Maruti 800 ends 21 year long reign!!

GTO · 4th June 2004, 22:42

Move over 800, the Alto is here. After 21 long years of virtually unchallenged leadership at the very top, India's largest selling model finally had to give way to its younger sibling - The Maruti Alto. While some may have thought it impossible to move the 800 from position no.1 (very recently touching the 20,000/month mark), Maruti has done it again. Smartly reducing the price of the non-a/c Alto to an unbelievable Rs. 2.3 lacs, Maruti has provided an alternative to the first-time car buyer. The Alto is a full two generations newer than the utterly outdated Maruti 800 and is safer, better built, far more modern in design and drives much superior than the extremely basic 800.

The Alto is offered without an air-con at 2.3 lacs. Butttttttttttttttt all the brackets and provisions for an air-con are provided. Thus, an owner can go back to the show-room at a later date and have a bolt-on "factory fitted" air-con.

Whats even more amazing is what a few changes in standard fitments and a 10% reduction in price can achieve. The Alto till very recently managed no more than 2000 cars per month.

In May 2004, MUL moved 10373 Altos compared to 10016 Maruti 800's. Awesome isnt it?

Source - The Economic Times article.

GTO

Jonathan · 5th June 2004, 01:57

I expected that.

Any info on Versa's (3.46L) sales this month?

ported_head · 5th June 2004, 02:11

great news GTO. it's fantastic to hear that the people are finally upgrading to what i feel is a much better specced car, not in terms od equipment levels, but in terms of being an updated car. i'm sure the alto has a better crash rating than the maruti 800. looks like they can finally consider putting the m800 out of production. and great pricing too. thats what did it for the consumers i guess. looks like the japanese and the koreans have a lot in common.

SLK · 5th June 2004, 02:30

Ya.. .. its wonderful... but, I don't understand this... What was Maruti's objective behind this?

BY all means they were earning much more profit by selling the 800 than the Alto.. as they are priced so close.

If they can sell alto for 2.3 they can do 800 for 1.7 ....

Earlier the Alto and 800 shared the same engine (12 valve) ... now only Alto had that.

No matter what one says Alto's maintenance is much higher than the 800... say buying a windscreen.... its more than double.

I actually can't understand the motive (of course its not doing for better safety standards) ...

And one more thing.... why can't maruti get its cars into the right price slot in the first shot... see Baleno, Versa, Alto

lol... on the selfish side its a loss to me.... I too have a Alto though Vxi.... now this car will become the most basic thing on the road. though i got it for 4+ (on-road)

2fast2furious · 5th June 2004, 11:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (GTO @ June 04 2004,21:12)]Move over 800, the Alto is here. After 21 long years of virtually unchallenged leadership at the very top, India's largest selling model finally had to give way to its younger sibling - The Maruti Alto. While some may have thought it impossible to move the 800 from position no.1 (very recently touching the 20,000/month mark), Maruti has done it again. Smartly reducing the price of the non-a/c Alto to an unbelievable Rs. 2.3 lacs, Maruti has provided an alternative to the first-time car buyer. The Alto is a full two generations newer than the utterly outdated Maruti 800 and is safer, better built, far more modern in design and drives much superior than the extremely basic 800.

The Alto is offered without an air-con at 2.3 lacs. Butttttttttttttttt all the brackets and provisions for an air-con are provided. Thus, an owner can go back to the show-room at a later date and have a bolt-on "factory fitted" air-con.

Whats even more amazing is what a few changes in standard fitments and a 10% reduction in price can achieve. The Alto till very recently managed no more than 2000 cars per month.

In May 2004, MUL moved 10373 Altos compared to 10016 Maruti 800's. Awesome isnt it?

Source - The Economic Times article.

GTO

Alto is any time a btter car then that of m800, not even in engine refinment as well as look wise tooo...

Actually... Maruti has a very good stratergy behind all this....which we`ll discuss any time later.

Till then ........... Let`s GO !!

2f2f

Rtech · 5th June 2004, 13:48

This surely is a historic milestone for the Indian Auto market.

The day the M800 stops being the best seller is nothing to overlook! Sure, the main reason Maruti is phasing out the 800 is because there is no way it can meet the soon to be introduced safety regs, but still, it is an end of an era.

Thank you M800...you put India on (reliable) wheels.

Rtech

shravan316 · 5th June 2004, 15:22

bye bye 800! it was great having u around for such a long time, helping many people's dream of owning a car (including my dad's) come true.

lamborghini · 6th June 2004, 02:08

sigh
i will always remember the 800
it was one good car
it was the first one i sold
the car i learnt to drive in
the car which i hated status wise
the car which was the most fuel efficient and hardworking of the lot in my house

oh well on the bright side
there is always the alto
the perfect ALTOnative
( yes i noe it is a poor crack )

cheers
lamborghini

GTO · 6th June 2004, 02:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]the perfect ALTOnative

Ha, never thought of that one but its really apt. The Alto is now the perfect ALTOnative to the 800 for a first-time car buyer.

