White Machine

[themonk]

My White Logan.
Let pictures speak now.

[tadukuttan]

themonk. Nice pictures, the Logan looks best in white I guess!

Would love to hear more from you about this car.

[agn]

Nice!! Logan does look good in white. How about a review on it?

[SKC]

Logan indeed is looking good in white.

Would love to hear about an ownership report, Pros & Cons, any planned mods/upgrades etc

[themonk]

Prologue
The thought of buying a car in India orginated when I came back from US 3 years ago. Had a Camry V6 3L XLE. It was a 1999 model registered in 2000 and I was the second owner. I loved that car not only because it was my first car, but the comfort level that I had. It had huge space. It could take in 5 people easily and seat all of them in comfort of leather seats, Swallow luggages for airport trips, Full Power seats, heated mirrors, Automatic headlights, Great Audio system.
Since it was a 3L engine it never struggled at any instance.

I landed in India and travelled home in an Amby taxi. Seats were up and down and NVH was high. Similed to myself. Next day I happened to travel in a Maruthi Zen. When I sat in front passenger seat, I felt my legs were not streched comfortably due to wheel arch coming in. Zen, which few years ago felt comfortable as a car, now suddenly seemed to be very small for me.

I was wondering what made the change in me because before I went to US, getting a crowd free bus at Chennai felt like a comfort, Now my mind is seeking for bigger spacious cars. It took a week for me to adjust back to Indian conditions. Started travelling in train to office.

Since my first car was Toyota, Decided that I should get a car from Toyota in India.
BUT
When I started to look at the prices, I was more than surprised !. I was shocked !
Toyota and Honda was projected as a luxury brand ! where in US they are normal cars. Felt bad how Indians are taken for a ride.
These cars were crazily costly.

My budget was 6 Lakhs. Wanted a sedan and Dzire seemed to fit. But then when I started reading and asking friends about it, realized that back seat was cramped and a boot attached to a hatch. And most of them said 1 lakh price difference for a boot attached to a hatch was not worth.

Then due to some personal happenings in life, I had dropped the idea of buying of a car.

The trigger

After 2.5 years I was to attend my friends wedding along with my friend at south Tamil nadu. It was a long weekend and I could not reserve a ticket in train or any of the govt buses. Private buses were charging 1000 Rs for Chennai to Madurai !. Felt anger and frustration as how cheap and mean the goverment is. Not controlling money swindlers.

Was little afraid as how I was going to make it to the wedding. My friend suggested that we start early and each Koyembedu at 2 PM and start our journey by the available bus.

As luck would have it, my friend who went there was able to catch 2 seats in Mudukulathur SETC bus by the traditional way of rushing into the bus. I arrived just in time while the bus was moving out of Koyembedu and I got into it admist the continous calling from my friend who was in bus. He was afraid if I would make it before the bus moves out of Koyembedu.

As I sat down in my seat, we both sighed a sense of relief. We both started talking as how lucky we are to find a bus and that too to get a seat.

As bus reached Perungulathur, there were lots of people who came running behind the bus requesting the conductor for a seat. Huge crowd was there in the bus stop at Perungulathur. Felt bad as people of all sorts running behind buses, Kids, old men, women, men all were running. Felt really bad.
Why is that we are not able to provide adequate transport facility to the common man? why are private operators allowed to swindle like hell?

Started thinking, I knew I will not be always lucky to get a seat like this at the last moment. Told to my friend that if there was some car we could have self driven it, without worrying much about public transport.

Enjoyed the wedding, and there was another college mate who had come in car from Nagerkoil. Had a nice time going around places in his car. His was a Indigo CS Diesel.

By the time I was returning back to Chennai my mind had decided that I should get a car.


Research - Choose the right answer

Back home I started searching in internet, typed in cheap diesel car as my search keyword. Results came up and one of them was "Logan".

Then my thoughts drifted back to 1.5 years ago. It was month of Nov and I had gone to Bangalore. I went there to see off my friend at airport. That was when I first had travelled in a Logan. I was really surprised how comfortable it was in back seat of the car. Two of us were able to sit comfortably along with hand luggage. The boot was able to swallow two big 25 kg checkin luggages. Till this point I had no high opinion about Logan. But this one instance reversed my view that ONLY CAMRY was BIG !

