maintained vehicle can develop problems on the road, especially during harsh winters. Use that the boot space for something more than a spare tyre (which should be properly inflated). Pack items that would be needed if you got stranded for a several hours. A cell phone (with a car charger) is a good start. Also include the following: flashlight, blanket, extra clothes, candle/matches, bottled water, snacks, required medication. Make sure you carry a bottle of Brandy if you have to travel on higher snow clad altitudes.

Shef and Manks

Swift D - Power Packed

2007-12-27T22:38:00.000-08:00

I stepped in the car, was comfortable in the driving seat, started the vehicle, Pressed the gas paddle – was this a Maruti?? Swift Diesel is the car which changed our perception about Maruti.

The company is indeed capable of producing quality vehicles that provide the ultimate driving experience being easy on one’s pocket. We drove this vehicle during a short trip to Katra – one of the most cherished trips of our life. Here are the details of our Swift experience.

Comfort

The Swift Diesel Vdi’s ride quality is simply superb! The driving comfort can be compared to utility vehicles like Tavera, Innova and Qualis, maneuverability is excellent. We drove Preeti’s Swift (Shef’s closest friend) on Jammu Katra Highway – which by no chance is courteous towards B and C segment vehicles, even then the ride was very comfortable – although the swift jumped a little more than any of the C segment would, we found the vehicle gripped to road at all times – even at high speed. Driver’s comfort – 9/10 – Tall guys would miss the under thigh support, not every one is as slim and trim as the owner of the swift we were driving. Rare seat passenger’s comfort gets an 8/10 – although the leg room is generous, bad roads tend to make the vehicle a little jumpy – may be because of the changed tyre profile of the vehicle we were driving. The Boot space is pathetic though!

The Driving Experience

Amazing, As mentioned earlier – this is the car that changed our perceptions of Maruti. Nothing in the B segment beats the pleasure of driving a Swift VDi. This experience is worth 10/10.

Engine

I happened to lift up the bonnet and take a keen look at the engine – All things are packed very neatly and are better then any other Maruti vehicle we’ve seen till date. Engine does make a slight noise when you step out of the idling swift – but its diesel and has to behave that way. The power generated is amazing – The acceleration I marvelous. We drove this vehicle uphill in 4^th and overdrive gears and it chugged up effortlessly! Whenever this car is pulled faster above 1500 RPM it can overtake any vehicle, depending on the driver’s capability. We fall short of words in describing the ‘Turbo Kick’ experience.

Suspension

A few grudges here , but I am not sure they are because of the changed tyre profile of the vehicle we drove. 1st, it is slightly jumpy for rear passengers. 2nd, I am sure rear wheel touched the body on at least 3 occasions. There were huge thuds on comparatively smaller crevices of road at about 60 kmph.

Our Verdict
Ahoy Maruti! Great job done! We would prefer this car over any other in B segment – Amazing value for money.

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Shef and Manks

Review - Hyundai Verna

2007-11-20T04:49:00.000-08:00

Hi – its been long since we last updated this Blog – Diwali, laziness, work and a new treadmill, had kept us pre – occupied for quite some time. Anyways, we are back. This time, we bring to you the hot favorite of many, if not all – The Hyundai Verna

The Petrol Variant:

The Verna is a replacement for the Accent in most countries across the globe. The petrol Verna is powered by a 1599cc four-cylinder all-aluminium engine that develops 102 bhp at 5500 rpm and 14.9 kgm at 3000 revs.

It's quite a sophisticated vehicle, featuring double overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder and Continuous Variable Valve Timing. The engine is free revving, which is good, because to extract power, you have to keep it on the boil. It arrives at 180 kph quite quickly and stays there without any effort.

The overall design, even with the current dual-tone theme, is very conservative, but no one can find fault with the way the switches, knobs, stalks and buttons are placed -- yes, it is extremely ergonomic -- while the quality of the plastics that's gone into the Verna is brilliant. It is clear that Hyundai has taken pains to take the game up to Japanese standards.

The Diesel Variant:

The Verna diesel is powered by a 1493cc engine, with four cylinders -- unlike the Accent CRDi! This common-rail direct injection motor features a variable geometry turbocharger and develops 109 horses at 4,000 rpm and 24 kgm of torque between 1900 and 2750 rpm.

Yes, it's more powerful than the petrol version and even the Skoda Octavia. Not just that. The variable geometry turbine that it features means that this power is delivered much more smoothly and it is virtually lag-free. With the amazing torque on tap, the Verna CRDi is a treat to drive. On the highways, it cruises at 120 kph with the needle relaxed at less than 2500 revs.
The easy availability of torque means that it was powering its way through corners effortlessly.

