[mahantad]

Background:

This story starts from 1999, and aims to narrate the ownership experience with my first car.

Acknowledgement:

Member Vigsom's thread 1993 Premier Padmini - Ownership Experience & Flood Restoration as well as my son's constant pestering motivated me to write/narrate a thread.

I would like to thank my son for taking out some time to properly type the thread on Team BHP. I narrated the incidents and made a small draft on MS Word. The remaining parts were completed by him.

Too long, didn't read/ summarized version:

I've noticed people include a TLDR version, so I thought I'd do the same in case anyone finds the thread too long or irrelevant. I had a 1999 Matiz, drove it for more than 3 lakh 25 thousand kilometres and sold it in 2016. This thread mainly covers the issues I had to face with the Matiz post the exit of Daewoo Motors from India.

Why a new car?

I got married in 1997. At that time, I was using a 1986 Bajaj Super scooter for my daily commute. Whenever me and my wife had to travel somewhere or go on trips, we used to borrow my elder brother’s official vehicle, which was an Ambassador MK3. Sometimes, we also rented vehicles like Tata Sumo or Mahindra Armada. When we couldn't get a car, we even used to take the scooter on long trips to our hometowns. If there was more luggage, we managed with buses. This went on for quite some time. But slowly, all this became a bit difficult and uncomfortable—especially during rains or bad weather, it was quite tough without a closed vehicle. That’s when I seriously started thinking that we should have our own car. It felt like the right time.


Shortlisting and decision making:

I was thinking about buying a second hand car - A Zen to be precise. Later, I came to know about a friend's woes with his 2nd hand Maruti 800. That made me change my mind. I decided—if I’m buying a car, let it be a new one. I mentioned this idea to my younger cousins during a casual chit-chat. They got very excited. This was going to be the first brand new car in our family. Till then, all the cars we had were pre-owned. Two of my cousins were very interested in automobiles and regular readers of magazines like Auto india.

I was leaning towards the Zen LX, as it came with all the basic features I needed. But then, the eldest of my younger cousins suggested I consider the Daewoo Matiz. He spoke highly of it and convinced me to at least go see it once. So, I went to the showroom. I went to the showroom, saw the car, liked it.

There, I saw two Matiz cars—one was a base model SS in Mineral Red, and the other was an SD variant in Twinkle Beige. Along with them, there was a green Daewoo Cielo parked as well. All three cars were already booked and were waiting for delivery to their respective owners.

People who bought cars in the '80s and '90s would remember how long the car allotment and delivery process used to be. I was told that if I booked a Matiz SD, I would get delivery only after 7 months. All units were booked. Luckily, the showroom manager was an acquaintance of one of my business contacts. He quietly suggested that if I was willing to pay Rs. 10,000 extra, he could “adjust” the car and deliver it early. I had gone there to buy a car, not to wait for months. So I agreed.

Initially, my plan was to make a full cash payment. But one of my cousins told me to consider taking a small loan to help with income tax deductions. I thought about it and agreed. I called my bank branch manager and informed him. A loan of Rs. 50,000 was processed immediately. One bank staff member even came to the showroom and completed all the paperwork on the spot while we were waiting.

The final on-road price for the SD variant was Rs. 3,10,000. I ended up paying Rs. 3,20,000, including the extra amount. We decided to take delivery the next morning, as the showroom staff wanted to do a proper pre-delivery check, wash, and polish.


Delivery Day:

It was 17th November, 1999. I still remember the quiet excitement of that day. Me and my cousin set out early and reached the Daewoo dealership—Jupiter Motor—located at Latasil. We were expecting to drive the car straight out of the showroom. But the dealership staff had other plans. The car was still at the workshop, not the showroom. No complaints though—the staff had arranged for us to be taken there in one of their road helpline Matiz. In hindsight, it was a clever move—they wanted us to become familiar with the workshop at Maligaon, meet the team, and see the facilities. A smart gesture that showed customer care wasn’t just a checkbox.

The car was ready to be driven. It had 50 kms. on the odometer. Instead of the showroom floor, I took delivery straight from the workshop—something most buyers would never experience. It might not have been glamorous, but I liked that. It felt personal. The cordiality of the staff made it even more enriching.

I didn't drive the car that day as I felt nervous about driving a brand new car. My cousin gladly took the wheel. Our first stop was an accessories shop at Bharalumukh, where we got a set of velvet seat covers installed. The showroom had already taken care of mudflaps and OEM SP-model wheel caps. Audio system was not installed—the Matiz came with a factory-fitted head unit, quite a premium feature back then, especially in a variant which is just above the base. (Trivia: It was the first car in the family with a factory fitted AC unit.)

From there, we headed to the AS 01 DTO at Ulubari for registration.Cars lined up like a swarm of bees. Cousin brother suggested we try the AS 25 DTO at Panjabari, which was also within city limits and had a lighter crowd. To our surprise, mine was the only vehicle to be registered there that day. The staff showed me a few available numbers, and 0612 caught my eye — adding 6, 1 and 2 equals to 9. 9 was my lucky number that year. And that’s how my Matiz got its registration number: AS 25B 0612. Got a pair of embossed number plates made from a nearby shop right after.

