The Honda looked perfect & I had made up my mind to close this deal in the first 5 minutes of the test drive itself.
BHPian Singh09 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.
Hello everyone!
This is my initial ownership and car selection review for my Pre-Owned 2019 Honda Amaze V CVT – Diesel.
PROLOGUE
Well, the hunt for a new car started back in 2022 when I sold my XUV 500 W8 bought back in 2012. It had clocked almost 150,000 kms and still ran like a new car. It was a gem of a vehicle and I really miss her. But I had to let her go because of the 10-year rule in NCR since I travel a lot to Delhi NCR from Moradabad. So when we decided to let our beloved XUV go I approached a couple of dealers to get a price for my XUV including franchises like Car24, Olx etc but all of them gave me a price hovering near 2.5 Lacs only as the car was about to complete its 10 years in October. So, I put an Ad on Olx and got a good deal for my XUV and our long-term relationship finally ended in March 2022. Now we were only left with one car in the garage, our 2017 Tata Tiago XZ Diesel.
One year passed and we somehow managed with Tiago as I got too busy with my business and other stuff but recently in the last month couple of incidents happened which made me take this quick decision which was pending anyways. First, the Engine mount in my Tiago went Kaput which I got fixed from the TASS for Rs. 4500. Then after one week the left axle went kaput and it cost me approx. 15k rupees including the front pads. So in all, I had spent 20K in repairs in just 8 days. Now the AC also started acting up and the 70K service was also on the edge. I was never pleased with the TASS from the beginning. So, all this added and I thought of replacing my car. Rest I’ll be updating my ownership thread regarding Tiago. So, the most difficult question hit me once that bug hit my mind “WHICH CAR”.
Now talking about my current usage, I have a good amount of highway usage as well as city driving. One thing was sure that the car has to be diesel and should be automatic as I feel I am done driving manual considering the traffic conditions in my city and Delhi NCR as I travel a lot to NCR. Now this car had to be an upgrade over the Tiago and not XUV because we are planning to get an SUV, I know for sure but just don’t know when that might happen, maybe end of this year or might be sometime next year. So, I was open to both New and Pre-Owned cars.
One evening I just casually opened Carwale and started searching for a diesel car with automatic transmission under 10 lakh rupees (my max Budget for a new car) as I didn’t want to take any loan since we are planning for another car which is definitely going to cost upwards of 25 lakhs. But to my surprise, I couldn’t find a single diesel car under 10 lakhs let alone the automatic part. There is no option available in the market for a diesel car in that range. The cheapest option in diesel you can get is Tata Altroz XE Plus for 9.33 lakhs and I didn’t want to get another Tata as I was not happy with the ASS and frankly, I am done with Tata for good.
So, I started looking for used cars everywhere I could like carwale, Olx, Spinny, Cars24 etc. And I extended my search from Moradabad to Delhi NCR, Ambala, Chandigarh, Lucknow where I could easily get the car transfer to my name. I narrowed down my choices and the requirements were very dead clear in my mind which were as follows:
- Had to be diesel.
- Automatic Transmission
- Safety: At least 2 airbags, ABS, should have at least 3/4 star safety rating.
- Decent ground clearance
- Should be spacious as compared to Tiago
- Max budget 7 – 7.5 Lakhs.
- Should have a nice Mileage
- Less driven
- Good ASS
Should not be older than 2018. But I was open to 2017 if the car was super clean.
Options Considered:
Since my requirements were very clear I had the following options in my mind. And I have driven these cars which belonged either to my friends or close family members. So my main objective was to find a good car first and then move forward with Test drives, price negotiation etc.
Honda City
It was one of my favorite sedans (4th Gen being my favorite). And it was fulfilling almost all of my requirements hence was the no.1 contender. Saw a couple of models from 2017 till 2019 and almost finalized one in Lucknow as it was 2018 Model V variant with 45k kms on the ODO. The dealer praised the car like anything but when I got the history checked it had 5 claims and 1 one of them was a major claim. The entire car was repainted, so dropped it from my list. Found a couple of more models in Delhi but all of them were rejected because of some or other reasons like meter back, claims, accidental etc. So I kept searching and searching only to get disheartened as I knew somewhere in my mind that it was not possible to get a good one in my budget but I still kept trying.
Maruti Ciaz
Ciaz was the last option on my list even though the diesel Ciaz is a very good option and comfortable to drive on highways. As I have driven this car (one of my friends) on a highway for a good 200 km. I really liked the comfort and the feeling of being in the car plus the MASS is also good with its large network and the car has good resale value. But I was only getting cars with high mileage upwards of 50K and that too 2017/2018 model for 7 Lakhs. But safety was a concern hence it was on the list with a condition that if I don’t get anything then we will focus on this car.
