FAW V2 Owner's Review

[umairalizafar]

That is exactly what I am saying. Mehran is being sold because people are buying it. Yes, nobody cares about fog lights and rims, but safety features like airbags and ABS brakes are a must in any modern vehicle. In other countries, apart from India even, there are better cars sold for lesser money with these features. Celerio costs half as much in India, with more features. Around the price of a Mehran. This is because Suzuki knows people will buy their cars. The situation in India could have been in Pakistan if Suzuki had had a wider spectrum of thinking and had manufactured cars for export, instead of selling them only here. But they tried to exploit the people, and now their cars can't be exported anywhere, and all nearby countries have found other markets for buying cars from.

People in Pakistan buy all sorts of cars for all sorts of money, but I am not talking about that. I am talking about what we get in that money. I bought a Vitz some years back when the Alto was still being sold. Was asked by a colleague (who bought an Alto in the same price) how much does the side mirror of a Vitz cost, in comparison to the Alto. What he couldn't understand was that the side mirror of Vitz had a much wider viewing angle and was much better than that of Alto. He had bought a cheaper product for a higher price in the first place, and then wanted to tell me how the parts of my purchase were costly. Cars should be sold on the prices they deserve, and that will only happen when the people buy only those cars which provide the value for money.

There was no lack of choices in the past either. We had Santro, we had Cuore, we had Joy, Exclusive, and QQ. Nobody bought them even when they were cheaper than the Mehran. People have a habit of buying things which are not value for money. Leaving out valuable features just to compete with Mehran would be foolish. Those who want to buy FAW, will still buy it with all the features. Those who don't want to buy it, will find another excuse. Try to also understand what I am saying.

[abid110]

differences apart - i salute your writing stamina bro :

[cracked]

Pakistani are buying a car at the same price in any place of the world, and few cars are being sold over and above international price. most recent example, Cultus and wagon R.now if you say we pakistani are poor, then you are totally worng. we pakistani are ignorant. we dont know what are our rights. if we had stopped buying crapbox mehran a decade back, we wouldnt have to see its ugly face today. a family travelling in their "PRICE SAVED" mehran and ,god forbid, meets an accident, well there goes the savings and lives along with it. its about time we change our mind sets. there should be minimum safety standards to be implemented by the Govt and cars should be priced accordingly. if someone can not afford such car, he shouldnt buy one. there are many people in US who can not afford a car, it does not mean to strip down basic safety features just so people can afford it.

[dwb1986]

Yeah govt should devise a policy for car manufacturers for standard minimum safety features and requirements for a car to be on road.

[umarabdullah]

My point is still valid, if they have drikver airbags, and listen don't try and be offensive, the thing is, healthy debate is always good and we are all educated enough to understand this. And I rest my case by saying that God forbid in an accident I'd rather be in a Faw v2 with one airbag and proper crumple zones and much more impact protection with locking seatbelts. Also with abs and ebd on 4 wheel disc brakes I may even be able to avoid or at least lessen the impact. ON THE CONTRARY WE HAVE THE LEGENDARY COMPETITION IN THE FORM OF A MEHRAN, again I'm talking strictly the under ~9 lac bracket. Safety for the masses!!

[umarabdullah]

And Mehran ain't safe from getting stolen even with the best immobilization because it weighs only 600 kg so with 12 people you can basically grab it and almost run with it. You don't even need a lifter!,or just 4 people to lift the front side which weighs ~250kg and the parking brake down

[roboxx]

Stop humiliating little Mehran now, they have announced that it's production is being halted at the end of this year. Another point is that when your time has come, no one can save you, no airbag would stop it then even. Allah pe bharosa rakhain aur apni pasand ki car lay lain. Airbags wali cars ki options me sirf 3-4 new cars aati hain phir. U don't have much options in budget then.
Infact Govt should realize that safety rules should be implemented and followed by all local auto companies in the best interest of masses of Pakistan.

[umairalizafar]

Nobody is being offensive, just stating their points.

The point is, why should we compromise on features to get a good car in low price? If we look at India, Indonesia, Thailand etc, the cars one can get in the price of Mehran have power windows and steering, intermittent wipers as standard at least. Here we don't even get a brake booster.

