[svsantosh]

Hello T-BHP'ians, This is my story of the first car in my family.

It was around May-03 when I decided on the Alto LX.

One thing I followed strictly from day1; drive per the manual for first 10K kms at least. I never crossed 60 till 5K. I did not bother for a ICE till first 3 months. I did not have the cash for it. Then I got a Pioneer cassette player with 2 rears 6*9 coaxial on the 5th door. I was satisfied with it.

In the first year did a few long drives with a hired driver (mom's idea) for my help. Drivers just think of the car as public transport. Each one used to drive differently; I used to keep shouting, "Shift to 5th, shift to 5th".
List of Mis (deeds) through Drivers -
1) driver was going towards west on a sunny evening, I was right behind him in the rear, I saw a herd of sheep crossing the highway a few hundred meters ahead of us, I kept shouting “sheep, sheep” and he was straining his eyes and asking where, where. Then a BANG, I turned back and saw a white furred animal flying high and landing with a thud, next thing I said was “go to 3rd, go to 3rd” and I ordered him to rip off. Alto got a small dent above right headlight, still drive with it.
2) Another driver, midnight, Drove over a 1 feet * 2-3 Inches dia firewood lying on the road, blind driver did not see it. Idiot, underbody got a tiny dent, luckily all fuel lines and cat’ survived it.
3) Worst one, driver with mom and dad, (I was in office), ran over a TVS excel in a busy intersection. Luckily rider jumped and escaped, Running board below driver side got major damage. Dad paid 2000 to the rider; I ended up paying 3000 for the dent work.
That evening saw a Kurukshetra in my home. Since that day, no one has ever touched my car (except the ones my mechanic’s test drive it after service)
Initial 2 years saw nearly 20K kms with all the service done on TIME. One thing about Maruti; everything is cheap and nothing breaks or fails to work. I hardly changed/replaced anything beyond what the manual recommends. I was using regular petrol all the time and averaged between 17-20 FE; very nice car on that front. Major mods till that time period included changing to 90/100 headlights with cutouts and highway roots horns and a reverse horn, and seat covers. That’s it, nothing else.

Then my work needed a better transport and sometime in late 2005 saw many cars in my town modded with LPG kits. I began my research and discussions with many people near and far and finally decided I will end up spending the 20K needed for the open ended Lovato Kit. It was June 2006, after a trip to Ooty, decided fuel bills were reaching sky high and its time I take the LPG plunge. I got it installed at around 25K kms on the ODO.
2007 was the time I actually spent the MOST of my money on my car. Around 30K I got the entire clutch kit replaced, cost me nearly 4000Rs. Then got the front 2 lower arms also replaced (2000Rs), 4 wheels brake shoe set (2K may be). Many services done in 2007, ‘3’ I guess. I hate the 5000km service cycle in Alto. The LPG Kit was great except it ate off the entire boot space. I got the big 45 Liter tank taking up all the boot space. So 2007 gave me major discomfort on my long drives with mum and dad. The entire time mum ended up with the luggage as her co passenger.
I averaged a good 15K km during late 06 and whole 2007, thanks to the LPG savings. Around 40K on the ODO I got all the fluids in the car replaced for the 1st time, spent around 6000Rs for that service. But frankly, until the TATA NANO hits the road, nothing can come cheaper to the ownership cost of an Alto or 800 series from Maruti.
After 45000 Kms on the ODO, I have not experienced a SINGLE puncture till date; I have followed all the rotation cycles correctly. Though the last 10K kms; the car has seen many abuses after I began to drive fast and apply heavy braking. I also get the balancing and alignment done at 3 months intervals. 700Rs Odd is definitely worth in an aging car.
After Jan 2008 began a Avid reader of tBHP and slowly understood the basics of a good ICE and on March 1st 2008, got my Alto ICE’ed up with Pioneer 3050 HU, JBL 937 6*9 coaxial in the rear, JBL 427 in the front, and a Sony ZR602 AMP and Scosche wiring all around.
Also I wanted to experiment with the Mandovi motors Turbo fan, and I am very impressed with the change in power and FE. I think I will retain it until I face some issues.
Tires slowly started to fade; I still a good 1MM of thread. Oh, and the battery; still working great, original Exide battery that came with the car.
This is my experience with the Alto.
PS
After 5 years, I am feeling the need for a bigger car with better leg room. I am slowly looking at the Indigo CS way. Not sure when I will take the plunge. Cant afford any other sedan currently.

[esteemer]

Horrible experiences, I think now your mother's opinion abt drivers would have changed.
You must be some strong minded guy, didn't take it above 60!!
Enjoy the car.

[sanjayatarizona]

Buddy, this is the first LPG Alto i have heard about on the forum. Must be giving you a god almighty FE.
Good luck on your upgrade.

