ARTICLE: Extended Warranties. Yes or No?
Team-BHP believes that warranties are a true expression of a manufacturer’s confidence in its car. Why does Fiat India only offer a one-year standard warranty? Why do Mercedes India and Skoda India not offer any extended warranty plans at all? It’s probably not a coincidence that their cars are the most expensive to service and maintain.
Standard warranties range from one to two years in India, though most cars now sold also have extended warranty plans available for a price. Are these extended warranties really worthwhile? You may be surprised, but they are. Team-BHP highly recommends you opt for extended warranty coverage.
The fact is that no matter how reliable modern cars are, their components are still expensive to replace. Unlike older model cars, it is seldom possible to repair or refurbish a broken part; replacement is generally the only option. It is not uncommon for electrical and mechanical parts to fail unexpectedly and even the pinnacle of reliability, Honda, has had fuel pump problems (worth Rs.20 000 or more) with the new Honda City and Accord. Air-conditioner compressors can cost over Rs.40 000 and defective engines and transmissions are even more expensive.
For only a couple of thousand rupees – between 0.5% - 2% of the purchase price of your car – you can buy the peace of the mind associated with an extended warranty that covers your car for up to twice the length of the standard warranty. An extended warranty is an insurance policy for your vehicle and a safeguard against expensive and unforeseen repairs.
Points to consider:
• When should you buy the extended warranty? We suggest starting the extended coverage with the delivery of your car. Don’t wait until later – some plans have restrictions on renewal or you may just forget.
• Is the standard coverage enough? If the standard warranty is for two years or 50 000 km and you plan to keep your car for two or three years and 20 – 30 000 km, then an extended warranty makes little sense. However, if you plan to keep your car for long after the standard warranty then an extended warranty is worth considering.
• What’s the reliability record of the model you’re purchasing?
• Who backs the warranty you’re considering? You may be buying a manufacturer’s extended warranty or an aftermarket extended warranty offered by your dealer. Knowing who underwrites your policy can help you understand the value of the warranty you’re considering: manufacturer-backed warranties score very highly when it comes to convenience and trust. Some dealers offer only an aftermarket warranty; if they do not initially offer a manufacturer warranty you should specifically for one.
• Is the warranty transferable? Some extended warranties end when you sell your car. A warranty that lets you transfer it to a new owner is an excellent selling point for prospective buyers.
• Can repairs be performed anywhere? Some contracts state that repairs must be performed at the dealership from which the warranty was purchased; this can be very inconvenient. It’s best to opt for a warranty that gives you at least a few service locations to choose from. You’ll appreciate the flexibility when your car needs work while on a road trip far from home.
• What exactly is covered? Know what’s covered – and not covered – with the extended warranty you’re considering. Make sure to check that the service contract covers breakdown as well as wear and tear. Before committing to a warranty, take time to explore the coverage. The differences between two plans might seem slight, but they can prove crucial.
Team-BHP feels that the relatively small cost of purchasing an extended warranty will save you money in the long run. Say “yes” to an extended warranty.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
ARTICLE: How to get the lowest EMI & the best Finance Deal
ARTICLE: How to get the lowest EMI & the best Finance Deal
With a never-ending stream of automotive launches and a plethora of financing options to choose from, it is now easier than ever before to buy a new car. Be warned, however: your urge to buy also makes it easy for financial companies to fleece you. Competition is fierce in the automotive market; be sure to use it to your advantage.
Team-BHP shows you how to get the best possible financing deal for your shiny new wheels:
1. Shop around: While this advice seems obvious, it is often ignored: getting rates from several brokers and car dealerships is the key to a good deal. If you intend to buy a Honda in Mumbai, bargain with Ichibaan / Linkway / Arya and any others. When you ask for your quote, tell the vendor that you intend to shop around and be certain that they know you are serious about buying. Casual inquiries take up a lot of time for dealers; an inquiry with good sales potential will make them bend over backwards for you.
2. Negotiate: Many people don't realize this, but if you want a great financing deal you will have to negotiate for it. Negotiate hard. Pit at least three competing quotes against each other and start bargaining with each vendor. You will be surprised at how quickly the offered equalized monthly installment (EMI) payment will drop in the course of an hour of simple bargaining. And its a LOT of fun too!
3. Targets: Start negotiating in the third week of the month. Most Indian agents have monthly targets and generally save the best rates for last minute deals to fill their quota.
4. Other accounts with the same institution: Leverage any existing relationship (credit cards, investments, etc) that you have with your financial institution. Most banks will offer a 1 - 2% discount based on the fact that you are already a known quantity to them.
5. Do not take the interest rate at face value: When your broker says that his great interest rate has been calculated "just for you", you don't have to take his word for it. Use any one of a number of online calculators to compare; chances are, your broker is bluffing.
6. Manufacturer financing plans: Some manufacturers offer financing plans that are less expensive than broker or dealership options. For e.g. the Tata finance option.
7. Nationalised banks: Nationalised banks like the State Bank of India have very competitive auto-loan packages that usually offer the best rates and terms, especially if you have an existing relationship with them. Meet with your branch manager for a quote.
8. Hidden fees: In today's competitive market there is no such thing as a processing fee for a car loan. Ask for an all-inclusive quote and check the fine print for hidden charges. These miscellaneous fees can amount to thousands of rupees. You will also see a difference in stamp duty charges etc. from one proposal to the other.
9. Do NOT opt for ECS: Even though automatic electronic withdrawal from your bank account is supposed to make life easier, the system is not yet a 100% reliable in India. Make your loan payments the old-fashioned way with cheques and read the Team-BHP forum discussion on ECS for more details.
10. Be wary of unauthorised dealerships: Even if you get a great financing offer, check to see who will be delivering your car. Some Direct Sales Agents (DSAs) have connections to unauthorised dealerships. These dealers often engage in shady practices like supplying counterfeit spares and are generally not worth buying from.
11. Pre-payment penalties: Some banks charge rates as high as 5% of the total loan amount if you pay off your loan early. Check to see if your bank included a pre-payment penalty in the contract and ask for a waiver / reduction if you intend to pay the loan early.
12. Maintain a good credit history: Financial institutions in India maintain a central database to keep track of your credit history. It is essential to keep a clean credit record by paying credit card bills and other loan EMIs on time.
13. Loan against fixed deposits: If you or your family has invested in fixed deposits, you are in luck. Taking a loan against fixed deposits leads to very lucrative interest rates, minimal paperwork (if at all) and flexible repayment plans. Banks usually give loans against fixed deposits at a +1 interest rate.
Happy hunting for the lowest EMI!
EDIT : Added a superb "Loan Amortization Schedule" excel sheet to this post; members can download the same. Thanks to BHPian nikunj_cal for sharing it with us. It will help you to calculate the EMI for different loan amounts, juggle between interest rates, calculate total interest, calculate foreclosure charges and so on
With a never-ending stream of automotive launches and a plethora of financing options to choose from, it is now easier than ever before to buy a new car. Be warned, however: your urge to buy also makes it easy for financial companies to fleece you. Competition is fierce in the automotive market; be sure to use it to your advantage.
Team-BHP shows you how to get the best possible financing deal for your shiny new wheels:
1. Shop around: While this advice seems obvious, it is often ignored: getting rates from several brokers and car dealerships is the key to a good deal. If you intend to buy a Honda in Mumbai, bargain with Ichibaan / Linkway / Arya and any others. When you ask for your quote, tell the vendor that you intend to shop around and be certain that they know you are serious about buying. Casual inquiries take up a lot of time for dealers; an inquiry with good sales potential will make them bend over backwards for you.
2. Negotiate: Many people don't realize this, but if you want a great financing deal you will have to negotiate for it. Negotiate hard. Pit at least three competing quotes against each other and start bargaining with each vendor. You will be surprised at how quickly the offered equalized monthly installment (EMI) payment will drop in the course of an hour of simple bargaining. And its a LOT of fun too!
3. Targets: Start negotiating in the third week of the month. Most Indian agents have monthly targets and generally save the best rates for last minute deals to fill their quota.
4. Other accounts with the same institution: Leverage any existing relationship (credit cards, investments, etc) that you have with your financial institution. Most banks will offer a 1 - 2% discount based on the fact that you are already a known quantity to them.
5. Do not take the interest rate at face value: When your broker says that his great interest rate has been calculated "just for you", you don't have to take his word for it. Use any one of a number of online calculators to compare; chances are, your broker is bluffing.
6. Manufacturer financing plans: Some manufacturers offer financing plans that are less expensive than broker or dealership options. For e.g. the Tata finance option.
7. Nationalised banks: Nationalised banks like the State Bank of India have very competitive auto-loan packages that usually offer the best rates and terms, especially if you have an existing relationship with them. Meet with your branch manager for a quote.
