Go ahead & buy Swift "X"xi if you are ready for the following:
Downside features:
- Sounds:
a. Rattling noise from the front suspension(as if the
suspension is resting upon a set of sticks which keep on breaking when the
vehicle passes over rough rocky road even at lower speeds. This noisy
technology is called - "McPherson struts" tailor-made for Indian
roads, which makes you feel as if you are riding a horse instead, but smooth).
b. Rattling noise from Dashboard: a continuous noise that
will irritate you to hell. The service technician will only try to rectify the
noise using a piece of paper or add-up an other noise while trying to rectify
the previous noise.
c. Rattling noise emanating from the collision of the A/C
ducts underneath the dashboard. The technician again would only tell you that
this is common in swift.
d. Rear-door rattling noise: Even after you get it serviced
and generally starts re-appearing once you take the vehicle out of the service
station immediately after the servicing is done.
e. Rattling noise from somewhere inside the left door which
requires you to get it repaired once in a week(unless you start neglecting
it).
f. Rattling noise from the door glasses when you close the door
with the glasses half-way down or fully down(This doesn’t appear in Zxi model
though).
g. Squeaking driver’s seat: Especially when you take a sharp left
turn. The technician denies that there is any such sound.
h. Thud sound from the rear door when you start the vehicle(this
happens particularly when you fix a board for rear speakers)
- Driving Conditions:
a. The front column(between the driver side window glass
& the front windshield) is so wide that you sometimes fail to observe any
vehicle that comes towards you from the left(especially vehicles like bicycles
& 2-wheelers).
b. The rear windshield is so small that you would almost be
doing a "Blind-Drive" relying only upon the rear-view mirrors.
Overall you’ll have very less view of the road all-around.
c. The window being at a higher position, it is literally
impossible to put your head out of the window, when you want to have a look at
the rear of the vehicle, when you are reversing the vehicle(this practice is
not recommended for safety reasons though & a bad driving practice).
d. The non-ABS version is a bit difficult to maneuver at
high speeds(over 110km/h) on highways. I strongly advice to go for ABS if you
are a frequent highway traveler.
- Road Psychology:
a. You see all other brands of vehicles trying to overtake
Swift(I don’t know why), unless you decide to participate in a race with them.
Good things about swift:
- Reliability: Fill petrol and zoom on to hundreds of kilometers without a
single stop. You hardly get tired of driving so long nor your Swift.
A/C: Excellent & instant.
Good pickup and response.
Very low engine noise felt inside.
Good Mileage: I get 17+ on highways with a/c’on’ at high speeds with
Speed-petrol.
Excellent ease in gear-shifts.
Swift’s outer body is weaker then that of other cars(especially santro),
though the chassis is stronger enough to prevent injury in case of accident.
Conclusion:
Swift minus sounds= Excellent vehicle.
Happy Driving.
Chris.