Zen and the Art of Buying your First Car

the_trooper · 27th April 2009, 13:43

Pun unintended, of course!

Buying your first car is always a tough choice. It’s quite easy though to give out advice to friends who want to buy one. I decided to narrow down on what I could really afford, as opposed to what I could really buy. I could buy an Opel Astra or that ‘dream’ Tata Sierra, but I wouldn’t be able to maintain it as a daily driver.

Buying more than you want is a problem. But I couldn’t afford to make that mistake. The initial purchase budget being limited to a shade lower than one lakh, I had also decided that it had to be a Maruti. Marutis are like cockroaches – they are present everywhere, hardly require any maintenance, spares are easily available (nothing to do with the cockroach theory) and are easily disposable.

My mind began to wander when I saw classifieds such as:
97 Maruthi Esteem, 3rd owner, Excellent Maintenance, 90000kms, Rs.1,15,000 only.
Three previous owners is deterrent enough for me, but the idea of owning an Esteem appealed to me.

I also considered the Fiat Palio 1.6 GTX, Fiat Uno (petrol/diesel), Maruti Gypsy, Maruti 1000, pre 1998 Esteem, and a pre 1998 Zen. I had told myself that I will be partial to an old shape Maruti 800 (the model after the SS80). I wanted the old shape Marutis for the one particular reason that they looked like a design. The later ones came across as afterthoughts. Sure, it doesn’t affect the way a car runs, but I was particular.

Amidst all this confusion, I called a friend who runs a used car dealership. He casually mentioned a 1997 Zen, Single owner (two on paper), done about 67,000kms, asking for close to a lakh. I went that evening to his place, with no intention of buying the car. The bodywork looked nice, the car had not taken any major shunts, and the interiors smelt clean. The engine sounded healthy, and the gearshift was a bit notchy, but felt positive. The previous owner was an old lady and she never bothered to fit a stereo. The car was easy to drive in spite of no power steering.

It was pretty much what I had wanted. White car, black bumpers (for the sleeper look), unmolested, and ran on a healthy engine. And finally, this particular model of Zen still has fan following. I finally owned a cult car. Actually, I finally owned a car!

siddartha · 27th April 2009, 13:47

congrats!
the front grill is from a later model .

predatorwheelz · 27th April 2009, 14:10

Congratulations on your first car! I know how valuable the feeling is.

Very interestingly named thread. You're going all Robert Pirsig on your car, it seems

. Also, 67K kms in 12 years is not a bad deal at all.

Do post a detailed ownership review.

the_trooper · 27th April 2009, 22:47

Thanks guys.

The grill is from the original model, but is a fake after market replacement. I ll wait for this one to give way before I put on the original one. But AFAIK, this is what the original Zen grill looks like. Pls show me a pic of you feel otherwise.

yeah, 67K in 12 years, and car was always serviced at an authorised service centre.

nitrous · 30th May 2009, 18:57

Congratulations.
Now time to hunt for that esteem engine

D.V.R · 30th May 2009, 20:56

Is this is the original ZEN with the MH 410 engine? The 1995-1997 MH 410 were the best cars ever made by MUL.

stable rock · 30th May 2009, 21:23

Congrats! Seems to be a well maintained car.

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_trooper

Thanks guys.

The grill is from the original model, but is a fake after market replacement. I ll wait for this one to give way before I put on the original one. But AFAIK, this is what the original Zen grill looks like. Pls show me a pic of you feel otherwise.

This is not the original grill for the 97 model zen.AFAIK this type of grill with Suzuki logo is present in zen from 2000 model onwards.

furioussphinx · 30th May 2009, 21:35

Aha! A somewhat similar story as mine, same budget, same choice. Ive got a 97 red zen now. Got it for a decent price with alloy wheels and basic ICE. It took me 3 whole months to hunt down the car. I took into consideration, palios, esteems, zens, opels, etc. But I always had a sodt corner for a zen. Will post pics of my car soon. The only work on the car so far are, the fuel pump went kaput one day, so fixed an electronic fuel pump temporarily and the engine is a little weak, probably needs an overhaul. I seriously considered an esteem swap but the quotes are going way above 30k sadly.

braveheart_77 · 30th May 2009, 22:19

Hi Friends
Even I own the original MH 410 Zen.I'm the first owner and still we have that car.It's driven around 80000 kms.Got it completly painted a couple of days ago.Will post the pictures soon.

