No more ZEN for Zen Lovers

Max · 24th December 2005, 02:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steeroid

M800 will continue selling, no matter what.

wait for few years and you will see their name listed in guineas books of records for selling vintage car model in 2010's!

satyamenon · 24th December 2005, 03:06

No doubt it is time for a change... But I have to admit that the old zen (carbed, not mpfi) is a nice car.. great fun to zip around town...

Early this year, drove down from Delhi to Bangalore (Via Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, 2 days in Goa, Bangy) in a '97 Zen. Three of us, boot was filled to the brim, half the rear seat and floor filled with luggage. The car was a hoot to drive on the highway... loved it in the short ghat stretches too...

Hate the new Zen cos it looks like ****, IMO.

Wonder what's gonna replace the Zen. Actually, does MUL even need to bring in a replacement for the Zen? They have the Alto and WagonR and now even the Swift... Why would a buyer wan't yet another option? Personally, I think its a waste of time bringing in yet another model.

Ok, Ok. I'm gonna stop my incessant ranting now.

msprabhakar · 26th December 2005, 10:21

See this news item: http://dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1003560

It says: "...industry sources said that vendors of MUL have been informed that the production of compact car ‘Zen’ will cease from March next year, and Solio could be a replacement for the Zen..."

adya33 · 26th December 2005, 11:15

MUL phasing out any of their current car?
Its a hoax

seriously as many said at its time Zen was "the thing"
RIP Zen

kpzen · 26th December 2005, 11:48

Its very sad....!!!!!
But I still feel minor tweaks or modding this vehicle can make other manufactures run for their money....
Increasing the wheelbase and freshning the interiors can spark up this zen with new life ....
Handling has always been its forte with that low ground stance....
Can we have ZEN part II.....plssss

Its just my opinion....

Zappo · 26th December 2005, 12:04

I am not very sure the new zen serves any purpose in today's competitive car market. I mean, when it came in it definitely had its pluses. Today it is a totally different market with so many cars to fight with inits segment. For close to 4L or even slightly more why would a person want to buy a car which is so cramped inside and has hardly any luggage carrying space? Technology wise also there are much superior options available at that price range. Uhuh... I believe MUL has made the most practical decision.

amit · 26th December 2005, 20:31

Why can't MUL launch a all new compact car but still call it Zen? The car has tremendous brand value in India and MUL can cash in on that instead of launching some new car and then building it's reputation all over again. Just launch a new compact car thats longer, wider, higher with more wheelbase and better build quality and call it Zen. Why can't or what don't they wanna do that?

Abhay · 27th December 2005, 12:13

I liked the Zen but it really is time to go.
Esteem should go completely too (infact even the 800)
MUL should Introduce couple of newer models and make a facelift to the Baleno.

Vish_Janu · 29th December 2005, 02:07

i suppose the time for zen has indeed come to bid adieu

BuRnT RuBbEr · 29th December 2005, 02:19

old zen is ok still......the "new" zen...i'll call it outdated.....

nitrous · 29th December 2005, 02:58

MUL sold 2519 zens last month. -source Autocar India

Thats too huge a number for Maruti to axe it right now.They'll give it time and since its also eating into Swifts share of the pie,they'll wait till the number of cars sold is around 1000-1500 before stopping production.
New zen aint coming since there is WagonR as well as Swift in that price range for maruti already.

Quote:

Solio could be a replacement for the Zen..."

Solio is the WagonR

Max · 29th December 2005, 03:30

solio do looks like wagonr (i think it is wagonr indeed).

sajo · 29th December 2005, 09:24

Maruti may axe that thing, but no other small car currently being sold here manages to capture the "spirit" of the little thing. Its death is inevitable, even though I absolutely love it. The new shape made it lose some of its Zen-ness. IMHO, it is the best used small car one can buy today, because of its combination of economy,reliability and ofcourse , the peppiness. Maruti shouldnt replace it with any tall boy.

Joz · 29th December 2005, 11:21

Assuming that Maruti does stop production of the Zen, how do you think would this affect the price of second hand zens in the market.

DCEite · 29th December 2005, 13:38

Does Solio come in 1.4 JTD?
If it does, any chance of it coming to India?.. i am just longing for WagonR JTD... if rather than launching the Swift JTD, they launch a wagonR or R+ JTD, i think that would sell much better in India, since they can price it right in the Indica DLE/DLS territory..