Now, here's the part that still makes me chuckle. I had not informed my wife that I was going out to buy the car that very day. She was, understandably, quite surprised when I got back. But not entirely caught off guard. After all, she had overheard enough of my cousin’s and my discussions, and I had often asked her opinion on various models—Matiz, Zen, Uno, and Santro. So when she saw the car in the driveway, she just gave me that look—the one all husbands know—equal parts exasperation and amusement.

Likes:

1. The car was very easy to drive in city traffic because of its diminutive size.
2. It handled excellently at high speeds.
3. The non PS provided accurate feel and feedback.
4. The car was feature loaded for its time and used some high tech gadgetry to extract 52 hp, from the same F8 block which is found in the Maruti stable with below 50 hp power figures.
5. It proved to be utterly reliable.
6. The AC was very powerful, in fact, more powerful than my Grand i10 and chilled the cabin in no time.

Dislikes:

1. The engine felt completely dead with the AC switched on, especially below 50 kmph.
2. Parts like exhaust were prone to rusting.
3. Parts were pricier than Marutis of similar vintage.

[mahantad]

A Sudden Divorce – The Exit of Daewoo from India:

By the turn of the millennium, the Matiz had slowly begun finding its footing in the Indian market. It didn’t take off like a Maruti or Hyundai. But it had something—a quiet charm, a distinct personality. Around 1999, Daewoo added three more variants, and by 2001, they went through a round of variant reshuffling and renaming, if my memory serves me right. They also reduced the prices, thankfully. These moves gave the Matiz second innings.

But just as the brand seemed to be finding some footing in the cutthroat competition, came the shock of 2002—Daewoo Motors India Limited abruptly exited the Indian market. It felt like a sudden divorce, one that neither the customers nor the cars had asked for.

Panic spread almost immediately among many Daewoo owners. People who had bought Matizes, Cielos or Nexias began rushing to sell them off, afraid that resale values would crash and spare parts would vanish into thin air. And frankly, some of those fears were justified.

But me being either a fool or someone wise (I'll leave that for you to decide), I chose to keep the car. By then (April 2002 to be precise), my Matiz had already clocked 1,00,000 kilometres. I hadn’t spent a single rupee on unscheduled repairs. Only routine maintenance—regular oil changes and fluid top-ups. Even the tyres were the stock 145/70 R13 Tubed Bridgestone S322s. The car had proved to be utterly reliable. So while others parted ways with their Daewoos in haste, I held on. Not out of sentimentality alone, but because the car had earned my trust.

One tyre from the 1st set of S322s was lying in our storeroom. A recent pic of it. The tyres were completely bald when I replaced them. Zero punctures.

Back then, I found myself in a bit of a dilemma—should I sell the Matiz or hang on to it? Daewoo had already shut shop in India, and there was a lot of uncertainty in the air. But around the same time, I ended up buying a second-hand 2000 Fiat Sienna from my cousin. The Sienna was a solid, comfortable car, perfect for long highway runs. That left the Matiz to handle the daily duties—mainly taking my wife to and from her college (her earlier workplace).

The usage was minimal. Our driver would take the car out twice a day, covering hardly 5 km in total. I thought that it won’t be too expensive to maintain the Matiz if things proceed like this. The folks at the (ASC) also gave me some reassurance, saying they would continue servicing Daewoo vehicles for the foreseeable future.

Around that time, a good friend of mine mentioned that a Daewoo dealership in Delhi was shutting down and clearing out spare parts at throwaway prices. That caught my attention. With his help (his relative happened to own that dealership) I managed to procure a whole stockpile of essential parts: clutch assemblies, suspension kits, brake pads and shoes, exhaust systems… even some cosmetic bits like ORVMs, door cards and taillamps.

With a supply of hoarded spares and the service centre’s word, my confidence in the car returned. I decided to retain it till I can afford to.

A photo of the Matiz wearing number plates with white fonts on a black background. Circa 2001.

The journey ahead:


After the Sienna joined the garage, I started using it more frequently. The Matiz, on the other hand, became my wife's daily drive. Around 2002 or 2003, it began doing longer trips to Shillong, as my wife was involved in an academic project with a professor from NEHU. Those trips finally gave the Matiz something more than just its routine 5 km college runs—it started stretching its legs a little.

But with the increased usage came the first signs of ageing. Small things, nothing catastrophic. The suspension started to act up. The exhaust pipe and rims had begun rusting. I had those replaced at the ASC without much fuss, though I did notice that the parts were pricier than those for the Marutis of the time. The factory-fitted tyres were bald by then. Frankly, I didn’t know much about tyres back in those days. I just asked the ASC fellows to recommend something that worked well with the Matiz. They took me to a shop near Commerce Point—Purbanchal Tyre Works, and the shop owner recommended I stick with Bridgestone S322s. I took his word and had them fitted. These were also tubed, just like the originals. We kept the older spare tyre as it was never used and had full tread. The car felt young again after that refresh.

