1993-2003: A Tribute to the original "Zen"erationext

Utopian · 6th June 2010, 23:52

Thanks Sid for including ZEN in that long list. It is still a pleasure to drive our '99 carb ZEN. A hoot to drive and excellent to maneuver in crowded roads.
Estilo was such an unworthy car to share Zen's name IMO.

cuttingcrew · 7th June 2010, 16:14

My first car (2000 model) and I still love it. Though I seldom drive it as it is with my parents, but when I visit them its all mine.

I think its the last car Maruti made which looks good (please dont spoil zen's name with the estilo badge)

Sahil · 7th June 2010, 16:42

I still remember the first zen we bought back in 93-94, I was barely 8 then.
It was navy blue in color, my father had chaps come down from lamington road with a spread of accessories. We put a silver running strip on the door which matched the car perfectly. A great pioneer HU was installed that last for a decade ! Also had a car freshner put for the first and last time ever, it was the only good air freshner I had ever come across.

I loved the engines grunt and feeling of turbo surge when you put the AC off

Great gearbox too !

rjalihal · 10th June 2010, 01:49

A tribute to my car!! Thanks Sid. I currently own a 2002 model California Gold Zen Automatic and love her. She has flaws but I don't care. She has never let me down. And damn, she is super quiet. Zero Engine Noise - That's where the name comes from.

shantanumishra · 10th June 2010, 09:20

Great Writeup Sid, as always. Although I have never owned a Zen but driven quite a few and the feel in its segment is similar to an OHC up there. the free revving engine which is highly mod friendly loved being high-revved, perhaps the ppower to weight ratio was its biggest advantage.

The only drawback I feel in Zen was cramped rear bench and low seating stance which made getting in and out of the car difficult.

BTW, MUL was the also perhaps the first company in India to offer one of its kind Zen for persons with disablities. (also M800).

No doubt, the Zen still commands a premium resale.

sushrutha · 10th June 2010, 12:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by musicmanaman

Had a Zen 99 VXI, very rare for a 99 to have a PS, no idea wheather it came from the factory or the the previous owner installed the same, bought the same from a dealer..

Quote:

Originally Posted by sureshkishore

@musicmanaman: Zen was launched with EPS in 1999. Your car should have been a VXI (other than EPS it had Defogger +other VX model Features).

99 Zen was still Carburetted one. 2000 & above were MPFI ones.
If it's a 99 Zen then it should be VX instead of VXI( i - MPFI with power steering)
99 Zen VX came with power steering.
I previously owned a 99 VX ZEN.

musicmanaman · 10th June 2010, 12:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by sushrutha

99 Zen was still Carburetted one. 2000 & above were MPFI ones.
If it's a 99 Zen then it should be VX instead of VXI( i - MPFI with power steering)
99 Zen VX came with power steering.
I previously owned a 99 VX ZEN.

Mine was cabburatted by with PS and defogger.

sushrutha · 10th June 2010, 13:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by musicmanaman

Mine was cabburatted by with PS and defogger.

Quote:

Originally Posted by musicmanaman

Had a Zen 99 VXI.

Then it should have been VX for a 99 Zen, instead of VXI.
Attached a pic of my 99 Zen VX

1993-2003: A Tribute to the original "Zen"erationext-sush105.jpg

ch.nathan · 18th November 2010, 16:54

What are the technical specifications (read HP) of Carb version and MPFI?
Is a 1999 May Zen LX Carb version?

What's the two-door version of Zen called?

frankmehta · 18th November 2010, 17:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by rajushank84

Ah, the Zen. My dad got one of the first MH410 Zens. The first version used to come with a three-spoke steering wheel which had a bulky middle. I used to love that steering wheel and was very sad when they changed it to a two-spoke wheel.

I was disappointed too, when they changed to the 2 spoke 'crap'
Found a solution to it. Went to the auto spares market and picked this one up! It's a BEAUTY maneuvering the car in this one!

speedsatya · 18th November 2010, 19:23

2001 mpfi zen,1.77L kms ,still does 160 kph on the speedo ,still gives 16-17 kpl on the highway ..I am glad I bought the car back (For those who dont know ,I had sold my car in 2008 when I was leaving for the UK.I bought it back in 2010 when I returned to India

)

Here is a pic of the car taken last week in Mangalore

v.anand · 18th November 2010, 19:34

Isn't that steering the same in Esteem frankmehta?

Every time I see this thread, it makes me miss my 98 Golden Beige recently sold. It was the first Zen in that colour in Bangalore as per the dealer.

