r2i forum

Looks like the combination of Diesel + Automatic transmission is expensive. Not many cars are available with in a reasonable price range. Only one that is available is Hyundai Verna which comes to around 10 lakhs (Cheapest).

Are their any new models hitting Indian market with the above combination? With the significant price diff between Diesel vs petrol, it does make sense to go for Diesel i guess...

The market for Auto trans is a mystery in India. Suzuki screwed it up big time by launching the 3 speed auto trans on the Zen in the 90s. People would rather get extra feature like carpet or rear wiper instead of Auto trans. When we bought i10 auto, even the dealer was warning us about the gas mileage. The difference is 2 kms per litre at max. It is rather surprising to see that this makes so much difference even for people who would spend Rs3K on a dinner at a good hotel. The comfort of not having to shift in traffic is a no factor. I absolutely understand the sentiment of people who love to revv hard with manuals, I am one of those revv-happy kind of people, but the fact that even traffic hating people buy manuals and struggle with it is a mystery.

A diesel compact with auto trans is certainly a hole that needs to be plugged. Even on auto enthusiast web sites, apart from the lone US-NRI's crying for a diesel compact with auto trans, others do not seem to be bothered by this hole. Honda does not even have a diesel offering. The Etios Liva, i20 or a Ritz diesel auto in the next year should be just awesome.

In the SUV range there is
Scorpio
Ford Encounter(?)
Toyota Fortuner
All are more expensive than the Verna.

One suggestion.

Buy petrol innova and go for LPG conversion. You may lose some trunk space because of LPG tank but you can fold one side of the back seat for storage space. Also, petrol innova is cheaper than diesel and you can use that difference in cost to pay for LPG kit.

Basically, (Petrol_Innova + LPG_kit) is better than Diesel_Innova.

Innova aint Automatic.

I forgot to add. Use cityclutch (http://www.cityclutch.com/) for semi-automatic operation. I have fitted it to my innova and it works most of the time. I don't use left leg at all.

ba2bengaluru;409678One suggestion.

Buy petrol innova and go for LPG conversion. You may lose some trunk space because of LPG tank but you can fold one side of the back seat for storage space. Also, petrol innova is cheaper than diesel and you can use that difference in cost to pay for LPG kit.

Basically, (Petrol_Innova + LPG_kit) is better than Diesel_Innova.

I know there was a time when even Auto's went for LPG conversion but as per my understanding it is not the case now since the availability and distribution of gas cylinder has become more strict and there are more rules. It's extremely dificult to have 2 connections(or illegal) per household which was very common few years ago.
ba2bengaluru, I am really curious to know that if people are still going for LPG conversion now.

I don't know how many go for conversion. But atleast I know this. Last year I gave a interest free loan to a guy for his auto (gas version) purchase. He hasn't complaint about gas availability/issue.

ba2bengaluru;409678One suggestion.

Buy petrol innova and go for LPG conversion. You may lose some trunk space because of LPG tank but you can fold one side of the back seat for storage space. Also, petrol innova is cheaper than diesel and you can use that difference in cost to pay for LPG kit.

Basically, (Petrol_Innova + LPG_kit) is better than Diesel_Innova.

Why LPG kit, have 2 bullock will be much cheaper than LPG.

Is that why in tamil it is said 'Nee Maadu Meikkathanda Laayak' when you say or do useless thing :)

Translation for non-tamils: "You are good for herding bulls"