8. Hidden fees: In today's competitive market there is no such thing as a processing fee for a car loan. Ask for an all-inclusive quote and check the fine print for hidden charges. These miscellaneous fees can amount to thousands of rupees. You will also see a difference in stamp duty charges etc. from one proposal to the other.
9. Do NOT opt for ECS: Even though automatic electronic withdrawal from your bank account is supposed to make life easier, the system is not yet a 100% reliable in India. Make your loan payments the old-fashioned way with cheques and read the Team-BHP forum discussion on ECS for more details.
10. Be wary of unauthorised dealerships: Even if you get a great financing offer, check to see who will be delivering your car. Some Direct Sales Agents (DSAs) have connections to unauthorised dealerships. These dealers often engage in shady practices like supplying counterfeit spares and are generally not worth buying from.
11. Pre-payment penalties: Some banks charge rates as high as 5% of the total loan amount if you pay off your loan early. Check to see if your bank included a pre-payment penalty in the contract and ask for a waiver / reduction if you intend to pay the loan early.
12. Maintain a good credit history: Financial institutions in India maintain a central database to keep track of your credit history. It is essential to keep a clean credit record by paying credit card bills and other loan EMIs on time.
13. Loan against fixed deposits: If you or your family has invested in fixed deposits, you are in luck. Taking a loan against fixed deposits leads to very lucrative interest rates, minimal paperwork (if at all) and flexible repayment plans. Banks usually give loans against fixed deposits at a +1 interest rate.
Happy hunting for the lowest EMI!
EDIT : Added a superb "Loan Amortization Schedule" excel sheet to this post; members can download the same. Thanks to BHPian nikunj_cal for sharing it with us. It will help you to calculate the EMI for different loan amounts, juggle between interest rates, calculate total interest, calculate foreclosure charges and so on
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
tips to consider during test drive
These are few tips that I feel are important to be considered during TDing cars, we can keep on adding to that list.
NOTE:- To try out all these, you may need to TD many times (with different people, in different roads, etc). DO IT!! It is worth, before buying an expensive vehicle.
It is always good to go with a group for TD. You can take your family and also your friends who already own cars. Different people will give different perspectives which is sufficient to confuse you . Anyway, you have more data to decide.
Interiors:
Even though you can have close look at interiors on its quality, etc in display vehicle itself, it is still good to watch them during test drive to check if any issues like rattling or so crop up during movement.
Ride and Handling:
This is more important for drivers, so watch it!! Drive in flat and bumpy surfaces/roads and see how vehicle handles the road.
Try out cornering at regular and high speeds, U turns/90 deg turns/etc (to check driver's visibility, bumpy or not, etc).
Try out breaks at different speeds/gears/roads. If possible, try out breaking in wet surfaces too.
Does suspension feel good in rough roads, potholes, etc?
Engine, gear and steering wheel:
Try out acceleration, pulling up in slope with enough passenger loads with AC on, coming down in down hill and moving in bumper-to-bumper traffic.
Check how fast it goes to higher speeds (if this factor is important for you) and how easy it feels.
Check how easy it is to shift gears up-to-down and vice versa. Does it feel hard in lower gears?
Check how steering wheel feels at different speeds. Do you feel pain of driving a heavy weight vehicle or very easy to control with just fingers?
NVH:
Drive for sometime by closing all windows, observe cabin noise at different speeds. Then put all windows down and then observe noise. Of course not much to investigate, but you should hear significant difference in noise (after filtering traffic sounds) - this confirms sound proof in cabin.
Try out different speeds for fan and check if the noise is decent or too much - during my TDs, I found drastic difference between 2 cars.
Observe vibration during idle and running. In modern cars, you shouldn't feel it (or may be, very slightly).
Find out how drive feels at lower/higher speeds to check if it is harsh or so.
While observing Noise, switch off stereo and also ask salesperson to shut his mouth , believe me it helps!! They always divert your attention by giving marketing gimmicks.
ICE:
When ICE is standard, then you can play different varieties like melody, rock, etc to feel the difference - this is nice to do, but not sure on practicality.
AC:
Very important to observe during TD. Manual: Try out different settings. Observe cooling yourself in driver seat and ask passengers in front/rear seats (if it cools enough and how fast it cools). Automatic: Try out different temperatures settings and observe if it cools enough and how fast it cools.
TD vehicles are normally driven by everyone right after each other, previous guy might have kept at any setting. For very short trips, AC may not really show any change as you intended. Wait for sometime, drop down windows, etc to ensure your settings will take effect.
Ask people sitting in front passenger seat and rear seats on AC effectiveness - do they feel it as you do?
Visibility and ease of use:
Check how these are viewable from driver seat: signal light, vehicles on sides, front and rear. You should get good view of all these.
How easy it is to access various controls (AC, stereo, etc) from driver's seat?
How much difference does it really give when you adjust seat height and slider.
Are you comfortable to look through ORVMs without tilting head too much? Is steering wheel adjust sufficient for you at different settings of driver seat?
Try out taking reverse without guidance from anyone to see if you are comfortable while alone and see if no object in car hides your vision (if so, be aware of it before buying!!).
Misc:
Check leg room and head room for you to see if sufficient. Similarly, ask your family folks for comfort of seats, leg room, and head rest comfort.
Hope this helps!! Happy TDing.....
NOTE:- To try out all these, you may need to TD many times (with different people, in different roads, etc). DO IT!! It is worth, before buying an expensive vehicle.
It is always good to go with a group for TD. You can take your family and also your friends who already own cars. Different people will give different perspectives which is sufficient to confuse you . Anyway, you have more data to decide.
Interiors:
Even though you can have close look at interiors on its quality, etc in display vehicle itself, it is still good to watch them during test drive to check if any issues like rattling or so crop up during movement.
Ride and Handling:
This is more important for drivers, so watch it!! Drive in flat and bumpy surfaces/roads and see how vehicle handles the road.
Try out cornering at regular and high speeds, U turns/90 deg turns/etc (to check driver's visibility, bumpy or not, etc).
Try out breaks at different speeds/gears/roads. If possible, try out breaking in wet surfaces too.
Does suspension feel good in rough roads, potholes, etc?
Engine, gear and steering wheel:
Try out acceleration, pulling up in slope with enough passenger loads with AC on, coming down in down hill and moving in bumper-to-bumper traffic.
Check how fast it goes to higher speeds (if this factor is important for you) and how easy it feels.
Check how easy it is to shift gears up-to-down and vice versa. Does it feel hard in lower gears?
Check how steering wheel feels at different speeds. Do you feel pain of driving a heavy weight vehicle or very easy to control with just fingers?
NVH:
Drive for sometime by closing all windows, observe cabin noise at different speeds. Then put all windows down and then observe noise. Of course not much to investigate, but you should hear significant difference in noise (after filtering traffic sounds) - this confirms sound proof in cabin.
Try out different speeds for fan and check if the noise is decent or too much - during my TDs, I found drastic difference between 2 cars.
Observe vibration during idle and running. In modern cars, you shouldn't feel it (or may be, very slightly).
Find out how drive feels at lower/higher speeds to check if it is harsh or so.
While observing Noise, switch off stereo and also ask salesperson to shut his mouth , believe me it helps!! They always divert your attention by giving marketing gimmicks.
ICE:
When ICE is standard, then you can play different varieties like melody, rock, etc to feel the difference - this is nice to do, but not sure on practicality.
AC:
Very important to observe during TD. Manual: Try out different settings. Observe cooling yourself in driver seat and ask passengers in front/rear seats (if it cools enough and how fast it cools). Automatic: Try out different temperatures settings and observe if it cools enough and how fast it cools.
TD vehicles are normally driven by everyone right after each other, previous guy might have kept at any setting. For very short trips, AC may not really show any change as you intended. Wait for sometime, drop down windows, etc to ensure your settings will take effect.
Ask people sitting in front passenger seat and rear seats on AC effectiveness - do they feel it as you do?
Visibility and ease of use:
Check how these are viewable from driver seat: signal light, vehicles on sides, front and rear. You should get good view of all these.
How easy it is to access various controls (AC, stereo, etc) from driver's seat?
How much difference does it really give when you adjust seat height and slider.
Are you comfortable to look through ORVMs without tilting head too much? Is steering wheel adjust sufficient for you at different settings of driver seat?
Try out taking reverse without guidance from anyone to see if you are comfortable while alone and see if no object in car hides your vision (if so, be aware of it before buying!!).
Misc:
Check leg room and head room for you to see if sufficient. Similarly, ask your family folks for comfort of seats, leg room, and head rest comfort.
Hope this helps!! Happy TDing.....
