[Maverick79]

My 100th post is dedicated to my ‘First love’. A pre worshiped ‘98 M800’


Well, Its time for a blog on the ownership experience of my ‘First Love’ a 98 M800 as it now accompanied by a bigger brother, a new Dew white Manza QJT Aura ABS.

I am willing to retain my first love as the emotional quotient has gone to a higher extent with this dame.


Bought from my Uncle who used it as a second car, since its purchase in ’98. After his retirement, it became an additional cost for him to maintain along with the already fuel guzzling Cielo. (His cielo too is replaced by a santro Xing now).
This came as an opportunity to me as I was just thinking of graduating from my CBZ to a Four Wheeler in the Oct of 2006.
Though I was (and am still) desperate to go Off roading and was looking at a pre worshipped MM540 or a Classic, this offer looked very fabulous to me to begin with. I was just about move to Alwar, Rajasthan from Mumbai after a years’ stint in this City of Dreams and on the very last day, I got this offer from my him.

Now coming to the condition of the car, I used to drive it occasionally before the buy and the ride quality was really good compared to other M800s I drove. Thanks to him as he used it as a second car after Cielo.
The ODO was 48838 when the deal was struck. He refurbished all the suspensions, and other small nick knacks which burned his pocket off Rs. 10,000/- , (when the Odo was around 45k) which further urged him to sell it off. Other than that, there was no major damage neither to the body from all the angles nor to the under body and it was clean too. Only the tires had a lesser life left. Another 5 -10k kms due to the un even wear of the front and rear ones.
It was fitted with a Delhi made Cassette player with FM along with a company fitted A/C and had 4 Bridgestone radials with the spare tire, an OE Ceat non radial.

Though, it was my first official long drive (Before had a unofficial one with my friends to Shirdi in the same car), I didn’t have the opportunity to feel it completely as my uncle insisted I take a driver along with me till I reach Alwar.
The drive was from Pune to Alwar (Alwar is 150 kms from Jaipur, off 70kms, right towards Mathura from the Jaipur Delhi Highway) with max stretch on the GQ from Mumbai to Jaipur via Ahmedabad, Jodhpur, etc and the road was really fantastic.



So, I started with my minimum belongings, two bags of clothes, 1 bedding and 3 big bags of books, all neatly tucked away in the back seats and dickey.
It was already night and my first filling was done. Petrol in Mumbai was Rs. 45 at that time I guess (Oct 29th 2005, the day after the deal was stuck and the vehicle was delivered at Mumbai along with a chauffeur who is my uncle’s long time faithful driver).

I was awake till 2 am. Had to sleep in the half rear seat after the baggage was shifted to the front seat. Woke up at 8.30 am the next morning and found Baroda approaching. Had a small break at a reliance petrol pump for morning calls and then decided to take the wheel. The driver, a very experienced guy who even runs his own driving school was taken a back, as he never saw me driving before. With some reluctance, he some how accepted.
Now, the time was again to fill the tank and he too was surprised to see the mileage, it returned a wonderful 22.07 kmpl calculated by tank full to tank full method.
This was music to my ears. So finally, started my first car, officially, and was feeling and loving each and every movement with it.

The pulling first gear, the not so friendly 2nd shift and the long range of 3rd gear and finally the 4th one. Just loved the speed of 75 to 80 kmph for a stretch of 80kms on the Baroda – Ahmedabad E way. After gaining confidence, I felt it’s the time for some heavy left foot exercise. So touched 100kmph few times and he started reminding me about the not so good tires. Hence, returned to the best speed of 80kmph.
It was then, he offered me a new deal, a 10 k more on the price I paid to my Uncle and he will take it back from Ahmedabad.
I refused straight away. I didn’t know why, but I just did it plainly and there was no talk again on this.
Reached Jaipur in the night at 9.45 pm. As it was hardly any distance left to reach Alwar ( 150 kms away from there), I thought of saying goodbye to him as he too felt confident of my driving. Hence bid him farewell in Jaipur by placing him in a nice hotel and a ticket booked early morning to Ahmedabad and then to Pune.
So, it was all my self and my ‘First Love’ enjoying the night, cruising till we entered the Sariska Reserve and then to Alwar by 2.30 am.
Was to join my new office next day at 8.00 am. Made it by 10.30 am some how.

