Das Boot!

'Das Boot' or the boot is a major benchmark in the Indian market. Having a boot directly escalades the car to the realm of 'Badi Gaadi'...So naturally this segment has been exploited by the manufactures, and how! Yes, I am referring to the trend of simply adding a boot to a hatchback. Though this trend has been prevalent since long (remember the Fiat Petra!), I have recently started noticing it and sort of analysing.
So let's take a look what this segment has to offer...

• Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Dzire is one of the highest selling cars from this segment. And it isn't hard to see why...The car is really very well engineered by the guys at Maruti. And at some level I do feel proud of this car, because the entire process of adding the boot to the Swift has been done by the Indian engineers at Maruti. Kudos. Handling wise it is almost identical to the Swift, just the rear has been softened for more comfort as many cars in this category are chauffer driven. But, and this is a big one, the car is horribly let down by its looks. It does grow on you; well mostly because the owner would be inside the car. But why make other humanity suffer! So buy this if you hate your neighbour and park it in front of his window every day. But jokes apart, it a very logical car and brilliant in all aspects, looks are subjective.
  
  
  
• Tata Indigo Manza
  
  
  
  
  
  This too is right up there when it comes to the sales figures. Like every Tata product to date, it is a very frugal, logical and spacious; more car per car. Tata like Maruti understands our market very well, and Manza is just what the doctor ordered! The car is huge, I mean colossally huge. It would easily put a car two segments above it to shame. The downside is that it is a Tata and the quality levels are not up to standard, handling and performance wise do expect everything as in the Vista. Now I come to the looks, like the Dzire the job of attaching a boot though from the engineering point of view has been done perfectly, it doesn't score much on aesthetics. The rear overhang is just too large and completely out of proportions. But still I don't find it as preposterous as the Maruti, some do, but an option that has to be considered.
  
  
  
• Fiat Linea
  
  
  
  
  
  Some may not agree, but I have come across people who don't know that the Linea is actually based on the Punto, it's the Punto with a boot-job! And this says a lot doesn't it...the Italians have done this so perfectly that at first glance it is not evident at all. This is a really gorgeous, pretty and attractive car, I doubt someone may disagree. Earlier it had been let down by the lack of outright power, but the recent launch of the turbocharged petrol variant has given this Italian beauty a shot in the arm. It now has the power which compliments its brilliant chassis and handling. But the picture isn't so rosy here either, rear headroom is at a premium and overall fit and finish isn't that amazing. And then there's the Fiat brand image which isn't so remarkable. A product I would say that can be appreciated by a true fan, just like expensive scotch or wine. The car for a Connoisseur.
  
  
  
• Volkswagen Vento
  
  
  
  
  
  Vento is the new kid on the block. It's packed with legendary German engineering and has incredible looks. If Linea is the Italian beauty, Vento is the Hollywood hunk. Its chiseled looks are attractive, but I wish they would have done something to the front so that the Polo lineage wouldn't be so obvious. Sales as of now are good, it is a good product. Brilliant engine options and seemingly reliable operation are a few of the plus points. Handling and ride wise, it is satisfactory but not for the enthusiasts. Interior quality is up to the international standards et al. When buying in this segment, not considering this is a sin!
  
  
  
  So this sums it all up I guess, 'Das Boot' concept works!!! Now some smarty pants out there might point out that the SX4 is too a hatchback originally and the boot has been added for our market. Yes, I agree but without the hatchback here, I doubt it would have fit in. These smarty pants would say then, what about the City, it too is a Jazz with a boot. The city has been engineered separately internationally since very long and our market was introduced with the hatch much later, so just didn't feel like it..! And heres one amusing fact...the 1st three cars use the same diesel engine, the Fiat 1.3 Multi-jet in some form or the other!! 

-Gaurav Singh

Simple tips that can help you save loads on fuel bills!

If you are reading this, I think I can assume correctly that you are an automobile enthusiast and/or enjoy driving. Yes, I know revving the engine so hard that it feels like its gonna explode is fun..nothing can beat the happiness the upper end of the rev band can give you. But the down side is, under such horrific conditions, your engine might be giving an economy of barely 4-5 kmpl. Some of you must be having a smug smile on your face right now thinking 'ha -ha-ha , suckers! I drive a Maruti/Hyundai...'. Am sorry to say, the same figures apply to you too sir! So here are a few simple tips to avoid this...

• Don’t start and stop engine needlessly. Idling your engine for one minute consumes the gas amount equivalent to when you start the engine.

• Avoid "revving" the engine, especially just before you switch the engine off; this wastes fuel needlessly and washes oil down from the inside cylinder walls, owing to loss of oil pressure.

• Eliminate jack-rabbit starts. Accelerate slowly when starting from dead stop. Don’t push pedal down more than 1/4 of the total foot travel.

• Travelling at fast rates in low gears can consume up to 45% more fuel than is needed.

• Manual shift driven cars allow you to change to highest gear as soon as possible, thereby letting you save gas if you "nurse it along". However, if you cause the engine to "bog down"(KNOCK), premature wearing of engine parts occurs.

• Keep windows closed when travelling at highway speeds. Open windows cause air drag, reducing your mileage by 10%.

• Drive steadily. Slowing down or speeding up wastes fuel. Also avoid tailgating - the driver in front of you is unpredictable. Not only is it unsafe, but if affects your economy, if he slows down unexpectedly.

• The best way to save FUEL is to ‘THINK AHEAD’ while driving. Do not accelerate unnecessarily.

• Do not rest left foot on floor board pedals while driving. The slightest pressure puts "mechanical drag" on components, wearing them down prematurely. This "dragging" also demands additional fuel usage.

• Avoid rough roads whenever possible, because dirt or gravel robs you of up to 30% of your gas mileage.

