INTRODUCTION:
The Maruti Gypsy was introduced in India in 1986. It was based on the Suzuki SJ series of mini off-roaders. The Gypsy at the initial moment came as a soft-top version.Later a hard top version was introduced. The soft top version had two rows of seats(average benches) facing each other placed longitudinally in relation with the two front seats. The two front seats were comfortable bucket seats, which are very comfortable. In the hard top however, there were a single rear bench, just like in any other automobile. The seat configuration depends upon what you order.
Gypsy could be modified to a 4-door vehicle, but I don’t approve it, because, it wasn’t designed to be a 4-door. There are options. The Gypsy comes with a soft-top, whose quality now is different compared to the original soft-top offered in 1986. Whilst fitting it, the point where it fits over the B-pillar has to be sealed properly to ensure there is no leakage of water at that point. This is a problem with Gypsys in the monsoon. The soft-top?s joints can also be sealed with a sealant.
With optional 4wd, this easy-to-drive multi-functional vehicle was a capable off-roader as well and soon became the unanimous choice of most rallyists. Its overall weight was, however, too much for the engine and the Gypsy King, which uses the Esteem’s 1.3-litre powerplant, got the much needed power boost.
The Gypsy is a very unique vehicle for India.It is a contemporary off-roader, offering you an affordable wind-in-the-hair feeling, you could get only in more expensive machines only.
The Gypsy proved to be a popular choice for filmmakers of the time, and actors and actresses were often seen together zooming around lush green scenery in a white open top Maruti Gypsy portraying their on-screen characters.
ENGINE:
Initially the Gypsy came with a 1.0 litre powerplant(hence was referred to as MG410W) putting out a meager 45bhp at 5500rpm.This engine had 4 cylinders.In exact terms it was 970c.c.Maximum torque produced was 72Nm at 3000rpm.
Later in 1996 a 1.3 litre engine was fitted which produced an output of 60 bhp(at5000rpm).It was referred to as MG413W.(And it remains so till this day.)Maximum torque was 102Nm at 3000rpm.Acceleration from 0 to 60kph(40mph) takes 5.92 seconds and from 0 to 100kph(60mph) comes in 16.92 seconds.
The engine was further modified to produce a power output of 82 bhp (at 10.4 kgm)in 2000.The number of cylinders were the same.The engine truly was 1298cc.
The Gypsy shared its engines with the Maruti 1000 and the later Esteem. The Gypsy’s engine is dimensionally the same as the Maruti 1000?s, except that the latter has a down-draught carburettor. It comes with conventional contact breaker-type ignition, which needs to be checked often to maintain the correct point gap to ensure the proper ignition timing and a constant high intensity spark to the plugs.
MY GYPSY:
The Gypsy is a mini permanent 4WD vehicle.It measures 4010mm in length, width being1540mm and height 1875mm.The canvas roof has buttons pretty similar to the push buttons found on jackets albeit more strong.Once you remove the top, you can enjoy the charm of open top motoring.This is primarily the reason, I love the car.Forget Rs 20 lakh convertibles.
Visibility is perfect and the vehicle feels tough and steady, the tyres providing an excellent grip.It is one helluva appropriate vehicle for taking the rough terrain in India.
The ride however is far from perfect.Any minor undulation on the road can be felt, the rear is very uncomfortable on long journeys and the jerks can become an exercise.Do not ever try to accelerate on a bad stretch of road.But take the Gypsy off the road---where it was designed to go and it performs well.In my opinion it is still the ultimate off roader in India for the masses.Moving down or up a gradient and a region filled with unforgiving rocks and boulders will not even bother the movement of a Gypsy.
Iam pretty satisfied in this regard. The suspension is the conventional leaf spring type all round with stabiliser bars in front. As the Gypsy is likely to be used off-road, it is advisable to have all chassis and body mounts and nuts and bolts tightened at every service, ideally at around 5000km in normal conditions and preferably every month during the monsoons. A point of caution is never to recamber suspension leaf springs.
But of course, some caution is definitely needed for such difficult driving, so I would not advise the average user to take his car off the road and see!
Fuel efficiency understandably is on the lower side-10?11kpl in the city and a marginal increase on the highway.Since I don?t take my car on the highway too often, I cannot tell the exact highway figures.
INTERIORS:
The interiors are very basic.No power nothing.A big let down. They will remind you of an era we have left.The grey boring plastic, with minimum equipment leaves a lot to be desired. But frankly, for a serious enthusiast(like me) they don?t matter much.Want comfort?Buy an Alto or the Esteem!The Gypsy is only for serious mud pluggers.
There is the 3 spoke sporty steering wheel which tries to create a sport off-roader image and clear instrument panel.But the quality of the interior is good, as on a Maruti. Really speaking, I love the Gypsy so much, that these seem minor points to haggle on.The doors however aren’t as solid as they should be and has that typical Maruti clang that would shame a premium small car like the Palio. The steering is of the recirculating ball type. The steering box is mounted on the chassis and the motion transferred to the wheels via drag links and tie rods. Under normal driving conditions, except for checking lubricant, the system requires little attention.
The main problem of the Gypsy is the bumpy ride and many of the rear occupants complain of having their heads knocked against the rigid frames, for supporting the canvas roof. Often when the engine is revved the headlights become brighter and the temperature gauge needle climbs. This is due to a bad earthing connection between the engine block and the body.
The vehicle seats eight or five, depending upon the configuration you have ordered for.By the way, you cannot find a Gypsy in a MUL showroom.You have to book one.Since majority of the Gypsy sales come from institutional buyers and law enforcement autorities, MUL doesn?t produce it for ordinary citizens and that makes it a bit special car to be seen in, among the boring and common gaggle of small cars.
The Gypsy, which has discs in front and drums at the rear, comes with hydraulic brakes but with no power assistance. Though the brakes are quite effective, the pedal requires slightly more effort. Brake pads should be checked regularly for wear, ideally when the car is being serviced and put up on a ramp. An indication of worn-out brake pads is a grinding sound when the brakes are applied.
WHY THE GYPSY?
It provides you with an unique driving experience, it is a huge fun to drive, it gives you that special wind-in-the-hair feeling, it has a good ground clearance, it is tough and reliable, can seat eight, can go to places where no other car dares to go, is your faithful companion for a great outing, comes from a company which has widespread a dealership network, makes that idiot in front of you run who otherwise doesn?t let you go??well Iam pretty inclined towards it.
Well seriously, it doesn?t give a good mileage, is a bit overpriced, can make you wait a while before it finally arrives in a showroom near you for you, leave you searching for a suitable parking area, knock rear occupants by jumping, will not provide you with a good ride??
Now decide! As for me, still I would still prefer the Gypsy and advice people like me to go for