Pls find below the details of the first service in my ownership.

• Plug timing hole
• Cap. Floor drain
• Clip
• MGO
• Filter Air Cleaner
• Fitler Assy Oil
• Pad Brake
• Washer fluid concentrate
• Point Lucas
• Condensor Lucas
• 80W-90 Gear Oil API GLr
• Lucas Point Screw
• IRVM
• Accl Assy Cable
• Paid service

Total cost landed to 1631/- including taxes. Had a wonderful experience with the MASS guy in Alwar. Mr. Vinod Agarwal of Vertex Auto P Ltd.


Now coming to the feeling of owning a car, I was able to show my parents Haridwar and Rishikesh and also Mathura, which they enjoyed very well. Had a wonderful time with my Dad as my guide to travel all along the trip. One thing for sure, this car made us feel like a family after many years. There by bonding in our family.





Later did a stint in Sariska. There of our friends went some 45kms into the Sariska reserve. Though it’s mandatory now, for using only the SUV’s, they were a bit lenient earlier. Had a wonderful time off roading with this Micro SUV.


Didn’t find any tiger though.


Then came the turn of a wonderful Long journey – Back to Pune from Alwar. Go a new offer in Pune again.

The Total distance ~1500Kms.
Route Planned – Alwar – Jaipur – Udaipur – Ahmedabad – Surat - Mumbai – Pune.

http://maps.mapmyindia.com/?t=2&from=alwar&to=pune


This is the best Long drive I have ever enjoyed.
Started at Alwar around 7.30 am after neatly tucking my Luggage in the back seat and Dickey. Filled the Fuel from an HP pump.
Checked all the Oil levels, Air Pressure and A/C Vents cleaned.
Had a wonderful and pleasant drive till Jaipur. Took Breakfast and bought some biscuits and water bottles.
Even after a year, the roads just were the same, minimum traffic. I hardly remember any speed breakers.
Reached Udaipur by 6.00pm. Thought of taking a small city vist. But, took a long time in finding a good night stay. Found one Hotel Narayan, just a half km off the main road.
Charged me Rs.300 per night stay. The accommodation was just meeting the requirements. Had a chat with him regarding the parking of the vehicle inside the premises while having dinner.
Next day woke up again at 5.30 am and got ready with the vehicle by 6.30am. Found an IOCL bunk and filled it. When calculated the F.E. it turned out to be. 21.6 kmpl. Tank full to tank full method. (Distance = 565kms, No. of liters filled in Udaipur – 26.4litres = 572/26.4 = 21.6kmpl)
Was driving at a constant speed of 80kmph. Didn’t cross it even once. Started A.C only at 3.30 pm in the afternoon when I was 100 kms from Udaipur.
So with 20% A/C, I got a 21.6 kmpl from my First Love.
Started for Ahmedabad and bypassed it to reach Vadodara via e-way. Here I did 100kmph on a good stretch. When it started gasping for breath, I slowed down immediately and was back to 60 and 70 kmph and completed the e-way.



A collapsible false screen for escaping from the scorching sun.



Later reached Mumbai in the late night as good speeds were not available from Surat till Mumbai due to road widening. Already, all my friends were waiting at the Powai Hirnandani Pizza hut for a small welcome party and get together sort.

Started for Pune the next morning. Again had a pleasant drive in the e-way after a year’s gap.
Total toll expenses were around 650 bucks from Alwar till Pune.
Distance covered was 1508 kms.
Driving time was 12 + 12 + 4 = 28 hrs. Didn’t cross 80 kmph except once on the Ahmedabad – Vadodara e-way.

The F.E figures turned out to be 22.06 kmpl.




