Jan 29, 2004 02:23 PM
6103 Views
(Updated Jun 23, 2004 09:42 PM)
I had the opportunity of driving a mint 800 with only 30 kms on the clock to around 420kms. And boy it was a big disappointment. Maruti with its aim of bringing the 800 to the masses have used the scalpel to a good measure. This is the New January 2004 model.
My cuz got the car for his wife. His wife, being a regular 800 driver, I did put a point across as to why he couldn?t upgrade to an alto or Zen. Another 800 lover, it seems.
First of all they have degraded the engine from its 45 bhp to 37 bhp. Although it doesn?t feel underpowered when only a couple are sitting, does feel at full load, and very much with the air conditioner on. But never the less a good engine at its cost. Didn?t raise the engine too much cause it was still been run in.
The Car now comes with vinyl seats, so seat covers are a must. This I?m talking about the AC version. Lovely storage places abound in the car. Love that. Places for your glares and etc. Besides as usual with all cars Indian, everything has to be bought right from the rubber mats to engine light as EXTRA from the dealer. Good way of keeping the Base price down.
One thing over the older 800 is that the suspension is beautiful. Really soaks up the bumps. This was the real big surprise of the new 800. Always upgrade to Radial tyres at the dealer itself. Improves ride and safety. The steering is very light so no need of Power out there. The Air-conditioner decent but one does have to put it off when going up a steep hill. Ergonomics pretty good too.
Did have some inconveniences like the Steering horn being right in the center so one has to literally remove one of the hands of the steering wheel to sound the horn. In ?Sound Ok Horn? country, this is a very important. Besides its not too expensive to have the older wheel. Secondly the Headlight stalk is a little too far, to blink the lights or for the right/left signals. This too can be adjusted without much cost by maruti. Finally the gear shift is back to the old 4 speed. Never driven the 5 speed but Maruti has cut it out in the interest of cost. No problem but they could make it a bit smoother besides having a shorter throw.
One thing I?ve to mention out here is the Maruti Dealer in Mangalore. When I went to collect the car, they garlanded me, took photographs with the car, handing over the keys, sweets. WOW. I felt like a Maharaja. Even Honda didn?t do this when I went to collect my VTEC city in Bombay. Kuddos to Maruti and its Dealer.
Maruti has done wonders by making the 800 one of the cheapest cars in the world. The demerits can be easily rectified without much expense and I wish maruti does it. All in all, if one is going for their very first car, then the 800 will suffice but if its gonna be a 2nd do spend 30 grand more and go in for an Maruti Alto Spin. Its better than the 800 in all departments besides u?ll get a better resale value for the Alto. Just for one's information the Alto is actually a 3rd generation Maruti 800!!!. Maruti sells all generations of the 800 albeit at different prices - the 800, Zen & Alto. So Alto the way to go.
June 2004 - In the fifteen years of Maruti 800 history, it was overtaken in terms of sales in the month of May 2004, by.... THE ALTO - Whatcha tell you'll. Its time to move on to the alto. I luv being right ;-)