Monday, March 23, 2009
tata nanos launch less than 24 hours
hey frdz
the blog which of which it is popular of tata nanos pictures is launch is less than 24 hours is at parsi gymkhana at 7.30 and also will be aired on the t.v do sit back and relax and see the grand lauch of tata nano 1 lacks kii car
the blog which of which it is popular of tata nanos pictures is launch is less than 24 hours is at parsi gymkhana at 7.30 and also will be aired on the t.v do sit back and relax and see the grand lauch of tata nano 1 lacks kii car
Saturday, March 21, 2009
YOUR 5 year old car : Keep, Upgrade or Swap?
Indians generally trade / upgrade their cars after only 5 years of ownership. Here is a classic situation : Sell a 5 year old WagonR for that shiny new Swift / Getz / Vista. Or an '03 Honda City for a new Civic / Octavia / Corolla. Or an '03 Octavia for a new Laura / Accord.
Either you will buy a new car from the same segment, or upgrade to a higher segment. The latter seems to be the more popular option amongst BHPians. We were curious to know the absolute financial implications and ran some numbers on the excel. I have used a typical C Segment sedan as the basis of calculation. For segments lower or higher, simply equalize the appropriate numbers.
What actually makes financial sense? Should you retain your existing car for another 3 - 5 years or trade up toward a new car?
Considerations
• Since we are assuming that a 5 year old car is already on hand, I am going to calculate the cost of ownership from the 6th year to the 10th.
• A 5 year old car in India would have typically covered about 60,000 – 80,000 kms. Translated, it still has a good amount of useful healthy life in it. A well-maintained modern C segment sedan will easily deliver reliable service of atleast 1,50,000 kms. An immaculately maintained C-segment will go upto 2,00,000 kms or over.
• The loan is entirely paid off (Don’t you just love the non-EMI times of your life!).
__________________
Either you will buy a new car from the same segment, or upgrade to a higher segment. The latter seems to be the more popular option amongst BHPians. We were curious to know the absolute financial implications and ran some numbers on the excel. I have used a typical C Segment sedan as the basis of calculation. For segments lower or higher, simply equalize the appropriate numbers.
What actually makes financial sense? Should you retain your existing car for another 3 - 5 years or trade up toward a new car?
Considerations
• Since we are assuming that a 5 year old car is already on hand, I am going to calculate the cost of ownership from the 6th year to the 10th.
• A 5 year old car in India would have typically covered about 60,000 – 80,000 kms. Translated, it still has a good amount of useful healthy life in it. A well-maintained modern C segment sedan will easily deliver reliable service of atleast 1,50,000 kms. An immaculately maintained C-segment will go upto 2,00,000 kms or over.
• The loan is entirely paid off (Don’t you just love the non-EMI times of your life!).
__________________
Friday, March 20, 2009
Must-have Accessories for your new car
With a plethora of accessory options available at dealerships (authorised and after-market), choosing the right add-ons can get confusing. Team-BHP enlists the “must-have” accessories for your new car.
Do keep in mind that car dealerships make a killing on their high-priced accessory fittings alone. We recommend buying most of your add-ons from the after-market. However, quality (of product and installation) is very crucial to some accessories, especially the electronic variety.
Interior Enhancement:
1. Mats: Floor mats and a Dicky mat.
2. High quality Sun film: This helps to protect the interiors and occupants from the extreme climatic conditions.
3. Seat Covers: We recommend art leather for its value.
4. Audio System installation / upgrade: If required.
5. Air-freshener: Keeps the interiors smelling fresh. Scroll-type fresheners which fit on the air-con louvers are very popular and effective.
Safety / Security:
1. Remote-locking security system: Not only for the added security, but also for convenience.
2. Steering Grip lock / Gear Lock: Great way of theft prevention.
3. Headlight bulb upgrade: Only if stock bulbs are inadequate. Upgrade headlight bulbs to more powerful ones with the appropriate relay and wiring.
4. Mirror Lock: Some cars require this to prevent theft of standard wing mirrors.
Precautionary Measures:
1. Fire Extinguisher: Can save you and your car in the event of an electrical short-circuit etc.
2. Tyre / Puncture repair kit: A must for highway travelers.
3. Fog lights: They aid driving in foggy conditions, and provide a life-saving backup if the headlights malfunction.
4. Comprehensive Tool Kit: Standard tool kits are always minimalistic, so get one that is as comprehensive as a swiss army knife.
5. Extra fuses: For crucial parts such as the headlight, starter etc.
Tyres / Alloys
1. Tyre Upgrade: Some models of cars come severely under-tyred from the factory. We would highly recommend you to upgrade your tyres to a more appropriate size. You can do this straight from the showroom to get the best exchange price. Link :
2. Alloy Wheels: If the budget permits.
Others:
1. High quality cleaning cloth
2. Branded wax polish
3. Car Cover
4. Parking Sensors
5. Child Seat
Do keep in mind that car dealerships make a killing on their high-priced accessory fittings alone. We recommend buying most of your add-ons from the after-market. However, quality (of product and installation) is very crucial to some accessories, especially the electronic variety.
Interior Enhancement:
1. Mats: Floor mats and a Dicky mat.
2. High quality Sun film: This helps to protect the interiors and occupants from the extreme climatic conditions.
3. Seat Covers: We recommend art leather for its value.
4. Audio System installation / upgrade: If required.
5. Air-freshener: Keeps the interiors smelling fresh. Scroll-type fresheners which fit on the air-con louvers are very popular and effective.
Safety / Security:
1. Remote-locking security system: Not only for the added security, but also for convenience.
2. Steering Grip lock / Gear Lock: Great way of theft prevention.
3. Headlight bulb upgrade: Only if stock bulbs are inadequate. Upgrade headlight bulbs to more powerful ones with the appropriate relay and wiring.
4. Mirror Lock: Some cars require this to prevent theft of standard wing mirrors.
Precautionary Measures:
1. Fire Extinguisher: Can save you and your car in the event of an electrical short-circuit etc.
2. Tyre / Puncture repair kit: A must for highway travelers.
3. Fog lights: They aid driving in foggy conditions, and provide a life-saving backup if the headlights malfunction.
4. Comprehensive Tool Kit: Standard tool kits are always minimalistic, so get one that is as comprehensive as a swiss army knife.
5. Extra fuses: For crucial parts such as the headlight, starter etc.
Tyres / Alloys
1. Tyre Upgrade: Some models of cars come severely under-tyred from the factory. We would highly recommend you to upgrade your tyres to a more appropriate size. You can do this straight from the showroom to get the best exchange price. Link :
2. Alloy Wheels: If the budget permits.
Others:
1. High quality cleaning cloth
2. Branded wax polish
3. Car Cover
4. Parking Sensors
5. Child Seat
ARTICLE: Pre-delivery Inspection & Check List for buying a new car (AS PER REQUEST)
Team-BHP enlists all that you should check for as a part of the pre-delivery inspection:
Before Registration:
We recommend visiting the dealerships stockyard and checking your car prior to registration. Once it is registered in your name, there is little you can do. Check the car manufacturing month/year, especially when buying in the first quarter of any year. Fiat India was notorious for selling cars that have been manufactured up to 18 months earlier. Ascertain that the year of manufacturer is current. If the odometer is disconnected, in all probability, the allocated car has been used as a test-drive vehicle. Also check for any repair jobs / body damage; damage to some cars is inevitable in transit and most repair work is glaringly obvious.
IMPORTANT : Check the tax calculations on the dealership invoice. Overcharging for RTO / octroi / lifetime taxes is a popular scam at many Indian dealerships. Pay only the actual charges due to the authorities and not a rupee more.
Preparations:
1. Confirm: the date of delivery with your dealership. It is best to go there only after the car has been prepared and is ready. If you have a preference for a particular day / time (for auspicious reasons), inform the sales person.
2. Daylight: We recommend accepting delivery in broad daylight, since the dark can conceal a lot. You may also not get good service in the evening since dealership personnel are in a hurry to wrap the day up.
3. Documentation: Ascertain that you carry any required documentation with you. This may include forms, receipts etc.
4. Payments: If any payment formalities are to be completed, carry along the relevant PDC’s / Cash / Credit Cards.
5. Third Person: It’s always a good idea to take a relative / friend along for suggestions, observations and comments.
6. Memories: Take a camera along.
7. Music: Carry a CD / cassette if your car is equipped with a stereo.
8. Gift: Take a token gift along for the sales guy.
At the Showroom:
1. Be Courteous: Don’t bully around. It’s a nice happy moment and the sales staff is as excited as you are. Treat them with respect, and you will get better service.
2. Get a Demo - Part of the salesperson's job is to acquaint you with your new car's features and how each one operates. Ask him to demonstrate the car fully, and top to bottom, in order to understand how everything works on the vehicle.
3. Visit the Service Department: We recommend meeting the service manager and getting familiar with the service center facilities.
Final Inspection:
1. Check the car again: A lot could have happened between the pre-registration inspection and today. It’s best to walk around the car and ascertain that the car is super clean! Look for any signs of repair work / damage such as paint difference, dents etc. Even the interiors should be squeaky clean.
