VW Vento

VW the name that associates German engineering standards with automobiles has marked its presence in Indian market with their creation that is hailed to be a unison of engineering brilliance and comfort. It is called the Vento.

This C segment sedan has created waves in the Indian auto market by giving a run for the money to its competitors.

Looks

German cars have always been not so aesthetically appealing like the Italians or Japs and this is evident with the vento. The first look of the car gives you the feeling of looking at something different which is away from the recent trend of a flowing body design with smooth curves and edges.

The designers at VW which gives this car its identity, the lines are kept sharp with sharp edges around the front bumper, headlamps, and windows. The grills are relatively small but the chrome lines around the grills and fog lamps give it a complete look. The shape of the side mirrors are very appealing and provide good visibility, the semi clear tail lamps give out a signature style which can be spotted from a distance, this feature is usually seen in high end cars like your BMW's and Audi's. One thing which was seen was the use of chrome but in places where it would best suit the look of the car.

Interior

This is the place where the reagrd for German quality is evident,  the quality of material is superb and the use of high grade plastics and fibre does not give out the feeling of getting underpaid. Matt finished chrome is provided on the door lever, ac vents and the dashboard adds a touch of class to the overall soothing interior. We selected the top diesel variant (high-line) but were surprised with certain aspects like the lack of USB and aux support in the music system, no steering mounted controls.

SpaceMax Arrangement for maximum leg space at rear

The rear end of the car was spacious, with the vento VW has done much more than adding a boot to the polo, they have increased the rear track which provides better seating space and legroom. 

A unique feature here is the presence of a lever behind the front passenger seat which can be used to move the seat forward by the rear passenger. The only area for improvement here is the rear head rest which is not at a comfortable position and the relatively large hump in the rear foot space.










Power Train
VW Vento is equipped with 1.6L DOHC(Double Overhead Cam) 4 cylinder petrol as well as diesel engine. Although the power output for both the engines is same at 105 PS we personally liked the diesel variant for its higher efficiency and torque. The diesel plant packs a 250Nm torque @1500-2500rpm.The heart of the car is kept pretty powerful which is evident from the fact that even if you have five passengers and luggage the car would just tackle those ghats and uphills like a normal road.
The transmission provided is 5 Speed manual with front disc brake s and rear drum brakes. The engine compartment is very well placed which the center of gravity of the vehicle at the right level and position. The power to weight ratio is 0.9 PS/Kg.

Handling

Right from the word go, the car has a well engineered engine and transmission system. The engine is complained to be a bit earsplitting at cold start but for us its like music for our ears. The engine does pack a punch  for those overtaking maneuvers on the highway as well as for high speed drives.

15" alloys provide good comfort and stability

The diesel manual variant did have the turbo lag and the turbo kicks in only after 1900rpm, though the interesting part being the red line is at 5000rpm which is not usually seen for diesel power plants. The road grip is good with the 15" wheels and the steering is very nimble and smooth with a finger slot which in-turn makes it easier to use.

One interesting feature here is the presence of adaptive cruise, when the driver driving in 4th or 5th gear at speeds around 50kmph leaves the accelerator pedal the car will continue to cruise between 40 - 50 kmph. The cruising speed isn't high but its worth for those night drives with loved one(s). The only place were problem was faced was in the working of the clutch, the car is a bit jerky one the clutch is released while driving at lower gears.

Running Cost

VW is offering its Vento in both petrol and diesel variants but due to high petrol costs its is providing lower interest rates for its petrol variants. The mileage of the car was relatively good with 21kmpl on the highway and overall around 17kmpl. The service interval is provided at 15000km / 1yr which is great as no one likes to visit the service station too frequently. The diesel variant gave us a running cost of Rs 7.5-8/ km (incl of depreciation cost)

Final Verdict

VW Vento is a good buy but in case you are looking for more aesthetic features and a petrol car the Honda City or the new Hyundai Verna Fluidic. For diesel buyers it is worth the money but some dealers in big cities are providing a long waiting periods but we were able to get the delivery within 15 days from booking.

