Which 150cc to buy?

We are spoilt with choices now. Over 7 models of 150cc bikes available in market now. Which one to pick?

Hero Honda started off the 150cc segment with its flawless CBZ. It ruled the market until Bajaj spoiled the party with pulsars. It was then Pulsar which set some standards in the segment like standard electric start, alloys, discs etc. Pulsar dethroned CBZ with its stunning price and good fuel efficiency. Pulsar set the sales chart climbing then on. Then came the Honda's unicorn and the TVS apache. Unicorn was superb in quality but lacked styling. Apache had looks but not the performance upto Pulsar. It had woes with slippery tyres and poor battery. Still the pulsar ruled the market. Then comes the Apache RTR with a 10cc increase and grunt performance. Looks are good and performance hairy. But then, poor fuel efficiency. It still had more takers.

Yet, Pulsar remained king of 150cc segment. Suzuki too tried the segment with its 150cc gs150r. Had very few takers. Then comes a thunder in 150cc category. Yamaha launched YF-15 and FZ-16. The 150cc segment standard was set to impossible heights. Bajaj and TVS are shell-shocked. YF-15 had all the technologies and staggering performance. FZ-16 had the looks, performance and price set superbly (unlike Honda ;-) ). Youngsters throng Yamaha showrooms. Yamaha sales figures jumped double, triple, quadruple. Yamaha fanatics were delighted to see their favourite company coming back to full form after the legendary rx-100 period.

Looking for a new 150cc bike? Look no further than a FZ-16!

i10, i20 Safety flaw

Oops... What a mess by Hyundai! Its i10 & i20 cars have the front impact beam made of fibre! Quite shocking.. My i10 had a minor accident recently and the impact beam was broken. It costs a whooping 6k to replace. I am surprised why Hyundai made the impact beam with fibre. Even my earlier Santro had a proper steel impact beam! For i10, Hyundai has chosen cost cutting over the passenger safety. Pity!

Got an i10!

Atlast, I decided to change my old Santro to a new car. My requirements are simple. A petrol hatchback with decent power, style, fit and finish. My budget was around 4 lakhs. I considered Alto, WagonR, A-Star, Santro (again!), i10, Swift and Fabia. Fabia is sure out of my budget. Alto lacks power, fit and finish. WagonR's styling looks boring and the model is getting older. Santro's interior starts boring to me :-). Now I have 3 contenders. Nice looking i10, refreshing A-Star and superb Swift.

Petrol Swift is around for several years but still looks refreshing. Excellent performance, decent mileage and superb looks. It was the leader in the segment until diesel Swift spoiled the party. Butter smooth, torquey, fuel efficient diesel engine from Fiat changed the entire picture. Sales chart jumped and months long waiting list grew madly. Swift Petrol is left unnoticed. Diesel Swift piped petrol in 0-60, quarter mile drag and mileage in a huge margin (20+ in city!). Though the VDi costed a bomb onroad price of around 6 lakhs, people continued to throng on diesel. Me too liked diesel Swift but 6 lakhs is too much for that car!

Next is the newly launched A-Star. Same like Swift, the interiors are better than any other typical Maruti cars, it looks refreshing. The 3 cylinder single litre engine is superb in fuel efficiency and performance. But being a new car and the cramped rear passenger space made me to rethink.

And then I zeroed my choice to i10. The reliable 1.1 litre engine from Santro, entirely new body, superb interiors, excellent driving visibility, good rear leg room and cute looks impressed me a lot. Price too affordable, though I feel some 20k overpriced. I got my car last week and have run around 200kms till now. Long drives planned next month :-)

Demands for Swift Dzire diesel...

Everyone knows about the growing demand for Swift dzire diesel and months long (6 months?) waiting period. But now it has gone to next level. People are ready to pay as much as one lakh to get the car which is ready to deliver for others. Sounds insane right? I'm sure the delears are making much money with this.. Adding the one lakh, the car price goes to as close to 8 lakhs!!

Yes. The fiat 1.3 turbojet engine is a stunner.. But this price is too much. I'm sure the new Tata indica vista will give a good fight for Swift. I always like Maruti cars and their flawless service. But creating artificial demands and sky high hypes is just not acceptable in any standards. Some dealers claim 25 kmpl in city! No way... With the extra boot weight, AC on, typical city traffic it's hard to get more than 17-18.

In fact I once test drove the Swift VDi and very much impressed with its performance. It never felt like a diesel. But still I will go for the petrol for its superb free revving nature. So, Don't get carried away with the diesel hypes...

Think,decide and choose :-)

Swift VXi or Fabia 1.2 ??

