1.4 GLE 24k Long Term Report

Despite many people advising me against it, I went for the Logan. One and a half year and 24000 kilometres later, I am happy that I made this decision. I bought the color I wanted, the variant I wanted (the 1.4 GLX wasn't available till then). I bought it for 4.77 ex-showroom/ 5.16 on road. Since the car had just been launched then, I didn't get a discount. But did get free floormats and mud guards.

The things I love about my car:
- Comfort: Even after I have put low 55 profile tyres, the ride is still great! It still swallows bumps like anything. Though I miss the cushion it had on the stock tyres, but I love the grip the new tyres offer. I like the seating position. The front seats are comfy. Cushioning on the rear seats could have been better. But, i think, in order to make three passengers sit in comfort, they have help the rear seat flat.
- Space: The only thing it has bucket loads of. With me being 6+ and on the heavier side, the width is a boon. Plus the boot is quite big as well, so on occasionary trips to the airport are not a headache anymore.

The thing I hate about my car:
- Cheap interiors: It doesn't feel like you have spent 5+ lakhs. And it is only the quality of interiors, they look and feel cheap. Would have appreciated if the car had come with better interiors. Otherwise the car feels solid. No parts hanging loose, no switch malfunctioning.

Lets talk about other things... Now that, I have lived day in day out with this car for close to two years, let me give you a comprehensive feedback on:

FE: Lets start with the most important thing for us Indians.. the fuel economy. The best I have got in city is 16.71kpl, which I got this month. A/C off, sedate and conscious driving and my FE figures go in the hatchback territory. In the summers, with A/C on I get anywhere between 12-13 kpl. On highways, it hovers between 14-16kpl, and that too depends on the speed I have been maintaining. I am sure if I drive sedately on the highways, I will cross the 20kpl figure.

POWER/PICKUP: Completely satisfied with the power I get. Overtaking is a breeze and I can maintain my pace with most of the C segment cars, city or highway. And it does pull till 6k rpm. When in the mood, I have taken from 40 to 120 in third gear and it is exciting! But I would not recommend it to everybody.

RIDE/ HANDLING: 'Cushion' is the only word I can think of. Even the automags appreciate this quality of this car. Even after being a basic setup, no car in the same segment can beat the ride quality this car offers. About handling, if you want more.. just dump those tyres. Get better rubber and you will not regret it.

A.S.S. (After Sales and Service): Completely satisfied with the service I get. They are prompt, deliver the car on time. Do what they are told to do. Till date, many services later, I have got the car on time, the staff is courteous, no soiled seats, door pads. Spares are always in stock. I have got my headlamps changed twice (thanks to the 'donkeys' driving on our roads), they were readily available. The headlight is only 2k, which is not much considering the segment the car is on. After every service I get a call, and if I am not satisfied with the service, they can call in the car and do the job as per my satisfaction.



Suggestions to existing owners:
- Switch to better tyres, the steering will be considerably lighter and grip much better. FE will not be affected much.
- Stick to RPM guidelines i.e. below 2-2.5k. You will get the best FE. To gain speed, don't press the pedal completely.
Press a little, let the car reach the optimum rpm and then change the gear. Best cruising speed is 80kph on 5th gear.
- For GLE owners, a four window power windows kit is around 9k and central locking-security system is anywhere b/w
2.5l-5k.

Suggestions to prospective owners:
- Opt for the top end variant, if your wallet allows. You'll get a lot of kit for the extra money you will be paying. And things like ABS or Airbags can not be fitted in the aftermarket.

Suggestions for Mahindra-Renault:
- I think you guys must be knowing by now that a majority of prespective owners just turn away by taking a look at the interiors. So, you need to get the new interiors, which are already available everywhere else in the world, ASAP.
- The paint quality of the bumpers is pathetic. Even the older Tata Indica has better paint finish. DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!
- The GLE variants do not have rear seat headrests. HEADRESTS ARE NOT A LUXURY FEATURE, but a mandatory safety feature. Above that the rear seats do not have any clips, so I can not even buy the headrests and fit them in. HOW INTELLIGENT of you!
- I think now you get remote boot release as standard. I paid 500 bucks for it, which I do not mind now. But omitting it was an act of foolishness.
- Most of the Logan owners are the ones who have upgraded from a hatchback, so they can still gulp down a few omittances. But, do not expect a Honda City or Ford Fiesta buyer to take a look at your product unless you make some changes.


I will also post a pictorial review in a thread soon. Also, if I have left anything feel free to ask.

Would recommend to Mahindra to offer retrofitting of Remote Boot Opener for all older cars for a small fee.

Also for them to research how the beige colour dashboard (which was developed for Indian market only) actually is a safety hazard due to increased "veiling glare" over a standard dark grey dashboard.

FINALLY!!! Finally finally.. finally! I had my eye over these since last year, but couldn't get them in Delhi. Finally I did!! Got a set of projector headlamps (also called angel eyes) and tail lamps. The seller was not agreeing to sell only the headlamps, so I bought both. But, did not get the tail lamps fitted because I like the stock ones better, so I intend to sell them.

