Exchanged my 10-year-old Verna with a 2017 Vento: Was it a bad decision

On the 4th day of ownership, the car’s remote unlock feature stopped working. How can this happen overnight?

BHPian Chitta Pradhan recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hi all,

Need some advice. I was looking for a used Vento TDI DGS and 3 days before I got one. 2017 Feb Highline, genuine 58 k run. Exchanged my 10.5-year-old Verna Fluidic 1.6 CRDI SX which had done 142k. Wallet lighter by 3.5 lacs. (6.5 lacs- 3 lacs) Not sure if the deal is ok, but does not matter much if the used car is in good condition.

I took it in spite of being aware of the DSG issues through this forum. No first-hand experience though. Now I find a few DGSs are near/crossed 1 lac km, which gives me confidence.

I have done 200 km so far in Vento, a mix of city & highway. When the wife took the rear seat in the morning, she could not believe her ears. Reaction- what kind of sound is this inside the cabin. She remarked instantly that I have been cheated by the used car dealer with a faulty car. Such was the difference in noise between Verna & Vento. I am driving AT for the 1st time. Quickly adopted to it.

Since the car is new to me, please give important pointers which I need to take care of.

My findings/queries

1. For starting the car, the twisting force I need to apply is much more than Verna. Is it normal?
2. The dealer changed the engine oil with Wurth 5w-30. Is it ok?
3. What’s the engine oil capacity? I could not find the data in the manual.
4. In AC, when I switch on recirculation mode, the fan speed is increasing slightly and then I am getting a kit-kit kind of sound somewhere from the glove box. What could be the problem? It’s an irritating sound and therefore I am not using recirculation mode.
5. AC cooling is not as good as Verna. Is it possible for low gas pressure? I never had topped up AC gas in my 10.5 yr old Verna. Have you ever needed to top of gas in your car?
6. In the manual, it has been mentioned that engine oil consumption is approx 1 lit per 2000 km or so, which is astonishing. What’s your experience?
7. Ride quality is way better than Verna.
8. Outside sound insulation is almost the same as Verna, but engine clatter is way more, which dies down after some time, but not a match against Verna.
9. I am a fan of a silent cabin. Which engine oil & other things can help me?
10. The ex-owner has done 60 k service. Invoice is available.
11. Current tyres are 185/60/R15- Alnacs. Should I upgrade to 195/60/R15 which will provide additional grip & GC of 6 mm?
12. Do you face GC related issues?

4th day of ownership, and I faced the first problem today morning. The remote unlock did not work. Then I opened the car manually with the key, but the car did not start. Opened the bonnet & found the battery indicator white/clear meaning the battery has been completely drained. How can this happen overnight? The Exide battery is only 2 months old. Possibly this has happened due to some wiring/electrical issues. I am damn sure that no cabin light, fog lamp etc were on during the night. Even I think these things should auto stop after some time.

Any pointers, please. Never ever had any such problem happened in my 10.5 yr old Verna. Have I taken the wrong decision of going for 2nd hand Vento replacing 1st hand Verna?

Cheers

Here’s what BHPian el lobo 6061 had to say about the matter:

Congratulations on your purchase. It’s a rare car. Maintain it well by following the service schedule properly and it won’t give you any trouble other than what the previous owner didn’t fix.

I have an 11-year-old Vento 1.6 TDi and it drives like a charm.

Following are my replies to your points:

1- Normal. Japs & Korean are designed to be feather-light.

2- Correct grade is Fully Synthetic Oil 5W-40. I would suggest you to have it corrected. Would also require changing the engine oil filter.

3- 4.3 litres

4- Would have to get it checked at VW Authorized Workshop to know the cause.

5- Have it checked at VW Workshop. German cars ACs are comparatively less efficient at cooling compared to Japs & Koreans.

6- This could be observed in TSi Petrol engines. Diesel after the initial run-in, do not face it. Ignore it.

7- Any given day.

8- Engine clatter in 1.6 TDi is on higher side. No doubts. But once you close the door, it creeps in very less.

11- Not needed. OEM size is fine.

12- Only when the car is fully loaded driven over an unscientific speed breaker. You would like to take it at an angle.

Vento is a mechanically very sound car and all you need is a proper workshop mechanic who understands the problem and fixes it.

I have been lucky that VW Autobahn, Turbhe who is Authorized Workshop has been able to do it for the past 11 years and never did I have to visit any FNG.

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