Almost there: My first car

Avoid LPG car (discussed before in post #15) - your run too isn't substantially high.  Between Santro & i10, go for i10.  That extra 20K is worth the difference between the two.  i10 will also fetch you better resale.  It generally returns mileage of 12-14 in city & 16-18 on highway (depending upon the driving conditions & style).  Service & maintenance cost of Hyundai cars are higher than Maruti's - but quite competitive. i10 has very good build quality - maintenance on that front will be less.  Hyundai network too is good enough.

I was reading newspaper today and there is a news of Explosion in Wagon-r LPG while refilling in Banda, One lady is seriously injured. But I think the car was not Wagon-r Duo. Company fitted LPG kit is safe.

Samik has bought an i10 Era - his post has been separated in to a new thread as it contained queries on accessories - have a look at the thread.

Hi all,

I was going through the review posted by Dev Dutt titled "i10 - a very unsafe car" at http://www.carwale.com/Research/ReadFullUserReview-rid-23198-sort-3-m-65233155.html

It's disturbing to know that the best selling hatch back on Indian roads has such a shady side to it. Personally it is scary for me, as I have decided in favor of i10 Era and paid the initial 5000 bucks.

I am not questioning the safety aspect of the car outrightly. THe Euro NCAP ratings for i10 is quite good (maybe in Europe i10 with Air bags is tested). Adult safety = 4/5, child safety = 4/5 and pedestrian safety = 3/4. The scores are better than A-Star/Alto (overall 3/5), Ritz/Splash (4/5, 3/5, 3/4), Honda Jazz (4/5,3/5,3/4), Chevrolet Matiz (2.5/5, 3/5,2/4), Fabia (4/5,3/5,2/4).

But from robustness and insurance POV, a fibre/plastic built engine means more and more cost of repairs. Yes, everyone says that Hyundai cars don't require frequent trips to workshops. But if something unfortunate happens, then it's matter of huge burden.

Is the Santro engine (same as i10 1.1) also built of fibre?

Enlightened gentlemen/ladies please post your thoughts.

I think its a genuine review by Mr. Dev Dutt and after such accident only one can feel how safe and strong the car is!!! About Euro NCAP ratings, doesnt really matters untill one is driving a fully loaded with dual airbags & ABS.

Samik, I had bad experience with Even a Wagon-r & Santro too. In both the cases damage was too much. Earliar, I mentioned both the cases in my review but few thought I am a liar, I mentioned for benefit of others only. Wagon-r suffers alot even in a minor accident! Really a bad experience with the best seller!!

Santro's case was unique coz Hyundai service guy told us Hyundai Ki histroy may aisa unique case nahi aaya, where steering rod damaged when an Old Kawasaki 4S hit the front tyre (Driver side), The Jr. Doctor who was driving that bike got cut on his chin and he kicked start his bike and left from there but when my partner tried to turn the Santro, I was amazed the steering was Jam, thenafter when mechanic applied little bit pressure, Steering was totally free and a piece of Steering rod was down there below car.

Many wont believe what I am telling is the truth or not but the fact is Jis tan lagi wo tan jani I would like to mention, at KTL (maruti body shop lucknow) one surveyor of a leading insurance company told me.. Sir G maine wagon-r say halki gaadi nahi dekhi, jara si chhu jaye, bahut nuksaan hota hai.

Samik, there are all types of reviews here & elsewhere - on car performance, maintenance, safety etc. etc.  i10 is currently the most preferred & successful car.  It, to my understanding & knowledge, is as safe or unsafe as any other car in its segment (broadly speaking).  Have a look at a similar discussion/concern.

It's two weeks now that I have zeroed on i10 Era. Today I went to pay the margin money to the dealer and finalize the loan processing at SBI. I was told that the car will be delivered by Thursday.

Only at the Dealer's place, I came to know that new batches of i10 Era will now onwards come with immibolizer. The Imm version costs 1500 more than the older one. So at the last moment 'am going for the newer version. Delivery has been delayed to next Wednesday. Anyway, Immobilizer will be a nice feature to have. I can wait.

With effect from 11th of Jun, Hyundai has introduced Imm option for all i10 and i10 Kappa. Also Santro will be available with Tubeless tire and Imm upgrade in next two months. Good for those who are planning to buy Santro in near future.

Just FYI, guys who are thinking of taking loan check the SBI option. Though the process is document intensive and time consuming, the rates are too good(I availed the fixed first year 10% offer and will pay back in a year), processing fee waived and good service (Was pleasantly surprised to see them working till 5 o' clock in a saturday. Inspection at the office was also very smooth).

Please check the terms & conditions.  Prepayment of loan before half the tenure of the loan is completed, will attract 2% pre-payment penalty.

Congratulations for the finalising on i10 - a good choice/decision.

I jus signed the agreement for SBI disbursement yesterday, they sd tht loan can be prepaid only after 2.5 years w/o pre-payment penalty.

That's because your repayment schedule must be of 5 years.  It's half the tenure.