Our Verdict:

All in all, the Verna seems to have everything in place -- petrol and diesel engine options, a taut body, conservative looks that will not ruffle any feathers, quality interiors and high-spec build quality.

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Shef and Manks

Chevrolet Spark - The Precursor

2007-10-24T00:32:00.000-07:00

General Motors (GM) India has decided to give a discount of up to Rs 53,000 on its small car Chevrolet Spark as part of the centennial celebrations of its parent company General Motors Corp. Chevrolet Spark's base model would now be available for Rs 2.79 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), a discount of Rs 53,000 over the existing price of Rs 3.32 lakh. As part of the scheme, the company would offer discount across all variants of Spark. The offer is valid only for bookings taking place between October 12 and October 22, while the car would be delivered to the customer at a later date.

The Spark has received mixed reviews from auto experts and customers alike for its performance – According to General Motors – this is there way of thanking their customers for showing tremendous enthusiasm for their cars – Hey, what are we talking about here? How can GM thank a buyer who’s never bought a GM product? As any intelligent person would guess – this BIG discount is to make it BIG in the B+ segment – the ‘Thank You’ bit is all trash!

As we’ve written earlier – GM’s management in India holds credit of failing top of the line GM vehicles like the Forester, Astra and Corsa in India. The spark could also be no different story – A good car with a pathetic service network. Also, with TATA’s One Lakh still on the drawing board (presumably), this move by GM could be a precursor of a major re-definition of Car prices across all segments. The buyers should be all set to gain huge from this expected rat race. A brand new era of car wars would begin shortly – eagerly awaiting the same.

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Shef and Manks

Forester - Good Things aren't for ever!

2007-10-02T06:24:00.000-07:00

CHEVROLET FORESTER 2.0 AWD

About the Forester:

The Forester reminds me of my college days, the buzz that GM created about this vehicle, its arrival and sudden departure form the Indian Auto scene, rather,very quickly. Well GM in India has varied feathers in its hat – Damning the Gem of an Astra, ridiculing the Corsa, in fact they’ve never been able to do any good retaining the class vehicles they’ve been producing. Anyways I checked this amazing forester at a Chandigarh showroom (with my college friends) and this is what I found…..

Some History

The Forester wears a Chevrolet badge but is made by Subaru and is a cross between an estate and an SUV. Underneath the hybrid looks, which may not appeal to many, the Forester which is based on the legendary Subaru Impreza, has a unique repertoire of talents that makes it a delight to drive.

The Forester has earned a reputation internationally for its unique repertoire of talents. It's an estate and SUV rolled into one with scintillating performance and brilliant dynamics to boot.

Design and Engineering
The Forester comes with an awesome reputation largely because it is based on the Subaru Impreza and uses the same underpinnings of this rally-bred saloon. That means MacPherson struts with transverse links in the front and independent struts using coils over shock absorbers at the rear, located by dual lateral links.

For the Forester, the Impreza's suspension mounts have been beefed up all round, and the coil and damper valve settings tweaked to accommodate the extra loading the car is likely to receive. The dampers have in-built springs to help them react faster to rebound. The self-levelling suspension allows a constant ground clearance of 190mm.

The flat-four engine keeps the centre of gravity low and offers symmetrical weight distribution on either side. The longitudinal engine layout also results in equal-length driveshafts and as a result you don't get unwanted 'torque steer' that plagues many transverse-engined cars with unequal-length driveshafts.

The Forester's 4x4 transmission comes with a dual-range gearbox and a viscous-type limited slip differential at the rear.

Though it's well-proportioned, the styling with its low hood line isn't convincing for a true SUV while on the other hand, it is more truckish than a typical estate. The beefy bumper, which houses two large circular fog lamps, hint at the Forester's off-road capabilities while the clear headlamps with upswept ends look contemporary.

Side-on, the Forester looks like a low-sprung SUV. The solid-looking rear bumper is more SUV than estate and balances the front. Despite the additional weight of its 4x4 mechanicals, the Forester weighs a mere 1375kg, much lighter than any other SUV in the market.

Interiors
The height is somewhere in between and feels just perfect. Open the frameless doors - a Subaru trademark - and you're greeted by Rear space at a premium and three abreast a squeeze. Front seats comfy and flip-down armrest standard.

The instrument binnacle has a pronounced curve and the centre console plastics have an aluminum-effect finish, which have a high quality look. A nice touch is the soft-feel and rubber-textured dimpled plastic band that runs across the dashboard. The netted expandable door pockets and the mesh-like seat fabric are in keeping with the Forester's character.

The front seats are superbly comfortable and offer good support even during spirited driving. The driver's seat can also be tilted and raised, has a tremendous amount of legroom and, like the passenger seat, comes with a mini-armrest that folds away neatly into the backrest. Cubbyholes and storage areas abound. There is a wide box above the central console, cupholders in the dash and in front of the rear seats, and clever stowage slots in the loading bay.

