Well, we needed a big car just because we felt we had earned the relative luxury. So without much other practical reason we started looking at the range available. We already have 3 other cars and only 3 of us at home drive so:-
a) One had to go, that was easy, the oldest one went, no room for emotions, sadly.
b) One had to come in. Location:- Delhi.
We started by looking at the Baleno but were turned off by the shabby finish in the cabin. The basic price was no doubt low but we would have had to spend a lakh at least to get the interiors into shape. Besides, a Maruti is a Maruti- a small car.
Next we finalised on the Honda City (new) Hondigo paid up, and actually went to take delivery. At delivery, two things happened:-
1) The dealership was in a terrible mess. Staff impolite and civil works still going on.
2) The service centre there was treating cars as though they were crap, wheel spins and rash driving.
We demanded our money back, there was some fuss, we made a bigger fuss, and by next day we got our money back. End of Hondigo.
Then we started looking again at a higher budget. Toyota Corolla was out because frankly it was too costly. Skoda Octavia strikes me as old technology. Hyundai Elantra just does not give that impression of ’’big’’ inside, like the Octavia.
And we discovered a great rebate on the Chevrolet Optra 1.6 ’’od shape bonnet’’ which frankly to us looks better than the new Chevrole frontage.
Fourth month into the 1.6 and we are happy with the size, the cabin silence and most of all the engine which if played properly, can really move. So what if it is a Daewoo, it looks good!!
Most of all my wife likes it, so . . .
update/Dec’05 - over a year later, no complaints. And frankly, the modern twin-cam 1.6 engine works better than the older 1.8, so that part sounds good, too. I would still recomend this car to others.