Total damage: Rs.18000/-

Wanted to fit HIDs but will buy them soon. The headlamps come with their own set of bulbs. Four lamps: Two high, Two low. The dealer was telling about a wiriking kit, through which all four will lit when on full beam.

The projector is on the low beam and the high beam is a normal reflector type.

First impression:
The angel eyes are so white that when lit in the day time, it can't be noticed. I was expecting them to be little brighter. The visibility in the night is little lower than the stock ones, but since I intend to get HIDs. So, only a temporary issue. The quality, fit & finish is even better than the stock ones (should be, they cost many times more )

Initial problems:
The low beam setup is to be fixed. The left one is too low. Also, the headlight adjustment knob is not working. Maybe they didn't connect it. Will get all these fixed soon.


Some Pics:











LOW BEAM:



HIGH BEAM:

Also, did a DIY with the centre console. Painted it black.
If you notice, the GLE came with black ac vents, black gear lever. So I took it to another step.. with black seat covers, black leather steering cover, black centre console and the black renault logo on the steering lever!

Do tell, how it looks.

Great going Ashu, you really seem to have a good eye in terms of decking up your car.
The projector lamps look cool, but are they worth 24k in terms of functional value, aesthetics is not the criteria I am asking about.
Looks great anyway! congrats.

Super Stuff dude..

Good stuff, Ashutosh.


Could anyone help me with bigger side-view mirrors? The factory fitted ones are too small...Where can I get them and what will be their approx cost?

Oh yeah - the side view mirrors are a major draw back. They are too small and dont serve the purpose at all. Saumil, Ashu - any pointers on this.

Real cool. Looks great on the Logan.

BTW, how did u paint the panel, gear knob and logo black. I would also like to try it. Any suggestions?

nice touch ashutosh.. very nice

sAuMiL wrote:

Super Stuff dude..

Logan_loverinDelhi wrote:

nice touch ashutosh.. very nice

thank you!

Debasish wrote:

Great going Ashu, you really seem to have a good eye in terms of decking up your car.
The projector lamps look cool, but are they worth 24k in terms of functional value, aesthetics is not the criteria I am asking about.
Looks great anyway! congrats.

thanks man! the total cost for the head lamps and the tail lamps was 18k. So HLs are of 10k to be precise. I have not fitted the tail lamps, because I intend to sell them.
Here is a pic of them:

subraMOTO wrote:

Good stuff, Ashutosh.

Could anyone help me with bigger side-view mirrors? The factory fitted ones are too small...Where can I get them and what will be their approx cost?

dhanushan wrote:

Oh yeah - the side view mirrors are a major draw back. They are too small and dont serve the purpose at all. Saumil, Ashu - any pointers on this.

I did see a Logan in Delhi, with Fiesta type mirrors. I was with somebody, otherwise I would have stopped and asked him. But, that means, it is possible. And Fiesta's RVMs are electric no? I will ask a few people and update.

dhanushan wrote:

Real cool. Looks great on the Logan.

BTW, how did u paint the panel, gear knob and logo black. I would also like to try it. Any suggestions?

The gear knob was standard (Mahindra trying to save a few bucks there!) The panel and logo were painted.. and u will not believe it.. by a black permanent marker!! And no one can tell!

ashutosh wrote:

The gear knob was standard (Mahindra trying to save a few bucks there!) The panel and logo were painted.. and u will not believe it.. by a black permanent marker!! And no one can tell!

OMG!!
A Marker..
Really Innovative stuff dude
Nice Improvisation!
I still cant believe it !!

but once the delhi heat hits you i wonder if that marker will stay or start leaching.. sorry buddy, not trying to disenthu you.. but just trying to be practical..

I am planning to get my assembly done up with a wood finish.. basically a sticker that's available at all after market shops.. but I now might go in for a black one as well... let's see ..

hmm.. lets wait till summer. if it starts leaching, then might do some other jugaad. saw that sticker, sold by autographix. but they said its only available in wood finish, so dropped the idea!

Autographix is selling one for d Logan? Wat Price?

Greetings. Simply as a good advice on the future. You have won in appearance (styling), but will lose in the light of. Such headlights worse the regular shine. After a while from passing beam work glass of a headlight opposite to a lens will start to be melted off.

Will that be the case with HIDs as well?

Hmm that is another issue which was highlighted to me by the vendor too. He said,in stock as well as angel eyes, high voltage bulbs may burn the reflector or film, watever they call it.. I doubt the HIDs would cause harm as they are supposed to be White lights which dont (i guess) all tat heated..

are you sure? technically white is always a higher temperature zone..

http://www.squidoo.com/hid-bulbs-halogen-bulbs
http://www.coolbulbs.com/faq.asp

then i should not have problems. I have switched to HIDs.

U already did :O
Super fast hmm
Congratulations though

thanks..