There's not much space in the rear and this is one of the Forester's weaknesses. Legroom is not generous by any yardstick and the small seat base gives little underthigh support. Also, with three adults abreast, shoulder space is tight.The boot is too shallow to take in any serious luggage but there's a 60:40 split rear seat that gives it some versatility.

Engine, Gearbox & Performance
The flat-four engine configuration in the Forester is another Subaru trademark and a first for the Indian market. This compact, naturally aspirated engine, which uses a single overhead camshaft to actuate four valves per cylinder, develops a decent 120bhp. Fire the engine and you can't really tell the difference between this motor and a conventional in-line four. Idle is extremely silent and it's only around the 2500rpm mark that you feel a slight thrum. The gearshift has a short but notchy throw. It's a decent shift but can be obstructive if rushed. Compact flat-four engine keeps centre of gravity low.

Drop the clutch at high revs and you're struck by the absence of wheelspin as traction is maximized by all four driven wheels. The Forester despatches the 100kph mark in 11.78 seconds and goes on to hit a top speed of 177kph.

These figures are impressive by SUV standards but when you stack them against a comparably priced luxury saloon like an Accord or Vectra, the Forester clearly has a performance deficit. It's not a great performer at the bottom end of the rev band and you need to keep the revs up to get it to perform.

You miss the 'flex-and-fly' characteristics of a more torquey motor in town though, especially when you need to wind your way past slower traffic.

The mid-range and top-end performance are superb and this makes the Forester a great highway car. On the Delhi-Chandigarh highway, the Forester would waft us to ludicrous speeds where it would canter happily without a murmur. Floor the Forester in any gear
as long as the revs are beyond 3000rpm and a strong tug whisks you forward.

The tall gearing in top gear and overdriven fifth however makes the Forester a consummate and easy cruiser that wafts along as effortlessly and as easily as your average D-segment car.

Use the Forester as an off-roader and the missing grunt at low speeds means that you're unable to simply let the engine slog away in higher gears. It's easy to stall the Forester which needs a fair amount of revs to get it moving.

In the real world, which is mainly on tarmac, owners will learn to love the eager and willing characteristics of this compact boxer engine which feels eager and willing and loves to be revved.

Verdict
It is also a vehicle you'll love to drive, actually one of its strongest attributes. Despite its tall stance, the car-like grip and handling mean the Forester will keep you as entertained as any D-segment saloon car. A big bonus is the Forester's utter contempt for bad and rough roads. You can hence traverse the country at great speed and the Forester is the perfect companion if you want to just take off and discover India. Driving enthusiasts will simply love the Forester but to a wider audience looking for the appeal of an SUV, the Forester with its styling, which treads dangerously close to an estate, may find resistance. With no third row of seats, limited space for the passengers and a shallow boot, it lacks the space and practicality of a typical SUV. And at a base price of Rs 15.6 lakh, it's expensive too. For the same money, you could get a luxury mid-sizer which is better equipped and has more prestige.

--
Manks

Mahindra Scorpio - A Mixed Bag

2007-10-01T03:49:00.000-07:00

The Mahindra Scorpio is one of the many SUVs that

India

has fallen in love with. Its big, its chunky and its a diesel. Scorpio has done wonders for Mahindra – making Mahindra launch the next variant with some exterior cues and a different dashboard. But, is that the end of the story? We had a look ….

Design and interiors
The scorpio has shape characteristic of SUVs, its big, its chunky and has loads of road presence. This design has been an eye-catcher among SUVs and has bagged many an award for its styling. The new Scorpio has an air input duct on the bonnet – do not get excited, this duct does not make the Scorpio as powerful and efficient as those American cars – this duct is pseudo, sealed shut and is meant for just looks. There are also changes done to the rear end of the Scorpio; it now has a huge tail lamp cluster running all the way from the roof to the bumper – this too is pseudo because the top part of these lights does not work! These towered tail lights also call for slightly different rear panels.

The new Scorpio also boasts about “Air extractor”. When we asked about these from the incompetent sales person of Swami Automobiles, he showed us what this gizmo was. Damn! It was a piece of plastic around the last of the side windows, with a whole lot of holes – hey come on! there are better ways to fool not so intelligent consumers.

Other minor cosmetic changes include a new style bumper with air dams! Add on spoiler and ski racks to boot. Perhaps now, Scorpio owners will finally benefit from the extensive wind tunnel testing of the Scorpio which rendered the bonnet scoop completely shut! We don't mean to be hard on the Mahindra engineers and their redesign effort. It definitely is good and we are glad to know that they have fast tracked their development program, unlike their competitors. But, we really hope that the marketing guys at Mahindra exercise a little more discretion in their promotion efforts.

