Grandeur, Then and Now!

Sandeep's Grandeur reached a milestone, pictute from his facebook page.

 

The owner of this Punto is owner of TFI as well .

He is busy so I posted from his FB page, with his permission.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4

 

The thread starter is TFI's founding member and Administrator

EDIT - Looks like Ravi posted at the same time as I did.

 

I have been away for quite some time. Reason, well known to my close TFI friends as it was because of my career shift.

Coming back with a short...very short… for a long term review as my Grandeur crossed 1,40,000 KMs in 6 years. And this post is for my friend Ravi (who keeps pushing me to write and share my views after my long drives to Rajasthan, Gujrat, UP and many other states).

This is one car, I can drive without any hesitation or giving any second thought for "long" drive even in the middle of night (well one may say I will pick this as I have only this car in my garage ). And when I’m saying long drives...my long drives are to my home town in Rajasthan from Mumbai, mostly be thrice a year. So here are my views and advice's for the car I’m in love with but it doesn’t mean I like everything about it. As said…no one is perfect! Most of it you must have heard and read from many but here's my version.

PLEASURE:

• Driveability - Incomparable.
• Personality, Character and even after 6 years I easily fell in love with its one sight.
• Seat Comfort - My odometer says it all, I still love driving it even after 1,40,000 KMs.
• Need not to say it again but it has got – Tank like build.
• The MultiJet – Rev up my life every time I take her for long drives.
• The Steering – Lively, just like I feel my heart pounding, I feel every bit of it.
• Clutch – I got it changed only after doing more than 1,00,000 KMs.
• Brakes – It stops my car where it should.
• Boot - Decent enough for a family of three. But, just to tell you all - I have driven this car with 5 adults and a kid till Jaipur from Mumbai during Diwali with all their luggage’s at least thrice till date.
• Doors still shut down with that "thud" sound, I love it.
• And most importantly, the smile I wear everytime when I open the drivers door every day!!!

ANNOYANCE:

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm…. Well yes it has!

• Gear Box – I wish it to be AT. But even though it could have been more refined.
• Headlamps on highway are merely effective, though I have lived with it till now.
• MultiJet roars a lot in top gear on highways.
• I wish little more of insulation to cancel cabin noise, as steering is more than enough to make me feel connected to the road. I definitely don’t want to hear tyre noise.
• And yes, since mine is 2009 edition I feel cheap with interior plastic quality and fitments

Well, that’s it. I don’t have much complains with my car.

Few Questions, I asked myself.

• Do I regret buying the car?
  Absolutely NOT
  
  
• Would I buy a FIAT again?
  Well Yes...but may be not! Because I desperately need an automatic transmission vehicle now. And Fiat will give me option by 2030 (hopefully).
  
  
• Would I recommend it to a friend?
  It all depends on my friend’s aptitude. If he like’s lollypop, I definitely can’t recommend FIAT to him. It’s a men's car, after all!
  
  
• Will I ever give up on this car?
  Damn, how can I ever even think of it? I’m known to many friends with my car. I can’t sell my identity.

-- Sharing couple of pics from my past drive as taken by phone camera and few from camera.