I have a very old petrol Indica, one of the first Indica Petrol models that was released. Been with our family for over 6 years now and it has been a dream car. No trouble worth mentioning about and always eager for a drive.
As many have reviewed it under the standard terms, I?ll see if I can put things in layman?s terms, that is, no technical stuff!
Beginner?s Luck: The Indica is a learner driver?s dream. Easy to handle. Very forgiving with mistakes. The best part for a learner is that if the car is put in first gear, all one has to do is ease off the clutch and the car will slowly inch forward. The learner need not worry about pressing the accelerator and releasing the clutch simultaneously. Once he/she has enough confidence, it is simple matter of pressing the accelerator to come up to speed. Another plus for Learners is that is it very tough. My Indica has rammed through a steel garage door (due to driver?s accidental mistake) and all that it needed was a coat of paint (to cover the scratches) as repairs!
Grand-Prix: This car can hold its own against most of the various car models in an out and out race! I have hit speeds over 150 kph with my Indica. (Now though, it can go till 120 kph max) It is amazingly stable and gives a sense of security that not many other B-segments cars can match. It drives in a straight line almost by itself, as it does while reversing. It is stable enough to reverse at high speeds.
Turn radius is very good. Perfect for moving in and out of parking spots. With a good ground clearance, it takes on all Indian roads with ease. It takes long distance with no complains.
The car has literally driven all over West Bengal and parts of Orissa. It has seen all areas of Bangalore/Belgaum and has made regular trips to Goa. It came over to Hyderabad, with minimum fuss (The exhaust pipe fell off it?s mount during the drive from Bangalore!) But for a car this old it is a good old workhorse. This shows the strength and reliability of this wonderful car.
Home comforts: Spacious, spacious, spacious. This is the USP of the interiors. It can take 5 people with considerable ease. Seating is very comfortable and one does not feel the distance driven. The car is now getting a bit noisy but this is due to age. Ride is smooth, it take rough road with ease. I?ve recently been having problems with seemingly slight bumpy motion esp in the backseat, these days, which can be attributed to a new tyre. I cannot comment on other accessories like A/C as my car was a base model and came with no frills. Installing such accessories now is just not economical. Even the showroom people advised me against it.
Looks: Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. I love the look. Simple as that. The lines are very racy yet graceful. It looks like a car that is eager to run with the wind and yet be strong enough to tangle with mountains that dare block its path.
Pit stop: It need only the regular maintainance. I have not encountered any unusual problems. Fuel efficiency is very decent. 10-11 kpl city and 16-17 kpl highway.
With newer models on the road, I admit it is tempting to move to other cars that have better technology and drivability. But for me the Indica will always have a special place in my heart.