View Poll Results: Is this the right decision by MUL ???
No, we still love zen	33	28.95%
Yes, its dated and we need a new car on the road	76	66.67%
Can't say....	5	4.39%
Voters: 114. You may not vote on this poll

24th December 2005, 03:06	#17
satyamenon BHPian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 110 Thanked: 5 Times	No doubt it is time for a change... But I have to admit that the old zen (carbed, not mpfi) is a nice car.. great fun to zip around town... Early this year, drove down from Delhi to Bangalore (Via Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, 2 days in Goa, Bangy) in a '97 Zen. Three of us, boot was filled to the brim, half the rear seat and floor filled with luggage. The car was a hoot to drive on the highway... loved it in the short ghat stretches too... Hate the new Zen cos it looks like ****, IMO. Wonder what's gonna replace the Zen. Actually, does MUL even need to bring in a replacement for the Zen? They have the Alto and WagonR and now even the Swift... Why would a buyer wan't yet another option? Personally, I think its a waste of time bringing in yet another model. Ok, Ok. I'm gonna stop my incessant ranting now.
	() Thanks

26th December 2005, 10:21	#18
msprabhakar BHPian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Mumbai Posts: 266 Thanked: 88 Times	See this news item: http://dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1003560 It says: "...industry sources said that vendors of MUL have been informed that the production of compact car ‘Zen’ will cease from March next year, and Solio could be a replacement for the Zen..."
	() Thanks

26th December 2005, 11:15	#19
adya33 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pune Posts: 1,839 Thanked: 183 Times	MUL phasing out any of their current car? Its a hoax seriously as many said at its time Zen was "the thing" RIP Zen
	() Thanks

26th December 2005, 11:48	#20
kpzen Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Faridabad Posts: 5,610 Thanked: 1,876 Times View My Garage	Its very sad....!!!!! But I still feel minor tweaks or modding this vehicle can make other manufactures run for their money.... Increasing the wheelbase and freshning the interiors can spark up this zen with new life .... Handling has always been its forte with that low ground stance.... Can we have ZEN part II.....plssss Its just my opinion....
	() Thanks

26th December 2005, 12:04	#21
Zappo Team-BHP Support Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 5,922 Thanked: 2,699 Times	I am not very sure the new zen serves any purpose in today's competitive car market. I mean, when it came in it definitely had its pluses. Today it is a totally different market with so many cars to fight with inits segment. For close to 4L or even slightly more why would a person want to buy a car which is so cramped inside and has hardly any luggage carrying space? Technology wise also there are much superior options available at that price range. Uhuh... I believe MUL has made the most practical decision.
	() Thanks

26th December 2005, 20:31	#22
amit Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 3,717 Thanked: 449 Times	Why can't MUL launch a all new compact car but still call it Zen? The car has tremendous brand value in India and MUL can cash in on that instead of launching some new car and then building it's reputation all over again. Just launch a new compact car thats longer, wider, higher with more wheelbase and better build quality and call it Zen. Why can't or what don't they wanna do that?
	() Thanks

27th December 2005, 12:13	#23
Abhay BHPian Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pune Posts: 727 Thanked: 11 Times	I liked the Zen but it really is time to go. Esteem should go completely too (infact even the 800) MUL should Introduce couple of newer models and make a facelift to the Baleno.
	() Thanks

29th December 2005, 02:07	#24
Vish_Janu BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: New Delhi Posts: 250 Thanked: 376 Times	i suppose the time for zen has indeed come to bid adieu
	() Thanks

29th December 2005, 02:19	#25
BuRnT RuBbEr BHPian Join Date: May 2005 Location: DL 1 Posts: 367 Thanked: 13 Times	old zen is ok still......the "new" zen...i'll call it outdated.....
	() Thanks

29th December 2005, 03:30	#27
Max BHPian Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Thane Posts: 538 Thanked: 98 Times View My Garage	solio do looks like wagonr (i think it is wagonr indeed).
	() Thanks

29th December 2005, 09:24	#28
sajo Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pune Posts: 2,625 Thanked: 1,153 Times	Maruti may axe that thing, but no other small car currently being sold here manages to capture the "spirit" of the little thing. Its death is inevitable, even though I absolutely love it. The new shape made it lose some of its Zen-ness. IMHO, it is the best used small car one can buy today, because of its combination of economy,reliability and ofcourse , the peppiness. Maruti shouldnt replace it with any tall boy.
	() Thanks

29th December 2005, 11:21	#29
Joz BHPian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Dubai Posts: 247 Thanked: 2 Times	Assuming that Maruti does stop production of the Zen, how do you think would this affect the price of second hand zens in the market.
	() Thanks

29th December 2005, 13:38	#30
DCEite Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: NCR Posts: 3,418 Thanked: 2,566 Times	Does Solio come in 1.4 JTD? If it does, any chance of it coming to India?.. i am just longing for WagonR JTD... if rather than launching the Swift JTD, they launch a wagonR or R+ JTD, i think that would sell much better in India, since they can price it right in the Indica DLE/DLS territory..
	() Thanks