Back in April 2001, when I was scouting around, searching for a car to buy,
I was very skeptical about which model to go for. Even on that date,
there was not much of a choice available - you had the ubiquitous Maruti
800 and the Zen, the relatively new but fast becoming popular Santro,
the desi Indica, and the Matiz. The other higher-end cars
were like the proverbial ’’sour grapes’’ for me at that point in time.
After a detailed market study, I narrowed down the choices to Zen and
Matiz. Indica was known to be a ’’problem-car’’ then. So one down. My
parents already owned a M800. So I was not making the mistake of buying
one more ! And the Santro was an absolute ugly-duckling.
For making the final decision, I decided to give my brain a break and let
let my heart have a free reign. The decision was simple and on April 14th
2001, I got possession of my own Daewoo Matiz SA. There has been no looking
back since.
I knew that I was taking a big gamble because Daewoo was already in some
trouble in early 2001, and rumours of bankrupcy were heard from every nook
and cranny. Lots of people tried to convince me into opting out of it even
after I had placed the order. But I stood convinced on my decision and I am
happy I did, still, on this day when Daewoo Motors India Limited has ceased
to exist and production of the car in India has come to a standstill.
Till date I have driven my Matiz close to 18000 kms, mostly in and
around Bangalore. During this period I have not noticed any major chinks in
pretty armour of this car. I have had the chance to drive a bevy of the latest
cars since I bought the Matiz, and somehow, the Matiz still occupies the pride
of place in my heart ( as well as the brain ! ). This is not to say that
technically this is the best car in its class. Feature by feature, most
aspects of Matiz might be beaten by the new cars. For example, the engine
is and was never a strong point of this car. A capacity of 796cc and three
cylinders meant that it was no race-car. In fact I doubt the veracity of the
user manual when it says the engine spews out 52 horses. The Santro gives
55, and the comparison of acceleration and power between the two is a
no-contest, much more than the 3 BHP advantage that the Santro technically
has. Moreover, the engine is a wee bit more noisier than the other cars.
Added to that, the gear shift is far from satisfactory, compared to
competition, and the service personnel are hapless about it. The roughness
has got to do with the cable-operated gear while most other cars have a rod
type gear. But I knew this for a fact from the study I had conducted before I
bought my car and so reality did not strike me as hard as it would on an
unsuspecting buyer. By now, I have got so used to it that I hardly ever feel
any difficulty.
Lastly, the body of the car is, in my opinion, a little too vulnerable. A
small push with one’s hand is enough to cause a fist-sized dent on it. A lot
of caution must be taken while closing the hatch at the back, as a hard push
on the metal while closing it will surely cause a nasty dent on it.
But thats all that I have ever found as a fault in this car. And these are
lesser a fault as time goes by. I am no Schumacher when it comes to driving
in the city. So the lack of power does not impede me much. I have got used to
the stubborn gearbox. And I take sufficient care of this baby so that its
soft and supple exterior is not damaged.
The best thing about the Matiz is its comfort. The shock-absorbers are the
best-in-class. Driving position is peerless. The interiors are done well
enough for a car in its class. The ergonomic design of the dash board is
indeed an advantage. All round visibility is the best in Matiz. I have found all
other cars, especially Indica and Santro to be very restrictive when it
comes to this.
Space utilization is a wonder, considering the small outer dimensions. There
is ample leg and shoulder space for three medium-sized adults at the back. Safety
is another big plus point. There are reinforcements at almost all critical
points in the body so that the passengers wont have to bear the burnt in
most collisions.
And the icing of the cake is the MILEAGE. I consistently get 15-16 kmpl
on road in the city. I have even got 22 kmpl once when I drove down to Cochin
through the NH. I would like to see another car in the segment break that mark !
All said and done, the Matiz can be compared to a graceful woman, not strong by
body, but gentle by heart, not rugged by design, but pleasing to the eye, not
thirsty on fuel, but economical at heart.