2. Check that all lights and electric accessories are working fine.
3. Confirm that all the accessories you ordered are fitted on the car.
4. Check that the spare wheel is fresh. And that all related tools (spanner, jack etc.) are present. Are there wheel locks? If so, ensure that the lug key is there in the car.
5. Misc : Wipers, floor matting, first-aid kit & hazard sign.
6. What is the mileage on your car? It should not be more than a 100 km (or in the whereabouts) for most brands.
7. Ensure that there is enough fuel in the car. At least to get you to the nearest petrol pump.
8. Somehow, most new cars are delivered with over-inflated tyres by the showroom. Check the tyre pressure and make the necessary adjustments.
Documentation:
Read the paperwork! Don't take anybody's word for anything. Make sure all the blanks in the contract are filled in.
1. Invoice. (Check that the Chassis and Engine number of the car matches with the Invoice and / or Challan).
2. Sales certificate.
3. All payment receipts.
4. Registration book or temporary certificate (Some States). Is your name spelt correctly? Are the car chassis / engine number matching with the actual? Is the number plate made in accordance with the number on the registration book?
5. Insurance: Ensure that coverage is valid and active.
6. Original PUC certificate. This is valid for one year.
7. Owners Manual.
8. Duplicate Keys.
9. Original warranty with all relevant dealership stamps.
10. Extended Warranty (If opted for).
11. Warranty of third party items such as battery, tyres etc.
12. Roadside assistance Contact details.
13. Business cards of dealership and service personnel.
Say Thanks to everyone and leave!
Before Registration:
We recommend visiting the dealerships stockyard and checking your car prior to registration. Once it is registered in your name, there is little you can do. Check the car manufacturing month/year, especially when buying in the first quarter of any year. Fiat India was notorious for selling cars that have been manufactured up to 18 months earlier. Ascertain that the year of manufacturer is current. If the odometer is disconnected, in all probability, the allocated car has been used as a test-drive vehicle. Also check for any repair jobs / body damage; damage to some cars is inevitable in transit and most repair work is glaringly obvious.
IMPORTANT : Check the tax calculations on the dealership invoice. Overcharging for RTO / octroi / lifetime taxes is a popular scam at many Indian dealerships. Pay only the actual charges due to the authorities and not a rupee more.
Preparations:
1. Confirm: the date of delivery with your dealership. It is best to go there only after the car has been prepared and is ready. If you have a preference for a particular day / time (for auspicious reasons), inform the sales person.
2. Daylight: We recommend accepting delivery in broad daylight, since the dark can conceal a lot. You may also not get good service in the evening since dealership personnel are in a hurry to wrap the day up.
3. Documentation: Ascertain that you carry any required documentation with you. This may include forms, receipts etc.
4. Payments: If any payment formalities are to be completed, carry along the relevant PDC’s / Cash / Credit Cards.
5. Third Person: It’s always a good idea to take a relative / friend along for suggestions, observations and comments.
6. Memories: Take a camera along.
7. Music: Carry a CD / cassette if your car is equipped with a stereo.
8. Gift: Take a token gift along for the sales guy.
At the Showroom:
1. Be Courteous: Don’t bully around. It’s a nice happy moment and the sales staff is as excited as you are. Treat them with respect, and you will get better service.
2. Get a Demo - Part of the salesperson's job is to acquaint you with your new car's features and how each one operates. Ask him to demonstrate the car fully, and top to bottom, in order to understand how everything works on the vehicle.
3. Visit the Service Department: We recommend meeting the service manager and getting familiar with the service center facilities.
Final Inspection:
1. Check the car again: A lot could have happened between the pre-registration inspection and today. It’s best to walk around the car and ascertain that the car is super clean! Look for any signs of repair work / damage such as paint difference, dents etc. Even the interiors should be squeaky clean.
2. Check that all lights and electric accessories are working fine.
3. Confirm that all the accessories you ordered are fitted on the car.
4. Check that the spare wheel is fresh. And that all related tools (spanner, jack etc.) are present. Are there wheel locks? If so, ensure that the lug key is there in the car.
5. Misc : Wipers, floor matting, first-aid kit & hazard sign.
6. What is the mileage on your car? It should not be more than a 100 km (or in the whereabouts) for most brands.
7. Ensure that there is enough fuel in the car. At least to get you to the nearest petrol pump.
8. Somehow, most new cars are delivered with over-inflated tyres by the showroom. Check the tyre pressure and make the necessary adjustments.
Documentation:
Read the paperwork! Don't take anybody's word for anything. Make sure all the blanks in the contract are filled in.
1. Invoice. (Check that the Chassis and Engine number of the car matches with the Invoice and / or Challan).
2. Sales certificate.
3. All payment receipts.
4. Registration book or temporary certificate (Some States). Is your name spelt correctly? Are the car chassis / engine number matching with the actual? Is the number plate made in accordance with the number on the registration book?
5. Insurance: Ensure that coverage is valid and active.
6. Original PUC certificate. This is valid for one year.
7. Owners Manual.
8. Duplicate Keys.
9. Original warranty with all relevant dealership stamps.
10. Extended Warranty (If opted for).
11. Warranty of third party items such as battery, tyres etc.
12. Roadside assistance Contact details.
13. Business cards of dealership and service personnel.
Say Thanks to everyone and leave!
Thursday, March 19, 2009
ACER 4510 LAPTOP UNBAISED ONE
I'll start everything off by saying that the Acer 4530 is a complete sleeper notebook, only lately popping up on some folks radar, but it sure is a good one. Don't be fooled, and don't let the Intel evangelists fool you either, this notebook, provided you get the right deal, is the best bang for your buck you're likely to see in some time! Please excuse the lousy pictures, my digital camera broke, and I had to use a camera phone.
Here in Canada, I bought the 4530 for $650CAD, or roughly RS25900 with the following specs:
AMD Athlon X2 64bit QL-60 @ 1.9Ghz.
3GB DDR667 In Unganged Dual Channel mode
Low Light WebCam
250GB SATA 150 HDD
8xDVD-RW DL SATA 150
Atheros a/b/g/n WiFi w/ WiMAX support
Gigabit 1000Mbit Ethernet
9100m-G Integrated mGPU
Vista Home Premium 32bit SP1
4400mAh 6-cell Battery
Sadly, NO BlueTooth in Canada models..
Upon opening the box, the first thing I noticed was the sturdy build quality. Many Acers of the past have been accused of flimsy or dodgy build quality, but let me tell you, this Acer is rock solid (although a few have complained of loose batteries..).
Looks-wise, the Acer sports a beautiful Blue Gem finish on it's top, complete with a matte black interior and a gorgeous, albeit a little over-bright glossy screen @1280x800 [16:10]. In this man's opinion, it is wonderfully understated, without coming off as boring at all. For looks I'm giving it a solid 4.5/5
For features, the Acer 4530 comes with 3 USB 2.0 ports, a VGA-out, Gigabit ethernet port, 56k Modem port, 3 mini-jacks, an Expresscard 54 slot, 5-in-1 Flash Card Reader, a 8x DVD Burner with DL support, and a volume wheel (that actually controls the OS volume mixer!) and a Low Light WebCam. The mGPU is integrated, and relies on system memory, but it's no slouch as it beats the HD3200 and the 8400 G Dedicated card. The feature set is respectable, but warrants a few notes of interest.
Firstly, there is no HDMI port, which some might balk about given the incredible PureVideo HD this mGPU supports. Secondly, found the USB ports can have different throughputs for a given device. This I found very odd, and only occured on a single USB card reader, but nonetheless was very curious.
On the bonus side, the fact there are 3 mini-jacks instead of 2 is a huge plus, although the current drivers do not allow reassignment, future drivers likely will. The trackpad on the 4530 is amazing, and works beautifully. It truly is a joy to manuever around without a mouse, not a pain like one might expect. Lastly, the WebCam is Fantastic! It is very smooth, and there's hardly any grain. Those who are used to Toshiba or HP WebCams will be very happy with this WebCam.
The keyboard is a mostly positive experience, although I personally found the shift button way to small, and putting a backslash key under the 'a' key is absolutely absurd. The keyboard if wonderful to type on if you can put up with that however, and is very tactile if not a little bit audible (but not ever enough to annoy even the most easily irratated).Points were deducted for the lack of HDMI, and for the lack of BlueTooth (feel free to add a half point if your model has BlueTooth, some do).
