Omni & M800 - A Comparative Study

mithun · 29th April 2006, 06:22

Most of us know that M800 & Omni are one of the longest surviving models (Ambi not forgotten) in India.

More than 20 years have passed by after their introduction and still they are one of the top sellers in India mainly because of their VFM.

I've seen M800 & Omni fans (especially in the rural areas) fighting in the name of their vehicles although M800 & Omni are siblings.

After putting all the egos into the backburner; I've decided to do a meek comparison here....Please correct my follies(if any) with your inputs...And I'm not going into any intricate details of both the vehicles.

Engine

Both of them share almost the same engine. Although the Omni's engine is having more torque to take care of the heavy loads. And M800's engine is tweaked a little to accomodate for the Omni's bonnet-less design.

Driving & Riding Comfort

M800 is more funnier to drive than Omni but Omni is having the best road view among all the vehicles in India.

I've felt that M800 is more comfortable in the front seats than the Omni. But in the rear (except for the third seat of Omni E) both of them are having the same level of comfort. And Omni is having plenty of legroom when compared to the cramped interiors of M800.

Omni is having the lowest turning radius in India and Omni fares better than M800 in bad terrains. But M800 is good for highways.

Interiors

The less said the better, that's the case of interiors for almost all the Maruti vehicles. The same holds true for Omni & M800.

Safety

A lot has been said about Omni's safety issues, so that I don't feel the need for more. The brakes are pathetic in both the vehicles although the newer Omni is having discs.

Running Costs

M800 is having a consistent mileage of 15-17 KMPL. The FE of Omni is about 2 KMS less than the M800. The service & spares of both are damn cheap.

Utility Value

In this case Omni surely rules the roost. The bootspace is almost nil in the case of M800. And it's the ultimate vehicle for large families who can't afford Scorpios/Innovas.

Resale Value

Both of them are having almost the same resale value. But from the info that I've got from the TrueValue centers is that Omni sells quicker than a M800 !!!

In a nutshell, both the vehicle have their own pros & cons and nothing in this world is perfect...

GTO · 29th April 2006, 10:20

Boy, these two have been around forever. Maruti has successfully positioned the Alto as the 800s replacment, but not so with the Versa and the Omni for families.

Autocar pointed out that the Zen is only the second time they have stopped production of a model (after the old model 800). Shockingly, this is so true!!

GTO

DCEite · 29th April 2006, 10:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTO

Autocar pointed out that the Zen is only the second time they have stopped production of a model (after the old model 800). Shockingly, this is so true!!

What about the old model Omni (having that big bulky roof).. i think even that has been discontinued...

GTO · 29th April 2006, 10:57

Yes, but that is merely a derivative of the same car. Not an entirely different car.

GTO

salilpawar1 · 29th April 2006, 11:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTO

Autocar pointed out that the Zen is only the second time they have stopped production of a model (after the old model 800). Shockingly, this is so true!!

GTO

what about the baleno altura, maruti's only station wagon, whose production was stopped a looong while ago. pity that u forgot such a good car which died because of its expensive price tag and it looked miles better than the baleno saloon.

GTO · 29th April 2006, 11:28

Quote:

what about the baleno altura, maruti's only station wagon,

Baleno Altura = Baleno derivative. Just like the Honda Accord which was available overseas in 2 door, 4 door and wagon configuration. Not an entirely different car.

GTO

adya33 · 29th April 2006, 12:31

Quote:

M800 is more funnier to drive than Omni but Omni is having the best road view among all the vehicles in India.

Disagree with it. In traffic Omni is more fun to drive. Though it is longer than 800 the very fact that you can get very accurate judgment makes Omni more fun to drive.

DCEite · 29th April 2006, 12:43

I think he meant its more "Funny" to drive. Not more "Fun" to drive.

venkatrx · 29th April 2006, 12:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by dceite

I think he meant its more "Funny" to drive. Not more "Fun" to drive.

Hmmmm......M800 was not fun to drive, but it was great to drive !!

If just one person is seated M800 has great power-to-weight ratio and that makes it GREAT-to-Drive in the city......of course once you cross 60 kmph its just OK.....but for city drive where the speed range is mostly 0 to 40 kmph, i loved my M800

Technocrat · 29th April 2006, 12:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTO

Baleno Altura = Baleno derivative. Just like the Honda Accord which was available overseas in 2 door, 4 door and wagon configuration. Not an entirely different car.

GTO

Err GTO that way even the M800 was not a completly new car, isnt it ??. And if it was a new car then what about the Maruti 1000 even that was stopped.

@dceite: The extended top model was reintroduced a few years back I know becaue one of my cousins had it. But later it was stopped again.

GTO · 29th April 2006, 13:33

Quote:

Err GTO that way even the M800 was not a completly new car, isnt it ??. And if it was a new car then what about the Maruti 1000 even that was stopped.

