Bought an Alto VX 1.1. EDIT : Update at 20,000 kms.

rajeev k · 19th September 2009, 17:02

I too join the proud lot of bhpians who own an Alto VX.

I was on the prowl for an Alto VX for quite some time and after missing some real good Alto VX's due to ill luck, finally located a 2000 December VX 1.1, white, 49016km on the odo, accident free, and stuck the deal immediately without even driving it and took delivery day before yesterday (immediate deal, so as not to get a repeat of a 39000 km 2001 model saga last week when I missed it by the proverbial whisker in a night's duration.I was still to recoup from the hangover of that loss because that silver coloured one was a gem.)

The car has power steering fitted at a delalership by the previous owner.

This was my first drive of this 1.1 ever and man what a gem it is to drive vis-a-vis 800 cc Alto. Can cruise in 5th gear with AC on even at 35kmph smoothly. More about that later alongwith pics.

MutantX · 19th September 2009, 17:47

Hi Rajeev, Wonderful and congrats. How much did you seal the deal for? Please do give your initial ownership report and ofcourse along with PICs.

Thanks, Arun

beejay · 19th September 2009, 17:49

Wasn't power steering standard on the Vx?

DCEite · 19th September 2009, 17:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by rajeev k

This was my first drive of this 1.1 ever and man what a gem it is to drive vis-a-vis 800 cc Alto. Can cruise in 5th gear with AC on even at 35kmph smoothly. More about that later alongwith pics.

Congrats! Its surely a pocket rocket.

Amongst WagonR, Zen Estilo and Alto, the F10 D engine feels and drives the best in the Alto.

Quote:

Originally Posted by beejay

Wasn't power steering standard on the Vx?

It was on the VXi.

para_7k · 19th September 2009, 22:39

Rajeev,

Congrats. You'll enjoy driving this car in the crowded city roads. Please post some pictures.

Aarman_008 · 20th September 2009, 00:09

Congrats Rajeev,

The alto 1.1 will give you a sheer driving pleasure inside the city. One of my friend owns it and uses it only for Office purpose as he does not want to be delayed by the congested city traffic.

Do post some pictures of your car.

jkdas · 20th September 2009, 11:53

Congrats! I wanted to buy one when I was in the market of a second hand Alto. The only one I could find was a car at Cochin. Didnt get time to check about it and hence bought the 800cc one.

Any idea how much it cost him for the power steering and at which shop he did it? This info should be helpful to many.

Takumi-san · 20th September 2009, 16:54

Congrats on your purchase. I can completely understand your enthusiasm but its seriously not recommended to buy a used car without taking a detailed test drive. I hope everything works out for you. The Alto will give no cause for complaints.

rajeev k · 21st September 2009, 09:59

Mr Arun, Beejay, DCGite, Para7K,Aarman, JK Das, Takumi-San,

I would definitely post pics in a couple of day's time.

VX 1.1 do not come with PS which is standard in VXi. In my car, I was told that it was fitted at a Maruti dealership and cost him around 30K then. I also enquired at a local workshop and was told that it would cost 28K.

I paid 150K, knowing well that it is high by around 10K considering Kerala market conditions. 155K was the asking rate of the car which I missed 2 weeks ago sans without PS, but was a real good one.

Test drive before clinching a deal is definitely recommended but in this case I was impressed because was accident free and well maintained.

Thanks friends.

JayD · 21st September 2009, 10:14

Rajeev, congrats on the new car, is this car a KL-7-AB reg one, with black rub strips on the bumper?? (Not sure if these are still there).

rajeev k · 21st September 2009, 10:16

Jay D,
This is KL7 AC.

Guna · 21st September 2009, 10:20

Congrats! It is a relatively rare car with lot of low end torqe for city driving.

rajeev k · 7th October 2009, 11:11

My Alto clocked 500 kms after buying it. Got it checked at a dealership. They recommended a decarb and finally I agreed though I am against this practice common at all maruti dealerships. Reluctantly I agreed. Got the car tuned also. Nothing else needed as the Truevalue guy has done everything of a regular service befor delivering the car.

No noticable difference in power was felt but the tune up has helped.

There was a Blaupunkt radio/cassette player which was not in working order; only the AIR MW was audible no FMs. Got it checked at Stereotone in Kochi. Initially I thought that the speakers would have been removed before the previous owner sold the car to Truevalue. So I thought of fixing speakers in the rear hatch pad but couldnot as the rear wiper motor was fouling. Then settled for the existing front in dash speakers. On inspection one number was damaged so replaced both. The antenna cable was faylty and hence the FM snag. Replaced and is OK.

I am yet to check the fuel consumption.

Overall is quite satisfied with the purchase and the 500 km "ownership experience".

jkdas · 7th October 2009, 13:46

rajeev; some car accessory guys can help you fix 5.25 or 6inch on doors with/without fiber work. If you like music, I would suggest that you do it.

sgiitk · 7th October 2009, 13:55

Congrats. Iff you ask me Alto VX( esp. one without the i) was an excellent product which was unnecessarily sacrificed at the altar of brand rationalization. My son had one for almost four years. Also, had an accident where it proved to be very safe. We loved the car.