Hyundai Verna
Well, this was my first choice and I really love the way this car drives. It literally feels like a diesel rocket. Also, Hyundai diesel engines are refined and the cars come with a decent number of features as well. But I couldn’t find a single 2019 or even 2018 model with Automatic transmission in my budget. All the good cars that I came across were almost north of 10 Lakhs.
Honda Amaze
This was the second contender in the list as Amaze also ticked almost all the points in my requirements list. Short listed a couple of Amazes in Delhi and Lucknow. Found 1 in Lucknow which was a 2018 model diesel S variant with 38000 kms on the ODO with a service record and looked pretty nice and the asking price was 6.5 lakhs which could have gone to approx. 6.1 but I let it go because I was keen on finding an automatic Amaze.
But then one day (on 2.7.23, Sunday) I saw a listing which appeared to be uploaded only a couple of minutes before on OLX. It was a 2019 Honda Amaze V CVT in Modern Steel Metallic color with just 29273 kms on the ODO and the car looked very clean in the AD.
Final Decision Made
I scrolled over the listing and contacted the concerned person who turned out to be a dealer in Dwarka. We had a discussion for about 10 mins in which I asked him all sorts of questions. And after the discussion, I told Mr. Saurabh (Dealer’s son) to hold the car for me and that I’ll be coming tomorrow to check the car and if everything goes well then, I would buy it right away. Few things that I insisted on were that they provide me with the service history and that if we will be okay with the price then I would like to get the car checked at an Authorized Honda dealer before making the payment to which he agreed. So, it was decided that Dad and myself will go together in our Tiago and if everything turns out to be good then we will buy the car the same day and return to Moradabad.
Delivery Experience:
So the very next day on 3.7.2023 we left at 9:00 AM from Moradabad and reached the Dealership around 12:30 PM where we met Mr. Naresh (Saurabh’s father) and were greeted by him very nicely. After 5-10 mins of small chat, we stepped outside his office where Amaze was parked. I took a walk around of the car and God it was clean just some minor scratches on the rear bumper and that’s it. I opened the door and it just felt like a new car. Took the driver seat and cranked the engine with a slight touch on the Start/Stop button. It was smooth and we left for a test drive. Everything looked perfect to me ride, suspension, NVH levels, sitting posture, CVT transmission, pickup etc. I mean I could literally feel the age of the car once I was inside and the way it drove, it just felt as if I am driving a new car. I had made up my mind to close this deal in the first 5 minutes of the test drive itself.
We came back to their office after a good 15-20 minutes of driving and discussed the final rates. Once the rate was final between us, I took the car to a Honda Authorized dealer accompanied by his son and got the entire car inspected. I told the Service Advisor to let me know even if they find something which does not require to be reported. It took them 2 hours for the entire process as they had a lot of cars in the service Centre. They put the car on the lift and checked the entire underbody, engine bay, body panels and everywhere they could look. Meanwhile, we had already gone through the service history of the car on the Service Advisors desktop and everything was up to the mark. After inspecting the car thoroughly, it was sent out for a test drive with us and again the Amaze passed with flying colors. Only the cap for the windshield washer tank was missing so I got a new one for Rs. 37 only. We paid the diagnostic charges and left the Service Centre and returned to the dealer’s office.
Finally, we started the paperwork and everything was done in 30 mins as I had already bought the scan copies of my IDs and picture with me. By the time we finished everything and left it was 5:30 PM. Luckily there was a fuel station close to the dealer where I made the first top up which cost me Rs. 2918 and it took 32.56 Liters of Diesel. After topping up we left for Moradabad and reached home around 10:00 PM with a small Coffee break in between as we were tired and had crossed the entire Delhi in office hours traffic.
What did I get
- 2 car keys
- All original documents including the original payment receipts, invoices from the first owner, Temp RC copy etc.
- The car is under warranty till December 2023
- Zero Dep. Insurance till February 2024
- PUC till April 2024
- Next service due in February 2024 as the car got serviced in February 2023.
- It has genuine Honda accessories worth 54000
- Spare tire is unused
- Fog lamps have projectors
- Headlamps have HID setup
Things done so far:
- Got the Honda RSA for Rs. 1840 for one year
- Got the rear bumper painted from outside
Things planned:
- Music system upgrade – Will get the speakers changed since I have been spoiled by the Harmon system in my Tiago
- Tire upgrade
- Rain visors
- PPF – since this shade is prone to scratches and even the swirl marks will be easily visible.