Later did few more long drives like as below,

• Pune – Baramati – Phaltan - Pune.
• Lonavala trip
• Matheran trip
• Mahabaleshwar trip
• Pune - Hyderabad – Tirupati – Hyderabad – Pune.
• Pune – Bhadrachalam – Pune
• Pune - Hyderabad
• Hyderabad – Vijayawada – Hyderabad – Pune.
• Pune – Kolhapur – Baramati – Pune.
• Ahmedabad – Somnath – Ahmedabad.
• Ahmedabad – Mount Abu – Ahmedabad.
• Pune – Shirdi – Pune – 7 times till now.

Only time it let me down was when I was going on a Shirdi trip with my friends, it suddenly stopped due to the pointer. I burned off as it was not checked in the regular routine service check up I guess.
Called the maruti help line and got the assistance in 5 hrs.

The other time, it stalled was due to the burn off of the brush of the alternator. Luckily stopped just 100 feet away from the mechanic who took two hrs to remove and correct it.




Went to my Engineering College along with family.

The total cost of ownership in terms of service is tabulated below.

Type of service
Date
Cost
Remarks
Regular Service
26-01-07

1631

Alwar MASS
New Battery
20-09-07

3200

Alwar MASS
Dent removal hit by Blue line in Delhi
13-10-07

2600

Alwar MASS
Rear combination lamps broken while friend was learning
2-11-07

970

Alwar MASS
Clutch plate change + reg. service
23-11-07

2400

Alwar MASS
Front bearings changed
28-12-07

1450

Back to Pune
Regular Service
05-03-08

5922

Looted me. Sai Service, Pune
Regular service
15-07-08

1067

Wonder Cars, Pune
Correcting the Miss use at Hyd
25-04-09

5000

MS Auto in Hyderabad
Regular service at W.C pune
25-08-09

1447

Wonder Cars, Pune
Running repairs after a long drive
05-10-09

573

Wonder Cars, Pune
Regular service before Ahmedabad trip
18-11-09

2540

Wonder Cars, Pune
Servicing in Ahmedabad.
04-02-10

6876

Looted me, Kiran Auto, Ahmedabad
Reg.Servicing
10-08-10

2400

Wonder Cars, Pune
Drive Shaft change
11-09-10

3268

Wonder Cars, Pune
Battery Change
11-10-10

3600

Wonder Cars, Pune
Suspension Overhaul
29-10-10

7198

Wonder Cars , Pune
Reg.Servicing
04-02-11

3123

Wonder Cars, Pune

Total 55265.

It never ever let me down when ever there was emergency from my office or for my personal reasons. Hence, not able to sell this as I am not sure the other guy taking care of my First Love as I did.



The total owner ship cost is mentioned in the excel sheet attached.

98 M800 - Ownership AnalysisTotal Ownership Cost till Date336836Total Ownership Cost/ Year76554Cost Price on 29th Oct 200665000Total No.of Years4Mileage Run66000Percentage of Total CostMilage per Litre. Avg19Cost per litre55Total Fuel Cost19192156.98%Fuel Cost Per Year43618Fuel Cost per Month3635Insurance20062500200720002008180020091800 20101800Total Insurance Cost99002.94%Maintenance & ServiceType of serviceDateCostRemarksRegular Service26-01-071631New Battery20-09-073200Dent removal hit by Blue line in Delhi13-10-072600Rear combi lamps broken while friend was learning 2-11-07970Clutch plate change + reg. service23-11-072400Front bearings changed28-12-071450Regular Service at Sai Service,Pune05-03-085922Looted meRegular service15-07-081067Correcting the Miss use at Hyd25-04-095000Regular service at W.C pune 25-08-091447Running repairs after a long drive05-10-09573Regular service before ahmd trip18-11-092540Servicing in Ahmd.04-02-106876Looted meReg.Servicing10-08-102400Drive Shaft change11-09-103268Battery Change11-10-103600Suspension Overhaul29-10-107198Reg.Servicing04-02-113123Total Maintenance Cost5526516.41%Maintenance / year12560Tyres - 2 nos JK in 2007 at 51k KMS28004 Nos Bridge stone at 71k KMS6700Tyre Maintenance95002.82%Accessories - Central Locking3000Sun Film850Stereo Head Unit1400Total Accessories52501.56%

[Maverick79]

Pls find the attachement of the excel sheet.

