Hiya,
For those who are frequent visitors to MS, I wrote a review earlier at 2000 KMs. Here is an update on that after running an additional 6000 KMs. That makes it 8000 KMs. Yay! Am good at Maths.:)
I love the Hyderabad winds:); therefore, I do not use the AC often. Probably have used AC for less than 25% of the KMs traveled.
Psst. the findings more or less have not changed over the previous ones. Those which I modified are prefixed with a single asterisk(*) and those added are prefixed with a hash(#).
*What I liked about the car(Xeta GVS [Dec 2006]):
*- Average(14+ KMPL)
Space and comfort.
# Good leg room - for rear seats too.
Road-grip; feels safe; sturdy and heavy.
- Pick up seems good for a car that heavy.
Complete family car.
Trunk space, which increases considerably with 60:40 split, foldable seats.
Ground clearance.
# Handles well even on highways.
# Am happy with the Dealer(Malik Cars) and the Service Station (Towli Chowki) folks so far. Did you hear me say "touch wood"?
# Conclusion: I am very happy about the performance so far. Overall, a good car for people like me who need a little comfort and luxury in life;) at as low cost as possible. Yes, no doubt that you can get much more luxury in a high-budget car.:)
What I am not too happy about:
The reverse gear shift is not smooth.
Driver-side’s beam of the roof hampers visibility while turning towards right.
Crude finish; TATAs could have done better.
Driver’s seat is not too comfortable; should have had longer and better thigh-support.
# I am almost 6 feet, but I feel the ABC(Accelerator, Brake, Clutch) is just a little high. Especially, if I push my seat forward the angle is not too confortable for my ankles. Not sure if this has to do with car design or the ankle design.:D
# Conclusion: These not-too-happy-about concerns may just be the case with any car in Xetas’ budget. Would leave that for you to decide and do a trade-off between luxury and budget if you wish.:) Good luck.
Off topic: Has anyone ever seen TATA emphasizing on safety features like car crash tests, crumple zones, and so on? I have not seen or heard about the safety features to a great extent? Can anyone take a shot at this? Thanks.