By 2005, I had started gaining a bit of knowledge about cars—mostly through conversations, reading, and just plain experience. During a trip to Delhi, I spotted a Matiz with 5-spoke clean silver alloys and Bridgestone Potenza G3s. The sporty tread pattern caught my eye. On chatting with the owner, I was told that the wider 165/60 R13 tyres did not cause any issues with the car. Naive me, without thinking much about the technicalities, ended up buying four Potenza G3s and brought them back with me on the Rajdhani Express to Guwahati.

One of the 165 section Potenza G3s was lying in my backyard. Rubber is surprisingly in good condition, considering its age.

What I hadn’t realized, though, was that the Matiz I saw was an SA variant—it came with power steering. Mine didn’t. So, when I had the tyres installed, I was thrilled initially… until I had to park. The steering had turned into a workout session. On highways, the car was very stable, planted, confident. But in city traffic or tight spots, I began to regret my decision. The unidirectional treads made a fair bit of noise too, and rotation became a headache. I held on to that setup for a while, but in January 2008, I went back to my trusted S322s—this time with the older tubed versions again. By then, the Sienna had been sold off.

In 2009, one of the Matiz’s tyres suffered a nasty sidewall cut, and the rim got bent. That incident prompted me to finally move to tubeless S322s. I got Spark rims and a fresh set of five 155/70 R13 Bridgestone S322 tubeless tyres. That setup was perfect. The handling improved, ride quality felt just right, and maintenance became easier. I didn’t have to worry about punctures or rotation any more. What truly warmed my heart during this time was the support from the ASC guys—they were prompt, courteous, and always eager to help. By then, I had developed a good rapport with them. They weren’t just service guys anymore—they were friends.

In November 2009, the Matiz touched the 2 lakh kilometre mark—just as it completed 10 years with me. But little did I know, another storm was quietly brewing on the maintenance front. That's the story for the next post.

A photo of my then 5 year old son with the nearly 10 year old Matiz.

Parts replaced before 2010:

1. Tyres (3 sets - Bridgestone S322 Tubed, Potenza G3 Tubeless, S322 Tubeless)
2. Dampers and springs (1 full set)
3. Bushes
4. Batteries (Exide ATB - 2 pieces)
5. Rims (2 sets - One set OEM, one set GM manufactured)
6. Exhaust assembly (mid pipe and end can)
7. Parcel tray (wooden, as the OEM one was fragile to hold aftermarket speakers)
8. Clutch assembly (1,93,000 kms.)
9. Timing belt and water pump (at 1,93,000 kms.)

Extra addition:
1. Pioneer KEH P8450 (bought second hand from a friend in 2005)
2. JVC 6×9 speakers (I don't remember the model no.)

Regarding routine maintenance, all oils and fluids were of OEM specifications. Engine oil was Castrol 15w40 mineral oil, brake fluid was Castrol DOT3 and gear oil was Shell 80w90. I'm not considering brake pads, shoes, wiper blades and similar items as they come under routine maintenance. Multiple sets of brake pads and shoes had been replaced in the entire 17 years of ownership.

[mahantad]

Life with the Matiz in the new decade after the ASC shut shop:

The Matiz had been chugging along just like usual, without throwing any tantrums. But by 2010, the automotive landscape had changed dramatically. New models were flooding the market, and the streets were full of fresh designs and fancy features.

After a full decade with the Matiz, I began to feel the itch to try something new. I wasn’t looking for something flashy. I’ve always been an appreciator of conventional, sensible designs. That’s when the Ford Figo caught my eye. Clean lines, solid build, with all the required features—it ticked all the boxes. I even took it for a few test drives. It felt good. My cousin, the same one who had accompanied me when I brought the Matiz home, had already picked up a diesel EXi variant. Spending time with his Figo gave me a proper feel for the car, both on city roads and the highway. I could see why it was getting all the praise it did.

But then again, I was raised in a household where impulsive buying was frowned upon. We were taught to stretch the life of what we owned—to value longevity and reliability over novelty. And honestly, the Matiz hadn’t given me a solid reason to part ways. Add to that the lingering weight of a somewhat heavy home loan, and buying a new car started to feel less like a decision and more like an indulgence I couldn’t justify. So, the idea was shelved. The Figo would have to wait. The Matiz still had a lot of life left in it. And until it died up completely, I saw no reason to replace it. After all, in this world of use and throw, there's a quiet satisfaction in holding on to something that has stood the test of time.

2010 and 2011 passed uneventfully. In 2011, I had an overcoat done on the car, the bumpers repainted at the ASC, replaced the velvet seat covers with art leather ones, and upgraded the bulbs to 130/100W Philips with a Philips relay. The existing high-end head unit was discarded because the servo mechanism had been damaged by one of my nephews. The OEM head unit was reinstalled.