For features I give this Acer a 3.5/5
The layout is topped-off with an 'empowering' button, which is acers launchpad app, and five hotkeys. I'll note something here that might amaze all of you.. the Acer 'Empowering' launchpad actually doesn't suck! It is unobtrusive, takes nearly no memory, and is genuinely useful! It gives you access to ALL your power profiles and other options in the e-power app, backup options, and others which can be individually in/un-installed at a whim. I liked this app enough in fact, that after doing a fresh reformat and Windows install, I actually wanted to install the empowering launchpad, and did! One unusual thing is the placement of two currency keys on either side of the 'up' arrow.. it's not in the way at all, possibly it's even handy, but it is unusual. Keys are well laid out, especially the home..end setup. For layout I had to take a whole point off for horrendous placement of a backslash key beside the left shift button, killing what coould have been a perfect score. It really takes getting used to; regardless of this the layout still earns an enthusiastic 4/5
Performance wise, the Acer is no slouch, was quick to perform most all tasks I would have need of throwing at it. The fact that this notebook supports unganged Dual Channel mode means that even having a 1GB and 2GB ram setup, I still get to enjoy dual channel mode. When one of the Dimms gets full, it's simply operates in single channel mode from there on, this is something I love.
Games are no problem on this notebook, but don't expect to play Crysis on it, as that can only be done lowest resolution, and details at their lowest setting (although it plays quite fluently at this setting!) I however, personally get more enjoyment playing oblivion,Two Worlds, or Titans Quest on my Acer, so this doesn't bother me much. Value for Dollar, Bang for Buck, I give the 4530 a 4.5/5
Now here comes my overall impression, my tilt, my sway. but first I'll say that overall, based on averages the Acer 4530 earns a 4/5, but that's not the final word. I am going to add a bonus of a full point for overall worth, for overall bang for the buck, for taking the entire package as a whole and judging it. I really am enamoured with this notebook. I've never owned a notebook where the package as a whole seemed so complete, so competent, and at this price I can't help but recommend it, very very highly, to anyone looking for a great noteook on a budget.
Final Score: 4 / 5
My Personal Score: 5 /5
Recommendations: If you're on a budget, and need a good notebook, this one will not disappoint.
Price Point Competition:
HP Q60 series - Nowhere near the quality of the 4530. Sticky trackpad. Garbage WebCam. Good Screen.
Compaq Q50 series - Similar to HP Q60, looks much better (than Q60), costs much less and better value (than Q60).
Toshiba L300 series - Closest to Acer for competition, but the build quality is slightly inferior, and the GPU is far weaker. The screen, while decent, is nowhere near as nice as the Acer.
EDIT: I've decided to run some Doom 3 Benchmarks and post the results:
Here are my results from TimeDemo 1 recorded using FRAPS 2.9.8 Full
Doom 3 High Quality @ 800x600
min: 21fps
max: 91fps
avg: 42.032fps
Doom 3 High Quality @ 1024x768
min: 12fps
max: 65fps
avg: 29.060fps
Doom 3 Ultra Quality @ 1024x768
min: 10fps
max: 63fps
avg: 27.265fps
OS was a fairly well used Vista 32bit, daily use, not fresh formatted.
REVIEW Zenith Director Plus Ultra Laptop
hi friends...
so finally after two long delays i got my laptop last sunday. i am writing this on this laptop only...
guys i am not a good writer, i have never written any review before. i am busy these days so first i will write a quick intro and elaborate this post later. I just wanted to post this becoz so many ppl are confused about this laptop and like me they have not seen anybody using zenith laptops.
I was buying the laptop with C2DP8400 2.2Ghz processor but that was 44k, in 40k i got T5800 @2Ghz. (will update about the FSB of this later). Why?? becoz i read somewhere that 4k is too much for 200Mhz increase and i am always near to power socket so i dont need much battery life.
here is the config.
C2D T5800 @2Ghz (800mhz FSB(not sure about this, may be 1066mhz))
4Gb ram
320Gb hdd sata 5400rpm
15.4 1280x800 screen
and rest everything u expect
although it has 4Gb ram but 32bit windows only shows 3gb ram, i google it and found out that this is the case with 32bit, the total addresable is 4gb but windows assigns some parts of its address lines to address other things..(google it for more info). the customer care says that if u install 64bit OS than only u get 4gb ram
Looks:
I like the looks, not as good as dell or hp, but definitely better than lenovos i hv seen. I have the pure black color with small white circles here and there.
Build quality:
the keyboard is ok. the keys responds well and have nice feedback.
screen is good and gives just about the right brightness
the laptop is heavy but the body do not look tough.
the dvd writer tray plastic is very very poor quality.
Bad points:
one really annoying thing is that they hv put mouse tracker not in the center but slightly towards left. every now and then my thumb or palm touches it while typing and the cursor goes here and there. i need to always keep my left hand a little up on the palm rest.
the speaker have very low sound output. but the sound quality is ok.
there are no shortcut buttons on the panel, i dont know why? there is lot of empty space on top. all the shortcuts are merged in function keys, so u hv to use "Fn" + function keys to use simple thing like mute.
the carry bag can only carry this laptop, no extra pockets.. ok they do hv some but really of no use. forget about the looks. but build quality is very good.
More bad points:
..coming soon, (only used this lappy for two days, plz tell me what more u want tested)
Good points:
ok so lets see why i like this lappy..
Games:
for now i only played GTA4,, call of duty 5, nfs carbon... no problems at all... at 1200x800 res all was blown away... gosh... i luv my laptop..
the system is very fast... windows xp runs like win98. will test Fedora 10 and vista soon.
all my prgramming softwares like visual studio 2008, eclipse, ran like anything.
so finally after two long delays i got my laptop last sunday. i am writing this on this laptop only...
guys i am not a good writer, i have never written any review before. i am busy these days so first i will write a quick intro and elaborate this post later. I just wanted to post this becoz so many ppl are confused about this laptop and like me they have not seen anybody using zenith laptops.
I was buying the laptop with C2DP8400 2.2Ghz processor but that was 44k, in 40k i got T5800 @2Ghz. (will update about the FSB of this later). Why?? becoz i read somewhere that 4k is too much for 200Mhz increase and i am always near to power socket so i dont need much battery life.
here is the config.
C2D T5800 @2Ghz (800mhz FSB(not sure about this, may be 1066mhz))
4Gb ram
320Gb hdd sata 5400rpm
15.4 1280x800 screen
and rest everything u expect
although it has 4Gb ram but 32bit windows only shows 3gb ram, i google it and found out that this is the case with 32bit, the total addresable is 4gb but windows assigns some parts of its address lines to address other things..(google it for more info). the customer care says that if u install 64bit OS than only u get 4gb ram
Looks:
I like the looks, not as good as dell or hp, but definitely better than lenovos i hv seen. I have the pure black color with small white circles here and there.
Build quality:
the keyboard is ok. the keys responds well and have nice feedback.
screen is good and gives just about the right brightness
the laptop is heavy but the body do not look tough.
the dvd writer tray plastic is very very poor quality.
Bad points:
one really annoying thing is that they hv put mouse tracker not in the center but slightly towards left. every now and then my thumb or palm touches it while typing and the cursor goes here and there. i need to always keep my left hand a little up on the palm rest.
the speaker have very low sound output. but the sound quality is ok.
there are no shortcut buttons on the panel, i dont know why? there is lot of empty space on top. all the shortcuts are merged in function keys, so u hv to use "Fn" + function keys to use simple thing like mute.
the carry bag can only carry this laptop, no extra pockets.. ok they do hv some but really of no use. forget about the looks. but build quality is very good.
More bad points:
..coming soon, (only used this lappy for two days, plz tell me what more u want tested)
Good points:
ok so lets see why i like this lappy..
Games:
for now i only played GTA4,, call of duty 5, nfs carbon... no problems at all... at 1200x800 res all was blown away... gosh... i luv my laptop..
the system is very fast... windows xp runs like win98. will test Fedora 10 and vista soon.
all my prgramming softwares like visual studio 2008, eclipse, ran like anything.
First Impressions: Yamaha FZ16
One look at the images of the striking orange FZ launched in Goa, and I thought “This is one handsome looking bike, one which I must have.” Earlier to this, I was subjected to this reflex thought only for the 2008 Honda Fireblade, Yamaha MT01 and the Honda CB1000R.
I feel that this is one bike which looks perfect from all angles, something which no other Indian two-wheeler had managed to achieve so far. So what if they had to Xerox the fantastic actual FZ power-bikes and scale them down for India? That makes a lot of business sense and displays market logic.
The once abandoned Yamaha showrooms have started getting horsed of youth traffic, the salesmen are back on their feet again and have a sincere reason again to comb, shave and brush their teeth before they reach the counters daily.
For a true Yamaha fan this is how the stable would look: Yamaha RX100, Yamaha RD350, Yamaha R15, Yamaha FZ16, Yamaha R1 and Yamaha MT-01 – and make that all black for me please, and oh yes, you can buy all the bikes within India – legally. Fantastic, really!