Dealer Experience and Price:
So the dealer’s name was SEHGAL CARS and they are located in Sector 1 Dwarka. Mr. Naresh Sehgal is the owner and his son Mr. Saurabh Sehgal was the person I talked to over the phone. I would rate my dealer experience 10/10 as everything turned out the way they told me. They had the car clean and ready for us and didn’t make us wait for anything or did any tantrums. I highly recommend this dealer if someone is looking to buy a used car or sell one of theirs. They are very professional and speak the truth and only have clean cars in their inventory. Mr. Saurabh assured me that they don’t deal in cars involved in accidents, cars with tempered odos or anything that may destroy their goodwill.
Now let’s talk about the price, The asking price was 7.60 Lacs and we closed the deal at 7.15 lacs which included the broker fees and transfer of ownership into my name.
I think the price was justified since the car is already under warranty. Also, I don’t have to take insurance since the insurance is good until February 2024 and it includes zero dep, Engine Protect Plus and Key Protect. Also, the insurance has been done with Honda itself and is cashless. Also, the last service was done in February 2023 at 27,926 kms. So I just have to fill diesel and keep driving until the next service is due. Even the PUC is valid until 22/4/2024.
First Impressions:
Engine & Transmission:
Well, I don’t have to tell you what a great combination this engine and transmission makeup as it has been said so many times already. But coming from Tiago the engine does feel refined and definitely has more power and that CVT just brings joy while navigating through traffic. Though I am new to this car but right on the delivery day itself I got to experience the Delhi office hours traffic and then had a chance to drive good 160-170 kms on the highway. The 1.5 liter, four-cylinder turbocharged diesel i-Dtec engine under the hood does the required work in city and on highways as well. You have enough power to overtake slow-moving vehicles in the city. The engine doesn’t require excessive revving to initiate motion due to the ample torque accessible from a low 1,750rpm, and it also allows for smooth and comfortable acceleration to higher speeds.
Ride & Handling
It maintains a comfortably cushioned suspension, effectively absorbing the majority of obstacles encountered on Indian roads. Only the most severe bumps may be felt inside the cabin, causing a noticeable jolt. Such road imperfections are typically overcome effortlessly by SUVs.
The steering feels slightly heavy when manoeuvring at low speeds, presenting challenges when navigating through city traffic and parking spaces. At higher speeds, the weight of the steering becomes less noticeable, but the lack of feedback is clearly evident.
Design & Finish
Overall I like the design of the car’s front end which exudes a stronger and more aggressive appearance, conveying a sense of power. Honda has prioritized aerodynamic sleekness, evident in the elongated nose and spacious bonnet that seamlessly connect to the rear trunk. Adopting Honda’s renowned ‘Solid Wing Face’ seen in their flagship models such as the Honda Accord and Honda Civic, the face of the all-new Amaze showcases this distinctive feature. Additionally, the car’s low and wide styling is accentuated by bold character lines originating from the front grille.
Space & Comfort:
Now coming from Tiago there is a huge difference and Amaze is way more spacious than Tiago. Seats are big in size and there is ample space and legroom in both the rows. The big and clean dashboard design with that dual tone finish gives you a big car feeling and definitely gives you the premium feel which was not the case in Tiago. The beige tone in the car goes from the dashboard to the doors and seats. And another big difference for me is the 420 litres of boot space compared to 240 litres in Tiago. Also, it can fit in 1 litre bottle in the door pockets which was not the case with Tiago.
Lighting
I can’t comment on the original light setup that came with this car as mine comes with an HID setup for the Head lights and projectors in the fog lamps. And they did a great job when I was coming back home on the day of delivery. Also, the cabin lamp has white led light which illuminates the interior nicely during the night.
ICE
My car has a 7 inch Digipad touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and rear camera display with a 4 speakers. The audio quality is mediocre and definitely needs replacement for someone like me who loves his music while driving. The unit has an in built navigation system which is a plus as well.
FE
So far I have refilled it twice and coincidentally from the same pump in Delhi. And according to the tank full method the car is giving me an average of 19.5 kmpl. This includes both city and highway driving.
NVH
The NVH levels are good if not excellent as you do have that diesel engine sound penetrating the cabin. It’s not like regular noise you get from other diesel engines instead it feels like a drone or something hovering around you.
Things I didn’t like
- The steering controls do not have any kind of illumination.
- Same goes for the transmission. You cannot see anything in dark, though you can check the MID.
- The boot door has no insulation and looks very naked and bad. Purely a cost cutting tactic from Honda.
- I think the tyres are on the skinny side and should have been 16 inches.
- The headlight throw is not up to my liking though it does the required work
- NVH levels could have been better.
- The feedback from the steering is not that great and it does feel heavy. In fact, my Tiago has better steering feedback.
