May 14, 2007 01:43 PM
13841 Views
(Updated May 16, 2007 09:30 AM)
Men are Back! (With another Sissy Car)
I like Maruti as an organization, they have served this country well. Millions have found jobs thanks to the large automotive eco-system MUL managed to create. Having owned almost all Maruti Vehicles (except the diesel experiments and Vitara) I loved the low cost of maintenance and great support network that follows you all over the country. Maruti always made vehicles which would make my dad smile, cheap to run, cheap to maintain and good resale value as well. For me, I wanted a vehicle which would have character (some serious loin stirring…) a drivers vehicle for the third world country (read affordable) call it a poor man’s RS Turbo. SX4 caught my eye, I drooled over the pictures on the web for some time, loved the aggressive stance of the car, the notchback European version looked hot and I hoped that Maruti will make my dream come true. Recently changed job come with a 8 lac on the floor offer to buy a vehicle of choice and SX4 fitted the bill, look how:-
- 16” Wheels (only RS Turbo , Mercs and Beemers have them in India, sorry Audi as well)
-ABS EBD Twin airbags (no compromises here, long live maruti!)
- In Dash Stereo (CD player)
- Steering Wheel controls for CD player (Wow Wow!)
- Climate Control (I need to buy this car real bad!!)
- Cool display (outside temperature and time)
I was sold before I went to the showroom with my wife, who drew the first blood. Hey that looks like an Indigo from the rear! I pretended not to listen. The Silver Grey looked Yum and the car looked aggressive from front. The doors close with a nice thump, I like that! Doesn’t the rear seat seem too cramped and uncomfortable she said next, no dear we sit at front and the front seats even if they look cheap should be good to sit on, I defended furiously. So we get the wonderful sales guy to help up (Maruti sales team are amongst the best and most polite of the lot) and here is the deal we cut:
- SX4 ZXi: 7, 29, 000
- Webasto Sunroof 43, 000
- Teflon Coating 9, 000
- Xenon Lights 10, 000
- Misc Accessories 6, 000 Total about 7, 97, 000/-
Wife still had some doubts but succumbed to my enthusiasm. I got the cheque book out to cut the cheque for the booking amount (INR 25000/-) and the polite sales guy suggested a test drive and here is when this lovely fairy tale went all wrong. I got a ZXi to drive and sat in the driver seat to crank the engine. Shifted to first gear and floored the accelerator the car moved but where were the 102 horses maruti promised. The Steering has a strange babe lost in the woods feel to it, the car has no power or involvement at all!!! I am disappointed but console my self on taking the car through a rough patch, the suspension is great and the 16” wheels do a good job but again I need to shift gears to pull the car up. Maruti messed this one up big time, the old Baleno engine was a beauty, what did they do here. Do we need to call up Mr Khatter and tell the Maruti board that there are real men in India who want a bit of performance from their vehicle! This engine sucks!! Big time. It doesn’t match up to the performance promised by the specs. The Hyundai accent CRDI gives you a better acceralation (atleast you feel that way)as compared to this sissy unit. My Scorpio with the CRDI makes you feel good at the open stretches with loads of power in reserve this engine just does not live up! Maruti wants us to buy a car which promises a lot but misses out the core driving experience. This is bad, and my wife looks at me with a little smile knowing about my heart break and pats my back to take me away from the ever smiling sales guy. So friends this is a real heartbreak, Maruti was so close to getting this one right and I was so close to owning this one! Need to work harder to save the extra 4 lacs and treat my self to a Civic sorry Maruti you messed up big time here!
