My life with Maruti Suzuki Alto LXi
Wednesday, 4. November 2009, 11:01:05
I bought my Alto LXi purely based on budget and maintenance factors. Alto is one-step above India's basic car, the Maruti 800. It has got some better comforts than Maruti 800 and carries a tuned-up engine. The top-end 800 costs Rs.2.2Lakhs and a top-end Alto costs Rs.2.75Lakhs. The extra 55k can be justified for a all-new design (though it looks kinda outdated now), decent interiors, Power steering and a lovely Air-con. Logically anyone who has driven a 800 will feel much better inside an Alto.
Why did I chose the Alto?
I chose Alto from a list that carried WagonR, Santro and a Bolero. Looking at long term, the EMI, value, cost of Depreciation, yearly renewals such as Insurance made me chose Alto LXi. Infact fuel economy is one more influencing factor too.
Is Alto a city car?
Combined with a tuned motor of Maruti 800 (delivers 45 bhp) and a good Air-con, Alto gives you all the basic comforts for a city car. It has got enough power for the stop-and-go, city traffic. It will cool up the cabin decently and quickly. It has got enough space to carry 2 people in the rear and a third one can squeeze in, but cannot avoid rubbing shoulders.
My Life with Alto
Hate it or Love it. Alto is one unique car. It has got decent bits of everything to make you determined to buy a better-in-all-aspect car next time. Haha.. it's a joke. But yes, Alto does offer you everything a modern car has. It has basic safety - Seat Belts that makes you crave for Air bags. It has got basic comfort - standard definition seating that makes you long for wider and more ergonomic seats. It has got a decent engine which is derived from an outdated engine. It shows up when you try to over-take and try some sudden pick-ups. It has got a good Air con, which will make you wish for a Climate control. It has got a 800-based vague long-throw gearbox that makes you wish for a slick gearbox. (The classic gear-box problem of 800 and Alto exists. It appears to be a design problem, and the effect is - the first and Reverse gears are tight.. i mean really tight to slot in. Not all the Altos and 800s suffer from this, but generally few notices it.) It has got bit somewhat cramped interiors that makes you wish for a better space.
Inspite of all these can-live-with shortcomings, Alto is fun to drive in the city. Switch on the aircon and slot in the gear, you are set to go. You can cruise thru the bumper-to-bumper traffic effortlessly. On the highways it is a different story. I've scratched other's egos a lot of time. I've zipped past, and chased Lancers, Accents, Innovas, Santros, Esteems and even Skodas , who then got their egos scratched zipped past me at 140 hmph. Had there not been the speed limiter that puts Alto's range within 130 kmph, I would have tried overtaking them again. The car is such a ego-scratcher! :-D hahah...
So what makes Alto the number one selling car in India? It's the decent-bits-of-everything, fuel economy and maintenance. City driving gives you an FE of around 13 to 14 kmpl with / without aircon. Highway driving gives you 17 to 19kmpl with/without aircon. Maintenance wise, it doesnt burn any hole in your pocket. Just make sure you check the timing belt, engine oil, and clean the air filter once in 3 months. With decent boot space for weekend getaways and shopping, and space for a loving family of four, decent for occasional long drives, and a price that no other brand can match - Alto is the choice for many Indians.
Conclusion
I love my Alto and most possibly I am going to keep it as long as possible. Even if I have to buy a new car / UV, Alto will stay in my Erode home. I am not going to sell it.
Why did I chose the Alto?
I chose Alto from a list that carried WagonR, Santro and a Bolero. Looking at long term, the EMI, value, cost of Depreciation, yearly renewals such as Insurance made me chose Alto LXi. Infact fuel economy is one more influencing factor too.
Is Alto a city car?
Combined with a tuned motor of Maruti 800 (delivers 45 bhp) and a good Air-con, Alto gives you all the basic comforts for a city car. It has got enough power for the stop-and-go, city traffic. It will cool up the cabin decently and quickly. It has got enough space to carry 2 people in the rear and a third one can squeeze in, but cannot avoid rubbing shoulders.
My Life with Alto
Hate it or Love it. Alto is one unique car. It has got decent bits of everything to make you determined to buy a better-in-all-aspect car next time. Haha.. it's a joke. But yes, Alto does offer you everything a modern car has. It has basic safety - Seat Belts that makes you crave for Air bags. It has got basic comfort - standard definition seating that makes you long for wider and more ergonomic seats. It has got a decent engine which is derived from an outdated engine. It shows up when you try to over-take and try some sudden pick-ups. It has got a good Air con, which will make you wish for a Climate control. It has got a 800-based vague long-throw gearbox that makes you wish for a slick gearbox. (The classic gear-box problem of 800 and Alto exists. It appears to be a design problem, and the effect is - the first and Reverse gears are tight.. i mean really tight to slot in. Not all the Altos and 800s suffer from this, but generally few notices it.) It has got bit somewhat cramped interiors that makes you wish for a better space.
Inspite of all these can-live-with shortcomings, Alto is fun to drive in the city. Switch on the aircon and slot in the gear, you are set to go. You can cruise thru the bumper-to-bumper traffic effortlessly. On the highways it is a different story. I've scratched other's egos a lot of time. I've zipped past, and chased Lancers, Accents, Innovas, Santros, Esteems and even Skodas , who then got their egos scratched zipped past me at 140 hmph. Had there not been the speed limiter that puts Alto's range within 130 kmph, I would have tried overtaking them again. The car is such a ego-scratcher! :-D hahah...
So what makes Alto the number one selling car in India? It's the decent-bits-of-everything, fuel economy and maintenance. City driving gives you an FE of around 13 to 14 kmpl with / without aircon. Highway driving gives you 17 to 19kmpl with/without aircon. Maintenance wise, it doesnt burn any hole in your pocket. Just make sure you check the timing belt, engine oil, and clean the air filter once in 3 months. With decent boot space for weekend getaways and shopping, and space for a loving family of four, decent for occasional long drives, and a price that no other brand can match - Alto is the choice for many Indians.
Conclusion
I love my Alto and most possibly I am going to keep it as long as possible. Even if I have to buy a new car / UV, Alto will stay in my Erode home. I am not going to sell it.
WIDGETIZE