The interiors have tried to incorporate many things all at once. There are so many holes in this dashboard. There are holes underneath the rear AC vents! meant to hold big bottles, of water perhaps. But, all these holes and cubby holes are there no doubt and Im sure serve a purpose too, but one felt Mahindra engineers have spent much thought to incorporate this. But, perhaps these holes should not have been so many that the whole design seems like it was done just to please some design requirements; not to serve much purpose. Also –the legroom and seating comfort are as pathetic as ever.

Engine and Transmission
The engine has remained an excellent positive for the Scorpio since its inception. Originally a turbocharged indirect injection later upgraded to a common rail unit which Mahindra calls CRDe. This 2600cc 4stroke turbo-charged inter-cooled common rail develops a very credible 115bhp at 3800rpm and 28.3kgm of torque between 1700-2200rpm. Couple this with the 2510kg kerb weight and Mahindra Scorpio turns out to be a very heavy vehicle.

The Scorpio has an excellent bottom end, it pulls extremely well from low down, but it gets even better once that turbo kicks in. There is a surge of power with the 2.5 ton behemoth lunging forward eagerly. There is one thing though, the tachometer is calibrated till 8000rpm, but the Scorpio can barely manage 4500. We agree its a diesel and that it isn't meant to rev all that much, perhaps then they should have had the tachometer calibrated to 5000rpm or so.

The Scorpio has a 5 speed manual gearbox that is a little weird. The gear lever is at an angle to the dashboard. For some strange reason, the Scorpio has all its gears at an angle. Mahindra could have done without such a system. The gear ratios are well selected and can keep the engine on the boil, but overtaking may requires some down shifting. The clutch is very progressive and petrol car drivers may cause the engine to whine while getting off the clutch, but its light and easy which makes it that much more easy to use, especially in city conditions.

Ride and Handling
Originally, the Scorpio had leaf spring suspension; leaf springs are the same as those you will find in the original Maruti 800, but in recent times; only truck and buses. The modern technology offers much better in terms of suspension. Mahindra has teamed up with world leaders lotus UK for including a coil spring suspension. Scorpio now riding on its new set of coil springs and anti roll bars is excellent. The new suspension has also helped improve the overall handling however only marginally. The major improvement can be felt by those who have experienced the last row of the Scorpio during a long drive.

Our Verdict
The Scorpio has always been fun to drive, it has commanded every ounce and more all the road presence it deserves. It definitely is built for the Indian road conditions, it will eat potholes at will and munch miles like a glutton. Don't let the marketing guys fool you that the new air dam and air scoop will boost the aerodynamics of this car. To know how much work has gone into this car, just take both the old and new Scorpio for a spin.

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Shef and Manks

Smart Fuelling

2007-09-25T03:16:00.000-07:00

Hi, in this write up we share some known tips that can bring down your monthly fueling expenditure - considerably!

Read On..

1. Fill up with regular Fuel.
Unless your car requires premium fuel, filling up your car with high-octane fuel is a waste of money. That pricey premium fuel won't boost your car's fuel economy or performance in the least, so skip it.

If you're not sure what grade of fuel works best for your car, open up your owner's manual and take a look. As long as your engine doesn't knock or ping when you fuel up with regular unleaded, you're good to drive on the cheaper fuel.

2. Don't top off.
Don't bother topping off when filling your car's fuel tank. Any additional fuel is just going to slop around. Why waste your money paying for fuel your car won't use? Stop pumping at the first indication that your tank is full when the automatic nozzle clicks off.

3. Tighten up that fuel cap.
Fuel would evaporate from your car's tank if it has an escape. Loose, missing or damaged gas caps cause. So be sure to ask the "Bhaiya" to tighten up that gas cap each time you get your car fueled up.

4. Go for the shade.
The hot summer sun that makes the inside of your car feel like a sauna also zaps fuel from your tank. If you let your car bake in the sun there's going to be a greater amount of evaporative emissions that take place than if you park in the shade. So park your car in the shade of a building or tree whenever possible. And buy a good windshield shade. A windshield shade blocks sunlight and helps to keep heat out of the inside of your car.

5. Use your garage for your car.
Got a garage? Clear it out and make room for your car. Parking in your garage will help your car stay warm in winter and cool in summer, and you won't have to depend as much on your air-conditioning or heater when you drive.

6. Pump up your tyres.
Don't get caught driving on under inflated tires. Under inflated tires wear down more quickly and they also lower your car's mileage. Tires that have low pressure offer more resistance so the engine is going to work harder to keep the car at a steady pace. Your car's mileage may plummet by as much as 15 percent. Driving on under inflated tires may also reduce the life of your tires by 15 percent or more

7. Check your tyre pressure once a month.
Buy a digital gauge and keep it in your glove box. Compare the pressure in your tires with the recommended pressure listed in your owner's manual and on the placard in your car door. Then inflate your tires as needed. Be sure to check tire pressure when your tires are cold. A good time is early in the morning after your car's been idle overnight.