Started reading about Logan. Realised that there were more bashing from people because
1) Service was pathetic
2) Looks
3) Odd placement of controls and wiper orientation
4) Hard clutch

First point was really bothering me. But the more I read on logan I started realized that Logan was the one for me. It was no fancy car and I didnot need fancy.
I needed a car which is,
1) Trouble free
2) Could seat 5 people comfortably
3) Swallow luggages without costing much
4) Good fuel efficiency

Looks of the car was last in my list, but ironically I had always felt Logan looks good. I donno why others feel it as not appealing. Iam a guy who thinks that utility value comes before asthetics. And I dont care what others talk of the car I drive. Me and my family should travel comfortably within reasonable cost and whatever car that solves the purpose will fit the bill.

When I told of my decision to the people who were close to me they discouraged me from Logan. Main reason was Service issues and next was looks. This set me thinking.
They all suggested Manza or book a Vento. Vento would be beyond my budget and Manza started appealing to mind. Manza had more features at the same price of Logan. But TATA..was not sure how good is TATA build quality.


Test drive

I have a license in India and I had driven in US for long time. But still I was not fully comfortable in drving a car in India.
So took my BIL for test drive to Zulaikha motors. I sat in front passenger seat while my BIL was at drivers seat. I was able to strech my legs comfortably and back I had made my brother, sales rep and another showroom guy to sit. My BIL was talking the car through narrow pot holed streets. Suspension was good, It was smooth and there was no much rocking over the potholes.

After a short drive, asked my BIL opinion. He said the car is good but look for service aspect. He still felt Manza was a better deal.


Choose the right dealer
Came home, Started reading about various dealers. Conducted polls on 3 dealers who stock Logan at Chennai. India Garage stood out.
Walked in with a cheque of Rs 10,000 asked for the sales rep and told him that Iam booking Logan now. He was surprised. He said we can go for a test drive. I said I had already done that. He should have thought what a luck in life. No effort and a guy comes walking in for a booking.
Handed over the cheque to him for the booking amount.
This is where I made a mistake. Art of bargaining is to make the seller come behind you and you not going behind the seller. Learnt the lesson hard way.

When I started negotiations, sale rep told no discounts. Not even any freebies for Logan. He stood like a stone wall. Zulaikha had also told the same. Zulaikha rep challenged that no dealer at Chennai will offer any discounts for Logan.

Requested for corporate discount, The rep asked for my company and said that my company is not in the list of eligible companies for corporate discount.
Requested dealer to talk to Mahindra on corporate discount. Sales rep said they are talking. Days went on and no positive response. Whenever I ask sales rep just told me no answer from Mahindra.
Decided to take the matter in my own hands, wrote to Mahindra about corporate discount and the whole story. Then came quick reply that they will look into it.

One more week went. There was no answer from Mahindra. Mailed them again, Finally got a reply stating that they have requested the dealer to look into it.

Called my sales rep, he told that Mahindra had asked them to give rs 5000 worth of acessories.


Payment and delivery

Then marked an auspicious day for payment. Went with my family and handed over the cheque. Talked with the rep on pre delivery inspection date and delivery date.
Inspected my car on that date, everythhing seemed to be fine except the panel was touched with greasy hands. mailed to dealer, they promised to clean it before delivery.

After 2 days went in for delivery of the car. It was late evening. Sales rep was on leave so another person had been assigned to look into the delivery. Pooja was performed and keys handed over. Went to temple again did one more poojai. Prayed to god for long trouble free association with my White Logan.

Ownership experience
After a week, I utilized the 5000 Rs for under chassis rust coating. It was done and I felt NVH was very less inside the car.

I had not driven my car much for first couple of months. First service was done when the car was just 600 + kms. First service had freed the car well. Donno what they did.
The only long trip was round trip from Chennai to Trichy. When I started the car was not out of break in period. It had run just 1000 + kms. So drove carefully.
When I returned from trichy car had clocked nearly 1900 Kms. Trip and I maintained between 80 and 100 and occasionally 110.


Ok..

