Dec 24, 2008 11:10 AM
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I purchased a Zen Estilo LXI Champagne Beige colour (Gold colour) from RKS Saboo, Hyderabad on 28th Nov 2008 for Rs.3.5L. I purchased it from their uppal ring road branch where their main godown and servicing center is there. The sales executive Dayakar Reddy helped well throught the buying process. He arranged a small pooja also. When I’ve taken the delivery the odo was showing just 10 KM on it and it was 7.00 pm in the evening and drizzling. I got the tank filled for approx Rs.1800 and went to home, not much driving took place that night.
Before finalizing Zen Estilo, I made enough research on net as well as on road and finally zeroed to Zen Estilo. Following are the main reasons why I’ve chosen Zen over Santro, Spark, WagonR and Alto which are in my list.
Personally I like Alto shape among all the cars I mentioned above but, it is really under powered (AC on u feel that instantly) with just 47 BHP. I travel with 100% AC so, it doesn’t cater my requirements properly though I like its shape.
Wagon R has the same engine as Estilo but personally I don’t like Wagon R shape at all, infact I hate it. So, I didn’t go for Wagon R.
Spark is really good vehicle and value for money. Please check my other review on Spark at https://mouthshut.com/review/Maruti_Suzuki_Alto_LXi-148080-1.html I was alomst finalized Spark. But, due to only one reason I’ve changed my mind. After sales service, I may not get any service support if I go out of main city. Road side mechanic might not be able to help much. It doesn’t mean that I’ve doubts on Spark’s realiability. In case, because machines are machines, they may stop functioning at any time due to various reasons like manufacturing defects, weather conditions, low quality fuel…coule be any thihg. In such situation GM might not be there to back up and road side mechs might not have any idea. So, finally I had to drop Spark from my list.
I like Santro’s performance & I like its interiors also but, its approx 25-30k expensive than Zen estilo (I don’t know now…because of year end offers the gap might be even closer) .
So, finally decided Zen Estilo Lxi.
On road price 3.5L, with AC, power windows (front), Power steering, dual tone beige interiors and manual central locking. I like beige interiors, dash boad, pickup and performance of the car though the shape is not my favourite. Boot space is good. Back seat head rests give classy look. Performance and reliabilitywise the car is superb.
The vehicle already covered about 300 km. I was itching to go for long drive. Planned to go to Srisailam, which is 240 KM away from Hyderabad. About 70-80 kms of journey through ghat road. We (my dad, my bro, cousin and me – 4 of us) started in the morning at 5:00 am and found that there is just about 5lts of petrol left in the tank. Luckily found a petrol station soon and got the tank filled for about Rs.1750 and started. Initially drove well within 80 for about an hour. Then, I cant wait pressing the gas pedal and for first time touched 3 digit mark then effortlessly crossed 120 mark as well. Didn’t try to push the new vehicle beyond that as it was cruising in 120s effortlessly. At 8:30 stopped in a small town (I forgot the name) and had breakfast. Then after an hour the ghat road started. Sharp curves and up hill…estilo managed without any hassels. Most of the up hill is done in 3rd and 4th gear. Occassionally when the curve is too sharp and had to really slow down the vehicle, then only I moved it in 2nd. 64bhp is really handy here. Its climbing power is awsome…great. This is way beyond my expectations. Reached srisailam about 11:30. on the way to Srisailam we stopped many places (at Dam, in forest.etc) and taken photographs. We finished Darshan. Then started back to home at 4:30 pm. After an hour of driving I felt extremely sleepy. I made my cousin sit in driving seat and started relaxing next to him. Reached home by 9:30 pm. Total coverage of 490 Kms.
Then another long drive to Nagarjuna Sagar. To and fro about 350 Kms. (including some internal trips in N.Sagar). Started at 12:00 noon and reached back home by 10:00 pm sharp. Crossed all the vehicles moving under 120 kmph while going. while coming back didn’t cross 100 because of night (I don’t like to drive in night) I feel uncomfortoble driving in night and its very dangerous to go beyond 100.
After these 2 long trips the car covered exactly 1249 kms. Time for 1st servicing. Given it for servicing at 12:00 noon and collected at 7:00 pm. I got underbody coating and teflon coating done at servicing center along with 1st servicing. Total cost of 1st servicing was Rs. 7000 (Teflon coating + underbody coating + engine oil + some filters etc). The servicing guys and servicing both are good.
When it comes to car performance and handling, it will touch 120 very easily (didn’t push harder beyond that as the car is new). Cornering in highways at 80 kmph is easy and comfortable, beyond that speed it is not comfortable as the car swings outwards. Till 100 kmph steering behaves normally, at 120 kmph it becomes too light. In idle condition, engine noice hardly noticeable. Up to 80kmph engine noice is not audible only tyres (wheels) rolling on road sound is audible. If you close all the windows even that sound also dramatically reduced. Cabin is silent and sound proofing is good. No rattling sounds what so ever. Above 110 kmph you can hear engine noice like hmmmmmm though its not loud. Wind shield gives very clear view as it is very large. The pillar beside wind shield (I don’t know what to call that) is bit wider so, while taking turnings particularly at ‘U’ turns be cautious. The car can be parked very easily at any busy street in the city as it take very less space and menuverability is too good. Reversing also easy with the help of rear and side view mirrors. Initially 2-3 times I struggled to engage reverse, then got adjusted. At times we may not see a scooter parked right back of the car in rear view mirrors as the car rear door wind shield is on higher side. So, its better to chek for short objects or vehicles parked right behind the car, before reversing. City driving is a pleasure. Engine is peppy and responsive in bumber to bumper traffice. The best part is the AC. AC works really well and makes cabin cool in minutes even in slow inch by inch move city traffic conditions. Most of my journey on highways or in city I use AC 100% and it performed really well. Vehicle ground clearance is also good to handle rain water cut roads, bad roads and desi style ‘SPEED BREAKERS’ which resembles upside down of ‘U’.
I hit many potholes and speed breakers (I could not avoide them in that speed, many times they are not visible at all till I go very close to that) while cruising on highways at speeds of 80-110, the tyres and shocks absorbed all the shock and just gave ‘thud’ noice. Breaks are really good. I had to slow down the car almost to stand still in couple of occassions (speed breakers, potholes and animals) while cruising and breaks really performed well. Getting in and out of the car is very easy. Headroom is more than enough. Boot space is adequate for a small car. If I want more boot space I can fold rear seat completely.
In my observation before 1st servicing, avg 11 kmpl with AC (overall). I think its reasonable with AC, ghat road driving and 120kmph cruising.
