My Test drive experience of Verna Fiesta Linea & Dezire

Very recently (last month), I went on a prowl for buying a car. I wanted to get a Company leasse car and was looking for the best discounts available.

My budget was upto 10 Lakhs and wanted a diesel vehicle ( eventually ended up spending more buying something totally different, but to that story later)

And my prime criteria for the car was-

Performance & sturdy build followed by the list of must haves-
1. ABS
2. Airbags
3. Tall boy features- leg room comfort, rear seat comfort
4. Decent boot space
5. Decent interiors
6. Decent Ground clearance + low on maintenance


The cars which i considered initially were- (I managed to drive all these cars in excess of 100+ and through a variety of roads- since I live close to a highway)
1. Linea D emt pk
2. Verna d (although it didnt come with Airbags)
3. Dezire
4. Fiesta D

Dezire-
Never liked the car (looks perspective), drove a colleagues car and was surprised by the smooth transmission. So asked Garuda Motors, BLR to bring me a top version for test drive.

What I liked-
Very smooth engine & Transmission
Had all features that I wanted
The dealer said the vehicle gives an on road mileage of 18+ in the city and some of his customers have even reported 20+ kmpl in city.
Honestly this surprised me and made me interested in Dezire. looked 2 me from owning perspective it would be dirt cheap.

What I hated-
The build quality was CRAP
Most plastics shook in the car. Plastic container which you find by the road side are of better quality than those put in Dezire
Interiors except for the looks of the Music player were total crap
Don't believe me try shaking the plastics below the gear knob- it looked like it will come off in one go....
NO cupholders, very small glove box

Driving experience- I some how felt that I was sitting on a stool / uncomfy seating position. I have broad shoulders and prob thats why felt the seating let down (the same applies to rear seats, except its slightly comfortable than Swift)- So long journeys are not goona be comfortable

Compared to the Linea, the power curve in the intial was better but dropped once I drove past 80. And @ 110+ the car started handling bit strangely, made me uncomfortable

Dealer discount- Nothing
3 months waiting period, 8.4 lakhs on road in Bangalore
However the dealer was ready to knock 70k of SX4 & 20k on Ritz

Verdict- Except for the deal said road milage & smooth transmission- the car is a total let down and not worth the money

Fiesta Diesel-
Dealer quoted a milage of 16- 18 in the city.
Power was total let down
Had already owned up a 1.8D Nxt,

engine performance was a total crap as compared to others in the segment (had this test driven right after driving verna, so maybe my expectations could have been set high), same interiors as other Fiestas. Seating comfort same as IKON so nothing new here...
The engine was reluctant not to move forward, it took me ages to cross 120, felt like a I had mellinium

Metro Ford promised a special price of 50k knocked off on ONR. (Corp customer, long standing relations with ford + my friend works as HR Manager in Ford India)
So it was 8.6L minus 50 k for on road
And no alloys
Verdict- Didn't feel anything special with this car

Verna-
What I liked- Performance
What I did not- Did not feel anything special about the car, plus no Airbags (must, actually want to put my wife behind wheels in a big truck but cant afford it- an incredible driver she is)
Suspension was bit sluggish on pit holes
Interiors were boring!!!
@ 9.5 lakhs on road minus 45K discounts didnt make me want this car. Dealer- Trident Hyundai - didnt bargain/ ask for more since was not very interested in the car. But if required could have haggled for a better price

Linea-
Adored this car evey time, I went past one. Truly admiration guaranteed.

What I liked- Everything about the car, had everything I wanted from a sedan. Great looking interior, superb finish that would keep me engaged to it

What I did not like-
The engine- transmission was a let down.
The car did not oblige to start/ move in 2nd gear when on up hill slope....
Rear seat arm rest could have been made better.
Something about the transmission & driving it made did not give me the thrills.
I actually wanted this car, long before I test drove any other and started seriously on the car hunt....
I still feel Fiat should have made the PK accessories available in emotion without making you to pay extra for it. (Actually otherwise would have purchased it)

But since I had driven the Optra Magnum, to me it was love @ first drive. So decided to shell out the extra for it. Or defenitly would have gone for the Linea

Dealer- (forgot its name, located near Lal bagh road) offered OK Corp discount- 30K
9.5L - 30 K final price, but recently called me and checked if I was still interested and that he will try do something better. By then had already decided on the Magnum

Verdict- Amazing car, would have been great value if only they had included PK accessories in std Emotion. Any day- a better value than others in this segment.