A pic of the interior clicked in 2011, with me behind the wheel. The steering cover was a part of the seat cover set I bought. The AKF4015 head unit was back in its place.

By this time, I had developed a friendship with some of the mechanics at the Daewoo ASC. Nandi, one of the senior mechanics, and his young apprentice Raju had been working on my Matiz since the early 2000s. Over the years, they became my go to mechanics. I could trust them blindly with the car. When the Guwahati ASC finally shut shop in October 2012—inevitable, really, with the trickle of Daewoo customers drying up—Nandi decided to open a modest workshop of his own. Raju worked as a school van driver during school hours and spent the rest of his day helping Nandi in the workshop.

From then on, the Matiz went to their makeshift workshop whenever it needed attention. Sometimes, they came over and worked in my own garage as it was spacious, had a good fan, decent lighting, and a proper shed.

But with time, the parts that once seemed plenty began to vanish like morning mist. My hoarded collection of spares started to dry up slowly. The second clutch assembly went in without much fuss, but we hit a wall when we couldn’t find the proper Daewoo clutch cable. That’s when Nandi had a clever idea to retrofit an Alto F8D cable to fit. That setup served me well until November 2013, when, by some stroke of luck, I managed to source an original Daewoo cable.

The cosmetic bits, too, began to show their age. The door cards cracked and sagged. A quick run to the scrapyard sorted that out. Around the same time, the rubber door beadings started to dry up and crack. Sourcing the originals became a full-blown scavenger hunt, but I got lucky again at an old stockist’s godown.

Then, in early 2014, the inevitable happened. The Matiz’s engine, after clocking 3 lakh kilometres, began to show its age. The signs were all there—loss of power, increased oil consumption, and a tired wheeze. The piston rings had worn out, clouds of white smoke from the exhaust used to irritate other motorists. The engine needed a full reboring job.

I stood at a crossroads. With no loans hanging over my head anymore, the thought of a new car seemed logical. The Figo had started to look a bit dated, but the newly launched Ecosport had caught my eye. I even went for a test drive with a neighbour. We both ended up booking cars. He picked the 1.5 TDCi Trend in Kinetic Blue, and I went for the 1.5 Ti VCT Titanium in Smoke Grey. But fate had other plans. A few unexpected family issues cropped up, and I had to cancel my booking.

So once again, the Matiz stayed on. She wasn’t ready to be retired just yet. And, truth be told, maybe I wasn’t ready either. We’d been through too much together.

The next post will cover the engine rebuild and my experience after the work was completed.

Parts replaced/renewed between 2010 and 2014:

1. Timing belt and water pump (at 2,98,000 kms.)
2. Intake manifold (at 2,60,000 kms.): Now this was a part which I managed to source when the ASC was closing down.
3. Fuel pump (at 2,85,000 kms.): Adulterated fuel was the culprit. My fuel gauge went kaput at the same time.
4. Clutch assembly (at 3,04,000 kms.)
5. Brake discs (around 2,25,000 kms.)
6. Exhaust assembly (with non OE parts at 3,04,000 kms.)
7. Rubber beadings (around 2,50,000 kms.)
8. Tailgate struts (at 3,04,000 kms. and 14 years of usage)
9. Steering rack (at 3,04,000 kms. with a refurbished part)
10. Full suspension overhaul (at 3,02,000 kms., genuine Daewoo parts, except the lower arms which were MGP, from Zen)
11. Taillights
12. Engine and gearbox mounts (at 2,50,000 kms., non OEM, Bravo brand)
13. Fuel injectors (around 3,08,000 kms.; one injector had failed, but I replaced all three injectors with "new" ones sourced from a scrapped Matiz with only 50,000 kms. on the odometer)
14. Front Windshield (twice, in 2011, as the first one was defective and cracked under the sun)
15. Alternator (serviced and refurbished)
16. AC compressor (serviced when I got the fuel injectors replaced)

I'm listing out the parts from my memory. So, I'm sure that I might've missed something. If I happen to remember them at a later stage, I'll request the mods through the report option to add them for me.


Small Quirks, Lasting Memories:

Around the time the fuel pump was replaced, the fuel gauge conked off. Sourcing a new or even a used instrument cluster for the Matiz had become nearly impossible by then. Fortunately, the reserve fuel warning light was working. For the remainder of the car's time with me, I depended solely on that indicator. It served as my guiding light, much like a blind man's walking stick.

The AC system brought its own set of challenges. The Matiz used the older R12 refrigerant, which by 2013 had become increasingly difficult to procure. Prior to that, I had the refrigerant topped up twice without much trouble. However, i managed to find a refrigerator repair shop that still had a stock of R12. While a local car accessories shop had the equipment necessary to refill the gas, they lacked the refrigerant itself. I arranged for the supply, and together, we managed to get the system up and running again. That refill easily lasted for the next three years. Funnily, during the entire 17-year period of ownership, not once did I have to replace the cooling coil. It continued to perform its duty without complaint. The only significant change made to the air-conditioning system was the replacement of the condenser — sourced from a set of spare parts I had prudently stocked back in 2002.

