It’s exactly a month since I bought my Laura and its high time I share my first impression about the car. I have just driven over 1300 km, so I can not say much about service and maintenance cost etc but I can comment only on its experience as me being its driver.I did a couple of trips to Mumbai - Pune trips during this trip and from then on I have come to love it even more.But that will come later, but first the process of selecting the car. I am obliged to write the review because its the reviews on this site and more so on team-bhp that had guided me through the whole process of car selection.I didn’t have to go asking and looking for real car owners because there are lot of good guys out there, who had enlightened us with their views.
The car I owned prior to this was a Swift Petrol.I was among its first buyers in early 2005.It was fantastic car to drive.Good stability.Like you are sitting in cockpit.I hardly got to exploit its full capability but I always remember one of my first experiences in it.It was a town single lane road with carts, jeep, pedestrians and what not.And I was up against a Pulsar my cousin was driving.We were racing and stopping and cutting through.Now after these few years and father of two, I would find that an utterly rash driving by young junkies who need to be banished.But coming to swift, it had such a feel when driving, steering that you could run it exactly along an imaginary zig zag line, stop it at a distance you can estimate and so on.So going for bigger car, i knew I will miss my swift in this space crunching traffic.
I always believed cars should be as per your status. If you earn enough to buy a BMW on loan, but don’t even own one BHK apartment then buy a small car and an apartment first.But then I met a few who don’t agree.So the next upgrade for me after Swift was logically a 10 lakh car and my eyes always has been on best looking car- Honda City.Now I am regular reader of all car magazines and had come to realize that Ford cars have a feel good factor from driver’s viewpoint.So the field was large.The date was 17th June 2011, when I got down from ship, with the intention to look and maybe buy a car.Few days later my search started.
First I went to Toyota showroom.Good service no doubt.Now Toyota have Corolla Altis.Etios though very spacious didn’t have have any kind of premium feeling.From there my search area expanded to over 13 lakh car.They had just launched new uplifted Altis.They didnt have test drive car yet.I had read that Altis 1.4D is very reasonable car to buy, in terms of fuel economy, cost factor and so on.So by the time they were ready with test drive I had already selected my car.The first car I drove was Renault Fluence.Now they say in magazine its not very good looking, but believe me its very handsome with big wheels, and from all corners.It was in white color .Then inside - was spacious, good materials and in beige color.Though it would have been better with little more black and less beige.Now as you know Diesel doesn’t have feature list and petrol has everything.Pundits criticize it and me too.But first the driving experience.I have never driven a diesel and didn’t like it at all.It took some time to pickup, which isn’t acceptable in city traffic.But after it is past its critical rpm, it gains speed without you recognizing it.Its stable, noiseless and has very good steering feel.But the best thing about it is its suspension - best among all I drove.If there had been Petrol around 15 lakh I would have bought it.Next car I drove was Chevrolet Cruze.It was fantastic drive.You will not feel you are driving a diesel.The acceleration is so linear, no turbo lag feeling with an excellent steering.It brings a big smile to your face.Only drawback was its space inside - feeling of openness and spaciousness missing.So it was left out. I went for New Verna.Amazing features and looks.But it had waiting list of two months.Ford Fiesta also had time to land and deliver.So these cars were out.I went to look at Vento.But somehow quality of plastics inside didn’t convince me of it being a premium car.Then went to see Honda Cars. It was last because I knew that there was very little reason I would find not to like it. And sales staff at Honda Showroom in Viman Nagar, Pune was very co-operative and prompt.I test drove both Civic and City. Now if they charge more for Civic then it deserves so.It has good driving pleasure and is spacious.So the fight was now for laura and Civic. But Civic lost for two reasons. The present model was due to be changed and suspension on bumpy roads was not so good as Laura. I think Honda City has not done a bright thing by slashing off its prize.City was a premium car and by cutting it it had made it as good looking car which can be owned by ---.Leave it blank.Instead it would have been good to give it host of new features or change that front dias -silver color thing - that is the only sore point, looks cheap.
Now for Skoda Laura.Let me tell you facts are fact - if a magazine tells you certain opinions, most of the cases it holds value.If Skoda has best driving experience then it has.Now a test drive of 10 kms on busy city road will not enlighten you to true potential of a car.You have to refer to the mags.Car looks most premium car from front - no doubt about it.It looks like a car which is above Civic and Altis or any other car.From rear - very average looks.Prestige - Neighbors envy, Owners pride. It lifts up your status.Spacious - it is.Interiors - has premium feeling.You feel you are in a rich man’s car.Features - no cruise control, no steering mounted controls, no electrical adjusted seats. But if you ask me - you give me Rs 150 K and then I will give you these features, maybe its cruise control only that I would like to add.I drive for my passion, seats I can adjust myself.It has few features that they don’t advertise like gear advice, good remote for locking & opening cars back, radar sensor which beeps when reversing.
The first thing that strikes you when you drive is its brake.It very strong and effective. Now about the drive.Its very light.But I took time to adjust to it.I took quite some time to have confidence in very slow movement and start , stop traffic of Pune.So I thought it must be tiring if I drive for long hours. But now I feel convinced , relaxed and comfort.But best is highway driving.Before less than 100 km/hr was my normal highway speed on Swift and went upto 120 km/hr.
But this car goes very relaxed at 120 then 140 then 160 km/hr.I didn’t have courage to go beyond 180km/hr. But it gives you so much confidence driving it, by its steering , its heaviness and low centre of gravity. At the same time by its power you don’t feel you are exerting any effort.It all looks so relaxed , so involving.It just brings glee to see all the other cars cruising ard 100-120 km/hr slipping out of your sight in no time.Its disadvantage is not very good AC and headlights, though its rival is better than it I dont know.Thank you all those has made the Mumbai_pune Expresssway best drving road by its wide 6 lane cemented roads, through the hills of Lonaval & Khandala.And thanks Skoda.