Now I’ll let the pictures do the talking:
I really liked the frontend with the long hood and the signature chrome grill. It gives that big car/sedan look.
Even the rear looks way better than the outgoing model and the C shape tail lamps add to the beauty of rear end.
Personally, the side profile looks very clean and elegant.
Both the front door handles have smart key buttons and it does give a premium look plus is very convenient as well.
The boot is very spacious and will accommodate your luggage for a long weekend trip and big enough for those quick airport runs.
As mentioned earlier, cost cutting tactics of Honda. Looks very naked, Honda should have provided a thin lining or at-least something similar to hide all these bunging wires and inner body panels.
A decent ground clearance for a sedan.
Bridgestone Ecopia 175/65R15 84T tires.
Looks like the tire life is almost between 40%-50%. Anyways I am planning for tire upgrade.
Front seats are decent in size and the first row feels quite open and spacious. It was easy for me to find my perfect driving position in the first go itself.
The driver seat is a nice place to be in and is quite comfortable. It comes with height adjustment function which is a very useful function.
Rear seats are big enough to accommodate 3 medium size adults or 2 adults and a child. Rear legroom is also sufficient and second row gets a dedicated charging point as well.
Full view of the dashboard from rear seats. I personally liked the dashboard layout and the dual tone shade of the dashboard does gives that premium feel. Also, the quality of material used is way better than Tiago and as a matter of fact XUV 500 as well.
The center armrest is something I really missed in my Tiago. And it does have storage space underneath.
Door’s open wide and the dual tone shade is carried over to the doors from the dashboard which really make the interiors look nice and premium.
Driver side door has all 4 power window buttons, Lock/unlock buttons, power window lock, and ORVM retract and adjust buttons. The ORVM fold/unfold option is a very welcome feature.
The fuel lid opener and hood release buttons are very well integrated under the dashboard and it looks very neat. Requires some cleaning though.
Boot release lever is present on the right hand side by the driver’s seat.
Panel gap on the glove compartment box looks bit weird.
The glove box has a very decent size but does not close by itself when you push it back. You have to hold the lever and then close it.
Only the passenger side sun shade gets the vanity mirror but no lights to go with it.
A very simple and good looking gear shifter for the automatic transmission. But on the other hand Honda has not provided any illumination for the gear indicators and it really shows cheap cost cutting from Honda. And you cannot see anything in night if you look at the gear lever.
There is a nice storage space right in front of the gear lever which includes 2 cup holders and space to keep some small stuff like wallet, keys, glasses, mobile etc. Also the quality of housing on which the usb and 12v socket is placed is very flimsy as it reflex’s if pressed a little hard.
That’s the Digipad with touchscreen, Android auto, Apple car play, Inbuilt navigation system, Bluetooth and Usb. I really liked the buttons on the touchscreen which makes it easy to use while driving. My phone gets connected and Android auto comes into play as soon as I connect it to the usb port.
You are greeted with a screen with Honda Logo when you turn on the system.
It is very simple to use the Digipad and everything is laid down in a very simple manner.
There is a small space under the handbrake lever which can easily sallow your car key or a cell phone.
Wiper controls are on the left stalk.
Right hand stalk has the headlights and fog lamps control.
Headlight adjuster switch but the other black spaces looks as if Honda forgot to add some switches
Only the driver side power window switch is illuminated out of all the buttons on the driver side door. Again cost cutting techniques from Honda but cheap ones.
Steering controls for volume, you can change modes and change songs and channels on the radio. But again these buttons are also not illuminated
Start/Stop button turns red when the engine is ON
Start/Stop button turns white when the car is unlocked and the engine is OFF.
The DRLs come to life when the parking lights are on. Fog lamps are pretty useful when compared to Tiago.
Lights on low beam have a good throw.
Lights on High beam and they are pretty much sufficient for city as well as highway drives.
Yours faithfully while taking the delivery from Dealer.
FE from my recent trip to Delhi on last weekend. And god it was raining like cats and dog. I could hardly see anything and was driving very slow like 40-50-60 kmph and it took me forever to reach Moradabad.
My overall average since I bought the car.
Also during the last fill up I got 19.5 KMPL which includes both city and Highway drive and yes it was done through Tank full Method.
The MID shows you all the required information including time but Honda missed the temperature gauge and I don’t know why but it would have been better if they replaced the mileage bar with a temperature one which I personally think would have been more useful.
I have tried to cover as much as I could and will be updating the thread as our journey with Amaze moves forward. And if there is anything that someone want’s me to share I’ll be more than happy to do that.
Keyword: Found a clean 2019 Amaze CVT diesel: Buying & ownership experience