5.0 ఎక్స్టీరియర్ | 3.0 కంఫర్ట్ | 4.0 పెర్ఫార్మెన్స్ |
2.0 ఫ్యూయల్ ఎకానమీ | 4.0 వాల్యూ ఫర్ మనీ |
Hi All,
Althrough I am a active user of the carwale forums for the car reviews for 5 years, I haven't shared my experience with my palio and would like to share some of my experience with this car.
I bought this car in Jun'2008 after extensive reviews for various cars including GetZ, Swift, Swift Dzire, Indica, Wagon R. I have done a extensive analysis with my friends, test drives etc etc.. We can straight away rule out comparing the Palio 1.6 with Wagon R & Indica. Also Myself bit crazy about high speeds, but I always prefer the speed vs your comfort at high speeds.
Almost All my friends were opposing me for this car, citing reasons as poor maintenance, not reliable.
I have done a extensive analysis on the cost, space, power ratio, ground clearance, torque, comfort feeling, features ( brouchers, mauals, test drives) and finally decided to go ahead with Palio Stile 1.6 Sport. I felt this has a edge in many aspects that I have compared except the only point which I felt about it is the Maintenace. But it's ok, as my friend who is working in the Sales & Marketting of Automobiles used to tell me that this car does not run into issues simply.
It's a pretty sturdy vechicle, I can gurantee that the amount of steel used in palio can be used to make atleast 3 - 4 Swift / Getz car. I am not joking, You can read out the steel aspect ratio / feel it when you go for the test drive.
After my purchase, I ensured keeping a variance of RPM between 1.5 to 2.5 ( x1000) to ensure the engine gets set ( althrough it's not required - that's my style).
I always have long drives to my hometown which is around 650 - 700 KM ( Bangalore to Tiruchendur).
The highway experience / drive quality is really awesome. I have sat on my friends Swift for some long drives where I can feel the speed after it cross the speed of 120KM. But in Palio - Even when I drive at 130 - 140 KM, the comfort is pretty good and more important , the ability for you to stop at emergency is awesome. You won't feel inside like you are applying a very sharp breakes.
Overall, I felt the following key things that edge Palio as pretty good as compared to other cars, All these points are through my experience.
1. The drive control, even at 140 KM speed, I felt pretty comfortable.
2. The Aero dynamics of the car, which allows you to accelerate rapidly from 100 - 140 without hassles, even with AC on. I can bet we can't think of this many cars in this segment. This is very much good when you overtake cars that are driving constaly at 110 / 120 KM. Becoz, I have seen many cars compete now a days at the Bangalore - Madurai highway, You can zoom pass those vechicles.
3. No need to mention about the 100 BHP, through it's only at 100/ 5500, which is nice ( not excellent ).
4. The strudy feeling; You feel very comfort, Very spacious..
4. I would like to deny the poor milege part - I also used to get 9 / 14 KM mileage in the past. However in my recent trip to my hometown, I kept constantly driving at 80- 100 KM. ( Not more than that ), and I got a high-way mileage of 18KM. I am sure even the Palio owner would get a heart-attack by hearing this. But it so happened in my car. And with the city drive now, I am getting close to 12 - 13 KM by keeping costant rev power.
5. I love the Palio Head lights - Too Sporty and give a very good feeling in the night.. Althrough the power is 55 - You can put 100/ h7.
6. Vechichle Noise - You would absolutely hear nothing / not even a small vibration inside your car when the car is running with AC/ thanks to 1600 Engine.
Some Cons :
1. Spare Parts - You may end up waiting since Tata does not stock up the palio;
2. Not easy to get serviced in small towns; But imagine this would hold good for any high-end car ( if you have Honda Accord / Toyota Corolla).. :-)
3. The spare tyre is not tubeless - Which means it would not get used along with the tubeless tyres ( which comes with the wheel).
Overall, I would give a edge to Palio (Provided you accept the cons, which is v.important & Mileage) and go ahead. Ofcourse I feel every car has it's own pros & cons.
Anto.
Style, Space, Stability at high speed, ground clearance, Break GripProbably Mileage - But not bad..