The Log Book

After 20 months and 20,000 km the Zen in the long-term test fleet is still going strong. In the interim period we had a few run ins with the elements and also got to know our local service station walla a little better than we would have expected. Before that, more on a lowdown on the on the manners of the car.

Mechanically nothing really serious went wrong that took the vehicle off the road. Good reliable service is one of its stronger points and it has given us hassle free transport. As you live with a car for two years, the car becomes an extension of your self. You come to love the car while at the same time grow to hate some things that you wouldn't even notice earlier. You learn to live with its faults while appreciating its finesse and capabilities.

Though designed close to a decade earlier, the car doesn't feel old. The Zen has the best driving position among the lot of new small cars that have come in the market. Though nothing much can be said about the back seat, the front seats don't leave much to complain about. Ergonomically however the radio and A/C controls could be positioned with a little more imagination. All other controls are easy to reach and have a typical Maruti feel to it. And I mean that in a good way. I would have really appreciated a louder horn and brighter headlamps. A horn is meant for other road users and not for the driver and his passenger only. The rear suspension definitely needs improvement. Rear passengers are treated to a bone-jarring ride on rough surfaces, which more often than not are the roads that we use daily.

Like I said the car has a terrific driving position. To really appreciate the car, it has to be taken flat out on a winding twisting road. Taking a hairpin in second with the pedal on the metal makes you really appreciate the road hugging manners of the car. The typical Jap super slick gearbox only heightens the pleasure.

The car is also very good for city use. However some more torque low down in the rev range would be very welcome. The high rev characteristics of the engine call for one to many gear changes in traffic. However that shouldn't take anything away from the engine which is a beauty and still manages to bring a smile on our faces.

Over time the brakes have become mushy and lack the bite that was there before. On sudden stops the car is reluctant to keep a straight line and there is also some squeaky noise whenever the brakes are applied.

The hatch has developed a few rattles. The service walla can't locate the source of the damn rattles even though the noise increases exponentially every month or so. The front passenger seat has also started rattling. This stops when somebody is warming it. We also managed to smash the wing mirror which had to be replaced.

During the period of almost two years, we did have a few run ins with the elements that were really beyond our control. Here is a low down on them.

Rammin' Estate

Before we get down to business, we shall indulge ourselves in a little lesson in history. In Pune we have some pretty poor excuses for roundabouts. Our municipal corporation is perennially 'kadka', broke to you and me. To save costs our city fathers and their sidekicks have come up with their version of a roundabout. It consists of a lamppost planted in the center of a narrow congested road. A kilo of very low grade concrete is then poured around it which serves the noble purpose of encouraging more people to stay at home rather than venture outside and loose a limb. Our oil pool account is done a great service. And you thought that our city fathers do nothing.

Okay down to business. One fine day we were off to run some errands. Now the roads near my place are littered with these roundabouts. So while rounding one of these roundabouts, the driver of an estate in front of us realized that he couldn't make the turn and threw the car into reverse. Knowing of Telco's fit and finish, the mirrors must have fallen off a long time back. The driver didn't bother to strain his neck and rammed us broad side.

The aforementioned car belonged to a reputed Teutonic automaker based in Pune. The poor driver not wanting to loose his job insisted on paying for all the damages. The right front panel was replaced, all costs fortunately for us borne by the driver. Luckily for the driver the headlamps were intact.

The Cow with an itch

Granted the Zen looks good even in the face of the tall and not so tall competition. But I never realized that our brethen of the four-legged variety was also attracted to the car.

One hot afternoon, we were out buying a crate of beer. Unfortunately for us we parked the car near an animal that had an itch in its backside. The cow or ass or whatever decided to use the Zen to ease its itch.

In typical Indian hit and run fashion, the cow took off leaving us with a Zen whose rump was bumped-n-dumped. The lesson? Whatever guage steel Maruti uses for its cars cannot match the punch packed in a cow's rump. We presumed that it was a cow since it had left tell tale marks of dung all over the car.

The car was sent straight to the dealer's who by now was thinking of awarding us with a most valuable customer award. We realized the real extent of the damage only after all the shit was washed off. The hatch, left passenger's door and the left rear panel were dented. Apna dealer wanted to replace all the dented panels but the insurance-walla shot down his bright idea. Eventually the 'hathoda' was used and panels brought back to shape Luckily no damage to any of the lights.

All the costs were borne by the insurance company. The dealer arranged everything and we only had to go and collect the check from the insurance after three weeks.

The Friendly Municipal Bus Driver

This one is really going to strike a chord with all you motorists out there. Living in India and not running into our Municipal transport busses is an unheard of thing these days. Here is the account of how we came to know our friendly municipal bus driver. Pun definitely intended.

