How is Ford's after sales service? What are the maintenance costs of a Ford car in comparison to others?
Thanks for the A2AFord motor company, one ofthe biggest automobile companies of the world, is known for the excellence in the field of automotive technology and the conventional mobility(Being an Indian, I’ll keep my answer based on Ford India, so that I have provide as accurate details as I can)I can divide the asked question into 2 parts,Firstly the after sales serviceMy family owns a 2008 Ford Fiesta Fida (special edition), back then the after sales services such as the periodic oil change, minor repairs and stuff were satisfying and I don't remember having any sort of trouble, or my father ever complaining about the issues he faced with the companyRecently my friend bought a ford aspire, and according to him, ford service centres, which are comparatively less in number, are a busy place. They give you a token, and keep you waiting. However the standards of the service technically isn't gone bad, but yeh they need to take some measures regarding the customer comfort.Coming to the technical details, the warranty period of your car ( which is usually 2 years or 40000km) will be the time where you'll experience great levels of satisfaction and professionalism from the companyPerfect remaindersExcellent serviceAnd many more, however it's after that period, where you will start facing troublesSecond part:- the maintenance costsIt's a wise idea to compare the maintenance costs of the Ford vehicle with its competitors.It's a fact that the maintenance costs are way too high compared to the Indian alternatives and other established companies in the nationReason? Most of the garages and even some of the service centres don't have replacement parts for ford vehicles in stock, which means, they'll order a part individually just for you. That's a huge blow to your pocket, moreover you have to wait till the genuine part arrives, or you'll have to settle with locally made parts.. or what we here in India call “China made parts”That doesn't mean it's all negative to go for a Ford vehicle, these machines are the ones who offer greatest driving pleasure, a sense of power and efficiency, enclosed in a cost effective package named Ford! Our vehicle still runs like it's the first day we brought it home, although our model was a special edition (ford produced only 25000 of these models worldwide) but I feel, the standard or normal models and variants also would be a great drive.Thanks!
Is it worth it buying a 2010 Ford Fiesta petrol at a price of 2.75 lakhs?
No. Despite Ford Fiesta being a good car and fun to drive. Assuming that you are asking from somewhere in India…This car is no longer in production . So availability of spares will be a problem. Ford was not a very Popular brand in India. So getting spares in after market will be difficult. Ford service will not have the spares off out of production models for long, if at all. And trust me the service centres charges a lot.What would be the resale value of your car three years hence. You would be lucky to get 30 K.I don't think that currently Ford is selling any Sedan in India. If they were to exit market like .Chevrolet, then you will be in a difficult position about.spares.I had a Ford Ikon for many years.
For how many years can I use a normal car in India?
You can use a normal cars in India for a lifetime if you do the maintenance right. You should be ready to spend the money correctly and have a good mechanic who knows the right stuff so as to not rip you off and help with the required repairs.Else you should be capable to do it yourself and have a garage with all the spares to do the repairs. I have seen cars at the service center with 2–3Lakh Km’s and they run smoothly. I have also seen 15–20 yr old cars and some even older ones whose owners are very meticulous about how they maintain the car.
Which car models can be used as cabs for OLA/Uber? Can only specific car models be used as taxis in Uber/OLA? If so, which ones can be used?
Ola provides cabs in these categories:-1. Ola Prime Sedan2. Ola Mini3. Ola Autos(Auto-Rickshaw)4. Ola Share (Share Your Cab With Someone Else)5. Ola Rentals (You can Rent a Car)6. Ola Out Station7. Ola Luxury8. Taxi For Sure CabsWhereas, UBER provides the following:-1. Uber Go (Mini)2. Uber X (Sedan)3. Uber XL (SUV)4. Uber VIP (For Business)5. Uber Pool (Cab Sharing)In the cheaper commuting options of both service providers i.e UBER pool, UBER GO , OLA mini you can attach Wagon R, TATA indica, Hyundai xcent, Maruti swift, Datsun go etc. Basically any 4 metre hatchback will do. I would suggest opting for CNG run cars as their running cost is less. If not possible, go for diesel car. Ford figo is a good option.Hyundai xcent, swift dzire, etios ply both as sedan and MINI/POOL/GO category.For SUV category, you need a 6–7 seater vehicle. Toyota innova is among the best options. You can also opt for mahindra xylo, scorpio etc.While for any cab service provider, most widely used cars are small hatchbacks, the major earning can be from SUV’s as their charges are high.
What is the maintenance cost of a Hyundai Verna, when compared with other brands like Maruti or Honda?
I assume that you are referring to the petrol variant.The direct competitors of Hyundai Verna will be Maruthi Ciaz and Honda city.The Maintaineance cost of a vehicle will be based upon the following : Fuel efficiency, cost of spare parts, service cost and the annual insurance premium.Fuel efficiency: Maruthi Ciaz offers a mileage of 20.73 Km/l, whereas Honda city and Hyundai verna will offer you a mileage of 17.40 Km/l. Preference:Maruthi> Hyundai= Honda.Cost of spare parts: Maruthi & Hyundai have been in business in India for long time.They have most of the parts localized, which elimiates import tax.Thereby transportation cost and overall cost comes down compared to Honda city. Preference:Maruthi>Hyundai>Honda.Service cost: Again, Maruthi & Hyundai have an edge over Honda, since the number of their cars in market is drastically high compared to Honda.This, in turn leads to a less service cost per customer. Preference:Maruthi> Hyundai>HondaOverall preference considering maintaineance cost: Maruthi>Hyundai>Honda.However, maintaineance cost is not a major deciding factor in the purchase of a car and on a personal note, Hyundai Verna and Honda City are way better cars than Ciaz in design and quality.
Should I purchase Hyundai i20 elite petrol or Maruti Suzuki swift petrol? My prime concerns are low maintainence, high mileage, good handling.
I own an i20 elite Asta (O) petrol, and my dad has the 2nd generation Swift petrol. I have driven both cars extensively.Engine - The Swift certainly has the more peppy motor. The engine feels eager to rev hard and revs climb pretty quickly too. The i20 engine feels bit sluggish in comparison. But where the i20 shines is the in-cabin feel and drive quality.Cabin - The i20 feels plush, very plush. The i20 cabin is made with better quality materials, and fit and finish is top notch. The cabin offers an insulated feel and that is one of the reasons why the car feels slower than what the speedo suggests. Inside the i20, 100 kph cruising is a smooth and calm affair, free from any drama. The quality of plastics on the Swift is a notch or two below.Features - From a feature point of view, the Hyundai trumps the Swift. The i20 is a direct competitor to the Baleno, which sits higher in the Maruti hierarchy and is hence more feature rich. The i20 offers features which are typically found in bigger sedans including cornering lamps, rain sensing wipers, 6 airbags, auto-folding RVMs, and a fancy infotainment system that supports Android Auto and Apple Carplay etc.Reliability - Both are evenly matched. Hyundai spares are more expensive, but on the flipside, the Hyundai feels more solidly built.Fuel efficiency - The Swift is more frugal. Under realistic driving conditions, the Swift should be run about 2 extra kilometers for every liter of petrol.As the end, it is about what you seek in the car. If you value driving experience over premium feel and finesse, then go with the Swift. If you prefer getting pampered by plush silent cabin, and a smooth comfortable drive, then the i20’s for you.