Hatchbacks are perhaps the vehicle that most Indians have to settle for because of space constraints. Most city roads are congested and parking spaces are limited which is why more numbers of people have to settle for these hatchbacks. Car makers too have understood the needs of the people and cities of India which is why they are producing more numbers of hatchbacks. If you are thinking of buying a car but have a limited budget of Rs 3 lakhs, then you should opt for a hatchback because you would get better maintained cars and latest models for your budget. From Maruti Alto 800 to Hyundai i10, you can get a wide range of cars within this budget. However, one car that you should definitely opt for within a budget of Rs 3 lakhs is the Fiat Palio.
Fiat is a renowned brand which has been producing cars for the Indian market for quite some time. Who can forget the iconic Fiat Padmini that is still used as a taxi in some areas of Mumbai? Fiat was one of the most iconic companies back in the ‘80s and ‘90s. However, in the face of competition from Japanese and South Korean car makers, this brand fell a little behind. In recent times, the company is trying to make a comeback with models such as Fiat Linea and the Fiat Punto. The Fiat Palio was launched by the company in 2005 and it was continued till 2011. The car was one of the best diesel cars available in the market and its engine was quite powerful.
The Fiat Palio was available in two variants- the NV and the Stile. The NV was made available between 2005 and 2007 while the Stile was sold between 2007 and 2011. The NV was launched with an engine of 1242cc and it produced a maximum torque of 72PS at 6000rpm while the maximum torque produced was 102Nm at 3250rpm. The wheel base of the car is around 2383mm which makes the seating very comfortable in the car. The head space and leg space available in the car is ideal for all people, irrespective of their height. The ground clearance of 170mm is high enough for allowing easy entry and exit into the car. The top speed of the vehicle is around 152 kmph while the car could go from 0 to 100kmph within 16.9 seconds. The next model that was launched of the Palio was the Stile. The engine was slightly heavier set at 1248cc which produced a maximum torque of 184Nm available at 2000rpm while the maximum power was around 75PS available at 4000rpm. The availability of the maximum torque at a lower revolution per minute indicates that the car can perform very well at stop-and-go traffic as well. Both the cars were available with diesel engines which ensured that they were highly fuel efficient and were inexpensive to operate as price of diesel in India is lesser than that of diesel.
Even though you cannot get the latest models of the Fiat Palio in the market, you can still get cars which are less than 5 years old and have travelled fewer than 40,000kms. Usually the Fiat Palio is available under Rs 2 lakhs although for certain trims and specs such as age and kilometres travelled, you may have to pay a little more. The car is a good bargain because of its space efficiency and high performance on road. Moreover, you can buy the car under Rs 2 lakhs and then spend some money to get the car repaired and in top order. Therefore, you can get a good deal without spending your entire budget.
To buy a Fiat Palio, you can go online and look up the models available in your city. On car selling websites, complete details regarding a particular car such as its year of make, fuel variant, kilometres covered, gear operation and type of ownership (first owner or second owner) are specified. You can further narrow down the results by including your own list of wants such as your budget, colour of the car, fuel variant, year of make etc. Contact information of sellers is usually included in the listing and you can get in touch with them accordingly.
Buying cars online has become a common trend as almost one out of two people consult the internet before buying a used car, even if they do not buy one. Car selling websites vouch that the traffic that arrives from smart phones is around 30 percent of the total traffic, which is up from 10 percent in the past couple of years. Before calling a seller, you can also consult the price calculator for old cars on the website. Simply enter the specs of the car and the website will show you the true price of it.
You may also read up the reviews available for the car online before deciding to buy it. User and expert reviews are both available along with live chat options that you may consult. The cost of maintenance and the nearby Fiat garages have also been listed by the website.
When you go to check the car out, make sure you take a mechanic with you as he would be able to tell you exactly what is wrong with the vehicle and how you should get it fixed. He would also be able to provide you with an estimate for getting the car repaired. If the cost of repair and the total price payable exceed Rs 2.3 lakhs or so, it would be better you forgo that car. You should also test drive the car to assess its driveability. Make sure you choose a path which is partially on the highway and the city so that you know what it feels like to drive the car in both scenarios. Listen closely for sounds made by the brakes and engines along with vibration.
The Fiat Palio is a great vehicle to purchase and you won’t be disappointed with its quality.