In retrospect, these little improvisations and the occasional challenges only deepened my attachment to the Matiz. It was more than just a vehicle—it became a testament to resourcefulness, resilience, and the joy of making things last.

[mahantad]

Engine Rebuild in late 2014 - early 2015:

By the latter half of 2014, it had become evident that the engine was in need of serious attention. Oil consumption had increased, initially requiring top-ups every 1000 kms., which gradually reduced to every 500. The engine had started to lose power, and a trail of smoke accompanied every acceleration. Still, life had its own priorities. The Matiz was doing double duty—not just as the family car but also standing in for my ageing Bajaj goods carrier that I used for business. It ferried my son to and from school, ran daily errands. It was irreplaceable at that point. With no backup vehicle, I postponed the inevitable. But after months of pushing the engine beyond its comfort zone, I knew I had tortured it enough.

My first instinct was to call Nandi. Unfortunately, I came to know that he had stopped working due to age and health issues. Raju was still around but occupied with his work as a school van driver. He offered to take up the job in his spare time, but told me that he would need plenty of time to get the car back on the road. Reluctantly, I turned to a nearby garage. The owner assured me the car would be road-ready within a month—provided I could arrange all the necessary parts. I had my doubts about the timeline, but I went along. With my business commitments taking up most of my time, parts sourcing was slow. Still, I managed to get my hands on most of what was needed.

Once the engine was opened up, the internals revealed exactly what I had suspected. The pistons were heavily coated in carbon deposits. There was play between the pistons and the cylinder liners. The oil control rings had worn out, allowing oil to slip past and burn in the combustion chamber. The valve seals were hardened and damaged, contributing further to oil loss. The engine was rebored and the head was resurfaced. I had all the piston rings replaced. The oil pump and strainer were changed, along with the head gasket. The crankshaft was inspected and found to be okay. During the rebuild, I also got the connecting rods, rod bearings, PCV valve and throttle body changed. The coolant reservoir, distributor, HT leads and ignition cables were replaced as well.

The final reassembly took some time, but by early 2015, 11th February to be precise, the Matiz was back on the road with a new lease on life. The difference was instantly noticeable. The engine sounded tighter, smoother, and far more willing. Gone were the smoky startups and the frequent top-ups.

The run-in rule was rigorously followed. I used the car completely within the city for the first 1000 kms. and decided to keep the oil change intervals at every 5000 kms. Good ol' Castrol GTX 15W40 mineral oil was used for the run-in period. After that, I switched to Shell HX5 15W40. Battery was changed during the run-in period. My nephew suggested me to try Amaron as he was satisfied with Amaron after using two of their batteries in his father's Alto. I bought an Amaron Flo battery by exchanging the older Exide ATB. Regarding its performance, I won't be able to say much because I used it for only one year.

However, issues cropped up again. The garage hadn’t done a thorough check before handing the car back to me. The radiator, which had been perfectly fine before the rebuild, began leaking just a few days after the run-in period ended. It had taken me 29 days to complete the run-in. Soon after, I noticed that the coolant levels were low, and a pool of green coolant had formed beneath the car. Even today, I can't shake the suspicion that the garage owner may have been involved in some foul play.

Around the same time, Raju dropped by to inspect the car and ensure everything had been done properly. He removed the bumper and took out the radiator, only to find that many of the fins were badly bent. One of the coolant hoses had also developed a small puncture. Through his contacts, he managed to source an original Daewoo radiator along with brand-new hose pipes. It took a few days, but the result was worth the wait. He replaced all the hoses, and with that, everything was finally complete—on 18th March 2015. Coincidentally, it was my son’s birthday. The three of us went out for dinner that evening. The car performed flawlessly. I was happy.

Reason why I didn't get the registration renewed, even after the engine rebuild:

The car's RC had expired in November 2014, having crossed the 15-year mark. I didn’t get it renewed immediately because I knew an engine rebuild was on the horizon, and I was tied up with other commitments. I approached a few brokers for help, but the quotes they gave were unreasonably high. So, I decided to wait until I could find the time to handle it myself. Unfortunately, as things turned out, the renewal never happened. Perhaps it was simply the car’s fate to bow out when it did.

Experience post rebuild:

By April 2016, I had covered around 13,000 km, and the car had returned to its former self. It was running well, and I made several intra- and inter-city trips during this time. In May 2015, the tyres were due for replacement. This time, I opted for five 155/70 R13 JK Ultima NXTs instead of the usual Bridgestone S322s, mainly because I didn’t want to spend much after the hefty expense of the engine rebuild.