Traffic in Pune is very disorganized. Very very disorganized. And that is when our mama's/cops are on duty and not on a break for chai, 'tambaku' or busy extorting money from some teenager. At six in the evening, traffic in Pune is ridiculous. Average distances one travels in Pune are not huge by any standard, but the rush hour traffic coupled to our not so wide roads makes rush hour driving only for the very brave or the very foolish. Well one day we were feeling quite brave, not foolish mind you and decided to brave the rush hour traffic. However a bus driver had other plans for us. Deciding to speed up the pace of things, this fellow cuts his lane, gets onto the kerb, gets back onto the road narrowly avoid a few cyclists and ends up in our backside. The left tail lamp was ruined.

The amazing part was that the bus driver was extremely non-plussed by the whole incident. Our forever-helpful traffic cops were even better. He told us to get back into the car and get the hell out of his road and let the bus driver do his job. He literally accused us of coming in the way of this friendly law abiding bus driver.

The tail lamp replacement cost us Rs.800/-. Fortunately there was no damage to the bodywork, which saved us a load of cash.

Kaput A/C compressor

All of you must agree with me on this. There are some things/people that pick the best/worst time to appear. Here is an incident in which the timing is really extra ordinary.

Five days yes five days after the warranty period lapsed, the A/C decided to kick the bucket. Even more interesting is that the dealer refused to do anything under warranty. After come serious arguments and cooking up a story of being on a round the world in five days story, the dealer agreed albeit very reluctantly to check out the A/C.

Our dealer couldn't figure out the problem so they referred the problem to Sanden in Delhi. After two weeks, Sanden asks for a detailed description of the problem, which was dully dispatched. After another two weeks Sanden asks the dealer for a complete service history of the car. This was sent with utmost dispatch. After another two weeks, Sanden asks for the compressor to be sent to Delhi. After yet another two weeks, Sanden sends back the repaired compressor. Turns out the compressor clutch was playing spoil sport and was given a good tweak in its pants to set it right. All the work was done under warranty. Phew. We were charged only for topping up of the refrigerant.

It took Maruti a total of seven whole weeks to set the A/C right. This is ridiculous and one wonders what would happen in the case of a really serious problem. This is one area where Maruti has to pull up its socks. Luckily Pune was pleasant during the intervening period and we didn't have to crave for the A/C.

To be frank, I didn't think the repair job would last but all credit to Maruti and Sanden for doing a good job. It's now over a year since the repair, but the A/C is still going strong. However lately it has developed a funny habit. When the car is started with the blower on, the A/C shuts itself down. The car along with all gadgets has to be shut down and on restarting, the A/C works. This procedure would be very familiar to all those who are dependent on the pirated software developed by a certain Bill Gates and his bunch of merry men. This has happened four or five times, but the A/C has always started after rebooting.

The amazing part of all these incidents is that all of these occurred during the warranty period. The following year we didn't experience any problems. All regular servicing, tuning up and oil changes were carried out on time. Tyre rotation, topping up of essential juices etc. were all carried out on time and by the book.

Zen experience

During the course of 20 K's the car gave us an average fuel consumption of 12kmpl. On the highway run it gave us around 15kmpl. This was flat out driving averaging three digits. On no occasion was the car driven keeping the average in mind. In city the average fluctuated between 10 to 12kmpl depending on traffic, weather and the time I woke up. With the A/C a noticeable drop in fuel consumption figures was observed especially in the city.

A grouse I have with the car involves cold starting. As a college student I have a reputation to uphold. My lectures start at 11 in the morning. I leave home by 11, often later hoping to reach college by 11:07 and be in class by 11:10 after which the lecturer looses patience and locks the door. Now I have no time to warm up the car or drive like a 70 year old waiting for the car to warm up. It's here more than anywhere else that I miss fuel injection. I also have a Santro that I use for the college run, as it needs no warming up. Just start and jam the accelerator hoping to make it to class before the door closes. I am looking forward to the fuel injected Zen which is on its way (the log was written before the MPFI Zen hit the road).

We have another 5 K's to go before the car is returned to Maruti. I am not looking forward to that day when the car clocks 25,000 and will have to be returned. Over the course of two years I have become attached to the car and would hate to see it go. Till next time, cheerio and remember to always buckle up.

About the writer:
Shirish is a real petrolhead and is presently doing Final Year Mechanical Engineering (sandwich pattern) at A.I.S.S.M.S's College of Engineering, Pune. Apart from tinkering with machines, Shirish is an active member of the Rotract club of Pune Downtown and was part of the river improvement project to clean up the Mula -Mutha.
Extra curriculars: Football, Basketball, Tennis and Gourmet Indian cooking
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