I’m a hard core auto buff and used to believe in petrol cars. Spent 3 years in Maruti Udyog looking after dealer sales and institutional sales too. Maruti was handicapped at that time with the only diesel vehicle available which was the zen diesel with the imported peugeot engine. The engine was decent for its times but there was always a feeling of serviceability since the engine was not manufactured by MUL.
And since diesel car availability was an issue with MUL, we used to push only petrol cars to the dealers and train their teams on the advantages of petrol engine over a diesel engine. Have myself always kept petrol cars.
When the Swift diesel was launched, I had left MUL and was free to have any car of my choice. Test drove the car at a dealership and was immediately hooked to the super smooth and terrific engine. This car changed my entire perception of a diesel car. I used to think only Toyota knows how to make excellent diesel engines.
Am now the proud owner of a Swift Vdi. Consistently get anything between 17 to 20 kmpl in Delhi traffic with AC switched on. The ride quality is terrific. Just wished the company had got better soft tyres (like Michelin, goodyear) fitted on rather than the cheap JK tyres.
My collegues were pushing me for a 3 box car but my reasoning was: In Delhi, you don’t need a boot. And the Swift Diesel with its proportions, ride quality, etc is a big car minus a boot. Add to that the advantage of car parking in congested Delhi areas where parking attendants just shoo away big cars saying they can park 2 small ones instead.
Would highly recommend the Swift Diesel though easy availability is an issue because of the roaring success that it has been.