Fiat Siena Weekend - Comes Home! (2000)

It took us a couple of years in realizing that we should have gone for a Diesel car instead of petrol, at least one of them as we had to travel long distance every alternate weekend with my nephews school in Dehradoon. That was the fun part as I loved driving and this was my opportunity to upgrade my driving skills every time we went early in the morning, had a fun day with him and returned by late night. I don’t remember if Hyundai Accent was launched in diesel at that time or not. I guess they even launched Maruti Esteem too in diesel but if the market reports were to be believed – it wasn’t a success either. As my cousin who himself was an auto expert in his own rights claimed that even Hyundai Accent Diesel was not a great idea as its body was too weak to hold that heavy engine and it would surely not last long, whatever that logic might be – it was beyond me at that time and now I know what he meant – when I look back and think what happened to those cars and where they stand today. We couldn’t have settled for a hatch back cause of the space requirement. Right then, fiat launched its Siena and Siena Weekend model and we were totally bowled over the design and beauty of Weekend. I guess it was India’s first station wagon design that too with diesel and at that lucrative price was totally awesome. Over and above it – the car had Air bags too in the top of the line model. Immediately we booked a test drive and to our shock the nearest showroom was almost a 40 odd Kms from our place. But their sales guys obliged by sending a test drive car straight to our home with a damn good guy who had thorough knowledge about the car and its features too. The car was indeed a head turner for sure as wherever we went while test driving it, people would definitely turn and look at it again as to know what car was that. That was a great feeling to drive something unique and we indeed waited for the company guys to deliver our car. We settled as usual for a silver color – I again so much wished my cousin this time would pick up a black or may be a red but no ways, I guess after certain age – all one likes is either silver or white, I am definitely never buying those ever.

One thing that we loved most about the car was its sheer size and beautiful looks. It has a mammoth boot space with ample leg space in the rear bench, even with 5 people on board it didn’t look one bit claustrophobic, enough shoulder and head room too. Its boot will swallow one whole month’s luggage of an average family, if the rear parcel tray is taken off – you can double the same and it you planned to fold the rear seats – you could actually shift your house in the car. After folding down the rear bench – we realized the space was actually perfect to fit a full 6 feet mattress in it and easily two adults and a kid can sleep in it too. That was a perfect setting for the highways when one actually wants to relax, I would definitely never sleep in a car like that as I would rather be driving than sleeping on the highways. It was a big car and parking it was an issue at least for me as the rear windshield was too small to give a clear picture of happenings in the back and seating was a bit low – me being short was another reason too. Steering wheel was quite thick and great to hold, although it was on the heavier side but it was just a matter of getting used to it and I was able to enjoy the ride in a couple of weeks time. The whole car was quite heavy and thick feel to it, even the doors closed with a deep thud and it felt quite secure, you could actually feel the tough metal by punching the body of the car, it was way too good than what I had seen on any Maruti, Hyundai or for that matter even better than a Cielo.

Chunky Steering Wheel felt damn good to hold

Features: We took the fully loaded version minus air bags cause as per my cousin we didn’t require them at that time, I guess the reason why he cut down on that was - me and my sister in law were still considered amateur drivers and insurance company wasn’t covering the refill of air bags once blown and trust me – that is still a costly affair if you ask me. It has all the features that we could name, starting from all four power windows, central locking with both keys had inbuilt remote making them too big to fit in a key chain, adjustable power steering, electrically adjusted rear view mirrors, day and night mode cabin mirror, rear defogger, company fitted stereo with 4 speakers and a remote, bottle holders on front doors, huge parcel tray with small cubicles to fit in knick knacks etc. The one feature that I disliked and didn’t find it practical was the way doors were locked from inside. Just press the door lever a little further and it will be locked, it was very risky as there was no separate lid to open or lock the door from inside like in other cars. I had to practically teach my nephew to keep his hand on the arm rest rather than anywhere near the door lever, just in case if he unlocks and opens the door while the car is moving. Although central locking feature instantly looks all the doors the moment car is cranked on still it was too secure.

I loved that slanting dash and stereo's location

Cubby Holes and Glove Compartment

Engine and power: It had a damn powerful engine 1700cc with over 100 BHP’s, still performance wise it wasn’t a sprinter as I assumed it to be. I mean there was no power or nothing to talk about in first two gears – anything below 2500 RPMs car would move like a bullock cart but once you are on 3^rd gear and beyond 2500 RPM turbo kicks in and then there is no stopping it. It would easily cruise on 140 KMPH or above whole day without asking for anything. It was a manual transmission with five forward and one reverse gear. Gear lever had a very short and convenient throw right like Cielo and Accent, it felt damn well on the highways when you required quick gear changing at times to overtake. The only problem I faced in driving it was its hard accelerator, was almost as hard as a brick being pushed down. We did get it checked on servicing but I guess all the models came with that hard accelerator – as long as we had it – it was always like that. I never cared or thought of fuel economy during those days but as far as I remember it used to fetch 12-14 KMPL of Diesel with almost 80% times Air Conditioning on and slightly better on the highways which I believe was pretty good for its size. It felt sturdier on road at any speed and on any kind of surface, may it be pot holed road or nice wide highways where you would test its top speed. We did hit 160 so many times but never dared to take it beyond, although it had so much more space left between the gas pedal and floor.

Look at the rear leg space, even when the drivers
seat is set for a 6 foot driver. 

We did a lot of trips on Siena Weekend and almost took it everywhere; it was a pleasure to drive on the straight stretches of road but was a little bit challenging on hilly terrain. My cousin always told me to put it on second or third gear and keep pulling till you get up the incline and get to the top gear. It was a perfect weekend getaway vehicle – so many times we indeed will stop anywhere on any of our road trips, open the rear doors and boot, fold down the seats and have lunch inside the car – it was fun using it that ways. I guess that’s what they made it for, with those acres of space inside – you need not look for a picnic spot, stop anywhere near a good looking farm and have fun. I loved driving it day in day out and my cousin enjoyed his peaceful sleeps on the back bed. In our ownership experience of a couple of years – I don't remember even once that we had a breakdown or even a flat tire. 

Locking system was dangerous with kids on board

I met with my second major road accident while driving it back from Dehradoon one fateful night and banged it at a very high speed, almost above 100 KMPH into a Tata Safari. The car's front was totally gone with headlights, radiator, bonnet, windshield, fenders etc. But nothing untoward happened to passengers not even scratches or anything at all – with god’s grace we were all wearing seat belts. We had to take a lift from the family going on Safari till Delhi, they were kind enough to drop us home as actually it was their mistake that they stopped on the mid of road after hitting a barrier and the tail lights of their car as usual were not working. I realized that the car was actually on the mid of the road and totally stopped while we were like 50 meters away, tried breaking as hard as I could but couldn't save it from hitting the vehicle from back. While our car was skidding – an important lesson my friend gave me while teaching driving was to brake straight if in emergency and never turn the steering, if I would tried doing it right – I would have hit the oncoming truck and on left – we would have gone off road and toppled. Next day when I took the insurance and car mechanics to the site to pick up the car – they couldn't believe that we were scratch less once they saw the condition of the car and then the company guy started singing Fiat's praises of making sturdier cars, saving lives. I did believe him as I had firsthand experience of the same.

PS: Forgive me for low quality pictures as taken by my cell phone and thanks to my friend Prabuddha for letting me take pictures of his car.