A few minor issues cropped up along the way, but nothing that was cause for concern. The speedometer needle developed a slight shake, and the starter motor failed, preventing the car from starting on the first crank. I managed to source a replacement from the scrap market, and the issue was resolved within two days. However, I left the speedo needle as it was. It was doing its job, even with the minor shake. That's why I didn't bother to fix it. Overall, the car was back in top shape and ready to keep going for a while longer. But, tragedy was looming around the corner. That will be narrated in the final post of this memoir.

I don't have a lot of pics of the Matiz to upload. This is one of the few where a part of the car was captured. Just look at the dashboard. Gleaming even after 16 years of abuse. Pic was shot in July, 2015.

[mahantad]

The Last Drive: When Loyalty Meets Its Limit:

The car had been performing flawlessly, until that ill-fated evening of 16th April, 2016. My family and I had been at Sibsagar to attend a relative’s wedding. We started the return journey to Guwahati on 16th April, 2016. The roads were mostly kind. I had been cruising comfortably, doing 120 kmph on the four-lane stretches and 80–90 on the narrower ones. The Matiz was running flawlessly. Somewhere on the way, the radiator fan started acting up, rattles were becoming quite prominent. I stopped at a roadside garage at Jagiroad. The mechanic had a quick look and told me that the fan motor was close to failure. But he also assured me it would last last for sometime and I didn't need to worry, just get the radiator fan replaced whenever I had time.

After that, I slowed down and didn't exceed 70 kmph. I watched the temperature needle like a hawk. The engine held its line. Everything seemed manageable. We passed Ganeshguri with the usual traffic snarls, but nothing serious. It had been raining for a while by then — a slow, soaking rain that turns roads into rivers before anyone realizes what’s happening.

As we entered Zoo Road, the situation changed. The streets were flooded. I couldn’t turn around. There were cars behind me, and no alternate route. Stopping wasn’t an option either. So I did what any driver in that situation would do: I pressed on and hoped for the best. 1.5 kms was the distance of the flooded stretch.

The wheel wells were under water. The car slogged forward. But halfway through the flooded stretch, the radiator fan finally gave up. I saw the temperature needle spike. Then came the dreaded signs — a clattering engine, trails of white smoke from the exhaust. I had pushed too far. Home was just 500 meters away.

It was 10 p.m. We were tired, wet, and in no condition to wait for help. So I made the decision to limp the car home, and figure out what to do in the morning. The Matiz shuddered its way forward, struggling but still moving, like a tired old friend trying to get you home one last time.

That night, I parked it for what would be the final time.

Final Resolution:

Next morning, I got the car inspected by Raju. He identified that the engine had a catastrophic failure. Oil and coolant were mixing. Head gasket was shot. Accepting the inevitable, I decided to sell the car for whatever I could get. Scrap dealers offered paltry sums—some as low as Rs. 1,000. With the need for a new vehicle pressing, I chose to take my time and explore my options thoroughly before making a purchase, instead of directly purchasing without a test drive like earlier. In the meantime, I used my elder brother’s sparingly driven 2005 Alto LX, which had clocked just 7,000 km between 2005 and 2016. Throughout this period, I maintained the Matiz with care (drained the old oil, refilled fresh oil, but didn't start it) and washit on every weekend to keep the spirit alive despite its dormant state. Even after sitting idle for six months, there was no stench in the interior that idle cars get. While scouting for a replacement, I received exchange offers from various dealers: Maruti True Value quoted Rs. 13,000 when I was considering the Swift, Ford offered Rs. 15,000, and Toyota came in at Rs. 9,000. However, it was Hyundai that presented the best offer—initially around Rs. 20,000 from Mukesh Hyundai. I tried checking out the offers at another Hyundai dealer. After some negotiation with the sales manager at Oja Hyundai, I managed to raise the offer to Rs. 30,000, which felt fair. The Grand i10 was a sensible choice for my usage. After nearly six months of deliberation, the Matiz finally bid farewell.

These pictures were taken by my son on 6th October, 2016, just before the Hyundai towing vehicle arrived to take the Matiz away. The dents on the boot weren’t there earlier; they were caused that very day. While pushing the car out of the garage, the Hyundai staff applied pressure directly on the boot instead of the rear glass. Ironically, the owner's manual had a clear warning: never push the car by the boot, as it’s prone to deformation. The correct method, as per the manual, was to push using the glass section. Sadly, that instruction was overlooked in the final moments of its journey.

Looking back, I now realise that selling the car in the early 2010s, if not right after Daewoo exited India might have been the more sensible choice. In hindsight, I did take the harder road. But I have no regrets. That journey gifted me more than just memories; it gave me a wealth of automotive knowledge, a sense of self-reliance and resourcefulness. I was lucky enough to have an after sales experience which supported me even after the company shut shop. I truly loved owning the Matiz. That said, I’m no longer inclined to invest the same level of effort into maintaining a car. The Grand i10 suits me perfectly for this phase of life. It’s a “fill-it, shut-it and-forget-it” type of car. I plan to keep it for as long as it serves me well, but I won’t hesitate to move on if Hyundai stops supporting it. Practicality now guides my choices. But the Matiz will always hold a special place in my heart.