Of course that is where the comparison ends in the above mentioned motorcycles. The FZ16 is not a powerhouse, but a premium executive-commuter-streetfighter, which makes it even more incredible for me. I having trouble accepting that people will buy this bike in hordes just to commute to the office or get vegetables on it. But the very same bike can be used in the umpteen B-grade adverts and Tv soap operas as the chariot of the good looking college chocolate-hero making passes at girls or the spoilt rich brat with a expensive bike respectively.
All the above made possible by the lethal combination of the incredible muscular styling and the spot on price tag.
My only grouse? Why wasn’t it there when I was in college? Why did I have to ride skinny bikes with an engine that couldn’t even pull a small cat out of the well. Darn!
With the Honda Stunner and now the FZ16, things are at all time high for the impressionable young male. Lots of options to impress the damsels with. This means lots of sales, and this would in turn mean better bikes for all of us as the Japanese giants pump in more money into this sector. We are in a win-win situation at last.
I am also pretty sure the FZ16 would be a corner carver, a bike which I would as much love to take to the mountains and as just sit and admire its great looks.
But then why won’t I?
It may have the ‘FZ’ in it’s name, but ultimately it is just another 150CC bike, something which wont seal the deal for a person like me, who has been biking on a few performance machines which have more than just the name in their DNA. Had the mill been producing even 17PS, the same as my Karizma (which again is not a performance machine, but a compromise that we all have had to make, albeit a good one), I would have dumped the Hero Honda and gone for the FZ. But sadly, that is not the case.
However, the fact remains that everytime I see this bike at a red light, at a parking, or laden with a family of four, I will have a slight twitch in my heart with a wish to own it, then I will have a slight twitch in the right wrist and make it a blur in my rear view mirror so as to shorten this agony and reclaim the validity of my decision of waiting for tad more for the perfect bike which not only looks like a Greek god but performs equally well at the Olympics.
Yamaha has built themselves a solid base on which they now cannot afford to be complacent. The passion has been rediscovered and hopes refilled with premium quality Helium. They can’t afford to be complacent now, and I am sure they won’t be.
The next version I expect in the FZ series is the 250CC engine which this bike had, but surprisingly isn’t launched even till now:
Love: The naked styling, FZ brandage, generous rubber, price tag
Hate: Power, but not really considering the target market
Did not understand: Why it was named FZ16 and not the FZ15.
Best Color: Orange
First modification to be done post buying: Loose that damned saree-guard! Thank you.
Perfect Track Day companion: Yamaha R15
Perfect Touring Companion: Comet Gt250 or the Karizma
Perfect Power riding companion: Yamaha MT01]
Next Logical Upgrade in the bike: Fi, projector lamp
Specifications:
Engine type
Air-cooled, 4-stroke, SOHC, 2-valve
Displacement
153.0cm3
Bore & Stroke
58.0 × 57.9mm
Compression ratio
9.5:1
Maximum output
14PS / 7500 rpm
Maximum torque
14 N.m / 6000 rpm
Starting method
Electric starter
Lubrication type
Wet sump
Carburetor type
BS26
Clutch type
Constant mesh wet multiplate
Ignition type
CDI
Transmission type
Return type 5-speed
Chassis
Frame type
Diamond
Suspension (front/rear)
Telescopic / Monocross
Wheelbase
1,335mm
Brake type(front/rear)
Hydraulic single disc / drum
Tire size (front/rear)
100/80-17 / 140/60-R17
dimensions
Overall Length × Width × Height
1,975mm × 770mm × 1,045mm
Seat height
790mm
Wheelbase
1,335mm
Minimum ground clearance
160mm
Dry weight/Curb weight
126 kg / 137 kg
Fuel tank volume
12 liters
Engine oil volume
1.2 liters
I feel that this is one bike which looks perfect from all angles, something which no other Indian two-wheeler had managed to achieve so far. So what if they had to Xerox the fantastic actual FZ power-bikes and scale them down for India? That makes a lot of business sense and displays market logic.
The once abandoned Yamaha showrooms have started getting horsed of youth traffic, the salesmen are back on their feet again and have a sincere reason again to comb, shave and brush their teeth before they reach the counters daily.
For a true Yamaha fan this is how the stable would look: Yamaha RX100, Yamaha RD350, Yamaha R15, Yamaha FZ16, Yamaha R1 and Yamaha MT-01 – and make that all black for me please, and oh yes, you can buy all the bikes within India – legally. Fantastic, really!
Of course that is where the comparison ends in the above mentioned motorcycles. The FZ16 is not a powerhouse, but a premium executive-commuter-streetfighter, which makes it even more incredible for me. I having trouble accepting that people will buy this bike in hordes just to commute to the office or get vegetables on it. But the very same bike can be used in the umpteen B-grade adverts and Tv soap operas as the chariot of the good looking college chocolate-hero making passes at girls or the spoilt rich brat with a expensive bike respectively.
All the above made possible by the lethal combination of the incredible muscular styling and the spot on price tag.
My only grouse? Why wasn’t it there when I was in college? Why did I have to ride skinny bikes with an engine that couldn’t even pull a small cat out of the well. Darn!
With the Honda Stunner and now the FZ16, things are at all time high for the impressionable young male. Lots of options to impress the damsels with. This means lots of sales, and this would in turn mean better bikes for all of us as the Japanese giants pump in more money into this sector. We are in a win-win situation at last.
I am also pretty sure the FZ16 would be a corner carver, a bike which I would as much love to take to the mountains and as just sit and admire its great looks.
But then why won’t I?
It may have the ‘FZ’ in it’s name, but ultimately it is just another 150CC bike, something which wont seal the deal for a person like me, who has been biking on a few performance machines which have more than just the name in their DNA. Had the mill been producing even 17PS, the same as my Karizma (which again is not a performance machine, but a compromise that we all have had to make, albeit a good one), I would have dumped the Hero Honda and gone for the FZ. But sadly, that is not the case.
However, the fact remains that everytime I see this bike at a red light, at a parking, or laden with a family of four, I will have a slight twitch in my heart with a wish to own it, then I will have a slight twitch in the right wrist and make it a blur in my rear view mirror so as to shorten this agony and reclaim the validity of my decision of waiting for tad more for the perfect bike which not only looks like a Greek god but performs equally well at the Olympics.
Yamaha has built themselves a solid base on which they now cannot afford to be complacent. The passion has been rediscovered and hopes refilled with premium quality Helium. They can’t afford to be complacent now, and I am sure they won’t be.
The next version I expect in the FZ series is the 250CC engine which this bike had, but surprisingly isn’t launched even till now:
Love: The naked styling, FZ brandage, generous rubber, price tag
Hate: Power, but not really considering the target market
Did not understand: Why it was named FZ16 and not the FZ15.
Best Color: Orange
First modification to be done post buying: Loose that damned saree-guard! Thank you.
Perfect Track Day companion: Yamaha R15
Perfect Touring Companion: Comet Gt250 or the Karizma
Perfect Power riding companion: Yamaha MT01]
Next Logical Upgrade in the bike: Fi, projector lamp
Specifications:
Engine type
Air-cooled, 4-stroke, SOHC, 2-valve
Displacement
153.0cm3
Bore & Stroke
58.0 × 57.9mm
Compression ratio
9.5:1
Maximum output
14PS / 7500 rpm
Maximum torque
14 N.m / 6000 rpm
Starting method
Electric starter
Lubrication type
Wet sump
Carburetor type
BS26
Clutch type
Constant mesh wet multiplate
Ignition type
CDI
Transmission type
Return type 5-speed
Chassis
Frame type
Diamond
Suspension (front/rear)
Telescopic / Monocross
Wheelbase
1,335mm
Brake type(front/rear)
Hydraulic single disc / drum
Tire size (front/rear)
100/80-17 / 140/60-R17
dimensions
Overall Length × Width × Height
1,975mm × 770mm × 1,045mm
Seat height
790mm
Wheelbase
1,335mm
Minimum ground clearance
160mm
Dry weight/Curb weight
126 kg / 137 kg
Fuel tank volume
12 liters
Engine oil volume
1.2 liters
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
koda dealer changes parts in my car = Consumer Court = Car not returned in a YEAR!
while surfing on net i found a very interesting case of Harish Kanchan see that he says :-
I am fighting with Skoda for the last one year now. You may be aware their dealer in mumbai, Nummer Eins had replaced spurious parts in my car to the tune of around 4 lakhs. They had even stolen the 3rd injector and the steering rack and substituted them with fakes. They did not spare the battery either.
I took the matter up with skoda. You might find it hard to believe but customer care head Karthik Ramesh is hand in glove with the dealers. God knows what kind of kick back arrangement he has with them but i can assure you he is the recipient of this fraud committed by Skoda dealers.
