A great value for Money car!

 

Since this forum helped me choose Cedia and having driven it 4700 Kms, I consider it my duty to come back on this forum and Thank everyone who helped me buy this car, including my colleague at work who also purchased a Cedia a month ago before I did. I finally bought Cedia Select (Ashton Grey) in September 2008 from Excel Motors Gurgaon.  Here is my take on the car. I am using the same parameters as are reflected listed on this site

Style - Looks although conventional but neat lines, no frills or spacecraft like designs but sure is a very good example of what a refined car should look like. Although back could have been wider to keep with the current trend and additional boot space (not that it is any lesser now). Driver view is as commanding as I have seen in any other car. Even the base version has everything you can look forward to chrome door handles, alloy wheels, fine leather covered steering and gear knob, foot mats.

Comfort - Everyone who has sat in the car cannot stop admiring about the space it has to offer for the front seat passenger. Backseats have sufficient leg space and comfort in fact I found it better that Skoda Octavia back seats. For the driver it is absolutely comfortable, have driven it for 10 hours in a day a combination of city and highway without getting fatigued, ergonomics seem to be in place. The car has features reserved for high end cars ABS, EBD, saftey bags, wood and titanium dash, independent suspensions etc. The resale value is not a consideration for me but others who have this should do a check from the market.

Performance – Sharpest in the city traffic, do a test ride to believe it (Highest torque in its category). Although 115 bhp seem a lot less for a 2.0 L engine, let’s not forget it has been detuned for the Indian market so as to give the right fuel efficiency.

Maneuverability is best in the segment with 4.9M turning radius and it shows. Even the sharpest of turns are no issues given the bigger size. The engine is super silent and cabin noise is zero. All you hear is bridgestone tyre noise (standard factory fitted), I am told Michelin should be the next replacement if you want to get rid of this noise as well. Have tested it at the speeds of 140 KMPH and never felt out of control with its super efficient braking and control. It’s a driver’s car.

Value for Money - Although everyone would like to be assured that they made the right decision, in my case it turned out that the car was at its lowest price point in recent times on account of two reasons First Discount offered was Rs. 80K and Second Mitsubishi was introducing the new model very next month (Dealer was frank enough to point out the price difference and it turned out exactly the same), with the changes mentioned below. It made sense to me the only trade off would have been in my case the climatronics (not sure how effective it is in the new model – comments welcome).

Fuel Economy – Max I have clocked is 14.8 KM/L after first servicing which a combination of highway and city was driving. City driving is giving me around 12-13, I drive it gently (Key is to keep RPM below 2k Mark, don’t rev it up unnecessarily, highways are the best place to do it).

As far as maintenance is concerned, my question to everyone would be with parts cut of 25-40% sometime back it should be in the range of Optra and others (service interval 10000 KMs).  On the contrary it gives you are more likely to get a better response/treatment from the dealer and less of waiting time as compared to the more popular brands in India. The only challenge is the presence in metros and big cities. My car has gone for just one servicing and the service center guys have been courteous enough to call check and explain quite a few things.

Decent Fuel economy for the size, good looks, handlinglower seating