I own a maruti 800 which I drive in crowded city streets of thane. though this vehicle is doing well, I had always admired the looks of fiat palio. when I decided to look for another car, fiat palio was high on my list. I had two contrasting opinions, the mechanics told me not to touch this car as its maintenance and availability of spare parts is a problem, and mileage is poor.
all actual users of palio are very happy with this car, particularly its steadiness and ability to ride the potholes which pass of as roads. they also said that you feel safe in this car.
then I started scanning advertisements for this car and approached a second had car dealer. I have always felt that a three year old car has a lot more value in it than its price, and anyway I do not drive more than 150 km in a month, so why spend needlessly?
the first look of the car is impressive, its doors and bonet give you a feeling of being enveloped in a safe steel cocoon. the interiors are specious. when I sat in the driver’s seat, I found it a little low, ( I am 5.6 feet, an average indian) I found that the view ahead was not as clear as the maruti which I am used to. visibility for the back is also a little low, as the pillars appear to be big and wide. the clutch was heavy, and frequent gear changes would be tiring, it is also not an easier car to turn, requiring more road to turn as its turning radius is more than other maruti car.
i also saw that many palios on road had minor problems like one of the break lights not working.( the car I saw, did not have indicator flasher on the dashboard working, this sort of thing never happens in a maruti)in general I felt that it may not be as easy to drive in terms of actual driving and visibility of the road as compared to a santro and wagon R, those cars seem to be better city cars than the palio.
so I dropped the idea of buying a palio.
but I was not happy with that decision either. first of all the price, these cars preowned, 2002 models are available in mumbai at least for about 1.5 to 1.75 lakhs. this is a bargain, where can you get an international quality car at this price, even the new palio also seems to be cheaper than getz , wagon R and swift, though it appears stronger.
saftey and security is another consideration. many santros and wagon R have some dents in them, which is inevitable when you drive in small narrow lanes, but the palios I saw had no dents, is it because of a stronger body? must be. t
then the looks, I do think that other cars are squat or fat or too tall and look rather ungainly, none have the gracious lines of palio.
then I said to myself, as so many people are driving this car, and I have recently seen these cars in plenty in bangkok, nairobi, south africa and istanbul the places I have recently visited, it must not be that difficult to drive either. it must be a matter of getting used to. I may install a convex mirror instead of the small rearview mirror palio had and have a better view of the rear.
clutch too will be matter of getting used to.
my wife too felt that we can get used to the apparent incoveniences, after all this is otherwise a superior car.we do not drive much and in any case one has to spend to maintain a car, whichever model, whichever make.
then I discovered this site with about 95 reviews of palio, most of them favourable. most useful
so I have contacted the dealer again and looking for palio.
will let you know, when I acquire it.