[Ramsagar]

That's a good long term experience you had with the little one.
Hope it servers you well even for longer period.

How about your opinion on the steering?It is good enough for use.
Its really terrible in my vehicle,that's a great crime that I've ever did.

[alto99]

Originally Posted by Ramsagar

That's a good long term experience you had with the little one.
Hope it servers you well even for longer period.

How about your opinion on the steering?It is good enough for use.
Its really terrible in my vehicle,that's a great crime that I've ever did.

What are the issues you are facing? I always had a noise from the steering even in small potholes/ bumps/ rough roads. My issues were never resolved. Here is what I had quoted in my review -
" What I heard (very late after my warranty expired) from Maruti A.S.S. was that there was some issue in steering column of earlier batches of Alto resulting in a noisy steering. This had not been resolved even after column replacement at my own cost. I tried local mechanics as well who resolved the issue, but later when I serviced at the Maruti A.S.S. they managed to bring back the issue again."

The local mechanics who know about the issue are are in another town so cannot go there to fix it but I remember the steering was a but tight when they had fixed it.

Note that its not a power steering. But still I find it light.

[Ironmarine]

A detailed and comprehensive report.

WOW! astonished that you rember and also keep track of everything that you have spent on the car including the price. Thats neat.

Well I too own a maruti alto LXI If right 2003/4 December model. Right now nearing 90K.

In the entire 6 years of experience I did not have even one major issue with the car. Only once I had to spend on clutch and few mods that I got done i.e. FFE, ICE, K&N performance filter alloys and now the new set of tyres which was done by help of Nikhil (Team BHP member).

All team bhipians I would suggest meet Nikhil as I never had such a pleasent experience with changing tyres. Thanks Nikhil.

Still the car is doing very good, wait for me to push the accelerator and it zooms. Most of the time there is always a second look on street when I zip past people. Desided I am never gonna sell this car. Waiting to upgrade to a new car and that would be a SUV. Saving all the money for that.

[rock75]

Originally Posted by alto99

2006:
Clutch replaced (~Rs 1200) (I feel this was unnecessary too).

Hi i also have an alto Lx 2005 model (45k) and has been trouble free but recently clutch has started deteriorating( thanks to my wife who started driving the car since last 1 year and some heavy half clutch riding driving in Shimla in peak season trying to find parking!)

I have learnt that clutch replacement for alto costs around Rs 3800-4000. Could you share the details of clutch repair;whether done at MASS or outside etc.

[alto99]

Originally Posted by rock75

Could you share the details of clutch repair;whether done at MASS or outside etc.

It was not done in MASS.

[knockout]

Deja vu !

I've an '04 Alto-Lx. After driving Ambassadors, I didn't realise that the steering on my Alto was tight till I recently happened to drive my colleague's Alto-Lx !!! Got that attended to during 45K service & since then the steering has begun to rattle/shake occasionally on bad roads, when off -12 o'clock. Service guy says its' a trade-off. I plan to try it out for a couple of weeks more & then decide whether to go back to a tight, but silent steering !

Btw had clutch problems from about 43K. Replaced at 45K. Worked out to Rs.5100 (Clutch assy, Clutch release bearing & Labour charges).

My average since '04 in city traffic with 80% AC is 13.7kmpl. How are you faring ?

[black12rr]

Very nice report .
Why is the number plate so low ?
Is that old zen side mirror ? , is it internally adjustable one ?, cost?

[rock75]

Originally Posted by knockout

Deja vu !

My average since '04 in city traffic with 80% AC is 13.7kmpl. How are you faring ?

Steering problems could also be due to worn out tyres, My steering felt heavy and taking u- tuns was a pain, morover started to shake above 80 till I changed the tyres and voila it felt like I had installed power steering!

I got 18+ with AC but with clutch problems it has come down to 15-16.

[alto99]

Originally Posted by knockout

My average since '04 in city traffic with 80% AC is 13.7kmpl. How are you faring ?

I updated it in a later post.. See this http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/long-t...ml#post1540188

Originally Posted by black12rr

Very nice report .

Thanks.

Originally Posted by black12rr

Why is the number plate so low ?

It is where it should be. I mean no mods. Probably looking low relative to fog lamp covers.

Originally Posted by black12rr

Is that old zen side mirror ? , is it internally adjustable one ?, cost?

These are not old zen mirror. Those does not fit in Alto.

It is a Alto Vxi mirror although not original Maruti one and it is (was) internally adjustable.
I had bought it after waiting for about a year or 2 after I got my car (in 2002 or 2003) from Kolhapur for Rs 1200 for the pair (both left and right). The original Alto Vxi mirrors costed ~2700 for the pair.

Both worked fine till last year. 1 of them has lost its spring (not sure what happened as I was not driving then) and the other one has its knob broken due to use. So none are internally adjustable now.

Originally Posted by rock75

Steering problems could also be due to worn out tyres, My steering felt heavy and taking u- tuns was a pain, morover started to shake above 80 till I changed the tyres and voila it felt like I had installed power steering!

I got 18+ with AC but with clutch problems it has come down to 15-16.

The issue with steering was from initial few months when the car was new. I have changed tyres twice and it does not affect the steering noise although it relieves the shock absorbers a bit.

[Ramsagar]

Old zen mirrors can be very well fitted onto alto.

my steering is too tight. Though adjusted the ply, later its back to normal.