Ford Fiesta ZXI ABS Tdci 2006 (sold)
Chevy Spark (2009)
M. Zen (1997)

the_trooper · 5th June 2009, 12:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by D.V.R

Is this is the original ZEN with the MH 410 engine? The 1995-1997 MH 410 were the best cars ever made by MUL.

Yes, original MH410. Strangely, I've heard the above line many times earlier. Feels good every single time.

tanwaramit · 5th June 2009, 13:59

the car looks immaculate for a 12 yr old baby. Nice find. Congratulations.

MileCruncher · 5th June 2009, 17:29

Congrats trooper on your first car. Zen is an awesome car to drive and learn the tricks of city driving in.

Happy motoring!

muralisk · 5th June 2009, 17:36

Congratulations. First car is always special and has a very significant emotional attachment, no matter what you go on to own after that. Have fun and drive safe.

breezydrive · 5th June 2009, 18:05

Congrats, get the grill painted and if you plan to change tyres, fit 155/65 R 13 instead of stock 145/70

yzfrj · 5th June 2009, 18:43

@the_trooper

Congrats man.
She looks really nice.

Couple of suggestions.

Paint bumpers white.
Get "new" style ORVM.
Paint grill (leave the mesh black/grey and paint the sides.)
Wider rubber 155/70 or 165/65

As siddartha mentioned its not the OEM grill for 97 model.
I'd say it is from 1999/2000.

I'm sure you'll enjoy.

27th April 2009, 13:43	#1
the_trooper BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Chn Posts: 215 Thanked: 102 Times View My Garage	Zen and the Art of Buying your First Car Pun unintended, of course! Buying your first car is always a tough choice. It’s quite easy though to give out advice to friends who want to buy one. I decided to narrow down on what I could really afford, as opposed to what I could really buy. I could buy an Opel Astra or that ‘dream’ Tata Sierra, but I wouldn’t be able to maintain it as a daily driver. Buying more than you want is a problem. But I couldn’t afford to make that mistake. The initial purchase budget being limited to a shade lower than one lakh, I had also decided that it had to be a Maruti. Marutis are like cockroaches – they are present everywhere, hardly require any maintenance, spares are easily available (nothing to do with the cockroach theory) and are easily disposable. My mind began to wander when I saw classifieds such as: 97 Maruthi Esteem, 3rd owner, Excellent Maintenance, 90000kms, Rs.1,15,000 only. Three previous owners is deterrent enough for me, but the idea of owning an Esteem appealed to me. I also considered the Fiat Palio 1.6 GTX, Fiat Uno (petrol/diesel), Maruti Gypsy, Maruti 1000, pre 1998 Esteem, and a pre 1998 Zen. I had told myself that I will be partial to an old shape Maruti 800 (the model after the SS80). I wanted the old shape Marutis for the one particular reason that they looked like a design. The later ones came across as afterthoughts. Sure, it doesn’t affect the way a car runs, but I was particular. Amidst all this confusion, I called a friend who runs a used car dealership. He casually mentioned a 1997 Zen, Single owner (two on paper), done about 67,000kms, asking for close to a lakh. I went that evening to his place, with no intention of buying the car. The bodywork looked nice, the car had not taken any major shunts, and the interiors smelt clean. The engine sounded healthy, and the gearshift was a bit notchy, but felt positive. The previous owner was an old lady and she never bothered to fit a stereo. The car was easy to drive in spite of no power steering. It was pretty much what I had wanted. White car, black bumpers (for the sleeper look), unmolested, and ran on a healthy engine. And finally, this particular model of Zen still has fan following. I finally owned a cult car. Actually, I finally owned a car! Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