Now to what I like and dislike

Likes
1) Space, lots of them. The design is thought in such a way to maximize space. For those who bash its looks, remember that this boxy looks is what gives it the space
2) Good soft suspension. Handles the potholes well
3) Big boot
4) Wide back seat
Has utility filled features rather than jazzy features some of them are,
5) Starter motor protection. You cannot turn the ignition when the car has been started once.
6) Outside rear view mirrors swing on both sides
7) Lots of information in DIS (Driver information system) Distance to empty, Average speed, Average fuel Efficiency etc
8) Fuel efficiency. I get 16+ in city driving and 22+ on highways, Which I feel is very decent

Dislike
1) Wiper orientation. Though for normal rains its fine, I guess during heavy rains it will be an issue
2) Just one turn indicator for both right and left. AT times confuses you during turns back to back, i.e right and then sudden left..
3) Seat comfort level. When I sat in drivers seat of my friends Fabia..Man I relaized how comfortable it was. Logan seat comfort is no near to it
5) Could have been provided one more trip meter. Logan comes with only one trip meter.
6) Top end can have a better audio system. The factory fitted one is too basic.
7) Price can be even more less. Logan top end should be priced at Rs 6 L rather than 6.47 L now
8) Suspension has bottomed out at a speed breaker with full load( 4 passengers and lil load in trunk)
9) Better ground clearance for Indian roads. Though GC is not a big issue for normal roads, but steep speed breakers or mounds will hit the bottom.


This car is for sedate drivers and does not feel like a diesel. I donot know what a turbo lag is because Iam yet to experience it.

Intotal if you are a person who cares more about utility value than looks then you can go for it.

For the Money I had, I felt this car suits me the best and it has been so far. I hope that I remain this way. I will keep updated on this regularly

[mclaren1885]

This has to be by far one of the most "sensible and well thought out" car purchases I have ever come across.

Just one turn indicator for both right and left. AT times confuses you during turns back to back, i.e right and then sudden left

Could you shed more light on this? Never sat in a Logan, I am a bit confused, what is the method to indicate right/left?

I donot know what a turbo lag is because Iam yet to experience it.

What RPM range do you usually shift at and what RPM do you usually drive at? I am guessing the boost in the Logan is setup to be very linear and that is why there could be less turbo lag.

[camchennai]

Congratulation Monk, it was a wonderful review...appreciate the effort you have put in for writing this review...

Do update us with your ownership experience and service experience, any upgrades in the pipeline??

[agn]

Excellent and a really sensible review and that too for a logan. I remember TD'ing it and it was mild mannered and a utility freindly car. The prices definetly needs revision though.

When I started to look at the prices, I was more than surprised !. I was shocked ! Toyota and Honda was projected as a luxury brand ! where in US they are normal cars. Felt bad how Indians are taken for a ride. These cars were crazily costly.

How true,not just toyos and hondas but chevys and fords as well. People jump on these cars as if they were the highest statement of luxury.

cheap diesel car as my search keyword. Results came up and one of them was "Logan".

utility value comes before asthetics

Thats the way it should be.

The thing is that it will be considered always as a taxiwala car as is with the indica with all logan cabs running around.
Please keep updating your future exps with the car

[KRRaj]

Very Well Written and nice thought out Car Purchase. Logan is one very underrated car just cos of it's boxy looks. Do keep us updated as the car rakes in miles.

[Venom_Rider]

mclaren1885

Could you shed more light on this? Never sat in a Logan, I am a bit confused, what is the method to indicate right/left?

I guess he meant that it has only one arrow pointing both the directions (like in many bikes), like this: <=>

What RPM range do you usually shift at and what RPM do you usually drive at? I am guessing the boost in the Logan is setup to be very linear and that is why there could be less turbo lag.

I've driven the logan quite a bit & the lag is certainly there! It kicks in between 1900 - 2200 if I am not wrong. It does feel anemic till then. The car is pretty stable even at 140kmph & with very little body roll while cornering, switching lanes etc.,

Very Well Written and nice thought out Car Purchase. Logan is one very underrated car just cos of it's boxy looks. Do keep us updated as the car rakes in miles.

Looks & its 'image' as a taxi apart (no offense meant), it is indeed a good car.

themonk
I felt the clutch & power steering @ crawling speeds is extremely hard. How do you rate yours against any other car you have driven?