I had driven Maruti800-(1997), Santro-(2001), Indica-DLS-(2003) in thelast 10 years. When I decided to buy a mid-size car I short listed the following.
1.Hyundai Accent
2.Maruti Baleno
3.Ford Fiesta 1.4 TDCI EXI
4.Aveo
Of these Accent is ageing and Aveo is just born. Also Kun Hyundai of Pondicherrry were reluctant to give test ride. Aveo dealer was not there at pondicherry. So I narrowed down to Baleno and Fiesta. Both MPL Ford and Vasanthi (Maruti) were receptive at their showrooms and spot on in giving the test drive. Our entire family test drove the Baleno and Fiesta 1.4 TDCI EXI. After much deliberations with my wife and children regarding the car interiors, ride quality, legroom, seat comfort etc., we came to the following conclusions.
Both the cars are excellent and differed in no way.
Only the fuel is different (and the price too).
Then we sat out and calculated the KMs we are going to cover in the next 3 years and the fuel cost.
Petrol car is going to cost us more than the Diesel one.
So we decided to go in for the Fiesta 1.4TDCI EXI. I preferred EXI under ZXI to save Rs.40000 in the Ex-Show room price. (No fog lamps, no rear screen defogger, no back seat centre arm rest, no audio system, no side strips, only black color RVMs, no chromes and other gimmics at some places)
I have bought the vehicle just yesterday. Has covered just 230KMs. The first thing to have impact on me is the verrrrrry smooth gear change. Gear change requires zero-force.
I will write more about mileage etc., in the coming weeks.
03/11/2007 Update.
I have done 17000 KMs(25% city and 25% Sub-urbs and 50% highways, A/C always on) so far on 892 litres of Turbojet diesel.
19 kmpl.
My driving habit is slow inside city, 50kmh in sub-urbs and fast 100kmh in highways.