19th September 2009, 17:02	#1
rajeev k Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Emerging Metro Posts: 3,352 Thanked: 1,947 Times	Bought an Alto VX 1.1. EDIT : Update at 20,000 kms. I too join the proud lot of bhpians who own an Alto VX. I was on the prowl for an Alto VX for quite some time and after missing some real good Alto VX's due to ill luck, finally located a 2000 December VX 1.1, white, 49016km on the odo, accident free, and stuck the deal immediately without even driving it and took delivery day before yesterday (immediate deal, so as not to get a repeat of a 39000 km 2001 model saga last week when I missed it by the proverbial whisker in a night's duration.I was still to recoup from the hangover of that loss because that silver coloured one was a gem.) The car has power steering fitted at a delalership by the previous owner. This was my first drive of this 1.1 ever and man what a gem it is to drive vis-a-vis 800 cc Alto. Can cruise in 5th gear with AC on even at 35kmph smoothly. More about that later alongwith pics.
	() Thanks

19th September 2009, 17:47	#2
MutantX BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Madras Posts: 868 Thanked: 93 Times View My Garage	Hi Rajeev, Wonderful and congrats. How much did you seal the deal for? Please do give your initial ownership report and ofcourse along with PICs. Thanks, Arun
	() Thanks

19th September 2009, 17:49	#3
beejay Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: The Nilgiris Posts: 1,963 Thanked: 204 Times View My Garage	Wasn't power steering standard on the Vx?
	() Thanks

19th September 2009, 22:39	#5
para_7k BHPian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: chennai Posts: 469 Thanked: 112 Times	Rajeev, Congrats. You'll enjoy driving this car in the crowded city roads. Please post some pictures.
	() Thanks

20th September 2009, 00:09	#6
Aarman_008 BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Chennai Posts: 140 Thanked: 4 Times	Congrats Rajeev, The alto 1.1 will give you a sheer driving pleasure inside the city. One of my friend owns it and uses it only for Office purpose as he does not want to be delayed by the congested city traffic. Do post some pictures of your car.
	() Thanks

20th September 2009, 11:53	#7
jkdas Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Thiruvananthapu Posts: 9,687 Thanked: 1,492 Times View My Garage	Congrats! I wanted to buy one when I was in the market of a second hand Alto. The only one I could find was a car at Cochin. Didnt get time to check about it and hence bought the 800cc one. Any idea how much it cost him for the power steering and at which shop he did it? This info should be helpful to many.
	() Thanks

20th September 2009, 16:54	#8
Takumi-san BHPian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Melbourne Posts: 368 Thanked: 121 Times View My Garage	Congrats on your purchase. I can completely understand your enthusiasm but its seriously not recommended to buy a used car without taking a detailed test drive. I hope everything works out for you. The Alto will give no cause for complaints.
	() Thanks

21st September 2009, 09:59	#9
rajeev k Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Emerging Metro Posts: 3,352 Thanked: 1,947 Times	Mr Arun, Beejay, DCGite, Para7K,Aarman, JK Das, Takumi-San, I would definitely post pics in a couple of day's time. VX 1.1 do not come with PS which is standard in VXi. In my car, I was told that it was fitted at a Maruti dealership and cost him around 30K then. I also enquired at a local workshop and was told that it would cost 28K. I paid 150K, knowing well that it is high by around 10K considering Kerala market conditions. 155K was the asking rate of the car which I missed 2 weeks ago sans without PS, but was a real good one. Test drive before clinching a deal is definitely recommended but in this case I was impressed because was accident free and well maintained. Thanks friends.
	() Thanks

21st September 2009, 10:14	#10
JayD Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Cochin! At last Posts: 3,236 Thanked: 2,568 Times View My Garage	Rajeev, congrats on the new car, is this car a KL-7-AB reg one, with black rub strips on the bumper?? (Not sure if these are still there).
	() Thanks

21st September 2009, 10:16	#11
rajeev k Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Emerging Metro Posts: 3,352 Thanked: 1,947 Times	Jay D, This is KL7 AC.
	() Thanks

21st September 2009, 10:20	#12
Guna Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 4,010 Thanked: 4,202 Times	Congrats! It is a relatively rare car with lot of low end torqe for city driving.
	() Thanks

7th October 2009, 11:11	#13
rajeev k Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Emerging Metro Posts: 3,352 Thanked: 1,947 Times	alto vx1.1 update My Alto clocked 500 kms after buying it. Got it checked at a dealership. They recommended a decarb and finally I agreed though I am against this practice common at all maruti dealerships. Reluctantly I agreed. Got the car tuned also. Nothing else needed as the Truevalue guy has done everything of a regular service befor delivering the car. No noticable difference in power was felt but the tune up has helped. There was a Blaupunkt radio/cassette player which was not in working order; only the AIR MW was audible no FMs. Got it checked at Stereotone in Kochi. Initially I thought that the speakers would have been removed before the previous owner sold the car to Truevalue. So I thought of fixing speakers in the rear hatch pad but couldnot as the rear wiper motor was fouling. Then settled for the existing front in dash speakers. On inspection one number was damaged so replaced both. The antenna cable was faylty and hence the FM snag. Replaced and is OK. I am yet to check the fuel consumption. Overall is quite satisfied with the purchase and the 500 km "ownership experience".
	() Thanks

7th October 2009, 13:46	#14
jkdas Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Thiruvananthapu Posts: 9,687 Thanked: 1,492 Times View My Garage	rajeev; some car accessory guys can help you fix 5.25 or 6inch on doors with/without fiber work. If you like music, I would suggest that you do it.
	() Thanks

7th October 2009, 13:55	#15
sgiitk BANNED Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Gurugram Posts: 7,969 Thanked: 4,788 Times	Congrats. Iff you ask me Alto VX( esp. one without the i) was an excellent product which was unnecessarily sacrificed at the altar of brand rationalization. My son had one for almost four years. Also, had an accident where it proved to be very safe. We loved the car.
	() Thanks