I followed up with
Andreas Prinz, MD, Volkswagen India
Jorg Mueller, President, Volkswagen India
Eva Dradkova, Consul General, Czech Republic, Mumbai
Reinhard Jung, Chairman, Skoda Auto, Czech Republic
Karsten Bugon, MD, Skoda Auto India
Adam Pavel, Customer Care, Skoda Czech Republic
Walter Stechel, Consul General, German Consulate, Mumbai
Bernhard Steinrucke, Director General, Indo German Chamber of Commerce
I got few encouraging replies from some of them. Andreas Prinz in fact followed it up personally with Bugon. Unfortunately these Germans are not aware of the mischief played by Skoda, Indian executives.
Skoda india have no care and regard for the Indian consumer. They treat them with utter disdain. i visited Aurangabad and insisted on meeting Bugon. I was stopped at the gates and not allowed to do so. However this visit galvanised customer care head Karthik Ramesh to hush up the matter. He diverted my car to JMD Auto and sent one of their engineers to inspect my claim. One of the most honest guys in Skoda, Mr. Ramakrishna Surabhi inspected my car at JMD Auto and confirmed all my allegations.
I am in possession of their internal vehicle inspection report submitted by Surabhi. I got this with great difficulty and maneuvering.
Skoda replaced all the faulty parts in my car with originals. They then tried to pull a fast one on me. They wanted me to give them an undertaking as a precondition for delivering my car with rectified original parts. The undertaking mentioned that these spurious parts were not put by their dealer.
I refused to do so and Skoda asked me to pay for the repairs and take delivery of the car.
Also, the night after the parts were replaced, Skoda official Yogesh Vaidya, tried to smuggle out the spurious parts removed from my car out of jmd showroom after it was shut and i had gone back home. Some one known to me at jmd called me up and informed me. I rushed to jmd to see the parts just about being loaded in a car. Guess whose car? Nummer Eins car. Can u imagine? The fake parts were being taken back to Nummer Eins under instructions of Karthik Ramesh. Car enthusiasts at team bhp - draw your own conclusion.
Also, Nummer Eins, meanwhile tried to hush me down with attractive offers of cash, new car and threats. I chose to fight.
I approached the district consumer forum which gave an interim ruling ordering Skoda to release my car repaired to its international standards immediately. Skoda appealed to the state forum which stayed the release of my car. Due to a huge backlog of cases the case is proceeding slowly.
i was helped immensely by the media namely
Hemal Asher, Mid day
Soumitra Pote, Maharshtra Times
Danish Khan, Mumbai Mirror
Ravi Rao and Hafeez Mateen, Times of India
Durgesh Singh, Navbharat Times
S. Muralidhar, The Hindu
Skoda is a big advertiser in newspapers. Lot of pressure was put to stop these newspaper articles.
However the press reports finally worked and on 5th september 2008 skoda terminated the dealership of Nummer Eins in their ad in the Times Of India giving them an apt teachers day lesson.
Skoda continues to fight with me with their clout and resources because they have to protect their image and my matter has kind of become a prestige issue for them.
I have all the documents and photographs to prove my entire case.
A piece of advice for those people who have been cheated by Skoda. Don't go to court. They wouldn't mind paying the compensation even if they lost. It is small change for them. I have observed what hurts them most is the press publicity. Hit them where it hurts. Go to the press and present your case with proper documentation and records. The entire media is aware of the renowned skoda attitude ' obsessed with arrogance'. They will take it up.
Also, I wish to file a class action suit against Skoda in India. For that I need similarly affected people. At least ten of them. We can teach Skoda a lesson. - the common car owner in india is not to be taken for a ride. I am waiting for people to come forward and fight with me. So far I have been fighting single handedly. I would like to appeal to all team bhp members similarly affected to come forward.
Harish Kanchan
+91-98331-38094
harishk63@gmail.com
I am fighting with Skoda for the last one year now. You may be aware their dealer in mumbai, Nummer Eins had replaced spurious parts in my car to the tune of around 4 lakhs. They had even stolen the 3rd injector and the steering rack and substituted them with fakes. They did not spare the battery either.
I took the matter up with skoda. You might find it hard to believe but customer care head Karthik Ramesh is hand in glove with the dealers. God knows what kind of kick back arrangement he has with them but i can assure you he is the recipient of this fraud committed by Skoda dealers.
I followed up with
Andreas Prinz, MD, Volkswagen India
Jorg Mueller, President, Volkswagen India
Eva Dradkova, Consul General, Czech Republic, Mumbai
Reinhard Jung, Chairman, Skoda Auto, Czech Republic
Karsten Bugon, MD, Skoda Auto India
Adam Pavel, Customer Care, Skoda Czech Republic
Walter Stechel, Consul General, German Consulate, Mumbai
Bernhard Steinrucke, Director General, Indo German Chamber of Commerce
I got few encouraging replies from some of them. Andreas Prinz in fact followed it up personally with Bugon. Unfortunately these Germans are not aware of the mischief played by Skoda, Indian executives.
Skoda india have no care and regard for the Indian consumer. They treat them with utter disdain. i visited Aurangabad and insisted on meeting Bugon. I was stopped at the gates and not allowed to do so. However this visit galvanised customer care head Karthik Ramesh to hush up the matter. He diverted my car to JMD Auto and sent one of their engineers to inspect my claim. One of the most honest guys in Skoda, Mr. Ramakrishna Surabhi inspected my car at JMD Auto and confirmed all my allegations.
I am in possession of their internal vehicle inspection report submitted by Surabhi. I got this with great difficulty and maneuvering.
Skoda replaced all the faulty parts in my car with originals. They then tried to pull a fast one on me. They wanted me to give them an undertaking as a precondition for delivering my car with rectified original parts. The undertaking mentioned that these spurious parts were not put by their dealer.
I refused to do so and Skoda asked me to pay for the repairs and take delivery of the car.
Also, the night after the parts were replaced, Skoda official Yogesh Vaidya, tried to smuggle out the spurious parts removed from my car out of jmd showroom after it was shut and i had gone back home. Some one known to me at jmd called me up and informed me. I rushed to jmd to see the parts just about being loaded in a car. Guess whose car? Nummer Eins car. Can u imagine? The fake parts were being taken back to Nummer Eins under instructions of Karthik Ramesh. Car enthusiasts at team bhp - draw your own conclusion.
Also, Nummer Eins, meanwhile tried to hush me down with attractive offers of cash, new car and threats. I chose to fight.
I approached the district consumer forum which gave an interim ruling ordering Skoda to release my car repaired to its international standards immediately. Skoda appealed to the state forum which stayed the release of my car. Due to a huge backlog of cases the case is proceeding slowly.
i was helped immensely by the media namely
Hemal Asher, Mid day
Soumitra Pote, Maharshtra Times
Danish Khan, Mumbai Mirror
Ravi Rao and Hafeez Mateen, Times of India
Durgesh Singh, Navbharat Times
S. Muralidhar, The Hindu
Skoda is a big advertiser in newspapers. Lot of pressure was put to stop these newspaper articles.
However the press reports finally worked and on 5th september 2008 skoda terminated the dealership of Nummer Eins in their ad in the Times Of India giving them an apt teachers day lesson.
Skoda continues to fight with me with their clout and resources because they have to protect their image and my matter has kind of become a prestige issue for them.
I have all the documents and photographs to prove my entire case.
A piece of advice for those people who have been cheated by Skoda. Don't go to court. They wouldn't mind paying the compensation even if they lost. It is small change for them. I have observed what hurts them most is the press publicity. Hit them where it hurts. Go to the press and present your case with proper documentation and records. The entire media is aware of the renowned skoda attitude ' obsessed with arrogance'. They will take it up.
Also, I wish to file a class action suit against Skoda in India. For that I need similarly affected people. At least ten of them. We can teach Skoda a lesson. - the common car owner in india is not to be taken for a ride. I am waiting for people to come forward and fight with me. So far I have been fighting single handedly. I would like to appeal to all team bhp members similarly affected to come forward.
