Hi Guyz .....
After a year of owning the Santro, It’s time to service the car. 3rd service due now. The 1st two are not much of worry, but the 3rd service will be crucial, as the a/c cooling needs to be looked into.
Can the MS members suggest the best service dealer in Mumbai. Or should I get the a/c fixed from a specialist not the dealer. BTW does the service cover a/c servicing ???
Would appreciate all the members advice
*************************************************************************************
UPDATE - Have been using the Xing for 6 months now. Milage update in actual driving conditions - in city 12 kmpl (Mumbai traffic is getting worse every day) on highways 18 kmpl (a couple of trips to Pune on Express Highway).
Expecting to do some more out of town trips and will write on the experience.
***********************************************
Bought the Santro a couple of months back .... and no complaints so far from the car, (a little early to pass a judgemet ? ). But then whatever little time I have spent with "HER", I’m not complaining. Touche.
I had lots lots of research (and I really mean lots ). I was looking at trouble few no hassles car. I currently own a Fiat UNO and guyz the dealers are absolutely terrible. I had a fight with him when I had given my car for routine service. I never took it to the dealer since and got it serviced at a local garage, who did a much better job. The car BTW is really nice. It’s the dealers and their terrible after sales that killed a gr8 product.
Having spent 5 years witha Fiat, it was time to buy a new car and the hunt for new car began. Gave up pretty early in the day on buying a sedan, as Mumbai is not very generous with space and it makes more sense to have an hatch.
Checked out all the available options and had test drives of most of the cars (if not all). The net is a gr8 resource and guyz plz check out b4 you take a decision. But the most crucial test is often a test drive, do not buy any car without it.
Palio, was the first car that went out of consideration, previous experience with a Fiat product ensured that also the fact that it is now ageing and has a poor fuel economy.
Next were the Maruti’s - Zen and Wagon R. Zen as it being phased out, heard that a new model was being launched and I did not want to be stuck with a outdated model. Wagon R came in second best and was my choice had it not been for the Santro. But the Maruti dealers do not push their cars as aggresively as the Hyundai dealers, is what I have observed.
Shortlisted the Santro and the Swift (a real sweetheart, its looks and the car had me drooling over her). The Swift lost out on price, Rs 4.50 Lacs for the base model, while the top end Santro was for 4.20 Lacs. The base model of the Swift hardly has any features (only a/c and power steering), while I got all the goodies in a Santro at a price point lower than the base model of Swift. Intrestingly one can get a Esteem at almost the same price, which is a sedan no less. The Swift though a darling lost out on the value for money equation.
What went in Santros favour were looks (looks mbetter than the others), performance, price and the overall package. Beleive me its a gr8 car and you will not regret owning one. Had spoken with a couple of previous owners of the Santro for their ownership experience and none had any negative feedback.
Checked with all the dealers on the deals. Found it very amusing as each dealer tries to better the offer of the others and one needs to bargain hard to get a good deal.
Finally, chose Jaybharat, who offered me the best deal amongst all the dealres. Ended up saving close to 30K and offered me a good finance option.Opted for the XO variant (top end). That has all the goodies, power windows (all), body coloured bumpers, power steering, rear wiper, defogger and he threw in freebees, like teflon coating, anti rust coating, matts, worth about another 5 K.
My first sevice was a moth back and the car is pereforming like a dearm.