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One more customer Fiat Palio test ripped! Magnesium Grey, SD model that is Or maybe the unsuspecting customer is already lovingly running it in, not knowing that ...



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Old 16-03-08, 06:16 AM   #1
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One more customer Fiat Palio test ripped!
Magnesium Grey, SD model that is Or maybe the unsuspecting customer is already lovingly running it in, not knowing that its been redlined several times over. I TD'd it with speedo disconnected.

Zokes apart, here are ze basic pics:
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Now, a modular report as per the gyan i've filched off teambhp! Please understand my perspective as a indica xeta/alto owner. So those with SUVs may have a diff thought.

Interiors:
Decent. Beige inside, with the dashboard in a different (most wouldnt like!) dark brown/beige/metal AC fascia scheme. But yes, it has the look of a car a gen old. No two ways about it.

Much is said about the old gen tacho/dash but its still decent. And a look at the current Aveo convinces me it isnt that bad either. And how the tacho needle zooms....

Ride/Handling:
Not much to comment here. Comfortable, couldnt find any *really bad* spots to test things. Handles well, including a narrow U turn at (I think) 60 where I almost sideswiped a rickshaw Zilch body roll though the Fiat rep without his seat belt had good body roll.

Steering/Engine/Gear
Quite responsive steering once it gets going. The reverse may be a problem for average guys, but since I'm used to reversing an Indica, this baby tank falls right up the same alley. I refused to reverse it out of the dealer's parking lot. But its not that tough once you get used to it.
And like those who've TD'd the swift diesel, its JUST as sweetly revving. Insane fun albeit with a noticeable turbolag.
Cruises in 3rd at 20ish nicely, though at 10ish it knocks.
Fifth at about 40ish (second gear just as turbo kicked in, I shifted to 5th) was decent as well.
Redlined easily in third, so I must've touched like 80-100 or thereabouts min. Didn't have much road
Another interesting thing. You can't engage reverse till you pull up a sleeve on the gear lever. Very thoughtful.

NVH
Decent but irrelevant. At idle you CAN hear the diesel unlike the SwiftD. But very less, not in an irritating way. And the wheeze of the engine when you redline is naish. That being said, no rattles. No issues with AC on. With ICE, you can safely ignore - as SwiftD owners say.

ICE
NA

AC
Chilled decently and little impact on pickup. Reckon it should surive delhi ki garmi (3pm, 45+ degrees) waali roads in style too.

Visibility and ease of use
Front is Decent and rear is only okay. Wouldn't say its great, because I'm after all an Alto guy Definitely above a SwiftD though.
Ease of use is high. Liked some thoughtful things like well placed 12v, rear power windows+child lock in center (for navigator) to operate.
Also, the much read funda about pedals being close together is nonsense - atleast for me. Comfortable enough.

Misc
Leg and head room was sufficient. Even in rear. In NHCZX, my head touches the roof (i'm 5'11) in the rear seat. Its decent again for a hatchback. That being said, its still a gen old, step in (as in esteem vs SX4) types vehicle.

Overall, would I buy it if I were in the market - hell yeah. SDX is well loaded for its price (5.0x OTR Delhi).

even bigger reason: Half the parts are videshi, from the rear windscreen to the stuff in engine compartments thats from either poland or brazil.

Interesting funda: Salesman was trying to push it to new customers given the tank like build. In the 20min I was in the showroom, the bonnet must've been opened/closed five-six times for the sound fx
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Old 17-03-08, 01:09 PM   #2
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Re: One more customer Fiat Palio test ripped!
bump!

Also check out: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/C...ow/2872434.cms

The mini tank would anyday be preferable!
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Old 17-03-08, 01:57 PM   #3
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Re: One more customer Fiat Palio test ripped!
Nice review Hitanshu
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Old 17-03-08, 02:55 PM   #4
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Re: One more customer Fiat Palio test ripped!
ABS is not even optional offering, my vote goes to SwiftD just for that reason! Now I know about how Fiat is down in the dumps, needs to sell at lower price bla bla bla..so no one needs to be a wise arse trying to rationalize why Fiat aint offering ABS in a 75bhp hatchback.

For people who dont care about safety, this car would really be a great option IMO! Koshun is with much less parts localisation, how many would trust Fiat for the ASS (After Sales Service you perverts ) and COO ( Cost of Ownership)!

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Shamik
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Old 17-03-08, 04:07 PM   #5
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Re: One more customer Fiat Palio test ripped!
Darkie, there are two issues.

I personally find it abhorrent that the same Fiat who introduced abs in this segment courtesy the 1.6 sp (safety pack) does not even give it as an option today.

The other thing is the way the swift's been smashed. And that's NOT the first time. I've followed atleast five-six threads on the same on teambhp about the same. Au contraire recently, a fully loaded trailer fell (disbalanced) on a fiat uno. Just slightly bent root that's all. Nothing else
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Old 17-03-08, 04:14 PM   #6
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Re: One more customer Fiat Palio test ripped!
I have a fiat palio and about 6 months back had an accident on highway....

Crashed into an oncoming buffallo... it felt on my car's bonnet, then borke the glass, went on the hood and fell off on the trunk side... It all happened at about 80 kmph speed...

We were 5 guys in the car... nothing more than broken glass and damaged bonnet... hood didn't have a scratch...

Thats safety...
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Old 17-03-08, 04:17 PM   #7
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Re: One more customer Fiat Palio test ripped!
Poor buffallo, but that's a damn good car for running down people
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Old 17-03-08, 06:34 PM   #8
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Re: One more customer Fiat Palio test ripped!
May be few month down the line if they are doing enough volumes and have enough ABS queries.. they might as well decide to offer it in the Palio. Its a fantastic car for the price.
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Old 17-03-08, 06:47 PM   #9
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Re: One more customer Fiat Palio test ripped!
Originally Posted by Yogesh Sarkar View Post
Poor buffallo, but that's a damn good car for running down people
No no no... its safe for buffallos too... though I dashed into it at high speed... and after all that happened... buffallo stood up and went away with out any visual damage...

That's safety...
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Old 17-03-08, 07:04 PM   #10
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Re: One more customer Fiat Palio test ripped!
Originally Posted by Prasham View Post
No no no... its safe for buffallos too... though I dashed into it at high speed... and after all that happened... buffallo stood up and went away with out any visual damage...

That's safety...
Ok, but still don't try it on people
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