Cars come, cars go, only few will remain to Command respect. Zen is the product of 90's which will eventually be THE classic in future of its era.

frankmehta · 18th November 2010, 19:36

Nope, this is the original Zen steering wheel, MH410 times

prince_pervez · 18th November 2010, 19:40

I am also a proud owner of the zen MPFi 2004 model. I always wanted a zen when I saw it in school in 1996-97 and I got one for myself later on. It is a very good car to have drive and own. It also featured on as the enthusiasts car list in GTOs thread of enthusisats cars under 6L.

jigbarai · 18th November 2010, 21:03

Memories.
Few cars command love and respect both. This one does.

Long live the MH410 soul. Miss you ..

6th June 2010, 23:52	#31
Utopian BHPian Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: New Delhi Posts: 603 Thanked: 123 Times	Thanks Sid for including ZEN in that long list. It is still a pleasure to drive our '99 carb ZEN. A hoot to drive and excellent to maneuver in crowded roads. Estilo was such an unworthy car to share Zen's name IMO.
	() Thanks

7th June 2010, 16:14	#32
cuttingcrew BHPian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 98 Thanked: Once	My first car (2000 model) and I still love it. Though I seldom drive it as it is with my parents, but when I visit them its all mine. I think its the last car Maruti made which looks good (please dont spoil zen's name with the estilo badge)
	() Thanks

7th June 2010, 16:42	#33
Sahil Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 6,292 Thanked: 7,607 Times	I still remember the first zen we bought back in 93-94, I was barely 8 then. It was navy blue in color, my father had chaps come down from lamington road with a spread of accessories. We put a silver running strip on the door which matched the car perfectly. A great pioneer HU was installed that last for a decade ! Also had a car freshner put for the first and last time ever, it was the only good air freshner I had ever come across. I loved the engines grunt and feeling of turbo surge when you put the AC off Great gearbox too ! Last edited by Sahil : 7th June 2010 at 16:44.
	() Thanks

10th June 2010, 01:49	#34
rjalihal BHPian Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 713 Thanked: 100 Times	A tribute to my car!! Thanks Sid. I currently own a 2002 model California Gold Zen Automatic and love her. She has flaws but I don't care. She has never let me down. And damn, she is super quiet. Zero Engine Noise - That's where the name comes from.
	() Thanks

10th June 2010, 09:20	#35
shantanumishra BHPian Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: BLR/LKO Posts: 325 Thanked: 144 Times	Great Writeup Sid, as always. Although I have never owned a Zen but driven quite a few and the feel in its segment is similar to an OHC up there. the free revving engine which is highly mod friendly loved being high-revved, perhaps the ppower to weight ratio was its biggest advantage. The only drawback I feel in Zen was cramped rear bench and low seating stance which made getting in and out of the car difficult. BTW, MUL was the also perhaps the first company in India to offer one of its kind Zen for persons with disablities. (also M800). No doubt, the Zen still commands a premium resale.
	() Thanks

18th November 2010, 16:54	#39
ch.nathan BHPian Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bangalore Posts: 516 Thanked: 70 Times	What are the technical specifications (read HP) of Carb version and MPFI? Is a 1999 May Zen LX Carb version? What's the two-door version of Zen called?
	() Thanks

18th November 2010, 19:23	#41
speedsatya Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: bangalore/manga Posts: 3,169 Thanked: 738 Times View My Garage	2001 mpfi zen,1.77L kms ,still does 160 kph on the speedo ,still gives 16-17 kpl on the highway ..I am glad I bought the car back (For those who dont know ,I had sold my car in 2008 when I was leaving for the UK.I bought it back in 2010 when I returned to India ) Here is a pic of the car taken last week in Mangalore Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

18th November 2010, 19:34	#42
v.anand BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 329 Thanked: 44 Times	Isn't that steering the same in Esteem frankmehta? Every time I see this thread, it makes me miss my 98 Golden Beige recently sold. It was the first Zen in that colour in Bangalore as per the dealer. Cars come, cars go, only few will remain to Command respect. Zen is the product of 90's which will eventually be THE classic in future of its era.
	() Thanks

18th November 2010, 19:36	#43
frankmehta Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 4,000 Thanked: 3,577 Times View My Garage	Nope, this is the original Zen steering wheel, MH410 times
	() Thanks

18th November 2010, 19:40	#44
prince_pervez Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Redwood shores, CA, USA Posts: 4,210 Thanked: 51 Times View My Garage	I am also a proud owner of the zen MPFi 2004 model. I always wanted a zen when I saw it in school in 1996-97 and I got one for myself later on. It is a very good car to have drive and own. It also featured on as the enthusiasts car list in GTOs thread of enthusisats cars under 6L.
	() Thanks

18th November 2010, 21:03	#45
jigbarai BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Mumbai Posts: 554 Thanked: 29 Times	Memories. Few cars command love and respect both. This one does. Long live the MH410 soul. Miss you ..
	() Thanks