I love my Palio - 5 years and still got hooked

I am Palio 1.2 ELX owner for 5 years now. Other than regular maintenance and fueling it is really trouble free car. My writting to the readers is the way I show the gratitude for the team which built it. Today I am enjoying the sturdy, safe, streamlined shape car with TATA maintenance network across the country. What more I could ask for from the car. When I made this choice between Tata Indica Diesel Vs Palio 1.2 Petrol on 2003 it was high risk- high reward proposition. Now I am at the high reward side of the pie and I am sharing the same to you.

My selection Criteria were :-
1) The car should be with in my budget - around 4~5 lacs
2) The car should have good streamlined look and wider than maruthi cars
3) May be this car I want to own for life time ! :-) true - I thought that way
4) While Driving feel safe in my car when I accelerate ( good road grip) and do braking for safety
5) My car will be used inter city travel and should be suitable for long drive
6) My car should beat the macho looking vehicles (TATA SUMO / Scarpio) on the road especially on hilly drives.
7) My car should be in petrol and give 15 mile per liter on high way
8) My car should start after I park my vehicle couple of months  when I will be away from home.
9) My car drive should feel smooth on the rough road drive
10) The AC should be quick and should not be felt on the engine at any speed
 
My realizations are :-
1) My Palio ELX 1.2 costed 4.5 lacs with accessories
2) Palio Petrol is the car which was designed originally from the scratch not built on previous frames. So you see it as a place for every thing and everything in its place.The curve of the vehicle at every axis is wonderful. I am not ashamed to call it as my girl.
3)I am not thinking of selling as of now. Lifetime ownership goes moment by moment. Loves might understand what I say :-)
4)The car is very stable and I was saved during many unavoidable risky situations on road by the excellent breaking.
5 & 6) Weekly I drove car from Bangalore to Trichy (6 Hrs Drive - one way) through Krishnag
ri hills and beating all scarpio's every time. My friends say I got the ferrari engine - it responds my gentle demands with Fury !
7) My car gives 13 ~ 13.5 mile per litter. It is my choice for silent, vibration free interior and all my friends who bought INDICA diesel during 2003 are not owning them any more.
8) I deactivated the alarm system because it had caused the battery drain. Now no issue on starting.
9) On rough road it is having good suspension but I have the feeling of driving mini SUV
10) AC is quick and never felt its load on the engine at any speed ( 72 BHP - microprocessor controlled - integrated to ignition engine is my lovely compact power)

I have shared my experience - Now what are you going to do?
I want Palio 1.2 ELX should be available to you too !

J Sahayaraja,Bangalore

Good Style, Road Safety, Responsive Engineback seat less spacious, moderate fuel efficieny in city drive