It is the same old ( 10 year old ) ESTEEM engine, with a new body ! How much fun is that... ?
MARUTI is an aging mistress trying out new clothes to SEDUCE YOU ( and your MONEY ) !!
Here’s the link that it is an ESTEEM ENGINE ... https://bsmotoring.com/2005/may21_1.htm
Apparently, the latest technology engine would have pushed up the price by a lakh rupees, so we Indians and Chinese get the ESTEEM ENGINE, while the rest of the world gets a hi-tech car ! Do we deserve this ??
I had 2 ESTEEMS - ESTEEM LX ( base version ) , ESTEEM VX ( power windows, power steering ) in the year 1997 - 1998, and both were just OK in terms of basic transportation. My biggest complaint was both ESTEEMS had this engine KNOCKING problem at around 10, 000kms on the ODOmeter. Power windows ( ESTEEM VX ) stopped working and we had to literally pull the windows up each time the power windows switch was operated.
The guys at the service centre in Hyderabad, would merely fiddle with it and I would get it back at the end of the day with the same problem.... well what else do you expect from a MARUTI.....
And over the years, the quality of the engines have deteriorated , mainly because of cutting costs... In order to beat inflation and rising input costs, MARUTI ( and most other manufacturers ) gets suppliers to supply parts by cutting costs... which obviously lowers the tangible and intangible quality of the car !!
Now imagine buying a car in 2005 with an engine technology of 1995...... would you pay 5 lacs of your hard-earned money for this junk !!
It is the same old MARUTI gimmick, put old engine from one car in other cars.... the MARUTI 800 engine in the ALTO, the zen diesel in the ESTEEM diesel, etc.....
My experience with the HONDA CITY is contrasting ! I dumped the ESTEEM in 1998 and bought the HONDA CITY EXI-s ( 1.5 litre ) as it was launched ! I was assured by the dealer that the CAR was mostly an import with very little local ( Indian ) content.. I did inspect the vehicle for ’’made in japan’’ parts, which I found all over the engine !! Now after 95, 000 kms in 7 years, I have absolutely no complaint with the car...no knocking, no engine complaint whatsoever ! The vehicle looks like it is going to last another 7 years without a hitch - !! That’s HONDA QUALITY for you !
So, if you think, all the fun in driving a car is in the engine, DON’T BUY THIS 10-YEAR OLD SWIFT....