GTO

S350L-E240 · 7th June 2004, 16:35

Nice word lamborghini' maybe u shud send it to maruti,

Anyways it was nice knowing you M800,
Please move aside for your Altonative,

4th June 2004, 22:42	#1
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 70,546 Thanked: 300,786 Times View My Garage	Move over 800, the Alto is here. After 21 long years of virtually unchallenged leadership at the very top, India's largest selling model finally had to give way to its younger sibling - The Maruti Alto. While some may have thought it impossible to move the 800 from position no.1 (very recently touching the 20,000/month mark), Maruti has done it again. Smartly reducing the price of the non-a/c Alto to an unbelievable Rs. 2.3 lacs, Maruti has provided an alternative to the first-time car buyer. The Alto is a full two generations newer than the utterly outdated Maruti 800 and is safer, better built, far more modern in design and drives much superior than the extremely basic 800. The Alto is offered without an air-con at 2.3 lacs. Butttttttttttttttt all the brackets and provisions for an air-con are provided. Thus, an owner can go back to the show-room at a later date and have a bolt-on "factory fitted" air-con. Whats even more amazing is what a few changes in standard fitments and a 10% reduction in price can achieve. The Alto till very recently managed no more than 2000 cars per month. In May 2004, MUL moved 10373 Altos compared to 10016 Maruti 800's. Awesome isnt it? Source - The Economic Times article. GTO
	() Thanks

5th June 2004, 01:57	#2
Jonathan Newbie Join Date: May 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 5 Thanked: 0 Times	I expected that. Any info on Versa's (3.46L) sales this month?
	() Thanks

5th June 2004, 02:11	#3
ported_head Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 2,387 Thanked: 20 Times	great news GTO. it's fantastic to hear that the people are finally upgrading to what i feel is a much better specced car, not in terms od equipment levels, but in terms of being an updated car. i'm sure the alto has a better crash rating than the maruti 800. looks like they can finally consider putting the m800 out of production. and great pricing too. thats what did it for the consumers i guess. looks like the japanese and the koreans have a lot in common.
	() Thanks

5th June 2004, 02:30	#4
SLK Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: DL XX XX XXXX Posts: 1,634 Thanked: 1,011 Times	Ya.. .. its wonderful... but, I don't understand this... What was Maruti's objective behind this? BY all means they were earning much more profit by selling the 800 than the Alto.. as they are priced so close. If they can sell alto for 2.3 they can do 800 for 1.7 .... Earlier the Alto and 800 shared the same engine (12 valve) ... now only Alto had that. No matter what one says Alto's maintenance is much higher than the 800... say buying a windscreen.... its more than double. I actually can't understand the motive (of course its not doing for better safety standards) ... And one more thing.... why can't maruti get its cars into the right price slot in the first shot... see Baleno, Versa, Alto lol... on the selfish side its a loss to me.... I too have a Alto though Vxi.... now this car will become the most basic thing on the road. though i got it for 4+ (on-road)
	() Thanks

5th June 2004, 13:48	#6
Rtech Team-BHP Support Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 5,770 Thanked: 359 Times View My Garage	This surely is a historic milestone for the Indian Auto market. The day the M800 stops being the best seller is nothing to overlook! Sure, the main reason Maruti is phasing out the 800 is because there is no way it can meet the soon to be introduced safety regs, but still, it is an end of an era. Thank you M800...you put India on (reliable) wheels. Rtech
	() Thanks

5th June 2004, 15:22	#7
shravan316 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,029 Thanked: 9 Times	bye bye 800! it was great having u around for such a long time, helping many people's dream of owning a car (including my dad's) come true.
	() Thanks

6th June 2004, 02:08	#8
lamborghini Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 6,114 Thanked: 5,763 Times View My Garage	sigh i will always remember the 800 it was one good car it was the first one i sold the car i learnt to drive in the car which i hated status wise the car which was the most fuel efficient and hardworking of the lot in my house oh well on the bright side there is always the alto the perfect ALTOnative ( yes i noe it is a poor crack ) cheers lamborghini
	() Thanks

7th June 2004, 16:35	#10
S350L-E240 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: India Posts: 1,416 Thanked: 393 Times	Nice word lamborghini' maybe u shud send it to maruti, Anyways it was nice knowing you M800, Please move aside for your Altonative,
	() Thanks