I have had this car for 80, 000km(4 years).
It was one of the first cars imported into the country, and was a CBU kit from Brazil.
At the time, it was the fastest Diesel in the country, with a price that blew it’s competition out of the water.
And an excellent product it is. I have a holiday home in Panvel 150 kms out of Bombay, and the car makes routine bi-weekly trips. The roads on the highway are mostly decent, however the farm ’’paths’’ are another story. Potholes visible from the moon are pretty common, but I never break a sweat with this car. The build is exemplary, the ride quality superb and the feel is very stout and solid. No complaints in that department.
The stock tires wore out after 45k kms. They were the OEM 175/70 Bridgestone Tube radials. Once they died, I upsized the Wheel size to 14 inch alloys, complete with 185/60 R 14 Michelin Tubeless rubber. I never expected the car to look, handle and ride as well as it did after that upgrade. This is the tire and wheel package it should have come with. The grip is incredible and the cars roadholding is phenomenal.
The engine is the bullet proof 1700cc engine used in the Uno with the addition of a Garett Turbocharger with Oil Cooler(no intercooler-probably for cost cutting. A sad omission, as they usually improve power and reliability)
I have realized the benefits of an air intake system on cars with forced induction and have removed the air filter box and replaced it with a k&n performance filter. This improved throttle response and protects the engine better. It never has to be replaced. Probably added a couple horsepower too. I also removed the stock muffler which was very restrictive and replaced it with a straight through muffler. This, combined with the filter helps the car breath easier. I also use Mobil-1 fully synthetic oil as a precaution, as it is far superior to the regular stuff available. It also lasts longer and lets the car revv easier. I also use TurboJet- a new age diesel fuel manufactured by Hindustan Petroleum, which has additives to clean the fuel system and restore optimum performance. I figure I’ve got nothing to loose and it only costs Re.1 more than regular diesel. It is hard to find out of Bombay though!
With all the modifications made to the intake and exhaust, combined with the better lubrication and fuel quality, the car should improve upon the factory 0-60 time of 17.1 seconds, and raise that to high 16 seconds (not much you say? read on). That’s on par with the Petrol Indigo, 1.3 Icon, Cielo and better than several small petrol cars including the Santro and Matiz. All at a Rs.10 savings per liter. That makes the Siena one of the best all-round diesels available. And while it cannot compete with current common-rail technology (read: Accent CRDi and Mercedes) in terms of refinement and performance, it shouldn’t have to. After all, this is one reliable, tough-as hell powerplant which will easily take on the 100, 000 km milestone and ask for more, while giving the driver a smile as he engulfs other cars in his diesel after-smoke.
On the flip side, this car has trouble passing PUC emission tests. After my modifications it comes closer to passing, but is still not a ’green’ vehicle. It is also noisy when cold. At 80, 000 kms the engine is running strong and the transmission is like silk. I expect an overhaul requirement after 100, 000 kms but not before. Maintainance is a bitch, NOT because the car is unreliable, BUT because the dealers overcharge on the parts and labour(FIAT-enough said), and the spares are harder to get at bargain shops.
Its not too spacious in the rear either. But the 500 litre boot makes up for it. It is a car FIAT designed to tackle rural countries lacking infrastructure, and hence it weighs 1100 kgs. A bit too much reinforced steel for a city like Bombay, where a lighter car equals a faster, more efficient car. But perfect for those crazy, bombed wastelands called our highways. Safety is another strength, and this is one of the few cars that conform to Euro III safety norms. Believe me, this car feels as solid as a Tiger Tank, even after 4 years of use. A side note, the car has a Drag Co-efficient of .33, which is excellent. Designed by Guigaro of Ferrari fame, the car demonstrates little wind resistance, and it’s curvy shape - while unpleasant to some - slices through air with ease. It even has Veglia Borletti gauges and Magnetti Marelli parts, both OEM suppliers for Ferrari.
It averages 10 kmpl with the A/C (60%) in city traffic and that number climbs to above 12 on the highway. Even higher without climate control.
Overall, a great diesel if you know how to look after your cars. It has served us well, and continues to do so. My next car? Probably a Skoda TD...
UPDATE: 10/8/03 - The car now has 83, 000 km on it. I had the timing belt and a number of bearings changed, and the injectors and diesel pump serviced.
The result: dramatic change in the smoothness of the car. NVH characteristics are much better.