[Amartya]

The A-star is actually quite fun to drive. With some renewed marketing efforts, I think Maruti can make it sell more, however, I have a sneaky feeling that Maruti is happy with the current volumes (mainly because of the export numbers).

Also, does anyone know whether the 30-40K discounts cited on this thread are valid for the LXi model or not? If it is, I think it's quite good value for money..

[specialist1968]

Very poor leg room and very little luggage space are the reasons why I dont like astar. Looks they are providing more engine room, probably for safety/ more engine options.

One of the greatest decisions of Maruti was not to replace the existing alto, and introduce astar as a separate model. Otherwise, maruti might have had different story to tell!

[AyAn!]

I think its radical looks are putting most people off.That said,I love the way it looks and drives, a whole lot better than cars like the Spark! Maybe it looks too radical for its market segment and the Indian buyer.

[pjay_in]

I love the A-Star's peppy and energetic looks. All it needs is an eye for style and fashion to appreciate the looks of A Star and Ritz. Ugly? Too bad to write off unconventional and trendy designs as ugly. Majority of our folks are a little slow in moving with changing trends, so I accept that looks have played a part in the A Star's lack of popularity. Lack of space must be the number one reason though.

As someone pointed out early in this thread, A-Star would make an excellent second car. I wouldn't want it to be my only car because it doesn't look like a very practical family mover.

[PAVAN KADAM]

Originally Posted by AyAn!

I think its radical looks are putting most people off.That said,I love the way it looks and drives, a whole lot better than cars like the Spark! Maybe it looks too radical for its market segment and the Indian buyer.

Its radical looks are making few people buy that car, but they get put-off when they see the claustrophobic nature of the car.

I hope everyone agree's , Maruti now have nothing better to offer, they are just churning out good engines and Bad cars. and the A-Star is one big example to their creative blunder.

[rohan_iitr]

Originally Posted by Sankar

Nowadays i see a lot of rich spoilt middle aged college going men buy the AStar for whatever they see in it, sales are better than before. Of course not great by Maruti standards.

Seriously OT, but could not resist asking.

What do you mean by - middle aged college going men ?

Rohan

[bblost]

Originally Posted by PAVAN KADAM

Its radical looks are making few people buy that car, but they get put-off when they see the claustrophobic nature of the car.

India does not think so.
As per http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/attach...0may-sales.jpg
From the May 2010 Sales Figures thread.

2637 A Stars sold.
Removing Hyundai and Maruti from the list.
That is GM Spark > A Star (200 less than Spark) > Beat (350 less then A*).

I hope everyone agree's , Maruti now have nothing better to offer, they are just churning out good engines and Bad cars. and the A-Star is one big example to their creative blunder.

So who will break the Hold of Maruti on the Indian Market.
Fiat
With its total of 1063 sales in Indian hatchback market.

Or Skoda *2
with its 547 Fabia's

Referred to these 2 brands as they are considered the champions of build quality.

[McLaren Rulez]

On my visit to Chennai, I was surprised at the number of A-Stars there. I saw far far more than in Bangalore/Mysore.

Its really is a wonderful car for one or two people. Looks great, good engine, gem of a chassis and cheap. And the front seats are really comfy even for tall people. Shame about the back seat and the boot but if you don't use them often, the A-Star is a great bet. Think of it as a fun second car instead of a typical family car.

[WindRide]

it doesn't sell coz it has a laughable boot and a back bench only knee-down amputees can get into.

Now, both these 'features' don't appeal to alto-buyers, which is what A-star was meant to do - draw people away from alto right?

[allwheeldrive]

A-Star will start selling well when Maruti brings in the 1 litre MultiJet derived 3 Cylinder Diesel Engine.

[anjan_c2007]

Originally Posted by McLaren Rulez

Shame about the back seat and the boot but if you don't use them often, the A-Star is a great bet. Think of it as a fun second car instead of a typical family car.

The claustrophobic rear window (on the rear door) is a turn off. This rear window style (if any) is a lift from the typical 1970's Japanese designs.I fail to appreciate as to why in this eccentric design, the the rear window gets the metal swing upward reducing the glass area.
The pictures below are of Jap cars from the 1960's and 1970's with similar rear window design cues.

a 1963 Honda Z600 (wikipedia)

a 1970's Datsun 120Y(classic wheels)

a 1970 Toyota Corolla E20(wikipedia)

A 1991 Toyota Corolla E100 (wikipedia)
These claustrophobic rear windows are a signature of style (if any) on many older Japanese cars, like the soaring heights, the rear tailfins of American cars reached in the late 1950's.
With the A Star launched in 2009 (in 1959 the Cadillac El Dorado tailfin
(1959 Cadillac ED tailfin source: seriouswheels)
peaked at an all time high) has peaked this claustrophobic rear window to an all time high swing.None of the older Japanese cars shown above have this degree of eccentricity applied on the rear window as today's A Star.
(cardekho)

[supremeBaleno]

For the space (interior + boot) that it offers, the A-Star should have been priced like the Alto or a wee bit more, for it to have been a success. As simple as that.

While many seem to point out 'bad looks' as a cause for its failure, I don't think that is really the case, though the front lights could have been done better. If looks really mattered in India, you would not see i10s selling like crazy - I don't think there is any other car that is uglier in frontal looks.

My pet peeve with the A* was the way the front seat (especially driver's) was - kind of sunk at the rear and tapering upwards to the front.

[shineshine]

In my opinion, A-star should have replaced Alto altogether.

[deehunk]

When A-star was launched, i was very keen to buy it, but when I went to see the car I was shocked to see its interior space. I doubt it can seat comfortably 4 average adults even. Maruti may have lot of gains from other cars and they want to waste their money. A star never caught the attention because of i10's roaring success in early 2008 and 2009. Maruti may do something silly similar to what they did on Zen to keep A star in the market.

[buddha]

Originally Posted by deehunk

When A-star was launched, i was very keen to buy it, but when I went to see the car I was shocked to see its interior space. I doubt it can seat comfortably 4 average adults even. Maruti may have lot of gains from other cars and they want to waste their money. A star never caught the attention because of i10's roaring success in early 2008 and 2009. Maruti may do something silly similar to what they did on Zen to keep A star in the market.

What did they do to the Zen? You meant get the Estilo in its place?

I am sure people have spoken of it before, but I think Maruti will give the A-Star treatment similar to that given to the Alto. The Alto started life alongside the WagonR before finally settling in just above the 800. I reckon the A-Star too will eventually settle in close to the lower end of the market when the Alto nears the end of its product lifecycle. After all, it is based on the Alto platform innit?