[prajwalkashyap]

Interesting read Maverick. I picked up a used m800 last year at 38K kms and its now at 46K kms and I am loving every moment.

Long Term ownership reports don't do justice without photographs of your First Love. So bring them on.....

Cheers!

Prajwal

[samarth.bhatia]

Hi Maverick,

The M800 is pure joy. Whether it how well it is on the move, or how much it costs to move it, it is truly awesome.
I picked up mine when it was 11.7k kms young. Its turned about 43.4k km now and runs absolutely fine.
I have done BLR-MUM (1004 kms, 14 hrs) and there were long sections covered at a constant 110 kmph.
And that's impressive, the amount of long distances you've covered.

Do please post some pics.
I say no need to ever part with your M800. It will surely giving you loads more joy.

Cheers and drive safe.
Sam

[dot]

Very nice review. Amazed to see the details that you have maintained. Is the 98 M800 the prefacelifted one? Yes, some pictures will be good.

[Maverick79]

Originally Posted by dot

Very nice review. Amazed to see the details that you have maintained. Is the 98 M800 the prefacelifted one? Yes, some pictures will be good.

Yes, its before the Facelifted model.

Originally Posted by samarth.bhatia

Hi Maverick,

Do please post some pics.
I say no need to ever part with your M800. It will surely giving you loads more joy.

Cheers and drive safe.
Sam

Originally Posted by prajwalkashyap

Interesting read Maverick.

Long Term ownership reports don't do justice without photographs of your First Love. So bring them on.....

Cheers!

Prajwal

Sure, guys. Couldn't collate them due to the year end closing pressure. Will soon upload them.
Also, my Manza initial ownership thread is due too.

[dot]

@Maverick79, I am of the opinion that the prefacelifted model was the best looker of them all.

[Maverick79]

Well, the wait is over now. Here come the photographs..
Was completely stuck in the year end closing issues.
So, here is the front view, followed by the snap with the TB sticker on the back of IRVM.

[Maverick79]

Further snaps of the Team-BHP stickers and on my First Love.



On a trip to Mount Abu in Rajasthan. Spent our 1st Anniversary there.


This is the max speed I go on my long drives in this car.


The last one shows the current ODO reading. It is after completion of the first round of 99999 on the ODO.

[Maverick79]

Few more,

The steering wheel. I love the way it returns back after a turn.
I miss this feel in many other big vehicles like swift, Palio and now even the Manza. They do return, but with not such a confidence inspiring rotation. Ofcourse, the P.S mechanism restricts in others, But, I miss it.
It just returns like a spring. Used to regularly check the tyre wear and get the allignment done after every 10k kms. Also tyre roatation was done at every 5k kms. May be, it helped.

.
The gear shift. I sometimes felt, there is a need for the 5th one too. Especially, when you cross the 80kmph band. Particularly after 100kmph, you feel the vibrations and after 110kmph, you feel the engine gasping. Though I touched 115 kmph only once in this, I enjoy the smooth and sadate feeling at 80kmph. You get lulled in this speed.

In its whole life of 4 years with me, I used choke only once in a winter morning at 6.00am, when the outside temp was around 5 degs in Alwar, Rajasthan.
That too was required as I was out of station for more than 15 days and the car was never cranked in my absence in that fortnight.


The engine bay seems to be a bit over packed with the wirings going in all the directions and you need to carefully figure out which one goes to what location. Air filter cleaning at every 5k Kms regularly, helped a lot in terms of good F.E. consistently.


The recently replaced AMARON, maintenance free battery with a three year warranty.