Harish Kanchan
+91-98331-38094
harishk63@gmail.com
Sunday, March 15, 2009
TATA NANO DETAIL WITH PICS OF THE FIRST ROLE OUT
tata nano-full specifications and features
launch: 23rd march, 2009
models:
nano base
nano CX mid level
nano LX top end
cost of base model not to exceed Rs. 1,00,000 ex-factory
safety as per Indian standards
seating capacity of 4 persons
engine:
all aluminium rear mounted MPFI
EMS: 32-bit microprocessor
piston displacement: 624 cc, petrol with single balancer shaft
drive train: rear wheel drive
cylinder count: 2 cylinders
valve gear: 4 valves, 2 valves per cylinder
max power: 35 bhp@5500 rpm
torque: 4.8 kgm@3000 rpm
compression ratio: 9.7:1
power to weight ratio: 0.58
acceleration: 0-60 kmph: 8 secs
top speed: 105 kmph
EMS electronic engine management system with "blink code mechanism" for easy repairs
fuel cut-off for safety
transmission:
gearbox: 4 forward speeds, 1 reverse, all forward gears synchronised
operation: cable operted
transmission ratios:
1st: 3.45, shift upto 10 kmph
2nd: 1.95, shift between 20-30 kmph
3rd: 1.26, shift between 30-50 kmph
4th: 0.838, shift between 50-70 kmph
reverse: 3.08
suspension:
front: independent mcpherson strut, shock absorber
rear: semi trailing arm, coil spring with gas filled shock absorber
brakes:
front: 180 mm drum
rear: 180 mm drum
wheels and tyres:
wheels: 12"
front tyres: 135/70 R 12 tubeless
rear tyres: 155/65 R 12 tubeless
spare: 1 tyre, 135/70 R 12 tubeless
tubeless radial tyres standard on all variants
in case the front tyre punctures, you can replace it with the stepney provided.
in case of a rear tyre puncture, since there is no stepney of that tyre, Tata recommends:
don't go beyond 40-60 kmph in case of puncture
get the tyre repaired ASAP
drive carefully at sharp turns
recommended tyre pressure:
front: 26 psi
rear: 28 psi
turning radius: 4 meters
dimensions and weights:
length: 3099 mm
width: 1495 mm
height: 1620 mm
wheel base: 2230 mm
ground clearance: 180 mm
kerb weight: 600 kg
fuel tank capacity: 15 litres
fuel cut-off @ 5600 rpm in every gear or at 105 kmph
fuel consumption: 23.6 kmpl
battery: semi sealed under the driver's seat
boot capacity: 80 litres
500 litres with seats folded
features:
Nano base:(available in BS-2 and BS-3 varients)
seat belts: front ELR, rear static
ONLY ODOMETER
fixed tail gate. engine opening through rear bumper
egg shaped design
rear mounted high mounted stop light
centrally placed exhaust
ONLY DRIVER'S seat adjust-sliding and reclining
fixed co driver seat
REAR FOLDING SEAT
2 spoke steering wheel
grey bumpers and interiors
driver side OSRVM
Nano CX:(available in BS-2 and BS-3 varients)
adds to nano base:
ONLY ODOMETER
HVAC (air conditioner with heater)
tinted glasses all round
DRIVER AND CO DRIVER SEAT SLIDING AND RECLINING
2 tone grey interiors and seats
metallic paint optional
Nano LX (available in BS-3 varient only)
adds to Nano CX:
front power windows
central locking
front and rear fog lamps
3 spoke steering wheel
moulded door trim with fabric
TRIPMETER AND ODOMETER
floor console with glass holder
anti glare inside rear view mirror (prismatic day/ night)
sunvisors on both sides
warrenty
18 months or 24,000 km whichever is earlier
service interval:
1st free: 1000 km or 1 month whichever is earlier
2nd free: 5000 km or 6 months whichever is earlier
3rd free: 10000 km or 1 year whichever is earlier
subsequent service every 10,000 kms
colours:
nano base:bright red, ivory white, summer blue
nano CX: bright red, ivory white, summer blue, champagne gold, lunar silver
nano LX:champagne gold, lunar silver, sunshine yellow
merchandise available at dealers:
nano phone
nano watch
nano caps
nano bags
booking starts: 2nd week of april, forms available 7 days before the booking date is announced and forms will be available only for 14 days.
DEALERS ARE EXPECTING ABOUT 10 LAKH BOOKINGS
Booking forms will be available at:
SBI
westside
croma store
400 tata motors dealers across the country
cost of forms: Rs 200-300
online booking also available
expected: 90% booking from dealers
Only one form per customer (in his name) will be accepted.
No more than one form in the same customer's name will be accepted.
NO ECS REFUND.
booking amount: 70-80% of the car's ex-showroom cost.
after booking closes, allotment will be done on the basis of random number lottery where the lucky customer's name will be declared along with the name of the dealer from where he/ she can take delivery of the car along with date and time of delivery will also be specified.
(note: booking dates may change as it will be announced at the time of launch. there is no typing error and whatever facts and figures typed are 100% correct)
all the best to the nano bookers!
launch: 23rd march, 2009
models:
nano base
nano CX mid level
nano LX top end
cost of base model not to exceed Rs. 1,00,000 ex-factory
safety as per Indian standards
seating capacity of 4 persons
engine:
all aluminium rear mounted MPFI
EMS: 32-bit microprocessor
piston displacement: 624 cc, petrol with single balancer shaft
drive train: rear wheel drive
cylinder count: 2 cylinders
valve gear: 4 valves, 2 valves per cylinder
max power: 35 bhp@5500 rpm
torque: 4.8 kgm@3000 rpm
compression ratio: 9.7:1
power to weight ratio: 0.58
acceleration: 0-60 kmph: 8 secs
top speed: 105 kmph
EMS electronic engine management system with "blink code mechanism" for easy repairs
fuel cut-off for safety
transmission:
gearbox: 4 forward speeds, 1 reverse, all forward gears synchronised
operation: cable operted
transmission ratios:
1st: 3.45, shift upto 10 kmph
2nd: 1.95, shift between 20-30 kmph
3rd: 1.26, shift between 30-50 kmph
4th: 0.838, shift between 50-70 kmph
reverse: 3.08
suspension:
front: independent mcpherson strut, shock absorber
rear: semi trailing arm, coil spring with gas filled shock absorber
brakes:
front: 180 mm drum
rear: 180 mm drum
wheels and tyres:
wheels: 12"
front tyres: 135/70 R 12 tubeless
rear tyres: 155/65 R 12 tubeless
spare: 1 tyre, 135/70 R 12 tubeless
tubeless radial tyres standard on all variants
in case the front tyre punctures, you can replace it with the stepney provided.
in case of a rear tyre puncture, since there is no stepney of that tyre, Tata recommends:
don't go beyond 40-60 kmph in case of puncture
get the tyre repaired ASAP
drive carefully at sharp turns
recommended tyre pressure:
front: 26 psi
rear: 28 psi
turning radius: 4 meters
dimensions and weights:
length: 3099 mm
width: 1495 mm
height: 1620 mm
wheel base: 2230 mm
ground clearance: 180 mm
kerb weight: 600 kg
fuel tank capacity: 15 litres
fuel cut-off @ 5600 rpm in every gear or at 105 kmph
fuel consumption: 23.6 kmpl
battery: semi sealed under the driver's seat
boot capacity: 80 litres
500 litres with seats folded
features:
Nano base:(available in BS-2 and BS-3 varients)
seat belts: front ELR, rear static
ONLY ODOMETER
fixed tail gate. engine opening through rear bumper
egg shaped design
rear mounted high mounted stop light
centrally placed exhaust
ONLY DRIVER'S seat adjust-sliding and reclining
fixed co driver seat
REAR FOLDING SEAT
2 spoke steering wheel
grey bumpers and interiors
driver side OSRVM
Nano CX:(available in BS-2 and BS-3 varients)
adds to nano base:
ONLY ODOMETER
HVAC (air conditioner with heater)
tinted glasses all round
DRIVER AND CO DRIVER SEAT SLIDING AND RECLINING
2 tone grey interiors and seats
metallic paint optional
Nano LX (available in BS-3 varient only)
adds to Nano CX:
front power windows
central locking
front and rear fog lamps
3 spoke steering wheel
moulded door trim with fabric
TRIPMETER AND ODOMETER
floor console with glass holder
anti glare inside rear view mirror (prismatic day/ night)
sunvisors on both sides
warrenty
18 months or 24,000 km whichever is earlier
service interval:
1st free: 1000 km or 1 month whichever is earlier
2nd free: 5000 km or 6 months whichever is earlier
3rd free: 10000 km or 1 year whichever is earlier
subsequent service every 10,000 kms
colours:
nano base:bright red, ivory white, summer blue
nano CX: bright red, ivory white, summer blue, champagne gold, lunar silver
nano LX:champagne gold, lunar silver, sunshine yellow
merchandise available at dealers:
nano phone
nano watch
nano caps
nano bags
booking starts: 2nd week of april, forms available 7 days before the booking date is announced and forms will be available only for 14 days.
DEALERS ARE EXPECTING ABOUT 10 LAKH BOOKINGS
Booking forms will be available at:
SBI
westside
croma store
400 tata motors dealers across the country
cost of forms: Rs 200-300
online booking also available
expected: 90% booking from dealers
Only one form per customer (in his name) will be accepted.
No more than one form in the same customer's name will be accepted.
NO ECS REFUND.
booking amount: 70-80% of the car's ex-showroom cost.
after booking closes, allotment will be done on the basis of random number lottery where the lucky customer's name will be declared along with the name of the dealer from where he/ she can take delivery of the car along with date and time of delivery will also be specified.
(note: booking dates may change as it will be announced at the time of launch. there is no typing error and whatever facts and figures typed are 100% correct)
all the best to the nano bookers!
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