Hope you are doing good !
About my driving experience.
I owned a 2nd hand 2011 model old MS Alto LXI car for 4 years which went for a total loss in the recent Hyderabad floods. I love driving and always crave for driving on long drives etc. I have limited experience of driving Ertiga, Dzire, Aspire and Hyundai EON on requirement basis.
I had booked Ford Ecosport on 5th August and was eagerly waiting for the debacle. It was a dream car for me for years now and when the time really came to own one, the dream just got broken by Ford India's announcement of organizational restructure.
I am in a complete mess now as I don't have any car right now (old was car submerged in floods in 2020 and was sold for scrap value).
I am looking for suggestions from you as I never though about any alternative to Ecosport.
My requirements:
1. Riding within city limits on weekends mostly (not every weekend) inside 20km radius, occasionally on weekdays also. Not planning to commute to office as I have office cab/shuttle option, but occasionally I will need to do when required. Office is around 13 kms from residence.
2. Long drives 3 to 4 times a year to outstation places and 2 to 3 times a year to native place i.e. around 900 kms.
3. Mostly 3 Adult passengers as of now, i.e. a couple + parent above 60 yrs age.
4. I love driving and always crave for it. I used to take out my car almost everyday just for even a short casual ride also.
5. Looking to keep the car for 10yrs.
6. Currently based at Hyderabad,Telangana and have plans to move to Bhubaneswar,Odisha.
7. Petrol and Diesel car anything is fine. Diesel is preferred for performance.
8. If I commute daily to office later, then monthly running close to 750kms for city driving. Not sure about highway drives monthly running.
9. Budget is around 10 lakhs exshowroom max but I look at least cost of ownership & best driving dynamics and value perspective.
10. Prefer a car with enough ground clearance as I live in Hyderabad and the roads are pathetic moreover in rainy season within the city itself.
11. Good Air conditioning and I would not prefer a vehicle that performs different when AC is OFF and different when AC is ON.
Features I would like to have priority wise
1. Driver seat height adjustment - I am only 5 ft 4 inch person and I feel high seating position makes me feel comfortable.
2. Rear seat headrest - This is one thing I have experienced or missed sitting on back seat during long drives.
3. Reverse parking camera.
4. Steering mounted controls - I have had a bad experience juggling my phone calls during driving in the city which is very dangerous and distracts the attention while driving. But if there is an alternative to pick phone call like any bluetooth switch/etc other than steering mounted controls then I am good.
5. Rear Wipers - During rainy season, driving at night even in city really helps.
6. day night IRVM.
I can forgo the below features if I get a good car at a decent price.
Good to have features (features which can be managed if not available)
7. More Boot space
8. Automatic climate control.
I am not very particular about the remaining features like music system etc etc but on any day would love system like best speakers for best experience.
Things I look for in a car :
1. Decent Ground clearance
2. Build & metal strength.
3. Fit and finish.
4. Comfortable for long drives.
5. punchy engine and stable highway dynamics.
Things I don't prefer in a car.
1. Unneccesary gimmicks/feartures and electronics.
I am basically looking at a car which can take me literally me to any place in India like hills, highways, little offroads nearby waterfalls etc, bad roads, village roads where the speed breakers are super high
.I have test driven
1. Hyundai Venue SX diesel. - Never felt like a SUV.
2. Maruthi Suzuki Scross. - Liked the most.
3. Nexon Petrol and also Diesel. - Liked both of them.
4. Maruthi Suzuki Brezza. - I felt like an alto from inside, but from outside its like a SUV.
Other options in my mind
1. Nexon XM or XMS petrol.
2. Altroz petrol iTurbo XZ
3. Altroz XZ diesel -- if budget stretches, it ticks all options but only confusion in Ground clearance. Good from Cost of ownership perspective also.
Overall looking at a car with LOWER COST OF OWNERSHIP of a car for atleast 7 years time.
Kindly need your expert and unbiased suggestion.
