Hi All, I am new to MS. Just booked my Figo Titanium (D) at OS Ford, Jodhpur.I’ld like to share my exp in choosing this car over others.I am a big fan of Fiat, So Punto was 1st in my list. then I shorlisted, Swift(D), i20(D), Polo(D) and Figo.here are my personal observations:
Punto: It’s best looking hatch on roads today, no doubt. Superb build quality, and popular MJ engine. But I was shocked with the interior quality. Quality of platics used to below avg. I took a TD, and it was fun to drive Fiat cars. I still don’t have much complains with Punto. So, I kept my options open for it.
Swift: I don’t like it’s heavy A** kind of looks. From outside, it’ll tell you, how spacious I am, But from inside, you will say" Haathi ke daant....." .Maruti cars are popular, bcoz of their resale and service network. Keeping service issue apart, why we Indians think a lot about resale, even before buying a vehicle? Why don’t we like to drive, which is really fun to drive, like fiat cars. Fiat is displaying poor show here, bcoz of our mentality, otherwise, believe me, they are producing superb cars.
Coming back to Swift, I don’t know, but personally I am not keen to get this car. I have driven it, good to drive, but not that joyful. Also, even at top version, Maruti is not giving a music system, damn. Anyway, I can’t say it a VFM car.
Polo: Yes, it’s stylish, good interiors. However, driving pleasure doesn’t match with Punto. Suspension is very good. But I think, it has been priced bit high. People who like VW brand, will go for it. Remember, if you are in T2 city, you will have service issues. and even we don’t know, cost of spares yet.4. Figo: I test drove it at last, bcoz unfortunately, whenever I visited the showroom, TD car was not there.Finally I got it on Mar15. It’s not stylish, like Punto or Polo, But it’s practical. Why? I think, ford is planning to penetrate middle class families, not college going guys. middle class family needs a car with space, not too hafty interiors etc..Car has solid build, no doubt. Paint quality is exellent. From rear, it didn’t make me happy much. Now, when I opened the door, I said, great! it’s so spacious. Believe me, I never thought a hatch can be such spacious. good quality plastics used(unlike Punto), Interior is good(infact very good, keeping price in mind). Now some imp points:
I said above it’s practical, when you will drive it, you will see, you can easily see the bonut.Isn’t it good?
You won’t have reflection of dash on windscreen, this issue I faced in i10.
Boot opener, good to see with a button. Why people are worried for wrong position of bonnet opener? or Europian system of wiper and indicator. All Europian cars are following this in India.
People say, even at top version, it doesn’t have tilt steering, audio ctrls mounting on steering, alloys and rear power windows. As I said above, ford is trying to penetrate middle class families, they don’t need tilt or alloys etc.. If ford privides them later in their limited edition, no doubt, it’ll cost near to Punto em(P).
I took TD of figo. Ford is always known for driver’s car. It’s wonderful to drive a ford car, so figo is not an exception. It’s using same Fiesta DuraTQ engine, which is tested and giving good FE. sitting position for both front and rear is superb. AC is damn good. believe me, put it’s knob on 4, and put a bottle of water at rear seat. it’ll freedge. Gear quality is exellent.Guys, i’ll post more comment later, I’ll be getting my grey color, with coral on 15th Apr.
Thanks,
Rahul
On Wed, Apr7:I read lots of comments about after sale services etc, by lots of guys.I ask a simple question: Honda, skoda, Toyota, Merc, BMW, Audi etc. Do these companies have massive service network? NO. so, bcoz of this, their cars are in garbage now? NOThen , I think, Maruti suzuki has rights to be here in India. We need to change our thinking. I never said, Suzuki cars are bad or whatever, But there are better cars then Marutis in same price band. Let’s forget Figo here. everybody, even a maruti lover will admin that Fiat has produced and still producing superb cars. But why, they didn’t work well here? Reason is our mentality. We write them off completely, bcoz we say, they don’t have good service network. If you go any tata service station any day, you will see there Nano, or Indicas, But rarely see any Punto or Palio.whether it’s Punto or figo, there service intervals are in 1 yr gap. Isn’t it good?We need to be open in appreciating good cars, whether from Maruti or any other company. Everybody has it’s own taste. Some like Ritz’s shape, and some says, some blunders committed by maruti designers.
Thanks,
Rahul