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

I had a Pheonix Red '99 800 that we sold in 2004. Really regret and decision, and i just dont know why! If only decisions were reversible, or I could have just got an oppurtunity to buy it back.

Wish you many more miles of a wonderful ownership experience!

[Maverick79]

Continued..


The recently replaced Alternator. Earlier, It had a 35amp rated one. Now all the new models come with a 45amp ones. Hence,the battery is more responsive while starting even after long rests.


The faded color under the bonnet top.




With the 170mm G.C, I enjoyed most of our Indian towns where the roads are to be searched in between the carters, with minimal underbody scratches.
I think twice now a days to take my manza on such tumultous roads fearing its low G.C of 160mm.
Didn't try it in the fully laden condition yet. Hope if does not reduce further.
I also had a wonderful experience in the Sariska Tiger reserve in 2007 Jan in my First Love. We ventured some 25kms into the forest on the invisible and patchy roads in search of tigers.
Found only some wild boars and deers.

The Birdgestones served me very well.
Before, it had JK steel radials. They troubled me a lot in their short span of 20k odd kms with frequent punctures and quite audible rolling sound.
Yes, the Bridgestones were less audible compared to the JK tyres.
I could tell this with the following experience.

After using the Bridgestones, I could hear the ring tone of my mobile more loudly at the same speed of 80kmph, on the same road, with same traffic and load conditions on the Delhi - Jaipur highway, in the same time of the day.
Checked the volume settings twice to re confirm, but they were untouched since a year.
I used to travel to Jaipur thrice a month if not twice, from Alwar. It was a 160kms drive through the Sariska Tiger reserve.

The Bridgestones are more smoother and less audible than the JKs.
I feel they still have some 8-10k life after running some 40k kms already.
Again, regular tyre rotation after every 5k kms and tyre pressure check up every two weeks at the same point may be the major contributors for this life of 40K + kms.

Once, on a long drive with my family to some temple near Vijayawada from Hyderabad,the car landed into a deep and sharp hole measuring 1.5 sq.ft roughly on the road. As it was night, and the truck before me missed it, I couldn't judge the deapth and sharpness of the pothole.
The RH front tyre started making a tik tik noise immediately after the bump. Stopped the vehicle to the left and found the rim was bent on the inner side and was hitting the nipple of the Disc brake assembly.
To my surprise, the tyre seemed it don't know anything about the deep and sharp pot hole. No cut or scratch. Neither any reduction in pressure.
Replaced the wheel with a stepney and took to a Puncture centre. He too was surprised to see there was no damage to the tyre after checking it thrice. Even the tube was okay. This shows the great quality of the compound used by Bridgestone in their products.

[Maverick79]

Continues..


Now coming to the space part. I am 5'9" and can sit in the driver's seat for long stretches of minimum 6 hrs with out any complaints.



However, the rear passenger behind my seat will have a very little leg room left as I stretch the seat moving range to the max possible back position.


Yes. The ingress and coming out from the rear seat, for my size is difficult.
Okay, for others in my family as everybody including Inlaws, are less than 5'5".
My BIL, who is 5'10" comes to the front seat with out any questions / arguments from my better half.


The rear door is wide open sufficiently, if not generous like the Europeans and Tata's.




The mobility in the front is not that difficult while getting in. But, noticeable while getting out of the car. Especially on the drivers side, as my knee touches the steering column every time I get out of the car.

[amitwlele]

Maverick i am amazed at the details that you have maintained. Congrats for the long ownership. Wishing you Many more happy miles.

I hope the dame is not getting step child treatment after the arrival of Manza Get it at the Tapri on 10th April.

[ariesonu]

I have a 2005 M800 & now running above 75K. Believe me or not but after reading your tribute. I quietly slipped out of my house & spent quiet 15 mins with her. Just relished her smells & the feel of steering. Then came back & now writing this post.
Thanks for making me realise that my weekend car is sooooo... special.

Raab Rakha.