- Nitesh Bansal

   TGM Blog

The Other End of the Scale

   Hatchbacks, the first thing that pops up in one’s mind after uttering this harmless word is cheap, economical, simple...and what not. But if your pockets are deep enough and you’ve got a Beamer or a Merc just lying around and another one to drop ‘Baba and Baby’ to school, I doubt that the run-of-the mill Hyundais and Marutis will satisfy your bootless dreams. The Ritz wouldn’t be ritzy enough and the i20 wouldn’t be ‘Ubѐr Cool’ at all. Do not worry my prosperous friends; consumerism and capitalism have the answers to your hitch.   

  Welcome to the world of imports. The concept remains the same; you purchase a car that has been completely built abroad and imported to India by the manufacturer along with a 100% + import duty. This leads to a normal 6-7 lakh hatchback to be sold at 16-17 lakhs. The Europeans have been smart enough to tap this market and Fiat and Volkswagen have their own offerings to cater to this demand. The Japanese could have also done this, they too have brilliant hatches but none of those brands hold the prestige the Europeans brands have. So let’s meet the contenders...

  Both were born as the ‘Tata Nano’ of their era and country, a people’s car for a post-world war nation. Both were cheap and sold in astonishing numbers. One had simple Italian design yet oozing panache, the other had intuitive German engineering designed by the automotive legend Dr. Ferdinand Porsche summoned by Hitler himself! So if you haven’t guessed it by now, I am talking about the Fiat 500 and the VW Beetle.

Fiat 500 

The original Fiat 500

  Launched internationally in 2007, the Fiat 500 is the remake of the original 1950’s Fiat 500. Fiat has tried very hard to retain the original design cues and maintain similar overall appeal. The new 500 is actually based on the Fiat Panda. This car has won a plethora of awards and is highly regarded internationally. Though this car is sold as a basic hatch in UK and other markets, in India it costs almost Rs. 18 lakh. It comes fully loaded with all the creature comforts one desires and to be honest it does look a class apart.

The Fiat 500

  Despite having a huge range of engines abroad, Fiat has decided to get the same 75bhp 1.3L Multijet diesel engine that powers the Punto, for the 500 in India. I believe that if you are wondering of actually purchasing this car, you could be one of those I-care-for-the-environment-and-I-brag-about-every-small-thing-I-do types...so go ahead and boast all you want ‘coz diesel does burn better and is green. The downside to this car could be that Fiat doesn’t have all that snob value.

Volkswagen Beetle

Original VW Beetle

  The Beetle is one of the most iconic cars of the 20^th century, instantly recognizable anywhere in the world. Launched in 1998, the new Beetle has managed to keep some of the aura of the original Beetle. The car is based on the VW Golf, but apparently is not very engrossing to drive. I doubt that this would be a deal breaker in this segment in India though. The car has people hooked to its looks and also has a small vase in the dashboard! No wonder every daddy’s girl wants this as her 18^th birthday gift...

Current VW Beetle

 This cute little mechanical wonder will set you back by almost Rs. 27 lakhs, no much for your little princess...eh, Mr Rich? VW has got the 2.0 L petrol engine that boasts of a power output of 114 bhp, kind of low for this capacity though. The even newer Beetle is slated for a 2012 launch; with this one they have addressed the main issue...feminine looks. The rear half of it actually does look very similar to the original one. But if you are stuck on the cutie-cutie looks no ones to blame you.

2012 VW Beetle

  But if you actually are an enthusiast, you will be smart enough to not fall these two gimmicky cars, and rather import some other hatch. There are many other well established hatchbacks like the Ford Focus, Renault Megane and Clio, Alfa Romeos, and a few hot-hatches that will set you back by almost the same amount and let you enjoy the freedom of a small car but with a grin on your face that stretches from ear-to-ear.

Written by

Gaurav Singh
(The Grease Monkey Blog)

Maruti Gypsy-The vagabond

   It was warm summer time in march 2003, when i was busy enjoying my vacations with what a teenager would normally do ;), until when my dad surprised me  with a 1000 cc beast, THE MARUTI SUZUKI GYPSY. Even though a  2nd hand, but was sparingly used with just 10,000 km driven since December 2001 as it was used by a retired colonel  who drove it not very often to his farmhouse.(he knew what was it built for). But now she was ours, a new member in our fleet of a 1990 maruti Suzuki 800 & a Mahindra 540 jeep.