What context? We are talking about discontinued cars, and the 800 is still selling. Either ways, the 1986 800 was an entirely new car.

GTO

Technocrat · 29th April 2006, 13:41

Yes, You quoted ACI saying that Zen is the only other car which has been discontinued after the Original Japanese 800.

Some how I feel Zen & Maruti 1000 are the only cars that have been discontiued becaue the 800 is still going on in various avtaars

Also what about Gypsy\Gypsy king is it still available only for Army ?

Mpower · 29th April 2006, 21:53

85 and 88 maruti800s are completely different body,chassis,interior etc except the engine which was v.similar.

Maruti 1000 lives on with a new 1.3 engine.

sujaylahiri · 30th April 2006, 01:08

The Omni is a rear wheel drive for Pete's sake. Driftinggggggg.

Maruti 800 - Front wheel drive.

Technocrat · 30th April 2006, 18:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mpower

85 and 88 maruti800s are completely different body,chassis,interior etc except the engine which was v.similar.

Maruti 1000 lives on with a new 1.3 engine.

1st line I agree. 2nd line I am speechless. if thast teh case then no car died

29th April 2006, 06:22	#1
mithun BANNED Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Cochin Posts: 2,195 Thanked: 268 Times	Omni & M800 - A Comparative Study Most of us know that M800 & Omni are one of the longest surviving models (Ambi not forgotten) in India. More than 20 years have passed by after their introduction and still they are one of the top sellers in India mainly because of their VFM. I've seen M800 & Omni fans (especially in the rural areas) fighting in the name of their vehicles although M800 & Omni are siblings. After putting all the egos into the backburner; I've decided to do a meek comparison here....Please correct my follies(if any) with your inputs...And I'm not going into any intricate details of both the vehicles. Engine Both of them share almost the same engine. Although the Omni's engine is having more torque to take care of the heavy loads. And M800's engine is tweaked a little to accomodate for the Omni's bonnet-less design. Driving & Riding Comfort M800 is more funnier to drive than Omni but Omni is having the best road view among all the vehicles in India. I've felt that M800 is more comfortable in the front seats than the Omni. But in the rear (except for the third seat of Omni E) both of them are having the same level of comfort. And Omni is having plenty of legroom when compared to the cramped interiors of M800. Omni is having the lowest turning radius in India and Omni fares better than M800 in bad terrains. But M800 is good for highways. Interiors The less said the better, that's the case of interiors for almost all the Maruti vehicles. The same holds true for Omni & M800. Safety A lot has been said about Omni's safety issues, so that I don't feel the need for more. The brakes are pathetic in both the vehicles although the newer Omni is having discs. Running Costs M800 is having a consistent mileage of 15-17 KMPL. The FE of Omni is about 2 KMS less than the M800. The service & spares of both are damn cheap. Utility Value In this case Omni surely rules the roost. The bootspace is almost nil in the case of M800. And it's the ultimate vehicle for large families who can't afford Scorpios/Innovas. Resale Value Both of them are having almost the same resale value. But from the info that I've got from the TrueValue centers is that Omni sells quicker than a M800 !!! In a nutshell, both the vehicle have their own pros & cons and nothing in this world is perfect...
	() Thanks

29th April 2006, 10:20	#2
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 71,832 Thanked: 322,805 Times View My Garage	Boy, these two have been around forever. Maruti has successfully positioned the Alto as the 800s replacment, but not so with the Versa and the Omni for families. Autocar pointed out that the Zen is only the second time they have stopped production of a model (after the old model 800). Shockingly, this is so true!! GTO
	() Thanks

29th April 2006, 10:57	#4
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 71,832 Thanked: 322,805 Times View My Garage	Yes, but that is merely a derivative of the same car. Not an entirely different car. GTO
	() Thanks

29th April 2006, 12:43	#8
DCEite Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: NCR Posts: 3,591 Thanked: 3,499 Times	I think he meant its more "Funny" to drive. Not more "Fun" to drive.
	() Thanks

29th April 2006, 13:41	#12
Technocrat Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: GTA Posts: 14,765 Thanked: 2,705 Times	Yes, You quoted ACI saying that Zen is the only other car which has been discontinued after the Original Japanese 800. Some how I feel Zen & Maruti 1000 are the only cars that have been discontiued becaue the 800 is still going on in various avtaars Also what about Gypsy\Gypsy king is it still available only for Army ?
	() Thanks

29th April 2006, 21:53	#13
Mpower Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 10,397 Thanked: 1,735 Times View My Garage	85 and 88 maruti800s are completely different body,chassis,interior etc except the engine which was v.similar. Maruti 1000 lives on with a new 1.3 engine.
	() Thanks

30th April 2006, 01:08	#14
sujaylahiri BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North America Posts: 960 Thanked: 6 Times View My Garage	The Omni is a rear wheel drive for Pete's sake. Driftinggggggg. Maruti 800 - Front wheel drive.
	() Thanks