Trying and buying experience - New Zen
After carrying out research and reading up and driving around in various models and cars, I had zeroed on the Santro, but ended up buying the Zen. Why? Can’t explain precisely, but I think these were the
main reasons:
1. Zen was more pleasurable to drive
2. Long drives in a Santro had been quite painful, so wanted to experince something else that was more comfortable
3. Looks
Apparently, this was a heart vs head matter. So to sort this out, visited the 3 Maruti showrooms in Pune and the two Hyundai ones. Overall, these were the findings:
1. Zen did not have the space
2. Zen was noisier, and the road filtered through more
3. Zen was much more fun to drive
4. Zen had better handling
5. Zen had better looks
The truth be told, Zen appealed more to my biker heart than the Santro.
Other points were more or less the same. To negate point no 2, I decided to fit in tubeless with alloys and hope for the best ... fortunately, the trick worked and now the ride is quite smooth compared to the ’test’ cars I had driven.
Why, then, did you not consider the more powerful cars, which would have handled better, and probably given your biker heart more thump?
The cars I looked at were Getz, Palio, Petra, Ikon Flair, Esteem. Was not interested in Tatas since I wanted to keep the car for a long time. Lets see, budget was max 5 L and an absolute max of 5.5, if I really liked the package.
Getz premium was high, Fiat cars were ruled out since a friend of mine had a servicing agency for Fiat in Pune, and he v. stronly suggested not to go in for a Fiat car since I was itnerested in keeping it for a long time and the servicing was not great at all.
Also, the final on-road with tyres, system and accessories was crossing 5, and my wallet was sweating, so let it go. Palio I found to be too sluggish for my tastes. Esteem’s driving position was cramped for me, so did not pick it up. Did 2 test drives, but the car did not appeal to me at all.
Getting back to the point.
Head said Santro, and had decided on it, but something was niggling ... so gave myself a break and re-visited the analysis and talked to some more guys
There was still some doubt...
So one fine day, headed out to hit the Maruti and Hyundai dealers in town, drive their respective vehicles, and try to decide.
All the test drive vehs were old, but Santro with 31000 was better than Zen at 32000. explanation was it was not serviced at all since the car had a punishing schedule of test drives. Anyway, took both the cars on different terrains, roads etc.
Tried to compare both the cars on similar surfaces. In ride and handling, Zen scored; in silence and shock absorbers, Santro scored. With Zen, I could ’nip around’, with Santro, the tall boy loomed up whenever you tried to do tricks on the road.
End of the day, I wanted the Zen.
Buying process:
After deciding on the car, went to all the dealers in Pune twice, but could not get a good bargain anywhere. There are 3 dealers in Pune (Sai, Chowgule, Millenium), and one in Pimpri (Wonder Motors methinks). Sai was recommended by a friend, so decided to go with him.
There was no problem of shooting the deadlines, and I even went to the stockyard to inspect the car a few days before delivery. Then the Sai wala showed you really can’t trust dealers nowadays. The car when I went to pick it up, had run 133 kms, and had scratches on the bonnet.
My friend in office told me Sai had this problem of running cars here and there even during service, and Chowgule had the best service in Pune. Millenium is new, so can’t comment. Why the cars may have some extra mileage compared to other dealers may be because because their showroom/service centre in Pune city has a huge space crunch and they need to shift cars to their city godowns, but other Zens in the showroom had run 20-40 kms and I was really angry at those chaps for this.
Anyway, couldn’t do much since the car was now registered and all. Maybe the saleswaala thought lets teach a lesson since we have been pestered all along for deals etc ... but anyway, what is done is done. My problem also was that the tyre fellow had given me a deal of 11500 on alloys plus tubeless if the tyres of the new car are not more than 100 kms (alloys 11500, tubeless exchange 1000, rim buyback -1000) so asked the sales guys to get me the same deal from their tyre shop. The tyre guy was not too happy though!
Sai fellows tried to put teflon coating to cover the scratches, but didn’t work, so tomorrow I go to get the bonnet changed. Someone else may get my bonnet (sagar, you listening???) and I am thinking of shooting a mail to Maruti also ... lets see, will depend on my mood. But for servicing, will go to Chowgule now.
Car is Ok otherwise. Drives well, and have been putting speed petrol. its giving me 17.5 with 50% ac and 50% highway driving on tankfull basis.