Reliable, nippy, cheerful and inexpensive to own. These are the words that define the original Maruti Zen best. The car's nimble handling, along with its relatively fuel-efficient and smooth engine, made it a hit with Indian buyers and you can now have one in fine condition for the price of a new Maruti 800. In spite of the fact that the Zen is no longer made in its original form, prices of used cars haven't fallen.

Here's what to look out for. The Zen is prone to body rattle, which can be easily fixed by replacing the door hinges. What you need to look out for though is the condition of the suspension. The front shockers pack up before the rear set. It's easy to identifY a car with worn suspension components. Turn the steering wheel full lock and accelerate, if there are any clicking noises, it means that you will have to spend at least Rs 3,000 to replace the suspension arms on both sides. The Zen's tyres usually last till around the 30,000km mark. Its zippy engine was a favourite with enthusiasts, some of whom might have made a few modifications on their examples.

Avoid any car that has oversized tyres, huge speakers/ amplifiers or leather seats, chances are that these cars also have the most abused engines. Brakes on some cars will need attention after every 20,000km; in most cases a change of the front discs is mandatory. As a rule, stay away from cars with squeaking brakes, as they will need immediate attention and will be expensive to fix.

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Electrics on the car are reliable and do not need any attention, but failed windscreen washer motors and faulty power windows are a given. Some older Zens also develop a problem with their power steering units, so check for consistency of the feel you get from the steering when you turn in. Body panels aren't very expensive to repair. The front and rear bumpers cost around Rs 1,000 - quite a manageable expense. But some expenses like fixing the air-conditioning can be expensive. Make sure that the air-conditioning unit is not leaking or making excessive noise. Any major job with the AC compressor can set you back by around Rs 10,000. Also take a close look at the condition of the upholstery, it tells a story about how the car has been treated. If the seat fabric has some cuts and cigarette burn marks on it, find another example, this owner hasn't been kind to the car. If the car has seat covers ensure that you remove them and check the seat fabric.

The Zen was sold in LX, LXi and VXi variants; the LX has only an AC as standard, while the LXi will have power steering and front power windows. The VXi came with goodies like rear demister, rear wiper and fabric on the door pads. Some cars will also have the original Maruti Kenwood stereo, which, in most cases, was probably thrown in by dealers as part of an offer. The car also got a facelift towards the end of its career in 2004, but don't pay an extra premium for the new-look car, it's mechanically identical to the original jelly bean design. There was also a diesel-engined Zen on sale, and though it will thrill you with its fuel economy figures, we wouldn't recommend a buy, as finding spares could be a problem, especially in smaller towns.

You can get a three-year-old Zen with around 25,000km on the odo for around Rs 2.30 lakh, when you buy from a private seller. Stay away from cars which are over five years old, they might be attractively priced but will depreciate in value really quickly and will require major repairs as well.

The best place to go Zen¬hunting is Maruti's True Value outlets, where you will also get a warranty and free services as part of the deal, but haggling will not be entertained here.