I recently bought a Skoda Rapid Diesel only to get a lot of criticism from friends and relatives many arguing in favour of the new fad "the mini SUV. Or wait.... Monocoque mini SUV". The terms monocoque and ladder frame are alien to the 90% of the janta but I will have to include both in this debate.
The conversation which started the debate in my mind....
First sketch of both characters in this conversation.
Character one: Samuel. Owns an Ecosport.
1) Mr. Know it all
2) Has an opinion on anything and everything
3) Gets the best bargains and deals in the whole world (that's his own presumption).
4) His choices are the supreme and everything else is s**t.
There are more points but including all would dilute the point I am trying to make with this piece.
Character 2: Zeeshan. Owns a Rapid Diesel.
1) Car enthusiast. Eats drinks and breathes cars since he can recall his memory.
2) Almost everyone around him consults him atleast once before purchasing any car or bike.
3) Has a fair amount of knowledge about cars and bikes.
The conversation.....
Zee: I bought a Skoda Rapid
Sam: (partly disbelieving and partly smirking) you have already bought?
Zee: Yeah.
Sam: You've already paid the full amount?
Zee: Yeah.
Sam: The car's been delivered? Registered?
Zee: Yeah. (Starting to sense the course of the conversation).
Sam: Are you mad? U made such a big decision and didn't even ask me once
Zee: why? What's wrong?
Sam: Why didn't you go for an SUV when you were paying so much? Look at my Ecosport.
Zee: (Almost Scoffing). (patience loss just started). ( but keeping calm because no use getting into the monocoque - ladder frame debate, leave aside AWD systems, locking differentials, low ratio transfer case and the whole shebang). (took a deep breath and asked). Why ecosport and not rapid?
Sam: Its an SUV man. Do you still need to ask?
Zee: (Still maintaining composure). I wanted a Sedan.
Sam: You've lost it. Who buys Sedan when you can get an SUV for the same price?
Zee: (Exhausted and assertive now) I bought it because I wanted it. The ecosport is such a common sight on the roads. I didn't want to get lost in the sea of ecosports. Plus, apart from a bigger ground clearance and relatively better resale value tell me one thing which your ecosport has and my rapid doesn't?(realized that this was going nowhere and had to end it somehow).
Sam had no answer. He was blank.
End of conversation.
But it did not end for me there. It got me thinking. Deep. To be truthful I had test driven the Ecosport before buying the Rapid. I liked the vehicle per se. The dealership quoted me a price of 10.50 lakhs for the trend plus diesel variant without alloy wheels. 30000 extra for alloys. This was before Ford slashed the prices fearing competition from the Suzuki Brezza. Whereas, a similarly equipped Ambiente variant of the Rapid costed me 10.50 on road WITH ALLOYs, Teflon coating and parking sensors thrown in.
Now I would like to divide attributes which swayed me towards the Rapid under two sub-heads. Viz. The heart and the head.
Things which appealed to the head first.
1. Boot space 460 litres vs Ecosport's 346 litres
2. Better space and seat comfort especially rear.
3. Galvanised body. Laser welded and six years warranty on rusting.
4. 105 bhp, 250 nm of torque vs Ecosport's 100 bhp and 204 nm of torque.
Things which appealed to the heart.
1. Better acceleration.
2. Better handling owing to the lower ground clearance alone. (Not that the ford is a bad handler. Actually a good one in spite of the increase GC.)
3. The fact that Rapid has not flown off the shelf in large numbers gives it a certain amount of exclusivity. Atleast not as common as the sea of ecosports.
Now coming to the commerce aspect of this debate. Ford has to pay an excise duty of 8%. On the other hand Skoda is paying 20% on the Rapid. Technically speaking the ecosport is just a shade under 4000 mm (the Govt. norms don't take the spare wheel into consideration while calculating the vehicle length). But in reality the ford stands at more than 4200 mm with the spare wheels and its cover. Hence the ecosport is at not much of an advantage as far as parking in tight spaces is concerned.
Coming to the last and most important point, the ground clearance. Yes, the ford has an absolute advantage here. 32 mm more than Rapid and its by considerable margin. But the truth is 168 mm is not that bad. Add to that the Rapid's stiff suspension which doesn't sag. I have never scraped it even once till date.
I would take the lower centre of Centre of gravity any day over the increased ground clearance which is totally redundant in a metropolitan city and four lane highways.
Allow me to clarify myself, I have nothing against SUVs. In fact I love them. The attitude. The view over the roof of other cars. I am a proud owner of a Safari Storme.
The thing is I am purist as far as cars are concerned. I like purpose built cars.
If its a hatchback. It has to be low, zippy, should handle like on rails.
If its a sedan. It has to be low. Comfortable seats. Amazing handling. Acceptable ride.
SUV. Whoa. The bare minimum requirements are all wheel drive, locking differentials, low ratio et all. And off course atleast 210 mm of ground clearance.
I hate the pseudo character.
Ironically pseudo is the new mantra to success in the industry today.
Pseudo sub four meter sedans.
Pseudo (monocoque, front wheel drive SUVs).
Where have all the purists gone?