8. Keep your engine in tune.
Fixing a car that is out of tune or has failed an emissions test can boost mileage by about 4 percent. So be sure to give your car regular tune-ups. You'll also want to watch out for worn spark plugs. A misfiring spark plug can reduce a car's fuel efficiency by as much as 30 percent.

9. Replace air filters.
Keep a close eye on your engine's air filter. When the engine air filter clogs with dirt, dust and bugs, it causes your engine to work harder and your car becomes less fuel-efficient. Replacing a clogged air filter could improve your gas mileage by as much as 10 percent. It's a good idea to have your engine air filter checked at each oil change.

10. Use the right oil.
You can improve your car's gas mileage by 1 percent to 2 percent by using the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil. Opt for motor oil with the words "energy conserving" on the API performance label. This oil contains friction-reducing additives.

11. Don't skimp on maintenance.
Be serious about auto care. Your car's performance depends on it.

12. Be a Decent Driver.
Show your best behavior on the road. Drive smoothly, avoid much breaking, avoid frequent gear changes, do not accelerate un-necessarily, don't show road rage - remeber those old road side notices - "Speed thrills but kills", "Drive carefully -there's someone waiting at home"

--
Shef and Manks

Ford Fusion - Power Packed

2007-09-24T04:33:00.000-07:00

Today we bring to you one of the most respected vehicles coming from the blue oval – the Ford Fusion. This is one of the cars we were finding tough to get out from – the test drive seemed very short and we wanted to keep on driving! Ford Fusion is unique; it’s intelligent and is the first one of its kind in India. This car has been conceived to take the us urban drivers quite a few steps forward. Read On

About the Fusion:

Ford calls the Fusion an Urban Activity Vehicle (UAV) but true to its name, it's actually a mixture between a hatchback, MPV and SUV - all mended into one very distinctive shape.

Design and Interiors:

The Fusion's design is what sets it apart from the regular hatchbacks and saloons. Basically, the Fusion is a jacked-up version of a hatchback but the styling is distinctly SUV. The high bonnet-line, prominent grille, beefy bumpers and large block-like headlamps give it the look of an off-roader, as do the pronounced wheelarches and a thick rubbing-strip across the lower body.

The rear quarter-glass and raked front windscreen are very MPV, however. The D-pillar, housing vertically-stacked tail-lights, is upright to liberate great headroom for the rear passengers. The tailgate drops down to bumper level, making the boot very accessible, as it has no load lip to haul heavy items over. From the rear, the beefy bumpers and flat tailgate make the Fusion appear a cross between an SUV and a hatchback. The Fusion has the same wheelbase as the Ikon, but the similarities end there. Where the Ikon looks sharp and sleek, the Fusion is blunt and square. The Ikon is a conventional sedan, while the Fusion is a hatchback.

Side by side the Fusion looks far larger than the Ikon, and it's this height, partly thanks to the large 15-inch rims, which makes it so practical for the cut-and-thrust of urban traffic. Standing taller than most cars, the Fusion has loads of road presence, perfect for the 'might is right' driving. It comes with 195/60 R-15 tubeless tyres, and while we feel the tyre profile maybe too low to cushion the occupants from our roads, the Fusion's ground clearance of 195mm (15mm better than the Ikon) will tame even the largest speed breakers.

The instant we slipped into the Fusion we very well knew that we were not sitting in an ordinary car. We didn’t had to climb in the fusion as we do in the SUVs, nor did had to crouch down to get into a sedan, In a fusion, you can simply slide in and slide out. The glass area is huge and we could not find any blind spots – oppose to our experience in many Hatchbacks and Sedans. Like in an SUV, sitting high up gave Shef a feeling of better control, making maneuvering and parking a lot easier for her.

Once we settled down inside we discovered all the bits and pieces packed into the interior. The dashboard is pretty clear and logically laid out. The military-style circular air-vents and ribbed storage box on top of the sharply chiseled dashboard are a reflection of the Fusion's rugged image. There is a typically Ford, like the rotary control for the electric power mirrors (only available on the high-end version) The power-window switches at the rear come from the Ikon. Creating a taller car creates more legroom, It's easy to get comfortable in the driver's seat thanks to generous seat travel and a steering wheel, which is adjustable for height. The rear seat benefits from the tall roof as well. Passengers can sit higher up and more comfortably and not in the 'knees-up' position that most saloons with a low-roof line force you into. \The smart-looking, 'shingle-style' headrests are easy to adjust, and the rear passengers get treated to individual roof lights too.

