My tryst with driving cars started with Maruti 800. This was the car in which I learnt driving, this was also the car which I cursed the most, when my driving instructor (Dad) used to scold me, and this was the same car in which I lost two of my best buddies. This was the car that was going to be our first car but circumstances gave us Santro. We did buy the 800, though, because Mom found Santro too high to easily drive or control. Life seems to come full circle today when I started writing this review.
I don’t know what will be the final rating of this car but below is a conversation between a positive Karan (+ve) and a negative Karan (-ve) who are out to find out if this car makes some sense today in its MPFI guise. They pass their share of arguments in each category and then a verdict is reached courtesy the neutral Karan (Karan). So read on...
E X T E R I O R S:
-ve: (staring at the 800)Don’t you think +ve that 800 looks crap? I mean how boring can a car look? And they haven’t changed the design much since 1986. Gawd!! This is frustrating.
+ve: See –ve, 800 is not made to impress others. It’s a budget car, and is aimed at simple people who have either graduated from a two wheeler or looking for a small second car. As for the design, I think conventional and safe styling has a much larger audience than an oddball styled car (Santro). And frankly, 9/10 people who go to buy an 800 won’t bother about the looks anyways.
-ve: Okay, if u say so. But look at the paint quality—no shine and so cheap. And the body seems to be made of paper-mache—so tinny!! And there’s so much of plastic everywhere—I think these guys at Maruti are looting people.
+ve: Excuse me, don’t expect a bullet-proof car for 2.5 lacs. Ya, Maruti is not at all solidly built but think about it—if these Maruti people plonked in more metal into the car, the car would grossly become overweight and that would affect its performance, handling and most importantly, its fuel efficiency. So, I think again Maruti’s decision to keep the car light is fine.
Let’s see who wins.
Karan’s Verdict on Exteriors:
Nobody wins this round. I am as much with –ve’s views as with +ve’s arguments. I do believe that Maruti is extra-light and lacks quality in its exteriors but frankly at its price, Maruti couldn’t have reached a better balance and the car’s design is been proven in the 17 years that its been on Indian roads.
I N T E R I O R S:
-ve: (taking the front seat) Oh my God!! This is so low—am I sitting on the floor? And I feel as if I have been forced into a cramped pipe line. The roof is so low—how have people managed to sit in this one for so many years?
+ve: Yup, the 800 is cramped. But then it’s a small car. Hey, but you do have manual adjustments to lean back and move backwards.
-ve: See +ve, don’t fool me—those adjustments are standard on every car in this world—but look at the quality. I don’t think these levers will see the end of this week—they are already loose. And look at those door-pockets...hahaha—are they made for storing toffee wrappers?
And this upholstery seems to have come direct from a ‘chaddarwala’—look how coarse this is. And I think I am sitting on a slab of stone—can’t they have some cushioning on the seats?
+ve: I told you—don’t expect a Mercedes for 2.5 lacs—everything’s working as it should.Come on now, let’s step into the back. (Stepping into the back) Look there’s so much headroom and even back support is good.
-ve: What support? I am sitting with my legs above my neck—is this the way you sit in a car. No thigh support, no leg room. I am sure my hamstrings will develop an uncurable pain. (Getting out and panting) And look how much aerobic ability you require to get out of that car. I wonder if my arthritic Granny will ever be able to sit in this. And do you have any arguments for the cheap plastic that surrounds you everywhere??
+ve: I am telling you—you are expecting too much of this tiny car. If this hadn’t got any space, how come all those families have managed to fit into this one for years now? Come let’s have a look at the boot space. (+ve opening the boot) Look this is quite decent—and those rear seats can be folded forward to give magnanimous amount of boot space. Let’s look as to what the judge says.
Karan’s verdict on Interiors: *
This time the –ve wins. I do believe that at this price, Maruti is offering acceptable quality but space is a genuine concern and only the ones with pygmy proportions can hail to be really ‘comfortable’ in this car.
P E R F O R M A N C E ~~A N D~~ O N – R O A D:
+ve: Now we have to drive this car. Come with me. We’ll exchange places mid-way. (While driving) You know, this car has just had a transplant in 2000—it got MPFI (Multi Point Fuel Injection) and the old carburetter is gone. The power has gone up to 46 bhp at 6000 rpm and I think it drives like a dream. (Pushing the accelerator) Look how fast we are going—I actually feel we are flying. Just see our speed—80—100—120...wow!!
-ve: Slow down, slow down. I bet at this speed even if a stone comes our way, we’ll be in pieces. And look how much noise is this car making---I am already going deaf. Slow down, and give the steering to me.
+ve: Okay, as you wish. (Braking) Oh my God!!! Why is this car skidding??
-ve: Because of those dinky tyres and cheap brake-pads. Common now give the car to me. (After seated on the wheel)....Hey actually this engine is impressive!! But why is this steering acting so vaguely?? I don’t think I’ll manage the next U-turn with just 50 kmh. Its just not safe!!! I can’t drive this anymore---common—you get back to the driver’s seat.
+ve: Let’s go into the city!!!! Hey, see how light this steering has become.
-ve: What else do you expect from such a car. (Eyeing a small place between the two trucks) Can U park it there!!
+ve: In a jiffy!!! (A turn of a steering and the 800 is parked!!) See there!!
-ve: But why am I jumping so much—are we driving over rocks—I am feeling giddy!!!
+ve: I think its those 12 inch wheels and the independent suspension at back playing.
Karan’s verdict on Performance :
Again, no one wins this round. This car’s 800 cc mill (from which its got that ‘numeric’ name) is its strength. Its sweet-revving, though a bit noisy. On the flip side, my advice is that don’t even think of walking out safe if you are driving above 60 kmh. Neither the car has the brakes, nor the rigidity to save you from any unexpected irregularity on the highway—moreover cross-wind stability is unimaginably bad. The car is safe within the city limits only. The ride is uncomfortable around city but reaches the tolerant mark when out of the city. Handling is quite competent in city, thanks to the over-servoed steering wheel and car’s small dimensions but turns vague when blasting on a highway. The 5-speed gearbox, though good by concept, has oddly placed ratios but is a delight to shift nevertheless.
CONTINUED IN THE COMMENTS SECTION....