   

   The beauty of this beast was that it actually caused my teenage puberty hormones to burst into those of an ADULT.In easy words it was the reason for my transformation into a much matured BOY. SHINY TOUNGE RED, fitted with stock accessories ; fitments, an inborn killer look to die for. Being an underage driver i took the control of the steering 1st when i was in the 7th grade without anyone's knowledge. But the gypsy didn’t allow anymore secrets of mine to be kept with myself. Being a 9th grade student i didn’t have much technical Knowledge about anything related to a ride. The only expression that i had while & after driving it was AWESOME. Over the years due to my technical knowledge i not only understood the ride well but could also better my skills of handling an actual S.U.V.

   

 The gypsy was 1st launched in 1986 by Suzuki under its collaboration with MARUTI. Gypsy is Manufactured in India by Maruti Suzuki, & was 1st introduced in the Indian market in December 1985 with the 970 cc F10A Suzuki engine and while sales was never very high it became very popular with law enforcement. It was launched as MG410, which stood for "Maruti Gypsy 4 cylinder 1.0 litre engine". Initially, it was only available as a soft-top, but a bolt on hardtop was later introduced to the public after the after-market hardtops became popular. It instantly replaced Premier Padmini as the NEW FACE of the  Indian rally car due to its performance, reliability, tun-ability and the go-anywhere capability. The carbureted F10A engine makes a  45 bhp (34 kW; 46 PS) and was meshed to a 4 speed gearbox. The 4WD transfer case had 2 speeds. 4 HIGH for higher torque in slush & 4 LOW for lower torque in gravel.

   It has a freewheeling mechanism on the front axles that unlocked the front axles from the hub when 4WD is not used; It reduces rolling resistance, thereby improving fuel efficiency. However, many owners of the Gypsy who constantly complain about the poor fuel consumption do not know about this novel feature. 

   The two major complaints of the vehicle in the civilian market are poor fuel consumption and poor ride quality especially in the rear seats. The suspension is indeed harsh with live axles and leaf springs all around. If it wouldn’t had been so then it would had never been the most popular vehicle in the INDIAN ARMY as it is one of those few vehicles that are able to take the recoil velocity of a Rocket Launcher Mounted on its chassis, without much difficulty. It features almost no creature comforts, like power-windows and power-assisted steering, hence enabling the driver to develop their forearms.

  

Wide Track 1.3L engine

In June 1996, Maruti added the engine from the Esteem. The new engine was the all-aluminum 8-valve G13BA engine displacing 1.3L and made a respectable 65 bhp (48 kW; 66 PS). This engine was carbureted unlike the US market G13BA engine.

It was meshed to a new 5-speed gearbox. It was codenamed MG413W and called the Gypsy King. The F10A-engined regular Gypsy continued in production until 2001. The visual differences of the Gypsy King compared to the MG410W are the pronounced bulge on the hood and a completely different grille design with horizontal slats.

    
In India, it is widely used by the police and defense forces. In fact, the MG413W model is now the mainstay of the Indian Army. In civilian use, the Gypsy is a popular choice as a low-cost SUV and is a common sight at rally and the toughest of all RAID DE HIMALAYAS & the DESERT STORM RALLY.

   As quoted by Autocar India, "There is nothing that can touch a Gypsy off the road, except perhaps an Arjun battle tank. The trouble is that everything else does better on the road - the ride from the archaic leaf springs all round is horribly bumpy and the interiors are utilitarian as well. Gypsy in a loaded condition (200 kg load) is more comfortable. And available with only two doors, it’s inconvenient too."

     As a 4x4 at this price point, it’s only Indian competitors are sold by Mahindra and Force Motors. The petrol engine in the Gypsy is also much more refined than the diesel mills used in the cars from the two above mentioned companies. As of 2011, the Gypsy is only available against an order with an advance payment and a waiting period of over 3 months. This has led to the creation of a strong market for used Maruti Gypsys.

 
      No doubt the gypsy’s a masterpiece that’s traded for exorbitantly high prices depending upon the vehicle condition & the goodies fitted in & on it. But if you are lucky enough to come over across the Government auctions. Preferably the gypsy’s belonging to the railways & civil services are well maintained & better kept than those of the Police vehicles, which are not worth a buy. These vehicles cost anywhere between 15,000 to 40,000 Indian Rupees.