In the price of a swift, we can get a car with 6 to 8 airbags, ABS, EBD, BA, Traction Control, automatic dimming rearview mirror, heated side mirrors, electronically adjustable seats and what not. Why should we be buying a car without all those features in these prices? Are we some lesser beings or what? And it is not only a fault of the manufacturers and the government, it is a fault of the people as well. We had a lot of options here, which we didn't avail and made those companies fail. Now, there is a lack of confidence in introduction of new technology here. Suzuki introduced the most advanced sedans back in the day, in the form of Baleno and Liana, but they failed. Because of our mindset. What do you think Suzuki will do after that?

We need to demand better things for our money. In the price of Mehran, we should be getting the Cultus VXR or Wagon R VXL. These cars are highly overpriced for no reason and it is partly our fault. We didn't do our part, and hence we can't blame the government or the manufacturers.

[roboxx]

Baat aapki sari theek hai, lakin existing scenerio me we have limited options which have safety features. Mostly those are above 2 million rupees cars. Now if I want a reasonable new sedan car under 2 millions with safety features what I should go for? Bump

[umairalizafar]

Suzuki Ciaz is the most well-equipped new sub-compact sedan currently in our market. But people don't buy that, and it's manual version is under 2 million. It is also available on ready delivery and does not have WHT as it is being imported. It is the only sub-compact that comes with rear AC vents and projector headlamps. Not buying it, and buying GLi and City on own, we are showing the companies that we don't prefer cars with better features. If you want to buy a sedan with safety features under 2 million, you should buy a Ciaz. Unfortunately that is also a feature stripped car with a higher price tag, but if people start buying it, the manufacturers will want to introduce better features in better prices because they will become selling points. Currently, Toyota and Honda can offer a tin can on 4 wheels with a steering and it will sell, while if Suzuki sells a next gen car, it won't. Suzuki can offer a tin can on 4 wheels with a steering and it will sell, while others won't be able to sell a next gen car with better features.

If we break this thinking, only then will we get better cars in better prices, otherwise we will keep on buying Mehran for another decade for double the current price.

[danishmmh]

Ciaz is indeed well equipped in term of safety, but it is evident that the pricing is not to bring a new car to the market. It is devoid of navigation, alloy rims (ill equipped in this regard) and still it is standing toe to toe in price with City Aspire 1.5. The differrence in b/w the two cars being airbags.

Secondly suzuki has history of ditching cars in sedan segment. Ciaz is 200 imported units and no local production and no more imports on the horizon.

So we are looking at an orphan with established foster parents who have an abysmal record of providing support to their own production vehicles.

So the analogy is poor. and in comparison Gli vs Ciaz ( Projection head lamp and rear vent) are the addition but a 1370cc engine with no support and higher tax bracket is no incentive to get the vehicle at the same price range.

K14 engine still has to go through the test of time and take the beating, Gli engine has already proven that it can be hammered and live through the abuse.

Waiting time is the only concern, well plan ahead, pay 500k and relax. this suited me very well as i had enough time to pay in parts and get the vehicle when i wanted.

WHT gets re-imbursed if you are a filer. so no issue there. also as the delivery is always later then 60 days you get some more reimbursement due to revised auto policy.

Suzuki could have brought in new gen swift, baleno or anything that could have saved them the tax bracket but no they want to bring a product, price it insane, prove that people are not willing to buy and so we have to continue production of tin cans.

[bionix9838]

Very well written,keep it up and coming!

[umairalizafar]

Well, Honda is dragging an outdated generation and Toyota is providing an underpowered car with an engine that is not used in that segment anywhere anymore. Suzuki sedans have become orphans because they were ditched by the people after the arrival of Honda City. From a business perspective, it would be foolish to assemble Ciaz here unless there is a demand. That is exactly my point. City also does not come with rear AC vents and projector headlamps, and it is an older generation. Corolla is dragging the same engine for the past decade while it is not provided with any Corolla anywhere else in the world. The engine displacement tax category is the same as the Honda City, but I haven't seen any dent in City's sales due to that. Haven't seen any dent in City's sales due to it being outdated either.

Suzuki K-series engines are newer with better technology, reduced friction and better fuel economy. But this test of time thing is something that has kept the Mehran alive since the past 3 decades. Fiat hadn't stood the test of time, so was the case with Chevrolet and Cherry and Kia and Hyundai. But Mehran was road proven, and hence is still here. I am not sure what this road proven thing means anyway. When a car is launched, it has already undergone a variety of tests in a variety of situations. There are whole departments dedicated to QA. And even after that, a warranty period is provided because the manufacturers trust their product.

