[GTO]

Thanks to the Team-BHP fan (he prefers to remain anonymous) who sent this information in. Heartfelt gratitude for sharing it with other enthusiasts via this page!

It is not correct to say that Maruti-Suzuki plonked the 1.3L engine due to customer feedback. They had a roadmap for their products and during my visit to their factory in Jan 1990, the management had showed us the product line too (it had the 1.3L).

[Vibhanshu0923]

Awesome write-up, Shreyfiesta! You managed to capture the meticulous details and pictures of all the different variants/generations the Esteem platform spawned. The write-up brought up fond memories of our 2004 Gen-3 Esteem VXi. It came with an auto-retracting radio antenna on the boot that used to go up every time the tuner was turned on. I remember both me and my father drooling over that antenna and the rear spoiler in the showroom.

I learned to drive on the Esteem and the G13 engine was a manic, screaming motor that made you work hard to access all its performance. Couple this with the tall gearing and the Esteem could hit 100 kmph in 2nd gear!! I still miss the high-revving fun and wail of that engine. No wonder the Esteem was also a rallying legend in India due to this engine initially.

We moved on to the Swift Dzire Vdi post the Esteem and even though it was a spiritual successor to the Esteem, it felt and drove like a much more modern and accomplished car (the swift platform at play). The Esteem is a legendary car in the Indian automotive context and one that brought performance to the masses. Got to love it for that!

[indianv2]

Originally Posted by Vibhanshu0923

...the G13 engine was a manic, screaming motor that made you work hard to access all its performance. Couple this with the tall gearing and the Esteem could hit 100 kmph in 2nd gear!! I still miss the high-revving fun and wail of that engine....

I have been using the spiritual successor of the Esteem 1.3L, a DZire VXI with a slightly tweaked version of the G13 (for better emission norms) for over 10 years now.

Even with CNG plonked it, the G13 is a beast for sure. A flick to Petrol and the 1298 cc power plant springs to life! Done about 109K and it still drives like a dream.

With that said, the Esteem surely carved out a cult following - the first marketed luxury sedan that had several people flipping through full page newspaper ads multiple times.

[CaliforniaKnight]

Great Homage to a Great car. With a proper tune, Esteem’s are still hoot to drive.
One of those rare machines wherein, practicality, reliability, efficiency & performance go hand in hand.

In love with mine from the last 26years

[frankmehta]

One of the best threads EVER on Team-Bhp! The Maruti 1000 and Esteem were the first 'luxury sedans' for more than a few on this forum, and for most of India!
I still remember how spacious and analogue, everything felt in the Esteem, even though mine was an MPFI.
I had documented many mods to this car on this very forum, and I am posting some links to the many Esteem threads I posted, because I went through each and every one of them after I read your thread Shrey.
Great job!

Most of the threads are audio-related, but a great time machine into the past!


https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/modif...-makeover.html (Esteem Mid Life makeover)

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/techn...n-service.html (Esteem just given for service)

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/car-e...er-hermit.html (Frankmehta’s eS(Q)teem®: Eclipse| Illusion Audio| DLS| Genesis| Monster|Hermit)

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/car-e...-makeover.html (Esteem Mid Life *ICE* Makeover)

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/modif...-pleasure.html (Please Help Urgent Need Of Aural Pleasure!!!!!)

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/car-e...s-new-amp.html (frankmehta needs a new amp!)

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/car-e...ccent-sub.html (Frankmehta reviews his ICE: Part 1: Rockford Fosgate 325.2 MONO+Illusion Luccent Sub)

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/car-e...head-unit.html (frankmehta needs a new head unit!)

[Sanidhya mukund]

As the calendars roll closer to 2023, I cannot help but wonder that pretty soon, the last Esteems on NCR roads will be put to sleep forever. The Esteem kaali peeli was never an icon and will probably be forgotten soon after it is gone. But to someone like me, the extinction of the Esteem marks the end of an era. I will surely miss this car that was revolutionary when introduced and soldiered on long after its days of glory. It was the car that drove alongside imported W140s at one point of time and now, shares the roads with made in India W223s.

I spotted this battle scarred Esteem Kaali Peeli, still chugging along like a champ until the laws of the land put an end to it in a couple of months.

[GTO]

Spotted this beautiful Esteem in a housing complex @ Panvel. The condition, debadging, rims & accessories tell me it's owned by an enthusiast. Next to it is my buddy's C300d