Convertible for Less Than the Price of a WagonR?
Ever wished to drive down the coastal roads of Mumbai with the sea air rushing through your hair? Of course you have, but buying a convertible isn’t cheap. The BMW Z4 and the Mercedes CLE cabrio cost well over one crore rupees, and the more affordable options involve the MG Cyberster and Mini Cooper S Convertible. Even these cars cost more than 80 lakh rupees (on-road, Mumbai).
You can find a few Z4s for 20 lakh rupees on the used market, but what if your budget is even lower? There is one such convertible that you probably never heard of, and you can get it for less than the cost of an LXI WagonR. Here is all you should know about the San Storm – India’s cheapest convertible.
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What Is A San Storm?
It may sound like “sand storm”, but it is just word-play. San Motors built the car, and the unit was called Storm roadster. San Motors, a Bangalore-based firm, partnered with a French firm, Le Mans Group, to develop the Storm. The French group did the design, and the production was done in Goa and Bangalore.
It was launched in 1998 at more than 7 lakh rupees (on-road, Mumbai). To put it into perspective, you could get the 800AC for less than 4 lakhs at that time. The San Storm was a valiant effort, but the market was more focused on practicality at the time. The car was even imported to the UK. The current SUV-dominated market requires such vehicles that excite enthusiasts.
Looks
The San Storm Roadster looks goofy and fun at the same time. It is hilariously short at 3.5m long and 1.5m wide. It is the Indian-version of the Mazda Miata. Everything about the Storm roadster is plain and basic. The body language is simple, with basic headlights and taillights. To make the car seem sporty, you get alloys and a tiny rear spoiler.
What’s more interesting is that the body was made out of fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP). This meant the car weighed just 760 kg.
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Interior
It is a car from the early 2000s, when Air conditioning was a luxury. This car was relatively luxurious in those regards. You got Air conditioning, power windows, seat belts, a tachometer, a centre console and magazine pockets in the doors. And that was it. As expected, the materials were flimsy and cheap.
But if you buy one, you won’t be buying it for the features. You buy it for the roof. The soft-top folds down conveniently into the rear shelf, and it is a walk in the park to get it back up. The roof mechanism is simple, unlike most convertibles, and it takes less than a minute to raise or lower it.
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Performance
It gets a 1.2L Renault engine, which produces a decent 60 horsepower and 90 Nm of torque. It is only a 6-horsepower and 1 Nm disadvantage over the WagonR, Celerio and S-presso. And with its lightweight design, it is a blast to drive. It may not have the fastest 0-100 times or top speed, but it makes up for it with its handling.
The fun part is driving it with the roof down. The unlimited headroom and air flowing through your air enhance the experience. On the Ghats or twisty roads, it could be as fun to drive as the Creta 1.5 Turbo or the Polo GT. You can also rest your elbows on the door sill and cruise peacefully, like Hritik in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara.
Should You Buy It?
One such model was found on the marketplace for almost 4 lakh rupees. This particular model has undergone some modifications, such as bigger alloys and exhaust. There are some other issues with the listing as well. It has covered 60,000 km and had 6 owners. This is a big No for most used cars, but understandable on such an old car. You would have to try really hard to find another unit to buy. If you plan to buy one, have the model checked by a trusted mechanic. It may not be that expensive, but you should still make sure that it isn’t a money pit.
The car is relatively low-risk compared to used premium cars. The spare parts will be a hassle, but the maintenance won’t be as expensive as a used German sedan. You can use it as a project car and work on the engine if that excites you. There is a lot of potential ways you can use it. It will be used as a second car, and using it as a daily driver seems foolish. You can use your SUVs for work and take the San Storm through Marine Drive on weekends.
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