Pre-Owner Swift was worth of a car more than expected. Requirement and purchasing power of the customer is balanced. Shortlisted ZXi for advanced features. But as technocrat my anticipated drive is 75 km per day and changing period 3 years hence waited for VDi feedback to buy one. Thanks Mr. Parveen Garg & Dr. K.K.Gupta for suggestion. A few add-ons could be a Music System, Gear Lock, Mini Convex RVM, Alloy wheels and Side armrest and maybe a manual sunroof above the rear seat.
Post-Owner: The drive is comfortable & fresh with lot of insulation all around, you can talk in susurrus. The engine vibration is nil. Secondly, the ride is jerk-free with higher eye level .If you are a impatient first gas-press speed freak then go in for a petrol car. If you are tall with proportionately shorter legs you won’t be comfortable driving the car.
150 KMS- 7 DAYS: There is a slight change in driving synchronization as compared to petrol cars but hardly feel that it’s a diesel car otherwise.
The engines vibrates at 1200 RPM picking up. Hence coast a lower gear. At 2000 RPM the it shoots like Verna; Convenient to overtake any vehicle. Faridabad is grilling at 46 deg Celsius. The plastics smell slightly at this temperature when you get inside the car. But even at2’O Clock (hottest time) the AC chilled us within 5 minutes of starting the engine (Better than city).You feel as secure as sitting in an amby and nearly as comfortable as in a Merc. Had applied teflon coating (Rs 3500) since I was finding that dust scratches had started forming the very second day of purchase.There was a slight vibration in right disc while braking. Attended by Mr.Jagan who suggests this would go away with time. Moreover if you rev up less and leave clutch without thinking(not every time in petrol)the engine might turn off. So synchronize accelerator while leaving clutch(more on a sudden slope).Maneuvering of car is very balanced at sub 80 speeds. Reversing is easier than Santro. Since the fillet radius at car’s corners(of course it has no corners) enables the car to turn better than esteem or ikon would. But owing to this, bikers tend to overtake in sinusoidal fashion even in traffic jams. It is very difficult to change their habit so watch out your outer rear view mirrors. Had my driveway been 12’ wide, it would be easier to come out of the car from both sides. Gate should be at least 10’ Wide to maneuver the car.TAKE CARE- If you are having a house facing street less than 30’. You cannot maneuver such cars. Better buy WagR/Zestillo. Car is almost 6’6"wide mirror to mirror. I am extra cautious while parking. I keep it2’6" clear from other cars for their doors to open that means 11’should be the gap. Moreover you cannot note any level difference inroad 10’ behind and 7’ ahead. C’ya all on sharing my experiences on first service.
950 KMS-30 Days:The story seems ironical when service matters are concerned. While the upper management is very clean and veiled, the service attendants care to give you time only if you want to get a Fucot Undercarriage Coating etc done. I have been complaining that there is a vibration in the right brake disc & clutch, they simply wash their hands off by saying it is ok. These purpose of employing these guys seems that they are supposed to mint money minimum Rs 2500 per diem per customer. Everybody in market says that this dealer possesses a reputation of dilly dallying the customer to escape free repair (labour) till the warranty period is over. After that they would put the onus of blame on the customer that he had not told them the troubles the car is making; the real story being these executives are reluctant to write whether the car is normal saying that it is against company policy. Nevertheless service is economical then other car companies.Maruti has to be very strict with it’s service network. I think I have to complain about it to company. Till the 1st service the mileage was 12km/l. Now it is nearly 16. The car’s frequency is matching with mine. Pickup improves to 100 in 8 sec-very helpful in overtaking clumsy trucks & tractors. Acceleration from 100-120 also good. 100 kph at 2300 RPM-Gr8.60 at 1300 RPM in 5th gear-economical with 3 passengers. AC effectively cools in 5 minutes(Prev M800 AC was effective only before 10 AM and after 6 PM and rainy season ;-)).From the very purchase on 10th may, the car has got vibration while braking.The car has been brought to vipul service centre four times but servicemen refuse to acknowledge this defect.First, the car was tested by jagan who said that there is excessive rubber during manufacture which gets smoothed with time, than ashish (1st service dtd.10June) who said that this problem is with all swifts. In July beginning the car was test driven by Mr. Sumit as per instructions of Manager. He stated that there is vibration in every swift diesel and that you should have bought an ABS version. (Not out of contest to mention I have been driving M800 and never faced a problem like this).They mentioned in written that there is no problem in the brakes.On 14th I was going to gurgaon, the brake totally started failing with very less deceleration despite pressing the pedal fully. This was accompanied by "dug dug" noise in the front discs. Is this the attitude of a dealer appointed by world class car company? Is this way to appoint sub-standard servicemen who hardly possess any knowledge of the mechanics or they are just fooling their client in lieu of lucrative consideration?I have complained in Maruti too but they are hardly bothered to attend it. Moreover the braking dynamics go hay way further if the car enters waterlogging 3-4". Sometimes the car swerves dangerously to right while braking.
1800 KMS-3 MONTHS: Complained to Hon’ble MD Shri Jagdish Khattar. There was a prompt action. The brakes were rectified to satisfaction.
4500 KMS-6 MONTHS: Have installed Maruti’s alloy wheels. The drive is smoother and the car responds better to steering action. Only one concern. There is road friction noise and somewhat less pickup especially uphill. Fuel efficiency 17 KMPL in city with AC on.
*7500 Kms-9 Months: Car is great with allpy wheels. Some crucial points. Since the car is wider and short. Take care while turning at high speeds, it may turn less. Some design improvements should have been beige interiors.
*13500 kms-two more observations-the RVM should be tallboy like wagonR and it should have glass near the front pillar too. It’s hard to look at the road just in immediate front.
2 Years to go-motorcycles brushed the protruding edges above the wheels when the car was parked-depressing.