If we keep looking for 'road-proven' vehicles, we are not going to get anything new. Because nothing new is 'road-proven', by that logic. And that exactly is the problem with our auto sector. That exactly is the problem I am highlighting. We find reasons to reject better products in the favor of the established players, which gives them an opportunity to create a monopoly. And then we cry when they don't bring in better products.

[roboxx]

Ciaz is a good car in abroad. Here we are presented with a feature ripped version with insane price. With 1.4L engine it should have been priced in comparison with City 1.5. In Malaysia this car has been a flop and the same happened here in Pakistan. Who would invest his hard earned 2 million rupees on a flop car whose future support is evident to be negligible, just to have 2 airbags?

[dwb1986]

Can't agree with you more. It is us who are responsible that companies are giving us under featured cars in higher price. Things aren't going to change unless we change our own mindset. No one can prove that santro, liana, chevrolet were bad cars as compared to cultus or mehran but guess what all of these failed miserably here because of our typical mindset. And same is the case with us in every department be it politics or anything else. We are not willing to accept change.

[umairalizafar]

Are we not presented with a feature-ripped Corolla and a feature-ripped and outdated City here? Why do we buy these cars? It's not only the airbags. The economy of Ciaz is way better than GLi and City. And City is almost a decade old design. The world has moved on. Ciaz's sales are better than City's in India. And the Indian City is the newer one.

As for after sales services, Suzuki still provides them for the Baleno and the Liana. It will provide them for the Ciaz as well. The quality of after sales however, is a problem with all the manufacturers. People are complaining about the customer service of Toyota and Honda as well, so that is not a difference.

Cars only become flop when people don't buy them, thinking they are flop. If people start buying the same car, it won't be a flop anymore.

[danishmmh]

Corolla is providing the same in South Africa, yes it is a bit under powered, but for the usual commute with five passengers and speeds of 120Km/hr it does the job just fine.

K series engine is doing well in india, so yes that is a plus by road worthy i mean what has seen the real world scenario, it is not that cpacity of the company to correct the issue but the problem with pakistani vendors to provide the services, heck getting a claim is a hassle imagine engine issues.

How do you create demand? Either provide a premium product that cuts above all and you have the right to ask what ever price you want (case being i-phone), Provide heck load of features, do crazy marketing and keep rock bottom price (Q-mobile).

Now if Q mobile with all the specs is priced close to Samsung will it sell. the buyer will naturally buy samsung.

CIAZ will not be asssembled in Pak so there is no comparison in buying an orphan, Suzuki does not have faith in its own product (Case being Celerio manufactured locally, CIAZ being ditched) why did they go ahead with the local production of celerio.

You mistook me in the test of time (That is the standard perception). What i meant is when you have to choose between same price product you will take the trusted unit. Well if a newer product is priced lower that makes you think.

See what the Japanese did to American and European brands in 50's, what the Kia and Hyundai did to Japanese in 90's. They had to cut thin the margins and just work on getting the numbers on the road.

[jibbbbzz]

Assalam o alaikum guys , I hope you are all doing fine. So guys i was thinking of buying a car and my price range is around 1.2 mil and I narrowed it down to wagon r or faw v2. I have not seen many (or any ) faw v2 on roads in sialkot and people either don't know about this care here or are dismissing it as a product because of its resale value. Despite all this a 1300 cc car in 1.5 mil is a near miracle in pakistan. Can you enlighten me more about its fuel economy , road performance and inside cabin anamolies.

[umairalizafar]

Here are the fuel economy numbers. The 17 something are from long route, rest are from city.

V2 is a perfectly good car, much better than Wagon R in terms of features and quality. My car is driven 46k kms by now and it has not had any serious problem. The company offers 3 years/60k kms warranty as well. It is overall a very good package. Read through the topic and you will find the experience of several other users as well. Resale is also building up as of late. The owner of the Lahore dealership sold his car, 55k driven and 2015 model, for 950k last year, before the price hike.

[adnanniazi_2000]

Failure of Santro is entirely a different story. The car wasn't flop (market wise) at all. It happened due to financial mismanagement of the local partner who was manufacturing the Santro in Pakistan. Even today Hyundai Santro has a decent resale when compared with cultus of the same years/model.