Maruti Swift blog updates

Id written a few lines about my buying a Maruti Suzuki Swift (Red) some time back and as i analysed my blog hits data, i noticed quite a few have actually read my blog. Anyways here are a few updates on my swift now about 8 months old. Its done 8K plus km and its doing just fine. I havent yet gone on a long drive and its done all the Km's within the city. Its giving me a average of 12KM/Litre. The gears have become very comfortable. As such the gears are much softer than other cars (is what i hear). I am a new driver and well i probably change gears a lil too hard. But 8 months down, i feel they are very smooth. ive done my 2 free services at the 1000KM and the 5000KM mark. Recently i realised that the engine has a higher bhp (its got 87 bhp) than Ford Fiesta (petrol), Honda City, Optra etc...thats way too cool. I guess like million other indians, buying any maruti as your first car is the best bet. Ive had a accident when i was a new driver and well the spares are cheap when you compare them to other cars. Its mostly expensive for the painting, but then thats more or less the same everywhere.

My Swift is a VXi and now its got scratches on all the corners of the car :) i have a difficult basement parking and most of the scratches have come from the parking. i guess ive just got used to it now. Ive driven at 120KMPH on the road to Devanahalli (via yelahanka) just to get a feel of how it feels. it did seem stable. Im dying to get on to a long drive say to chennai (kalpakkam actually).

There is a definite difference when the AC is on or off. Even a novice driver can feel quite a difference. I have no ideas about it is in other cars though. Also when the AC is not on and i switch on the air circulation button, within say 15m there is a peculiar smell. I really have no idea about the cause of this smell though (maybe coz of the hot engine/stale air??)