Gypsy Reloaded - One more tryst with the Icon

Exterior

 A timeless design that will never go out of style. Ideal for a purist and one who is just looking for a bare bones, functional, utilitarian, runabout type vehicle.

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort)

Almost negligible in terms of comfort and conveniences. But takes on all sorts of modifications very well. Eminently customizable.

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox

The 1.3 litre Mpfi KING which develops 80BHP and comes with Front Disc brakes with brake boosters, is very much better than the old 970CC engine with drum brakes all around and non boosted brakes. If you dont load it with an AC and all the general mod-cons that people nowadays like, it will perform flawlessly and give you a lot of happy usage. Easy to maintain, easy to service. Basic bare bones performance and functionality.

Ride Quality & Handling

If you change the tyres on the stock rims, to nice radials, you will certainly see a lot of improvement. One can also add a leaf spring on either side at the rear or one can go for composite fibre leaf springs instead of the stock steel leaf springs. 

But do not compare this vehicle to the modern SUVs and cars. It is not meant for comfort. It is meant for rough and tough hard usage and makes a perfect daily driver if you dont have high expectations of modernity.

Final Words

I have always loved the Gypsy. But I changed over to more comfortable vehicles around 12-13 years ago. Now having arrived at a "certain age" I ve bought myself another Gypsy - an old used one but this one is a King with the 1.3 Mpfi engine and Ive kept it more or less stock except for a few personalized small modifications - the biggest of these being the radial tyres on the stock rims and the addition of a center armrest cum storage box. It is now performing its duty as a bare bones runabout vehicle which I use very regularly on my office commute and for general joy riding. 

I know Gypsies well because this is my third one - but the difference is that this one is a King where the other two I had were the older 970cc ones. And I dont expect anything more than it is meant to offer. Hence I enjoy it for what it is. It is absolutely superb in terms of functionality, going by what it was originally meant for and built for.

Dont expect modernity and all those frills, bells and whistles. If you do, you're bound to be disappointed.

This is a lovely second car to have around because it is super reliable and a perfect runabout for general usage.  Capable of taking tremendous strain.

Areas of improvement  

Frankly, only the updated Jimny can replace/ improve upon it. 

However, if at all they want to do something to improve, modernise and sell it as an unique Lifestyle vehicle, then they have to put in some safety kit like ABS, Airbags (at least 2 in front), change the leaf springs to composite fibre leaves, change the stock tyres to decent All Terrain radials, modernize the cabin a little in terms of ergonomics and seat positions and storage options, change the seat belts to more modern, self retracting ones, introduce a Power steering and an AC and Heater, tune up the engine just a bit, to perhaps deliver around 100BHP instead of the present 80 BHP and they will be good to go. They could redesign the hard top to make it lower and flatter, to improve the centre of gravity a little, to compensate for the Power steering. Without Power Steering the current high top works because one does have to wrestle with the wheel, but with Power Steering the ease with which one can steer and change direction, does warrant a flatter top so that there is less risk of toppling. And yes, they just "could" reduce the vehicle's length by around 15-20mm so as to duck under the 4 metre mark. The shortened length will also definitely improve the vehicle's overall handling on account of it becoming a little smaller.

It will still be a bare bones basic functional utilitarian vehicle, but it will be a little more modern, if the above steps are taken!

 

Nothing beats the functionality you get from a GypsyAbsolutely bare bones basic