1990 Premier Padmini Base review from India
"A dead car from a dead make with the appeal of driving a classic built in the 90's!!"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Almost everything has been replaced.
Electrics keep failing.
Doors frequently refuse to shut.
Plugs, ignition coil, have been replaced twice.
Accelerator linkage snapped at 40000km.
Muffler ruptured at 45000km.
Fuel tank developed a leak once, which had to be plugged (i.e. fixed).
Radiator hose blown once during a drive through the hills.
Handbrake broke at 30000km.
General comments?
The car drives well when everything works - it is peppier than a Maruti 800.
Fuel consumption is excellent; about 12km/l.
Interior space is sufficient, but the interior is really spartan without a music system, air conditioner or anything. Instrumentation is basic.
Seats do the job. That's it.
Trunk space is OK.
Ride and handling are 1950's spec.
For those who don't know about this car, it is a licence-built version of the 1950's Fiat 1100 built in India using the same power train, which sold because of the tightly controlled market - we couldn't buy modern cars until the mid '90s.
It has zero resale value so I have kept it
as a second car in addition to my Ford Escort.
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| Model Year | 1990 |
| First year of ownership | 1990 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2005 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.1L petrol Manual |
| Performance marks | 3/10 |
| Reliability marks | 2/10 |
| Comfort marks | 3/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 1/10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 7/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 0 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 75000 kilometres |
| Previous car | Landmaster Landmaster |
| Date of Entry | 19th August, 2005 |