 FILE PICTURE OF THE AUCTION QUOTATION IN THE TIMES

- Vikas Bhatia 
  (The Grease Monkey Blog)

Skoda Laura 10/10

The Skoda Laura has been around in India from quite some time. Since its debut in 2005 this car has helped Skoda establish firmly in the India market. Recently in mid 2009 the company decided to give the Laura and Superb a face lift which has proved a blessing as both the models are leading in their respective segments.Skoda Laura also known as Skoda Octavia in UK any other foreign markets has gone through a number of changes from its predecessor. Old Skoda Laura & New Skoda Laura 10/10

The most distinctive change is the front headlamps which gives the car a new elegant yet muscular look. The lines on the hood remain unchanged which is the distinctive styling of Skoda's. The overall look of the car has been given a face lift but the car makes its new presence felt.

Ground Clearance provided is ideal for Indian roads

From the technical point of view the overall lenght has been decreased by mere 3mm whereas for the wheelbase & ground clearance remain untouched. The new Laura has an improved turning radius of 5.1m which is quite helpful in city. The initial version of Laura 10/10 has more refined but same 1.9 l PD (Pump Duse) diesel engine, however since the new regulations on car emission standards were passed the Laura got a new heart in form of 2.0 l diesel CRDI and 1.8 l TSI petrol which was previously available only in their flagship Volkswagen Passat. The new engines have more oomph! diesel giving 110bhp@4200rpm and petrol having 160bhp@4500-6500rpm along with 6 speed gearbox, previously given with their Ocatvia RS model. If u have seen the new Maruti ads which asks the Question, 'Kitna Deti Hai?' which made me ask the same to Skoda's Technical advisor , well it averages 13-14 kmpl in city any about 17-18 kmpl on highway, it pretty much depends on your driving as few owners have claimed to get average in range of 19-20 kmpl. Now for the laid back people who do not depend on the numbers while buying their cars, this car certainly fulfills all the requirements for its segment. Those who love the driving (like me) the front seats come with 8 way adjustable system which is standard and L&K offering 12 way adjustable seats. The steering is telescopic mounted with a large accelerator pedal for those long drives. the glove compartment also serves as a chiller box for those chilled beers!! Company is offering a good quality music system with 8 speakers along with ipod connectivity but the space utilisation is seen here too, storage space in between the front seats which also can be used as small chill box.

As soon as I opened the rear doors it gave a very welcoming feeling with its well furnished seats with leather upholstery and wooden panels, the spacing was inch perfect with proper under thy support and comfortably inclined back. its has a centre armrest with small storage space along with access to the boot which is given standard with all variants.

The rear passengers are well taken care off with air vents in between the front seats. However the only pace where the car could be better would be buy removing the hump in the rear leg space which would accommodate three people comfortably. The boot space offered by Skoda is always class leading with 560 ltrs with notch booth for those who like to carry extra luggage.

If you are seriously thinking of buying then be ready to pay between 14 to 19 lakhs ex-mumbai. Skoda Laura is available in Ambiente, Elegance, L&K variants. We tested the Ambiente and Elegance MT Diesel models with the base model being Ambiente at Rs 14.11 lakhs (ex-mum) and Elegance at Rs 15.63 lakhs (ex-mum), both offer relatively same features only extra being dual climate control, 16" alloys, leather upholstery and wooden decor. These extra features for elegance can be made available just by adding around Rs 60-70 grand in Ambiente. The L&K model is prices at Rs 18.46 (ex-mum) but comes fully loaded with lost of features, just to name a few are Tiptronic gearbox, TCS(Traction Control System), ESP(Electronic Stability Programme), Touch Music System,etc. Owning a Skoda is just not that easy, ask any Skoda owner about its maintenance charges and you might give it a second thought.

According to our research you will be likely to spend around Rs 1.5 to 2 per km on maintenance apart from fuel running cost and depreciation cost. Overall running cost can be estimated to around rs 7-8 per km all inclusive (based on our calculations). As for the discounts you can get up to Rs 30000 to 40000 based on your negotiations, our dealer informed us that they were offering additional discounts if you are already a Skoda car owner. As per our negotiations we were able to squeeze out discount in excess for Rs50000 along with mudflaps, film and matting being complimentary. For those considering Skoda Laura L&K, do have a look at the Volkswagen Jetta Comfortline before buying. As for me, I am waiting for Laura RS with 2.0l TSI petrol with 200PS and 2.0l TDI diesel with 170PS (check out the pics)

- Nitesh bansal 
  The Grease Monkey