It’s great to meet you through my first ever review on this wonderful website regarding the best ever car, i’ve driven so far. I bought my little cherubim - Midnight Black, Spark LS from Jayaraj Karz, Trichy on March, 04, 2010. After searched all possible sources on choosing the best hatchback car within 4 lacs of my budget - I’ve test driven wagon R [is that a car, really?], Santro [those guys initially said, no naya paisa offer.. but later came begging behind me, only to see me driving this Spark..!]
Coming back to Spark -by the time I did my test drive it, I realised, its the one, which I dreamt of.. such a superb gas-filled shock absorbers [one can experience the difference with the very first roll of wheels..!] a wide front view, dual tone interior which makes you feel like you are driving a sedan [indeed, it really is.. bcoz, I have seen those type interiors only in high segement cars, definitely not on any hatchback..]
After done a first highway trip to chennai [up and down around 800kms], I gave it for my first service at 1500kms, a day after, I took it to the Nilgiris.
The best part is here - the stretch between Trichy to Karur, where the 4 lane roads are being built up, the distance around 60 kms are the WORST in entire India.. bcoz, usually we used to say, the road is worst, well.. I beg to differ.. bcoz.. there’s NO ROAD at all.. only jelly’s are scattered for more than 30 kms..! Oops.. without my Spark, all [5 adults with enough luggages on rear] could;nt make it.. even on that terrible condition, driving Spark seems to be like riding a boat on small waves.. No shake ups, no jumpy rides.. We all felt like floating with much ease..
In this crucial point I must say one thing - the A/c - which I always kept on 1st point - did its best - my both hands on steering right and left - I felt like i’m keeping my hands on a refrigerator’s ice cube’s!! There’s no single moment, we longed for fresh air..! Excellent A/c, that too cools within few meteres of starting point!
Here’s a Route Map for those who wants to reach Ooty via Trichy.
Trichy - Karur - Kangeyam [take a right turn here] - Sivan Malai [Sivan Hills] - Oothukuli - Sengalpalayam -Avinashi - [after crossed Bus Stand, drive straight for 4 kms, you’ll see a right cut, take it] - Annoor - Mettupalayam [again right cut] - Coonoor - Ooty.
Plz make note of the above route with small change in directions, as follows:
After sivan malai - stick to the straight road which leads to Tirupur and from there you can easily catch Avinashi bus stand.
Why I am mentioning is that the stretch between Oothukuli and Avinashi is badly damaged and undergoing a makeover by Highways now.. so better avoid it..
Secondly, the road route to Tirupur to Avinashi is good one and less time consuming than those which I mentioned at first...
in all these 14 hairpin bends, with such a high torque, my Spark doesnt need more space to turn, all it needed is just the roundabout corner of the pet wall.. even before a bus or lorry make a turn, my Spark took very low turning radius and the power assisted steering never give any work to wrists..!, with a single finger you can turn entire hairpin bend with much ease..!
The hotel we stayed is Venkateswara, just opposite Coonoor Railway station, with a view on both side, one side its station, another side its central bus stand and market place. an affordable, pleasant stay!
The parking problem is not a problem at all, if you drive, Spark!
The mileage is what I guess as with A/c always on - in city limits around 15kms, in highways - 18kms! [now read again my review title]
Well fellas, you’ve heard, read so many compliments about Spark - mine is a different one - I can’s simply control my surprise, when the onlookers and bystanders, gazing at my spark, wherever I park it..! I cant simply understand, why someone who’s driving like a Honda City ZFX is staring at my Spark and almost make a walk around it..?
Hats off to the real, dedicated engineers at GM! What a Spark! WoW!