Places I travelled with the Matiz:

1. All the north eastern states, except Nagaland and Mizoram. (from 1999 to 2016)
2. Rohtang Pass, Manali, Shimla (2000)
3. Mumbai-Pune-Goa (2001)
4. West Bengal (2003, 2005)

-×-

[Aditya]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing!

[100Kmphormore]

Mahant, thank you so much for the exhaustive description of your time with the Matiz - you rolled the clock back for me. A family member owned the blue-black shade 2000 model and it was the car I grew up with, as I alluded to in my bike ownership review. The interior and exterior was a travel back in time, and I think it was sold at around 50k km IIRC in 2010 - it did go for a decent amount, having being maintained very well. The engine note, the hydraulic steering, the interior knobs and stalks - all are still fresh in my mind.

[carhead]

Splendid read. Credit to your son too for contributing in the write-up. Dare I say you have a technical (background & hence) bent of mind.

The effort and nurturing has paid off. This car has given you many memories. You actually took me back to reminiscing about my 1st car, a WagonR F10D.

Please share a similar experience of your subsequent cars. I am definite that too would be an enjoyable read.

[saikishor]

Ive read this thread word to word without a single skip. I must say, the Matiz felt like your family member who wouldnt let you down even in the toughest of situations. The last few moments of your Matiz felt like the Matiz was putting its life forward to protect yours.

Amazing thread, although I wish it had more photos in it. Nevertheless, I was so immersed that I had visuals in my mind while I was reading the thread.

Thank you for posting this thread. Kind regards.

[ads295]

What a great thread. Enjoyable read. We had a Daewoo Cielo ourselves and a Matiz in extended family.

As my mechanic says - those were the times the Koreans were hell bent on taking on the Japanese head on, and they made cars that reflected this. Daewoo's cars, the Hyundais of that era (Santro, Accent, Sonata) are all survivors and built to last. That Daewoo actually went to Italdesign for the Matiz speaks volumes about their vision.

Quite sad you had to get rid of the car, but then lack of parts have their limitations. It was very clever of you to buy parts in bulk from the closing dealership! Most people would just run away, but you stood your ground and even invested in the platform. As an aside, the website through which I import parts for my Sonata V6 from Korea keeps some parts for the Matiz too!

And to think the story ended so close to home... That said, the Chevrolet Spark was on sale 2010 onwards IIRC, did you not try to source any parts from there for the Matiz? They were basically the same car...

[mh09ad5578]

Wow, this is an incredible experience, when the car is more than a car—a part of oneself. Thanks for sharing, made me remember my Duster, wasn't the first, wasn't the last, but the only one for which I shed a tear when I let it go.

[petrogeek]

Lovely! Matiz was my first car from my first job!. I got the dark green Power steering variant from Jupiter Motors, Guwahati way back in 1999. I used it mostly for weekend trips to Shillong and those bring back some memories!. Sadly, I moved to New Delhi in 2001 and the car had to be sold off to repay the car loan. I loved the car though it was one of the best performing ones back in the day.

[mahantad]

Originally Posted by 100Kmphormore

Mahant, thank you so much for the exhaustive description of your time with the Matiz - you rolled the clock back for me.

Thank you 100Kmphormore. I honestly wouldn’t have found the motivation to put together even a rough writeup if my son hadn’t kept nudging me to write a review. Glad to know it made you feel nostalgic. By the way, my surname is Mahanta, not Mahant.

Originally Posted by carhead

Splendid read. Credit to your son too for contributing in the write-up. Dare I say you have a technical (background & hence) bent of mind.

The effort and nurturing has paid off. This car has given you many memories. You actually took me back to reminiscing about my 1st car, a WagonR F10D.

Please share a similar experience of your subsequent cars. I am definite that too would be an enjoyable read.

Thanks, brother. This Matiz is the car which gave me a solid learning curve when it came to car maintenance. Back in the day, I learned to drive on old column shift Ambassadors and Padminis, but I barely knew anything about maintaining a car. This ownership experience changed that. I learned a lot of things.

It is mainly the kid who's responsible for the publication of this review. He kept pushing me to write it. He’s already managing the ownership review of my current car on Team-BHP. I’m letting him learn things by dealing with the Grand i10’s maintenance and upkeep by himself, just like I dealt with the Matiz. It’s his learning curve now. Of course, I also poke my nose when he's not able to do something on his own. This is the link to the Grand i10 review: https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/long-...grand-i10.html (The tale of "Dusty" | Long-term ownership report of our 2016 Hyundai Grand i10)

Originally Posted by ads295

What a great thread. Enjoyable read. We had a Daewoo Cielo ourselves and a Matiz in extended family.