I am just going to compare two cars. Both are petrol hatchbacks. One is the top seller and the other has just made it pricing right. One is Japanese and other is a Czech chic. Any guess? They are the Suzuki Swift VXi and the Skoda Fabia 1.2. Swift Vxi has a/c, power windows, power steering, tacho, digital trip, optional ABS. Whereas Fabia has a/c, power steering, 2 air bags (wow!) and no ABS. Swift has no air bags as standard in Vxi and Fabia surprisingly misses the power windows (oh no!). Vxi on-road in Bangalore is 5.1 and Fabia is 5.5. So, which one is the best? It's a tough call.

Swift's superb 1.3 petrol engine chunks out 88 bhp whereas Fabia's 1.2 delivers a feeble 70 bhp. Full marks to Swift in performance front. Though Swift has good transmission, Fabia is really good, straight from VW family. On the build quality and interiors, Fabia wins hands on. Swift suffers from rattling doors and tinny bumpers. So on is the interior of Swift. Now on to the meaty section: Mileage. Swift delivers 12 in city and Fabia scores little over 10 kpl. Can we now decide which is good? Still not!

If you want badge value, superior build, classy interiors, safety (airbags!)... Go for the Fantastic Fabia!

On the other hand, if one likes superb performance, reliable service, cheap spares, resale value, better mileage... Go for the Super Swift!!

Which Diesel hatchback?

Now that the fuel prices have gone a skywalk, most people opt for a hatchback preferably diesel. So which one is the best in India? Gone are the days when ambassadors and fiat padminis ruled the entire car segment. Now the market is flooded with almost all the world leading car makers and the hatchback segment is the most happening. We have maruti-suzuki, fiat, hyundai, chevrolet, skoda and tata. Honda, VW, Toyota, Nissan, Renault are on their way.

Though the market has aplenty of hatchbacks, I see Suzuki Swift, Skoda Fabia, Hyundai Getz and the Tata Indica are the best available diesel hatchbacks. Though I'm yet to drive a fabia and getz, I am sure they won't disappoint. Of all the four, Indica is the cheapest and the Fabia is the most expensive. Getz too is bit expensive and Swift is excellently priced. Though expensive, Fabia has no compromise for the build quality and interiors. It is the segment leader in both categories. Typical Skoda build quality and the fabulous interiors give the Fabia a D segment car look and feel. But it disappoints with its performance and the steep pricing. The onroad price for the top end diesel is a staggering 8 lakhs! Getz now comes with the Accent 1.5 CRDi engine which makes it the strongest performer here. Still gives a reasonable mileage. But the pricing and the less impressive looks are its downfalls. It has good space, excellent build quality and nice interiors though not as good as Fabia. Then comes the cheapest and the most affordable diesel hatchback, the Indica. Local maker Tata still has to come a long way in build quality, transmission and interiors. The plastic looks and feels cheaper. The gear shifts are rubbery and inaccurate. But the road presence, mileage and space are impressive.

So, finally coming to the class leading Suzuki Swift. Though this model is around for years, still it looks attractive. Now fitted with Fiat's world class diesel engine, the Swift is a runaway success again! Delivery period of over 4 to 6 months proves the demand for this car. People keep thronging to the maruti showrooms! Superb looks, awesome mileage, world class Fiat engine, petrol like performance makes Suzuki Swift unbeatable in this segment. Though the space, bulid quality, interiors are not up to the segment standard, the sales chart seems unaffected..

Me too planning to get one soon..... :-))

UK cars!

Now I am in UK, and it's a must to blog about UK cars ;-) Though I still didn't get a chance to drive a car here, I like the way they drive their cars in UK. I have been here for 2 weeks now and never heard honking so far. Even the taxi drivers stick to this.. Amazing! I just think about honkers in Bangalore. Some guys will keep honking even there is no vehicle in front of him! He has accustomed to it :-)

Apart from this strange(!) behaviour, the Brits follow the usual road manners we Indian never do: Stick to lanes, speed limits, etc. In fact, this seems really boring for a typical Indian like me ;-) What's a drive without honking, overtaking in wrong side, overspeeding, jumping the signals, etc ?? Jokes apart, I'm dreaming when we Indians can acquire this habit... Sticking to road manners not only is safe for drivers, but for the pedestrians too.

Unlike US (which I'm yet to go), UK people like to own small cars ranging between 1.0 to 2.0 litres. I see 1.2 and 1.4 are hot favourites. The top sellers in this hatchback segment are Vauxhall (GM), Ford, VW, Toyota, Peugeot, Honda, Renault and Mazda. Astra being the flagship model for Vauxhall, Ford has Focus and VW has Polo & Golf. But I personally feel, the Honda Civic hatchback Type R simply steals the show..