[svsantosh]

yes Sanjay, I used to get 17 in petrol (52 Rs), now i get around 15 in LPG (35Rs) , so definetly worth the trouble. i got the LPG kit when it was 25 Rs.litre. So now its becoming a loss maker compared to modern diesels.! sigh.

[sukiwa]

45K Kms & no puncture.

That's great achievement. You really seem take very good care of car as well as tyres.

[svsantosh]

Sukiwa, Touch wood! i have been abusing it actually. I dont want to flatter, but once a nail was stuck into the front right tyre, slowly pulled it out with a plyer and nothing happened. Seems like it didnt reach the tube!

[Keralite]

Hi santhosh, that's a wonderful review.

I also booked an Alto and expecting the delivery by 15th April.

By the by, what's this ICE?

[HappyWheels]

hope you get many more miles on those wheels.

i had mine changed when they reached 41k. They were still good for few more KM's but they my higyway driving demanded a better set of wheels (when faced with two skids on the same trip!!!)

and mighty strong of you not to have crossed 60kmph for the first 10k KM's. I guess I really abused my car due to the fact that on the very first highway drive (with just <500km on the odo) i had hit 130kmph!

[rjstyles69]

Santosh a nice ownership narration there, a noob's question, whats this ?

Mandovi motors Turbo fan, and I am very impressed with the change in power and FE.

Originally Posted by Keralite

By the by, what's this ICE?

Chetta thats In Car Entertainment .

sanjayatarizona, fellow member mail4ajo from Chennai has an Alto with the LPG kit installed.

[mail4ajo]

450000kms is a lot. Great to hear and also reassuring to hear you car is doing good.

I am seriously interested in why you had to replace the lower arms. Was it not under warranty? 40000kms or 2 years is the term. Did you cover that milestone when you replaced the arms? Suspension is not covered in extended warranty.

[svsantosh]

Originally Posted by Keralite

Hi santhosh, that's a wonderful review.

I also booked an Alto and expecting the delivery by 15th April.

By the by, what's this ICE?

hello buddy

• -------ICE SETUP--------
• Pioneer DEH-3050UB HU
• Front JBL GTO427 10cm
• Rear JBL GTO937 6*9 (On Rear Door)
• Sony Amp - XM-ZR602 2 Channel Amp
• Scoshe Wiring, Sound Damping by Anwar-Auto fusion, Kormangla, Bangalore
• ---------------------

[svsantosh]

Originally Posted by HappyWheels

I really abused my car due to the fact that on the very first highway drive (with just <500km on the odo) i had hit 130kmph!

bad bad, dont ever do that on any automobile. but anyways, cheers on your ride.

[svsantosh]

Originally Posted by rjstyles69

Santosh a nice ownership narration there, a noob's question, whats this ?
.

Hello RJstyles,

Its a tiny stationery fan sold by mandovi motors for 885Rs. its placed inside the rubber tube from air filter to the intake throttle body. Many posts are there in tBHP itself. Many dont believe in it, few do. i am one among them. I am sure it will fit any petrol car, since diesels are a bit different.

[svsantosh]

Originally Posted by mail4ajo

450000kms is a lot. Great to hear and also reassuring to hear you car is doing good.

I am seriously interested in why you had to replace the lower arms. Was it not under warranty? 40000kms or 2 years is the term. Did you cover that milestone when you replaced the arms? Suspension is not covered in extended warranty.

hello mail4ajo,

funny thing, I was following a wagonR (READ L Board) on the electronic city - silk board road in bangalore on a empty sunday morning drive. Out of no where that jerk went extreme right (flyover construction area) and ran over a couple of boulders and that caused 1 to roll over onto my path. (of course his front right got screwed), I had little time to avoid it and I had known always where the important engine casing and oil sump was, nearer to right wheel. So I cooly swerwed right and ran over the stone with my left suspension. dont ask me why I couldnot avoid it, just did not have the road to do it. So ended up with a tiny left lower arm bend, enough to screw the alignment, Drove back very slowly (was not a major alignment issue,so risked it) to mymechanic place and got them both replaced.

hope it solves your doubts
LOL
santosh

PS - Same day i saw a brand new alto lying with out a engine in my mechanics place, heard he did the similar thing over the right suspension. Gearbox got ripped off and I felt lucky.!!!

[HappyWheels]

Originally Posted by svsantosh

Hello RJstyles,

Its a tiny stationery fan sold by mandovi motors for 885Rs. its placed inside the rubber tube from air filter to the intake throttle body. Many posts are there in tBHP itself. Many dont believe in it, few do. i am one among them. I am sure it will fit any petrol car, since diesels are a bit different.

Even i had this fitted a year and a half back from Madovi, JP Nagar. I am not sure as to how much boost or efficiency it has given me since I found absolutely no difference to ride before and after.

Infact, I even wanted to ask them if they had fitted it, but keep forgetting about it whenever I am there. Maybe I will do it this time.

But its good to know that you have found it to be useful. Atleast it works as they say it should. I might be an exception!