Fiat Linea Vs Honda City

Hi all,

I am facing the same dilamma as many others have been facing or have faced. new honda city or Fiat linea?! I almost finalized new city when I saw Linea and though driving of city is better but I am so much impressed with the looks of linea that I atill want to go for it. now I am confused whether to go for diesel or petrol. My daily driving is not much.(10-15 Kms). so I was consediring petrol version but have read in forums that Deisel is more powerful (usually petrol is better). In my case (300-400 Kms a month) whether it would be a better decision to go for the petrol version. Pls advice me on this.

Thanks

The petrol Linea is quite under powered. So if you are considering the Linea buy only the diesel.

Daily running and total mileage in a month are not criterion for modern diesels.

I have gone thru' the same problem, thankfully its resolved.

I was about to book City in Jan 09, but have booked Linea Petrol Red on Mar 16 09.

Why Linea- well due to its interiors, external looks, features, etc - its a value for money to the tune of over 2 lacs over City. In fact, I fell short of admiring the looks of City as compared to Linea. Its longer, spacious, though my family members are average heighted, else rear headroom is less. I am buying a family car, there are some driver cons in Linea, less pick-up compared to City, less brand equity, low resale value, well, I had decided to set a trend while opting for Linea, Out of 10 people going for such Car, City could be a safe bet but then you shell out 1.2 lacs more for the petrol vehicle with much less feature.

If you want to keep the car for more than 5 year, resale hardly matters whether you own Linea or city at that time.

Regarding TCO ( Total Cost of OWnership, Linea is far cheaper than City ).

Why Linea Petrol - well I don't drive much 30-50 km a day & 100 Km plus on Sundays. Diesel should be preferred if you drive too long and too often. You need to calculate your driving and then decide.

Secondly , I feel uncomfortable even in best of Diesel Packed cars, I feel it even in Mercedes too. Petrol is smoother and more comfortable - well this is purely my perception, though Diesel is a huge preferance by vast majority and they are right in their own way, after fuel cost diff. is Rs 10 Cheap. This gap may go off once the Duel pricing on diesel gets announced, I am not sure when that would happen.

Just wrote, whatever I felt was a right for me, anyways I am not an expert in cars, many people on this and other sites can advise you much better.

Lastly, when I test drive all three cars, Linea Petrol, Diesel & City, I even drove SX4, Linea Petol is what I found the real VFM( value for Money ) with all Pros and Cons all these cars offer to we the confused people. Well hats off to FIAT, HONDA & MARUTI,HYUNDAI & GM for creating such a close fight.

Best Wishes Rajnish Sharma

Binoy, I have worked on this aspect also at length before opting for Linea Petrol.

My findings are as follows:

1] Yes the Pick up < 50KMPH is slow in both Diesel and Petrol, but hey we are not onformula one racing track. City Roads don't offer you that opportunity.

2] Above 60KMph all cars look the same, i.e City, & Lineas - petrol /Diesel )

3] I had thought that since Linea is bigger car, it may have sluggish/underpowered engine

But today I feel that the Power distribution at various RPMs has been intelligently mapped by FIAT R&D.

4] Lastly, its the torque at each critical Drive RPM and not the power that matter.

In that case, I found Petrol is at par with Diesel though both of them are much lower than City.

Anyways, I am not going to drive above 100kmph ever( that too whereever national highways permit me), then max speed of 160KMPH of LINEA or 180KMPH OF city don't make much of difference to me.

If we drive decently and want to safe at home, Linea is not an underpowered for that purpose, Oh thats a socialist view indeed.

Dear Binoy , your views had helped me a lot, while I silently read these tread for 2 months.

Thanks & Regards

Rajnish Sharma

Rajnish your reasoning is quite sound!

Happy to hear that you are totally satisfied with the petrol Linea.

-my driving impressions were based on a short TD(around 5kms), the real world performance of the car would be on par with other segment cars. The peppyness was present at higher engine RPM's but what that would do to the FE would be another thing.

-the in gear acceleration figures(which is a reflection of the real world conditions) are about 2 seconds off the segment average.

-but as you say-the VFM that the Linea present is un beatable(even a civic/altis should be worried), and in that respect the diesel more so than the petrol(and hence the previous recommendation).

hi, can anyone tell me if it is advisable to purchase the fiat linea petrol model coz i have heard lot of appreciation for the mjd diesal engine but how is the overall performance of the fire petrol engine.

Rajnish, I would like some substantiation. Can you provide please? Thanks!

Dear Krishna,

I did some research of Cost of Parts between City and Linea thru' the 3 dealerships at Faridabad. My Findings are as follows:

1] The top 50 high cost parts are cheaper in Linea than City.

2] The service intervals are being claimed aslonger in Linea than City

3] Fuel Economy might be better or at least at par in Linea compared to City.

4] Call Centre being operated for Linea are at par with those with City in terms of efficiency and knowledge. ( I checked up both ).

These are just my personal observations/ perceptions whch helped in deciding for linea. You may like to get in touch for experts for better clarity. Thanks & Regards Rajnish Sharma

Dear Chhayank, FIRE Engine is at par with MJD both PS/Torqusewise

Choice of Petrol over Diesel may depend on Driving, Cost of Fuel, Driving comfort.

Some people like me prefer a smoother ride, drive less , then Petrol is a natural choice.
Else MJD is a better engine. Other Car Manufacturer are using the same base Engine like Swift,etc.

I like FIRE Engine, its packaging is nice.

Anyways I am not an expert in this field. You may kindly be in touch with Experts for your choice.

Thanks & Regards Rajnish Sharma

Post edited to merge subsequent posts.

Dear rajneesh and Binoy

thanks for your replies. Now that I have made my mind to go for Linea... and join the list of ANHC defaulters my biggest concern in still whether it should be petrol or Deisal. I was going for petrol as like Rajneesh I want a smoother drive and my driving is not much. But I am hearing contineously that in case of linea Diesel model is better. I want to know on what criteria it is better. Is at a smoother and more comfortable ride as compared to petrol or just because it is more fuel efficient. as I sais earlier my firsr priority is a smoother ride. If deisel is better in that respect also then I will go for deisel otherwise for petrol. Can anyone suggest me on this.

Thanks and regards

Nikhil

Dear Nikhil,

Petrol is smoother than diesel, there is no doubt about it. At Low rpm u would observe low NVH as compared to diesel.

The main reason for MJD preference by people is the following:

MJD is tried and tested Engine, being used by many companies, Japanes cos also prefering to source FIAT engines.

Diesel is Rs 10 Cheaper- after all it is a political fuel till Duel Pricing policy gets announced. I have come to know that if the same group comes to power , the Duel Pricing may get implemenetd in next year after which Diesel cars would at par with Petrol.

Till then Diesel is an obvious prefered choice.

If u want a smoother drive ( diesel is also good , but petrol is better) but would drive less Go for Petrol, else Diesel chould be preferred.

Regards Rajnish

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