Fabia in India!

At last, VW has finally decided to launch Skoda Fabia in India. The first model to get unveiled is the top end diesel version and the latest to the fleet is the petrol version. Just a single trim is available in both the fuel formats. Both has 1.4 litre engine, with diesel chunks out a healthy 64 bhp, and the petrol bumps a meaty 85 bhp. Will Fabia pose a threat to the segment leader shift? A wait for 2-3 months will tell the story. But I strongly believe that Skoda can't match Maruti's price. Cheaper versions of Fabia, might be 1.2 litre engines, are expected later this year.

I'm quite disappointed to see a top of the line petrol version costing over 7 lakhs on-road. Surely untouchable rate for me ;-) If Skoda releases 1.2 litre petrol version for under 6 lakhs, in fact with all the goodies like airbag, it will sure have less horses under the hood. Imm, let me wait for Honda Jazz before I finalize my next car as Swift ;-)

Honda vs Toyota Hatchbacks

Honda, Skoda hatchbacks

India is eagerly waiting for two premium hatchbacks. Both are from the automobile leaders: Honda Jazz and Volkswagen owned Skoda's Fabia. Both are tempting cars and I'm planning to get one when launched ;-)

Skoda plans to launch 1.2 (70 bhp) and 1.4 (85 bhp) petrol engines initially and then might introduce the 1.4 70 bhp diesel. Skoda cars are immensely popular in India and they have a luxury tag to them, though in european market they are known to be budget cars. Skoda always has excellent build quality and we can expect the same in Fabia. We can expect the pricing in the range of 4 to 5 lakhs.

Meanwhile, Honda's Jazz cannot be left unnoticed. It is the second most popular hatchback in Europe. We can expect 1.3 and 1.5 petrol engines producing 80 and 100+ bhp respectively. As expected, Honda won't be launching a diesel version but still this poses a serious threat to the segment leader, the Swift. Honda is known for its strategy of playing with both Dsi and VTEC engine as it did with City, and the same could be expected for Jazz too.

So, which one among these are going to be a hot seller. I guess it is going to be a tough competition between them. If I am asked to pick one among these, I'll go for skoda, which has excellent build quality and a decent mileage. I won't blame Honda either, but I stick to Skoda bcos it comes from the reliable German Volkswagen family :-)

i10.... tempting ten.....

Hyundai has finally unveiled its i10 (so called 'Pa'), without replacing the existing Santro. This time Hyundai has learnt from the mistakes it did with Getz, and has priced the i10 cleverly. The car looks extremely attractive. You cannot blame the car's look in any angle (Though the rear is bit cramped). The bubbly headlamps steals the show and it deserves a head-turn in traffic signals. The build quality is as good as other Hyundai cars and the interiors are crafted beautifully. Hyundai sticks with the same 1.1 santro engine, but tuned it to produce 2 bhp more. The cable shift transmission and the electric power steering are welcome additions to it. The gearshift is integrated to the front console, and this has given enough room to accommodate more cup holders ;-) The i10 is wider but little shorter than the Santro. The ride quality is good when compared to the bumpy Santro. The tunings to the engine helps it to deliver decent mileage and we can expect around 13-15 in typical city driving conditions.

A/C and power steering comes standard in all models and the starting model is priced 3.4 exshowroom price looks like a hot cake deal. With its excellent interiors, impeccable build quality and awesome styling, it is sure going to be a smashing hit...

Got the Santro!

At last, I managed to get my Santro! Got it for a bit expensive deal from used Hyundai division, but I'm extremely happy with the car's condition. Though it has some dents on the front and right door panels, it is fully loaded with rear wipers, rear spoiler, body color bumpers to name a few. The goodies in Santro are its slick gear shift and the awesome engine. It simply blows its competitor wagonR and estilo in these categories. Though the steering and ride quality are its downside, it has excellent build quality. I am eagerly waiting for Skoda fabia and Honda Jazz ;-)

Suzuki Hayabusa Vs. Yamaha R1

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Used Santro

I am considering to buy an used Santro in a week or two. I come across a plenty of zens, altos and esteems. What impressed me in Santro is its smooth engine and the quality of plastic interiors. All the marutis disappoints in interior quality. I am very much new to cars and can't comment much on them. But still I feel maruti has to catch up a lot on these factors. Even Tatas and Mahindras are doing a nice job. Coming back to Santro, I liked its tall boy design, slick gearbox, light steering which is excellent for city traffic and far better looks compared to its competitor wagonR. Possibly I can get my used Santro in a week. Will post more on Santro soon...