• Use alternate roads that are safer, shorter and straighter. Compare travelling distance differences - remember that corners, curves and lane jumping require extra gas. The shortest distance between two points is always straight.

• Signals are usually timed for your motoring advantage. By travelling steadily at the legal speed limit you boost your chances of having the "green light" all the way.

• Automatic transmissions should be allowed to cool down when your car is idling at a standstill, e.g. railroad crossings, long traffic lights, etc. Place gear into neutral position. This reduces transmission strain and allows transmission to cool.

• Park car so that you can later begin to travel in forward gear; avoid reverse-forward maneuvering while exiting, to save fuel.

• Regular tune-ups ensure best economy; check owner’s manual for recommended maintenance intervals. Special attention should be given to maintaining clean air filters... diminished air flow increases gas waste.

• Inspect suspension and chassis parts for occasional misalignment. Bent wheels, axels, bad shocks, broken springs, etc. create engine drag and are unsafe at high travelling speeds.

• Inflate all tires to maximum limit. Each tire should be, balanced and checked for out-of-round. Radial designs are the recognized fuel-savers; check manufacturer’s specifications for maximum tire pressures.

• Auto air conditioners can reduce fuel economy by 10% to 20%. Heater fan, power windows and seats increase engine load; the more load on your engine, the less kilometres per litre.

• Remove excess weight from trunk or inside of car - extra tires, back seats, unnecessary heavy parts.

• Distribute passenger weight evenly throughout car.

• While each vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at a different speed (or range of speeds), gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 100 kph.

• Keep your Engine properly tuned.

• Fixing a car that is noticeably out of tune or has failed an emission test,can improve its fuel mileage by 4 percent.Though results vary based on the kind of repair and how well it is done. Fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve your mileage by as much as 40 percent.

• Check replace Air Filters regularly.Replacing a clogged air filter can improve your car’s gas mileage by as much as 10 percent. Your car’s air filter keeps impurities from damaging the inside of your engine. Not only will replacing a dirty air filter save gas, it will protect your engine.

....So there you go, chances are you might already be knowing many of these points, and chances are when you will see the tank half full, you will say screw you economical driving I am going bonkers! But trust me, when you know that you are really low on fuel, efficient driving will take you places you wouldn't have ever imagined, literally.

Wishing you a Safe and Green Drive

The Grease Monkey Team

The Indian Classic, 1994 E-Class

Like most of you, I drive hatchbacks and sometimes cars, a segment or two, above it. So today when I came to know I’ll get to drive the old E-class around, I rushed to the spot. From inside, it was pretty different...the controls for everything from the light stalks to the air-con was unlike the current standards. But nothing that a few minutes of fiddling here and there couldn’t solve. The black leather and wood like dash panelling looked elegant. I personally liked the small analogue watch in the instrument panel.

The car I was driving was a W124 E220 i.e. 2.2l Inline-4 engine producing 150BHP. I put 1^st, the gear lever had a nice tactile feel to it, just went right into the slot desired. Feedback from the clutch and accelerator pedal took a few minutes to get used to. And from there onwards began my journey which made me realize what that 3-pointed star on the hood actually means.

The first thing I noticed was that the car was bulky and its big dimensions were constantly bothering me at the back of my mind. I approached the building gate, and the bored watchman suddenly came into attention and gave me a military like salute. The bumps that had me bobbing all over the place, in my i20 went past like just two small stones. Damn, that was just amazing. Soon I reached the highway and that is where I let all the 150 horses loose. The thing that was worth noticing was that, unlike the hatches there isn’t a sense of urgency when you put your foot down, there is a smooth build up of momentum and the car just effortlessly moves. One look at the speedometer and I've already touched 100kph, it did that in around 10-11 seconds. Far ahead I could see a long flowing corner, from my experience on the potholes, I assumed that here comes a ton of body roll...and to my surprise the car held its composure and gait.

Then I took some horrible interior roads. The car had pretty nice low-end torque, normally at the places where we select 2^nd, this car could easily manage 3^rd and cruise effortlessly. So by now, the brand had been established and so was the engine. In this leg of the journey, what I realised was equally important, the fit and finish of the interiors. Despite going over a bone jarring road, there was absolutely zero rattle from any corner of the car. The only audible noise apart from the blower was the solid ‘thud’ of the suspension. And this was after 16 years of production; I've been in cars that sound much worse even though they were barely 6 years old! By the end of my run, I was pretty accustomed to the braking, power delivery and the cars size, so I had the confidence to throw it around a bit, and damn it was so rewarding!

Now let me come to the practicality of this car. There is tremendous space inside and the boot is very large. The equipment list it comes with, many manufacturers have started giving those in hatches just now. This car/brand is known to have practically no electrical gremlins. And what does it cost? You can easily get your hands on one in about 4-5 lakhs, now that is serious small hatchback money. But the picture isn’t so rosy after all...if any problem arises fixing it will be costly, parts are costly and the car barely gave me an average of around 7-8 kmpl.

So if you want to spend 5 lakhs on your 1^st car, please for heaven sakes look away. If you already own a car or two, this car can be the one for you if you have the courage to maintain it. And if maintained properly, you will definitely reap the benefits, and how! And plus it is a proper rear-wheel-drive car (http://tgmpost.blogspot.com/2010/09/drifting-seriously.html). It is pretty famous abroad, with AMG kits easily available, you know what I am talking about!! I very much liked this car, and many critics who have driven all Mercs have called it ‘last real Mercedes ever made.’

So in the end, I sat back in the i20...as I crossed the building gate, the watchman dint even bother to open the gate properly. The i20 felt like this nifty little mouse, as I missed the poise of the Merc. All hail the W124, The Indian Classic.

-Gaurav Singh