As my mechanic says - those were the times the Koreans were hell bent on taking on the Japanese head on, and they made cars that reflected this. Daewoo's cars, the Hyundais of that era (Santro, Accent, Sonata) are all survivors and built to last. That Daewoo actually went to Italdesign for the Matiz speaks volumes about their vision.

Quite sad you had to get rid of the car, but then lack of parts have their limitations. It was very clever of you to buy parts in bulk from the closing dealership! Most people would just run away, but you stood your ground and even invested in the platform. As an aside, the website through which I import parts for my Sonata V6 from Korea keeps some parts for the Matiz too!

And to think the story ended so close to home... That said, the Chevrolet Spark was on sale 2010 onwards IIRC, did you not try to source any parts from there for the Matiz? They were basically the same car...

Indeed, I’ll agree. There was definitely a feel-good factor with cars like the Matiz that was missing in the Marutis of that time. Looking back now, I’d say hoarding parts from the closing dealer was actually a smart move. It helped me sustain the car without having to rely on the open market for a long time.

As for GM supporting the Matiz; initially, there were plenty of hopes given to us Daewoo owners. A new Chevrolet dealership (Radiant Motors) had opened up in the mid 2000s. I went there to enquire whether they would service my car, even though the Daewoo ASC was still operational—just to see if GM’s takeover meant continued support. But I was made to know that service support from GM was a false promise. They only seemed interested in offering decent value for Daewoo cars if you were exchanging them for a new Chevrolet. So, in the end, no real support for existing owners.

Could you please share the website link from where you order parts for your Sonata V6? I haven’t gone through your thread yet, but my son has been all praises about it.

Originally Posted by mh09ad5578

Wow, this is an incredible experience, when the car is more than a car—a part of oneself. Thanks for sharing, made me remember my Duster, wasn't the first, wasn't the last, but the only one for which I shed a tear when I let it go.

Thank you. I just narrated almost all the incidents in chronological order. And yes, the car had practically become my identifier. People used to know I was around just by spotting it. Among my friends and business associates, it was popularly known as the 0612 Matiz, and it was well known in the Chandmari and Fancy Bazar areas of Guwahati (as my business is based in those localities.)

Originally Posted by petrogeek

Lovely! Matiz was my first car from my first job!. I got the dark green Power steering variant from Jupiter Motors, Guwahati way back in 1999. I used it mostly for weekend trips to Shillong and those bring back some memories!. Sadly, I moved to New Delhi in 2001 and the car had to be sold off to repay the car loan. I loved the car though it was one of the best performing ones back in the day.

Thank you petrogeek. It’s great to hear from another Matiz owner. Turns out, our cars were bought from the same dealer—Jupiter Motor—and in the same year, 1999. My Matiz used to make daily trips to Shillong around 2002–2003.

If you don’t mind me asking, in which month did you buy your car? Was it registered in the 01 or 25 DTO? I remember Jupiter Motor used two types of dealership branding stickers on the Daewoo cars. Mine had the less common blue sticker with block fonts, while most others came with the more common red sticker featuring slanted letters.

[TurboKat]

Originally Posted by saikishor

Ive read this thread word to word without a single skip. I must say, the Matiz felt like your family member who wouldnt let you down even in the toughest of situations. The last few moments of your Matiz felt like the Matiz was putting its life forward to protect yours.

Amazing thread, although I wish it had more photos in it. Nevertheless, I was so immersed that I had visuals in my mind while I was reading the thread.

Thank you for posting this thread. Kind regards.

Thanks bro! Glad you found the writeup interesting. I tried my best, within my limits, to amplify whatever my father expressed in his MS Word draft. Indeed, the car was like a family member for us. It’s the very car in which I came home from the hospital after I was born. I also learnt to change tyres, wash, and polish it for the first time with the Matiz.

And yeah, I vividly remember that ill-fated night, even though I didn’t understand the technical details back then. I wish we could’ve kept it, but everything has its limits. Sourcing parts had become increasingly difficult. Plus, skilled mechanics who could work on Matizes were also becoming rare. We had also spent a significant amount on its upkeep in the later years. So, it had to go. If Daewoo had still been around, we surely would’ve retained it.

Regarding more pictures, I’m sure there are some, but these are the only ones I could find for now. There are more in the old physical albums, taken with a Kodak KB10. But my mother kept those albums somewhere, and I haven’t been able to find them yet. Once I do, I’ll definitely upload them. Dad doesn’t want to get too involved with the forum interface, so it’ll be me posting the pics, either through my handle or his, if he asks me to.

Cheers.

[petrogeek]

Originally Posted by mahantad

If you don’t mind me asking, in which month did you buy your car? Was it registered in the 01 or 25 DTO? I remember Jupiter Motor used two types of dealership branding stickers on the Daewoo cars. Mine had the less common blue sticker with block fonts, while most others came with the more common red sticker featuring slanted letters.

I dont remember the month but i know it must have been sometime in April or May. It had a Meghalaya registration since i moved out there for work after being in Guwahati.