Lamborghini

Lamborghini - the name says it all. Just watch this

Is RTR a better deal?

TVS has played a fantastic strategy by introducing a bike in 160 cc segment. This Apache RTR sports almost all the goodies we see in a typical top end bike: clip-on handle bars, fascinating front disc brakes, LCD meters, LED tail, etc. The engine's performance is hairy and it pumps out an impressive 15+ bhp. The wheel-base is well extended from the 150 apache. Now the bike looks bigger and longer. The gear shift is now single rod and feels sporty. Not to forget the front discs: No words to describe it. It's an eye-catcher. The tail lights is LED and the speedo, fuel gauge are all digital. Clip-on handle bars looks great. However, the biggest disappointment is the front light fairing. I personally wanted an improved fairing, which will clearly distinguish it as a new bike. From the front, you just can't guess whether it's an apache 150 or RTR. The road tests reveal the engine is top-class, ok to live-with gear shifts and amazing top speed. The only downside is its mileage. On city, it just manages 40 kmpl.

So, can RTR upset the current crop of 150s? I strongly believe it can, if people doesn't mind about mileage.

unicorn.........

I had a chance to ride unicorn after a long time. Wow! It's a damn smooth bike. Honda! These people are known for their quality, and it reflects in every part of the bike: engine, gearbox, speedo, ride, comfort. Being such an awesome bike, why do people prefer pulsar? unanswerable... Till now pulsar can't match unicorn's gearbox or top end performance. I rode this bike on 110 and it gives unbelievable stability. With pulsar I've crossed 115, but then the stability is a big concern here.

So, what to be done to give a facelift? Black bag wheels, change in body work, digital meters? Yes, this is a welcome change on unicorn. But, I don't think Honda can match pulsar's pricing. If they do, then honda will have a winner on their hand. Let us see...

dazzling new pulsar 150

Bajaj has done it again. It has simply kicked-off all its competitors with the launch of upgraded new P150 dtsi. The pulsar now sports a fresh look with a slight change in front lamp fairing, P220 dts-fi inspired rear and LED tail lamp. It also gets digital meters, self-cancelling indicators and illuminated switches. Surprisingly bajaj has modified the engine too. The engine now displaces 149cc and power is up from 13.5 to 14.2 bhp. This puts P150 on par with CBZ-extreme in power department. The price is hiked by 2k and the onroad price in bangalore is a whopping 65k. But still, with all the new goodies added, it is a great deal. Bye bye CBZ-X, apaches and unicorns ;-)

Pulsar Vs Unicorn Vs Apache

Relaunch of CBZ has heated up the 150cc segment leader war. Let us see whether HH could dethrone the pulsar king. Since CBZ extreme is so recently launched, let us compare the existing players - pulsar 150, unicorn and apache.

Pulsar being the oldest player among the three, could still manage as a 150cc leader. It has come through an array of modifications (dtsi, alloy, front lamp fairing, gearbox etc.) so far. Bajaj is still the trend-setter in looks department. P150 could beat both unicorn and apache on this. Also, it offers the highest 'real world' mileage. Handling, braking, looks, pick-up, cornering ability puts P150 as a sole leader. On the downside, the gearbox and component quality are not up to the standards of honda.

Unicorn has a stunning engine and gearbox. This bike should have been the segment leader. Unfortunately, small issues has pulled the leg of Honda. Poor styling, lack of trip meter, no side stand indicator, lean rear tyre, feeble horn, less pick-up than its competitors sums up its flaw. But then, if you just drive this bike once, you won't go for other 150s!

Apache has stunning looks, but I feel it is not as muscular as pulsar. The bike suits well for short guys and for those who can't handle pulsar or unicorn. Since apache's wheelbase is too short compared to its competitors, this bike becomes unstable after 80 kmph. But then, TVS still manages to sell more apaches than unicorn. Braking and gearbox are its downfalls.

The recent changes to P150 (digital meters, LED rear) makes this bike unbeatable in styling department. Let us see whether Yamaha and suzuki could do anything to bajaj when they release their 150cc bikes in future...

New Pulsar 150DTSi

I had a chance to drive new pulsar 150 dtsi. There is a minor change on it. They have modified the gearbox from 'all down' to 'one down-four up'. The gearbox really sucks. I fear bajaj might loose out its lead position in 150cc segment due to this stupid change. Though the 'one down-four up' is a universal gearing standard, the earlier 'all-down' was so simple to use in typical bangalore traffic. The worst thing on the new gearbox is, you should be really careful while switching from first to second gear or vice-versa. If not applied correctly, you might end up in neutral position. Obviously, it will put you in trouble. I hope bajaj will look on to this seriously while they come out with next major changes on 150