But it's the versatility of the rear seat that is the real talking point of the Fusion. It comes with what Ford has dubbed a 40:20:40 split seat. There's a provision for a centre console (the '20' part of the split), a useful accessory that can be easily fitted by removing the centre squab. It's cleverly designed with a generous storage box and a couple of cup-holders, and it also doubles up as an armrest. The way the base of the rear seats folds upwards like a movie-theatre chair is another clever touch and allows you to pack tall items in the cabin which wouldn't otherwise fit in the boot. It's something we first saw in the Honda City in Thailand, but sadly the Indian-made City only comes with fixed rear seat.

Engine and Transmission

Fusion comes with the very same 1.6-litre, 16-valve, twin-cam Duratec engine that comes in the European Fusion. This made in Belgium, all-aluminium engine develops 100bhp and has a 'drive-by-wire' throttle control. This does away with the traditional cables required to operate the throttle and improves response and driveability. The IB5 gearbox is similar to the Ikon's but in the Fusion the shift is cable-operated to improve feel and isolate the gear lever from engine vibrations.

Ford Fusion car is available in two variants - Ford Fusion and Ford Fusion+. Both the variants come with hydraulically operated and power assisted steering system. A high ground clearance, optimized suspension and small turning radius make Ford Fusion agile and fun to drive. Special attention has been given to Ford Fusion’s chassis to ensure high level of stability.

Air Conditioning

What's unique to the Indian-spec Fusion is the air-conditioning system, specially developed for our hot and humid climate. The Fusion comes with a 'variable swash plate' or scroll-type air-con compressor. Ford claims this design optimises AC performance and vehicle driveability. A larger evaporator and a more efficient condenser have also been used to improve cooling. In our brief drive around ‘Bhagat Ford’ in the hot and sultry June posed no problem for the air-con, despite the considerable glass area.

Suspension

The fusion suspension is more elaborate than the Ikon's, and is tuned for heavy loads and Indian conditions. Up in front are conventional MacPherson struts, mounted on a sub-frame for better support. The long-travel suspension uses dual-path top mounts for better isolation. The springs are offset to reduce friction and optimise damping. The rear gets a twist-beam axle with decoupled dampers and springs. The springs sit under the floor and the dampers are pushed to the extremes, a space-saving design that doesn't intrude into the loading area. The twin-tube rear dampers are significant, more reliable and capable of ironing out a wide range of road inconsistencies. Ford has marginally softened the ride on the Indian Fusion, at the expense of high-speed handling.

Our Verdict:

Ford claims to have put the Fusion through a grueling 240,000km durability simulation and subjected it to scorching temperatures of Rajasthan to validate the engine cooling and air-conditioner performance; we just drove lot for about 20 kilometers on all sort of tracks – mind blowing in deed. This car is a must buy for a people seeking loads of adventure and are ready to shell out those extra bucks for the low mileage the car delivers – rest all’s perfect. Hope you found this review interesting.

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Shef and Manks

Innova – Amazing Re Defined!

2007-09-21T05:36:00.000-07:00

Hi, today we write about the Toyota Innova. This is one vehicle that we have driven loads. Our aunt owns one and we frequently accompany their family to all sorts of trips in this wonder vehicle. Toyota Innova indeed redefines what an MPV should be. It’s the optimum combination of luxury, comfort and utility. Read on..

About the Innova:

Toyota Innova can be best described as a big sedan with ground clearance of an MPV. This vehicle offers excellent ride quality and luxury coupled with enormous space, superior performance, world class safety, advanced styling and durability. Innova's engine is CRDI based. This 2.5L engine has been specially modified to suit Indian conditions. Also, the Innova is really a mini-van, offering practicality instead of a rugged image.

Design and Interiors

As soon as you step into the interiors and you’re in for a shock. You think you’ve walked into a luxury car by mistake — there’s a plushness you don’t associate with cars in this category. The dashboard with its interesting two-tone and geometric design looks and feels better than a Corolla’s, and the plastics, switches and buttons have a tactile feel comparable to a luxury car. Power window switches come from a common parts bin, shared with the Corolla.

Interior space and comfort are world class, and the Innova feels far more spacious than both the Tavera and the Qualis. The front seats are pretty generous, with seat- and steering wheel-height adjustment on some models. The thoughtfully designed middle row is placed quite high off the floor, allowing a comfortable seating posture. Though not quite as comfy as the Safari’s middle-row seats, the Innova has plenty of legroom and width for the central passengers.

The rear seats are economy class but compared to its rivals, the Innova excels. The middle and rear seats flip forward, and tilt in all kinds of permutations, typical of other MUVs in this market. What’s unique is a 50:50 split for the rear seats. It adds to the versatility of the Innova, but limits the rear-most seats to two passengers.

