Drives like a dream - Swift VDi - rules the road

After much researching, finally got my hands on the beauty - Swift VDi is all shining armor. First look and you know this is the car for me and once I test drove it, fell in love with it. Booked mine on 9th June 2008 and got the delivery within 9 days on 18th June 2008.

Dealer: Rohan, Noida
The folks@ Rohan were a little careless and did not pay attension however the sales exective was very helpful and kind, he ensured that I would get the car within 10 days and so I did. Glad I didn’t have to wait like the rest.
Cost: 5.63L on Road
First Feel: Being my first Car, I took great pleasure driving my little beatuty out of the showroom. When I drove it - I could feel the superior Fiat Altec3 Multijet Engine churn out power under the hood. The 75 horses lives up to my expectations. The torque on this babe is an amazing 190nm which is far ahead of the rest in its class.
I had to be very careful when pressing the accelerator - the car simply wants to take off. The sad part however is that the engineers @ Maruti suggest you to drive it within 2000rpm or 70kmph for the first 1000kms. So why is it the sad part??? Well the turbo kicks in @ 2000rpm and then its the open road and the others cars can get a good good at your car's rear - coz it takes off totally.
VDi is running one of the most advanced compact diesel engines in the world. As it features on the Fiat Punto as well in Europe and will be seen in India soon. I would say the engine noise is surely higher when compared to its Petrol counterpart(about 15-20% louder) but dont mind that because of the driving pleasure totally compensates for this. You cant expect to compare a diesel engine with a pertrol - not happening. My VDi is giving me an amazing 17.5kmpl average in Delhi with ac on about 70% of the time. Just for the record - I have clocked just 600 kms yet. Just waiting for the first service before I take her out on the highway to end of the road...for a long trip. I was told me that after the first service the average should touch 19kmpl and after 2nd service - about 20 in city.
Body noise is going to set in no matter VXi or VDi. But can be fixed on service by putting in dampers etc.
Diesel has its own advantages over petrol:
- its meant to driven longer and at steady speeds without much effect to the engine (engine is designed to take stress)
- Running cost - though slightly higher than petrol (about 20-25% more than petrol) however the low fuel costs compensate for it
- Noise is slightly more then petrol but with the ac on and stereo playing "no difference"
- advantage of Diesel is that it comes packed with a Turbo charger and intercooler. An awesome multilet common rail diesel engine indeed. Won the Engine of the yr award in UK 2005. Turbo charger kicks in at 2000rpm and wow is all I can say. The car feels like a sports car suddenly. Very very peppy and responsive engine.
- VXi Torque 113nm | VDi torque is a woooping 190nm (you know the difference when u push the peddle)
- Petrol will give an average of 10-12 in city while the diesel should give 18-20kmpl in city
- Petrol servicing @ 5000 kms. Diesel servicing @ 10,000kms each
For running 1000 kms per month VXi @ 11 kmpl & VDi @ 18 kmpl lets see the cost difference:
VXi -> (1000/11) x 54 (cost of Premium Petrol@Delhi) = 4909
VDi -> (1000/18) x 37 (cost of Premium Diesel@Delhi) = 2055
Difference: 2853/- Per Month Saving
VDi is 75k more expensive than VXi - Difference in finance amount (loan EMI per month) is 1688/-
You Save: 1165rs

Now the best part ->
Standard VDi
Power: 75 bhp
Torque: 190 nm
Top Speed: 170 km/hr
0-100 - 12.5 seconds

With a Pete's Digital Tuning Box (costs 10k in US & 30k in India)
Power goes up to: 92 bhp
Torque goes upto: 212 nm
Top Speed: 192 km/hr
0-100 - 9.5 seconds
Wallah - you cant do this magic with any other car in this segment. Basically you can beat a Camry with your VDi.

Handling - simply amazing. However I think its good to have 185 tyres with alloys - improves handling by a good 25%. Cost for Allows + 185 tyres Michelin should be 22-24k

Cars which featured on my List of options:
Hyundai Getz: Naaah. Not enough oomph when compared to the Vdi. Average is pathetic. And the car is more expensive than Vdi + maintenance is on the higher side. But features a very refined engine. not as peppy as a swift vdi but refined.
Aveo: Very nice car. Great interiors and built quality. 1.6 engine is a boon. But outta my budget :(
Fabia: Ooo the debut car of this year. Spacious but a small 1.2L engine aint powerful as VDi. Price: almost 7L OMG!!!

Problems / Issues:
1. Cabin Noise
2. Plastic quality
3.Out of the box Looks, Fuel Economy, OOMPH Factor, Low Maintenance, Ride QualityLow quality plastic interiors, fragile bumpers, a tad bit stiff suspension & cabin noise