Skoda Rapid TSI vs Mitsubishi Cedia [2009-2013]

69 Ratings

5 Ratings

Buying experience is best and owning experience is the worst.

While buying, you may think that you bought a beast, luxury, super German type car etc. etc. Once you own this your bad time starts. Service station are the worst. It's engines reliability gives you lot of questions about their quality. Parts availability is the worst. Service credibility is pathetic. Service centers will suck your money like anything and irritate you like you never want to own a four wheeler. That's Skoda.

You got to drive this great car before you form an opinion!

<p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The family (Self wife and college going son) started to plan for a new car. The old one had been with us for pretty long (an Indica Petrol, I was one of the initial owners of Indica Petrol). The hunt was for a car in the segment of Rs 7.0 to 12.0 Lakhs). The family went to TD Corrolla, Civic, Verna, SX4 and Ford Fiesta. Mind you the TD was based on inputs about good drivers' cars and nothing else. But were thoroughly confused. The car would be self driven and as with all Indians the key evaluation parameters were - cost (running and maintenance), repair facilities, quality of vehicle, great ownership experience - we Indians are a choosy lot!</p> <p>One day we saw an ad in the newspaper for the Mitsubishi Cedia Sports car. Mind you we later realised that the Cedia ad was a rare occurance like the sighting of Halley's Comet. Immediately decided to call up the showroom for a TD. Arranged within the week. TD on the Mumbai Worli Sea link and lo and behold! Me and my son were immediately sold on the car's performance.</p> <p>From then on it was an uphill task to convince the lady of the house that this is the car to buy! Lots of research on the net, magazines, word of mouth (Cedia owners and drivers of owners :-)&nbsp; ) and showrooms. The main question by the lady was - if the car is so good why is it not bought by people since it is not frequently seen on the road, why does the company not advertise?</p> <p>It took quite a while but I think I finally deduced the answer! The same limited production / assembly line is used for other high end cars by Mitsubishi in India. If this car was marketed aggressively, the bottom line would suffer by greater demand of Cedias and lower net production of other high end models!!!!</p> <p>Finally folks, we prevailed and the family voted to buy the Cedia. It took us some time, booking, loan, delivery, etc. But when the car was taken home on 03 Oct 2010, the pride on owners' faces, the envious looks of the neighbours, the turning heads of other motorists, etc, etc, made it all worth its while.</p> <p>One comment while I was parking in Mumbai was - "the car shows that the owner loves his car and loves driving" made my day!!</p> <p>Why I have dwealt on the on the pre-purchase issues is because I want to convince prospective buyers that - there is not any other car as good as the Cedia Sports on the road today (in its class of course).</p> <p>For any further views/clarifications plz email me - ds3003@gmail.com.</p> <p>As with any other owner, I too dont stop talking good about this car!</p> <p>For everything else viz.,&nbsp; exterior, interiors, equipment, ride and handling quality, features - I have only one word - fabulous!! All in all it is a great ownership experience. Have done about 5k km, but the severe constraint of time doesn't allow me to drive more.</p> <p>I must also compliment the Mitsubishi staff at the showroom and the workshops I have visited (servicing etc) for their cheerful cooperation. The showroom staff did not harass me for the decision on purchase as the other firms do!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>Excellent style, great posture, fabulous interiors and fitted equipmentNon-availability of spares readily