Engine

Innova comes with a 2.5-litre common-rail turbo-diesel and a 2.0-litre petrol. The 16-valve, twin-cam diesel engine produces 102bhp and 20.4 kgm of torque, quite modest for a common-rail unit of this size. However, Toyota has traded power for economy however it’s a fuel efficient vehicle in its class. The immediate impression of the first time rider of this car is silent diesel engine. Noise and vibrations are incredibly low. There isn’t a lack of power either and with a fully loaded close family, the Innova manages to canter effortlessly past the 120kph mark. The suspension clearly lacked the compliance of a regular car though.

Ride and Handling

The Innova rides on a rigid tubular section chassis. It uses double wishbones with coil springs up front and the rear uses a non-independent suspension, with four links and a lateral rod with coil springs. The Innova is not available with a four-wheel drive option; need not be missed unless you wish to go for some serious off-roading.

Innova is quite well behaved on the road. Straight-line stability is of no issue, and lane change characteristics are quite good actually. The rack and pinion steering arrangement appears to give some benefits here. Around corners, the Innova handles well for an MPV. The suspension is tuned to be a lot soft. The rear coil springs help a lot in this department. The ride quality is pretty good.

Our Verdict

We are really blown away! This car really makes us believe that you will never go wrong with a Toyota.

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Shef and Manks

Our Fav SUV - The TATA Dicor

2007-09-20T09:10:00.000-07:00

Deciding on this second review was a Cake Walk! – Shef and Me review our favorite and affordable SUV - The Safari Dicor this time. We test drove this earth beige Safari (top model) at the Hind Motors outlet at Chandigarh and this is what we have to share:

About the Dicor:

The Tata Safari is no doubt the most popular and the most affordable SUV in India – Oh Come On! The Scorpio is more of a MUV rather than an SUV – we’ll talk about this one in a review coming soon. Anyways, back to Safari – This vehicle used to share an identical Chassis and suspension like other TATA vehicles like the Sierra, Sumo etc. Safari Dicor seems a bit of that old wine in a new bottle.

Design and Interiors

Much like its predecessor, The Dicor holds that BIG BOY SUV image, it has a comparatively longer bonnet. TATA’s have added some extra chrome and clear glass headlamps to the face – more of age defying tactics.

The Safari still holds that big, macho SUV image. It continues its high stance with a rather long bonnet; it exudes ruggedness; even in the face of its rather more timid looking clear lens headlamps and some extra chrome that has gone into its anti-ageing process. The changes in the new Safari are hardly noticeable, the Dicor being a little more civilized though.

Once Shef got inside, I could see a smile on her face. The Dicor treated us with well designed interiors with comfortable seats and more than luxurious cabin. The beige interiors with a hint of aluminum are a breezer compared to the Dicor’s predecessor.

The rear legroom is amazing and comfortable, unlike the last row of seats, which aren't fit for extended drives. Once these seats are folded, loads luggage room is generated. Overall, a pleasing looking neatly put together cabin.

Engine and Transmission

DICOR actually stands for Direct Injection Common Rail. In contrast to the agricultural origins of this engine, an ultramodern Delphi Multitec 1600 bar fully electronic CRDI system does the job of supplying fuel. This enables Dicor to provide all round performance in acceleration and noise reduction. The engine is excellent, once the turbo spools up and that intercooler pounds to the atmosphere you definitely are taken for a Ride!

The Safari uses double-cone synchro rings in the gearbox, hence shifting is much easier; The clutch though as good, its quite heavy and is unable to keep the vibrations of the motor at bay.

Ride and Handling

TATA realizes that the major advantage of an SUV is its ability to absorb undulations. The Safari manages this very well; it copes very well with most potholes but the forte of the Safari's ride lies in its ability to absorb bumps at higher speeds. This can really take the strain out of any highway drive. The ride of the safari seems quite bumpy while off-roading at low speeds.

Dicor uses independent double wishbone with torsion bar up front and coil spring suspension with 5 link at the rear, which work well; even when the car is not full of people. It also comes equipped with shift on the fly which allows shifting between 2WD and 4WD effortlessly!

Our Verdict

Dicor is an amazing vehicle! It has a spacious cabin, which can comfortably seat 5 (2 more bit uncomfortably) and loads of luggage. It is also one of the most feature packed cars. Dicor lets you cruise all day long without feeling too tired, If we were looking for a comfortable SUV which is a highway cruiser, easily maneuverable in the city and not get stuck on our monthly visit to a village, we would look no further.

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Shef and Manks

Our Grand First Review!