27th April 2009, 13:47	#2
siddartha BHPian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: bangalore Posts: 671 Thanked: 24 Times	congrats! the front grill is from a later model .
	() Thanks

27th April 2009, 14:10	#3
predatorwheelz Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Delhi/Kolkata Posts: 1,720 Thanked: 1,973 Times View My Garage	Congratulations on your first car! I know how valuable the feeling is. Very interestingly named thread. You're going all Robert Pirsig on your car, it seems. Also, 67K kms in 12 years is not a bad deal at all. Do post a detailed ownership review.
	() Thanks

27th April 2009, 22:47	#4
the_trooper BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Chn Posts: 215 Thanked: 102 Times View My Garage	Thanks guys. The grill is from the original model, but is a fake after market replacement. I ll wait for this one to give way before I put on the original one. But AFAIK, this is what the original Zen grill looks like. Pls show me a pic of you feel otherwise. yeah, 67K in 12 years, and car was always serviced at an authorised service centre.
	() Thanks

30th May 2009, 18:57	#5
nitrous Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: UAE/Lon/Madras Posts: 6,965 Thanked: 325 Times View My Garage	Congratulations. Now time to hunt for that esteem engine
	() Thanks

30th May 2009, 20:56	#6
D.V.R BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sydney / Secunderabad Posts: 278 Thanked: 14 Times	Is this is the original ZEN with the MH 410 engine? The 1995-1997 MH 410 were the best cars ever made by MUL.
	() Thanks

30th May 2009, 21:35	#8
furioussphinx BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 536 Thanked: 2 Times View My Garage	Aha! A somewhat similar story as mine, same budget, same choice. Ive got a 97 red zen now. Got it for a decent price with alloy wheels and basic ICE. It took me 3 whole months to hunt down the car. I took into consideration, palios, esteems, zens, opels, etc. But I always had a sodt corner for a zen. Will post pics of my car soon. The only work on the car so far are, the fuel pump went kaput one day, so fixed an electronic fuel pump temporarily and the engine is a little weak, probably needs an overhaul. I seriously considered an esteem swap but the quotes are going way above 30k sadly.
	() Thanks

30th May 2009, 22:19	#9
braveheart_77 BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: amritsar Posts: 152 Thanked: 68 Times	Hi Friends Even I own the original MH 410 Zen.I'm the first owner and still we have that car.It's driven around 80000 kms.Got it completly painted a couple of days ago.Will post the pictures soon. Ford Fiesta ZXI ABS Tdci 2006 (sold) Chevy Spark (2009) M. Zen (1997)
	() Thanks

5th June 2009, 13:59	#11
tanwaramit Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Dilwalon ki Dilli Posts: 1,930 Thanked: 497 Times	the car looks immaculate for a 12 yr old baby. Nice find. Congratulations.
	() Thanks

5th June 2009, 17:29	#12
MileCruncher Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: MH01 Posts: 4,235 Thanked: 592 Times View My Garage	Congrats trooper on your first car. Zen is an awesome car to drive and learn the tricks of city driving in. Happy motoring!
	() Thanks

5th June 2009, 17:36	#13
muralisk BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Hyderabad, Bangalore Posts: 711 Thanked: 13 Times View My Garage	Congratulations. First car is always special and has a very significant emotional attachment, no matter what you go on to own after that. Have fun and drive safe.
	() Thanks

5th June 2009, 18:05	#14
breezydrive BHPian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: NOIDA Posts: 750 Thanked: 125 Times View My Garage	Congrats, get the grill painted and if you plan to change tyres, fit 155/65 R 13 instead of stock 145/70
	() Thanks

5th June 2009, 18:43	#15
yzfrj BHPian Join Date: May 2008 Location: who cares Posts: 787 Thanked: 142 Times	@the_trooper Congrats man. She looks really nice. Couple of suggestions. Paint bumpers white. Get "new" style ORVM. Paint grill (leave the mesh black/grey and paint the sides.) Wider rubber 155/70 or 165/65 As siddartha mentioned its not the OEM grill for 97 model. I'd say it is from 1999/2000. I'm sure you'll enjoy.
	() Thanks