[benbsb29]

Originally Posted by sidindica

reel 7: gearbox: ****

perhaps the only saving grace: smooth shifting short throw gearbox is sweet to engage and the ratios are even, save for the awkward gap between the 2nd and 3rd gears.

Oh, so atleast the gearboxes coming in are better now. They were always a problem with the older lot of Maruti small cars.

Originally Posted by sidindica

reel 12: stereo: ***.

for a factory fitted unit in ZXI with 4-speakers, it sounded pretty good. it is mp3/wma compatible and also comes with an i-pod auxilary input jack.however, absence of a steering remote was a glaring omission.

Sid, but really did you expect this from them? the steering remote, i mean! Certainly not a "glaring" omission, if you ask me.

[tarunmadhok]

Originally Posted by suman

Nice review Sid but you're a hard man to satisfy!


You mean just because someone has a 1000+ posts against his name, he would be therefore be a good reviewer?

Sr BHP person with more experience. And i said lets wait for few more reviews before we could come to some conclusions.

[madhokritesh]

The Astar was always known to be a 3 cylinder car and now its out there in the open that its a underpowered car, make that under cylindered car, wish it had a 1.2 4 cylinder engine option too.

[jaysmokesleaves]

Front end designs are getting uglier by the day.
Similar looking cars are seen on cartoon network.

[funda2max]

Is it an another Estilo in the making ?

[Sowmya]

Originally Posted by palioman

Boy I don't believe this,we in India prefer looks last ( in cars).Else how would that ugly Santro become a hit, and how doea Maruti continue with its outdated 800, Esteem ( thankfully phased out) and other numerous examples by other makers too ..
Priorities for us Indians.
1.Fuel Efficiency ( aka "average").
2.Fuel efficiency .
3.fuel efficiency.
4.Cost price
5.Spares price and maintenance..
6.Interior space
7. Ride
8. Looks
9.Build
10. Safety ( maybe).
.

You have forgot to mention RE-Sale value...

[penpavan]

Originally Posted by tarunmadhok

Sr BHP person with more experience. And i said lets wait for few more reviews before we could come to some conclusions.

This isn't a school! This is a forum. If Michael Schumacher joins TBHP today, he will be a new bee.

Ok, coming back to Astar. I felt the review was honest. And like it or hate it. Maruti sells. They have played the FE card. + the usual maruti benefits.

Looks will be gotten used to once you see a few cars on the road. And then it catches on! Adding on to it, waiting period card also is already in.

[rjvora_2000]

Look's nice but surprised with the review.

[vnabhi]

Originally Posted by jaysmokesleaves

Front end designs are getting uglier by the day.
Similar looking cars are seen on cartoon network.

Well said! Looks like Fred Flintstone designed this car!

[sj_koova]

Good review Sid.
Somehow I never liked the looks.
Also there was no much hype with this launch. May be bad time for a launch.

[Palio_2005]

Nice review Sid. As expected it's a dull and overpriced car from Maruti's stable. Suzuki worldwide isn't rated highly either.

But it will sell because it's Maruti and has the all important 'FE bahut accha hai" tag to it which is most important in Indian context. Nothing wrong with it though I seriously hope people get over that.

People even ask this question to a Mercedes owner

I think I-10 is definitely a better car than the A-star and Hyundai's have been getting better over the period. They definitely have better designed better speced cars.

[Technocrat]

Thanks for posting the review sid

I agree with BaCkSeAtDrIVeR & I find the review a bit harsh, May be you had high expectations from A star & hence the disappointment

Other than what BaCkSeAtDrIVeR pointed out

absence of a tilt steering and seat height adjustment is a disaster.

For a car in its size & segment I dont think the absence of above is a disastor, of course they are good to have but certainly not expected in this segment only exception being i10 Magna which are above 4 lac segment.

would anyone believe it that the motor is noisy and it labours to its redline like an alto!

Why not both are 3 pot engines & produce their peak power at a 6000 rpm

This review looks like Hyundai Vs A-star competition.

[crn12]

Originally Posted by jaysmokesleaves

Front end designs are getting uglier by the day.
Similar looking cars are seen on cartoon network.

I liked your last sentence...Too Cool mate

[AadiAtPlay]

From the review, i see A-Star as a city car not for the highway. All the bells and whistles that a city slicker likes. Like the Swift is designed for nothing more than a Football (i refer to the swift commercial here) in the back seat but the ride in the front seats is supposed to be awesome.

Competition to the i10 hmmm wonder that i chose an MJD over a i10 (kappa was not available then) and i10 is good on the highway, so would i chose a A-Star? maybe not.

I think one needs to try this car on a busy busy street with no dividers where top speed is like 30 kmph see how it handles the urban chaos i think that is what it is designed for.
Point to evaluate:
1. 360 degree Road visibility - yes you need 360
2. Clutch braking performance / slow speed crawling / driving slower than a man walking types
3. Turning Radius /ease in parking
4. Ground clearance
5. Crash test data - Is the car designed to sacrifice itself to protect its occupants - I10 with all fibre front is almost use and throw if involved in a front end collision almost at any speed; passenger saftey is great thought but only Magna upwards - my perception nevertheless.
FE is already taken care of.

[Torque-ative]

Sidindica !!!! Easy Tiger !!

The Subject / Topic (Maruti A-Star driven, ripped and tortured) sounds less like a TD report and more like the title of a extereme xxx flick !!