2007-09-19T03:03:00.000-07:00

Choosing this FIRST blog post has involved quite a bit – Me and Shef have been debating hard since yesterday for deciding on the FIRST automobile we would be reviewing here. We wanted the first post to be GRAND so we chose the ‘Grand Vitara’

We test drove the Grand Vitara at the local MUL dealership, with the sales staff of the local Maruti Franchisee not being very friendly, we had a tough time to convince them for a small test drive. Anyways, here’s what we have to share:

About the Vitara:

The Grand Vitara seems to be a solid choice among compact SUVs. The vehicle is an appropriate mix of off road capabilities and luxury. It’s rugged enough to include a low gear tackling of rugged trails and unimproved roads. The Vitara comes loaded with latest safety features, is the biggest, most powerful, most luxurious and most expensive vehicle in Suzuki’s line-up.

Grand Vitara competes with the Tata Safari, Ford Endeavour and Honda CR-V. In comparison to the competitors, the Vitara has a huge number of pluses, for example its lush cabin and fantastic engine, along with its decent off-road ability, capacity to host 7 passengers and mind blowing looks.

Under the hood of the Grand Vitara is a gutsy 2.0-liter Inline-four cylinder (I-4) engine with a double overhead camshaft (DOHC), which churns out 119.5 bhp @ 5,500 rpm and 170 Nm of torque @ 3,500 rpm. It may be linked to either a 5-speed manual transmission or 4-speed automatic transmission, depending upon the variant. Both the transmissions are responsive and shift smoothly..

Fuel and Economy

In the city and highways, Vitara is the king on the road. You just need to foot the accelerator a bit to make up that gap in traffic. This 1.7 tonne beast would respond as quickly as a Lancer Petrol. Vitara’s cruising ability is excellent this makes it an amazing highway car.

However, even more impressive acceleration is the torque. The Grand Vitara comfortably cruises on steep uphill roads in third gear where other SUVs would struggle. On off-road course, the gear stick never needed to be shifted into low. As claimed by MUL, the Vitara would give 16/22 kmpl (city/highway), we don’t believe this!

The Vitara’s ride and handling are really disappointing. The body-on-frame construction and non-independent rear suspension makes the bad impression. Potholes, ruts and speed-breakers are easily felt, and on an undulating surface, the Grand Vitara tends to pitch around, and feels nervous.

Interiors

Loads of leather and wood in the interiors. The seats are comfortable. The instrument panel is well laid out. The dash looks very attractive with wood. Ergonomics are amazing!. There is plenty of space too. The second row has legroom, but not as much as expected. There is a third row though. For a car of its price, people will expect a luxurious interior (like in the Accord, Mondeo and Camry). The Vitara definitely lives up to these expectations.

A quick Sneak Peak

Fuel Economy : 16/22 kmpl (city/highway)
Available Engines : 2.0L Inline-4, 119.5 bhp
Available Transmissions: 4-speed Automatic Transmission (AT) 5-speed Manual Transmission (MT)

We hope you found this review useful.

Shef and Manks

Welcome to our Blog!

2007-09-18T02:53:00.000-07:00

Getting Started....

While I was at office today, Shef gave me a call :

"Hey Manks, its been quite some time since we have been test driving all sort of cars, why not share this information with all people considering to buy or know more about cars in India? Why not start our own Blog and share whatever we've been able to gather??"

I loved the idea and just created this Blog. Thanks Shef!

Our Story: The first thing we talked about on or maiden date was CARS - Cars is one of our biggest passion - probably THE thing that broke the ice between us and got us closer together - I remember taking Shef for Darjeeling Tea, the very first day we met. While sipping and chit chatting, I noticed a Porsche Cayenne pass by, forgot what we were talking about and very bluntly exclaimed - " Hey, that takes preference!"

I realized that Shef wasn't one of my friends who would ignore my peculiar habit of commenting on cars and DAMN, we had come out to know each other better, with our families waiting anxiously back at home - we were to decide if we'd liked each other reasonably enough to get married!

I was shell shocked when Shef said: "Cayenne is available in 2 variants 4.5L V8 and 3.2L V6". Whoaaa, I had found the woman of my dreams! We got married in Feb 2007, drove our Accent to Manali hills for Honeymoon, Cars still being a major topic of our chit chat!

About Us: I am a 'Marketing Manager' of a huge education portal, and Shef's leading the SEO team of a web development company. I drive an Accent and Shef has a Santro - We are Hyundai freaks! We've been test-driving loads of cars and are fond of building a database off our experience.

We would rather drive up to Kasauli Hills rather than watching a movie at a cineplex, we prefer buying Maisto Car miniatures in place of expensive drawing room accessories, we love accompanying friends to car window shopping , we dream of owning an SLR Roadster one day!

We plan to compile our thoughts and experience about automobiles in this Blog -- Hope you enjoy whatever we have to share.

Thanks for Passing By!

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Manks