Good car for a first car - not the best..not the worst

My Zen Estilo has done a little more than 7000 kms since july, 2007 - most of them were in the city

Fuel efficiency - 17 km/ltr - without A/C, 13 km/ltr with A/C.

A/C is effective. I like the looks.

The power steering is really smooth.

That can hardly be said about the gear box - not up to the mark at all. First gear could have been better. There is drag from 2nd to 3rd, but the car picks up after 2800 rpm. 4th is good and 5th is smooth. But the gear shift movement from 4th to 5th is ridiculously designed. Reverse gear sticks on me sometimes. I've achieved a top speed of 115 - and I felt the car still had more to give. Braking is good - the discs help. The pickup could have been better. I cant understand why Maruti would cut corners on something like the gearbox - extremely myopic and immature of them!!!

The car is an optimistic 5 seater and a realistic 4 seater. Boot space is good for a small car. The height of the car makes it easy to enter and exit.

All in all, a good first car - and i'd like to graduate to something bigger and better soon.

 

FE, effective A/C, good looks, smooth steeringgear box, rear seat space, pickup