Been dying to write my own review ever since I first read a review here. I have been saving up for my swift since the beginning of 2007. Picked it up on 19th November from Hissar - (CSD sales).
I had only read about the Swift diesel and the 99.9% positive reviews gave me the courage to buy one without actually test driving one! (As if buying a swift wasn't hard enough - getting a test drive is like asking a Rottweiler for his bone).
Anyway, for all of you planning to buy a SWIFT Diesel - GO RIGHT AHEAD! It's an amazing car! I had to drive it around 180 KMS from Hissar to Gurgaon and both my brother and I enjoyed the drive to the hilt.
It's been 3 and a half months and my car has done 6000+ kms and I've given it for its second service recently. I'm a careful driver and make sure I don't push the car unnecessarily - It's giving me an average of between 18.5 and 20 kmpl in the city(Delhi and NCR), using the AC/with the heater to demist the windscreen at times.
I try and drive at 60KMH and also shift to 5th gear as I touch the 60 KMH mark. I do push the car to 80 - 100 KMH on the highway between Delhi and Gurgaon, but thats not for long stretches. The best part - or in some cases unnerving part is that you can't feel the speed that you're driving at - you touch 80KMH without realising it, thinking all the while that you're doing 60(I used to drive a ZEN earlier - in that you can feel the road when you're passing 60)! The car has an amazing reserve of power which youcan use to overtake irratating road hogs. Just press the acc pedal when you want to overtake and the turbo kicks it at just the right time - whoooooooshh is the awesome sound you hear from the engine - i sometimes turn my radio down just to hear that beautiful sound - it's pure music to my ears! :D
Now for the serious review:
The car is well built and the doors have the typical heavy car door sound - they go THUNK when you shut them. The interior is quite spacious - in front. The dashboard is well laid out and is neat to look at - the instrument console (speedometer- fuel guage, temp guage, warning lights) is easily visible. The rear seats according to my brother are quite comfy - there's decent leg room for the rear passenger even with the front seats pushed almost back.
The only thing missing in the rear seats in terms of comfort are teh rear head rests - the LDi doesn't have them! It doesn't bother much me since I'm the one who'll be driving most of the time! :D Another point that I'd like to bring up about the rear seats is to counter what some reviewers have said about the sloping roof cramping the rear seat occupants. - According to me, it is an optical illusion that the rear seat occupants are cramped due to the sloping roof - the only reason being that the front of the roof is actually quite high - the head room in front is more than adequate for a man in a turban to sit comfortably. so by the time the roof tapers to the rear - it's actually at a normal height - Hats off to the designers for that!
The turning radius is qreally good too - compared to the Fiat Palio 1.9D (i used to drive my sisters car a lot) it's a dream!
The bigger wheels tend to absorb more potholes that the Gurgaon roads have to offer the daily commuter!
The car is broader than what it seems, and takes a bit of getting used to - ADVICE: install the Left ORVM immediately upon purchase of the car- and USE IT! I've heard people say they don't use it because they don't want to break them in traffic - I feel its better to break a mirror than to break your car!!! In the swift the central rear view mirror doesn't offer too much visibility - so the outside mirrors really help - besides good drivers use these mirrors effectively!
The boot is not as spacious as some cars in this category - however, one can easily pack 3 air bags for a weekend trip OR a large suitcase. I feel it's enough- after all if you want to move house - you'll hire a truck won't you!
The LDi doesn't come with a tachometer, body coloured door handles, power windows, day/night RVM, rear seat headrests and shiny silver garnishing(which fades off) on the door handles, AC vents, central console and gear knob. Left ORVM, day night mirror. You don't get wheel caps either. You have to shell out 30K more for all of the above in the form of the VDi. I feel this is not really necessary and can be installed for much less from outside. I do feel that Maruti should give a day/night mirror left ORVM with the LDi too - combined they cost just about 3000/- why the stingyness Maruti?
There are enough cubbyholes to hold water and beer cans - not to mention your CD's etc.
I'm extremely happy with my car - the mileage being the best part - I fill a full tank of diesel for around Rs. 1030/- which lasts me more than 600kms, compared to my colleagues & friends who fill a full tank of petrol for around 1700/- which lasts them around 500kms! :D
I think the LDi is the best diesel hatchback in terms of value for money in the country today - The other day I stopped aside a Skoda Fabia and out of curiosity asked the owner how much it was for on road - 8.25 came the reply! another driver i asked said 8.5! I guess the fabia is preMIUM and all that - but the LDi - its just "yumYUM!"
Hope you all liked this review - it's the first time im writing on any website! Cheers and till next time - Drive safe, wear your seatbelts - and Keep your eyes on the road and your hands upon the Wheel!
17-June 08.
Ive done 17000 kms in my Swift and shes still rocking! still gives me an amazing avg of 17+ kmpl in city (AC on 99%). Had an alignment prob - pulled left badly - but APRA autos - Gurgaon sorted it out! Took her to Mc leodganj - she EATS the hills! Amazing pullling power! Swift ROCKS
14-August
