[Amartya]

First of all a sincere note of thanks to The Mag for taking the time out to pen an excellent review and backed it up with superb pictures. Really appreciate it.

As with all cars, we can always find something we are not happy about, the Alto K10 is no different. However, For me this is a spunky car that punches well above it's weight. See the bases that this car covers:

a. Spirited performance with good fuel efficiency.
b. Great A/C.
c. More space than the erstwhile Alto.

For the price it's being offered at, I wouldn't care two hoots about plastic quality (as long as it doesn't fall apart, and it probably wouldn't). For people buying the Santro or the i10 (base models without airbags, ABS etc.), it's time to revisit the Maruti showroom.

P.S. If I were on the budget for the VXi, I'd pick up the LXi and head over to a tire store for an upgrade. The rest of the stuff can be retrofitted later on if one so desires (and that'll keep the car feeling new).

[theMAG]

Originally Posted by idforreg

Mahesha, Excellent article! very well structured. I'm very proud to see you writing this.

Thank you, dear elder brother. You can show also your appreciation by gifting me a wide-angle lens in tonight's party !

[misquitas]

Originally Posted by harishnair

It is available separately in the options list.

Check here-->..:: ALTO ACCESSORIES | CUSTOMIZE YOUR CAR WITH MARUTI GENUINE ACCESSORIES

Checked it up on the link and I find that the D/N mirror is very similar to the standard mirror on my Alto 800. Does it then mean that I could purchase one of these D/N mirrors and fit it on my Alto 800? Let me know. Thanks

[asdon]

Yesterday I took a TD vehicle along with a person from Maruti Dealership, initially the plan was to go on Mysore road, but I changed it to Krishnagiri.

I will make only few points as most of the points are already discussed here.

When I started the engine, 1st thing which impressed is the engine sound, its very silent and sweet sound not like my Lxi.

Then the power, from the 1st gear itself I could feel that there is something different under the hood, normally I Alto goes till 75-80kmph very quickly, but then the need for more power is felt. in this one it went to 80 as it went to 60 in my alto, and to mention I think they have modified the suspension for better, the jerk is less now. I took Hosur road because I wanted to overtake those trucks while going uphill beyond Hosur, and what a feeling, I could manage it very smoothly while mine would struggle in 50% of the cases, the torque was great for an Alto.

I steadily managed 120+ for sometime, and the engine responded very well. The added features are good to see, for a new Alto buyer this version is a must recomended.

But here is what I feel - as I have been driving an Alto for 3+ yrs now, with same interiors and i10 like seats now(which I don't like), and almost 60K extra for On road price, I may not upgrade to Alto k10. This does not mean I did not like the car, but for a present alto owner, I think Maruti should have done little extra on the interior to attract them, yes there is more space in rare legroom. But not sure why but I did not feel like upgrading to this one only due to the engine factor. No complain for no ABS, the AC was super cool with no power loss.

Over all a great car to begine with(from 2 wheel to 4 wheel or no wheel to 4 wheel), if I was buying my 1st car then it would have been my 1st choice for sure.

Other Alto owners - please put your views also if you have done the TD.

[JustCause]

Originally Posted by asdon

Other Alto owners - please put your views also if you have done the TD.

TD'd a wine red VXi today and I too share the same sentiment as yours. The fixed head restraints are a bother for the already low roof and I was expecting BS3 Wagon's rear L-shaped restraints. No rear wiper & if I'm not wrong, the rear glass is stuck just like the BS3 Wagon R.

The engine & ride quality have improved phenomenally to say the least. I did expect a better level of kit initially, but the demo car was just fine by Alto standards.

Now, only if I could fit the *new* instrument cluster & the gear knob into my current one.

[lilMonSter]

Just booked a black VXi, shopuld be getting delivery in 2-3 days, they already have the car for me at the dealership just have to pick it up.
enjoyed the test drive, at least we have a little more power now

i'm planning to keep the rims i have on my alto right now. hopefully they should fit. 175/60 R13 tyres should make the handling better. i cant wait to start to mod this car. a FFE and CAi and it should be a blast to drive around delhi.

woo hoo!!

[AstonMartin]

I hope this new launch is not going to affect the resale value of the alto 800. I had my fingers crossed when the BS4 alto was launched and was happy that there was not much difference. But now this is gonna trouble us current alto owners right? The paste on glass on the back door is a good addition in the new version though.

[Gansan]

Originally Posted by AstonMartin

I hope this new launch is not going to affect the resale value of the alto 800.

I have a feeling the Alto 800 will continue to fetch a better resale value than the K10.

[DRIV3R]

Originally Posted by Gansan

I have a feeling the Alto 800 will continue to fetch a better resale value than the K10.

Care to explain why?

[RGK]

Great review Mag.
Tata Bye Bye AStar, Estilo
What is the engine weight diff between Alto800 and K10 - Sorry if it is already answered.

[sachinj12]

Originally Posted by Gansan

I have a feeling the Alto 800 will continue to fetch a better resale value than the K10.

Originally Posted by DRIV3R

Care to explain why?

Old school psychology- Saab baadi gaadi hain(), mileage thoda kum hoga.

[rajeev k]

My Brother in Law had decided to buy A star and when the Alto K10 was launced he wanted to switch choice therby he could save Rs 35K (Considering the festival discount of Rs 35K.

But my advice to him was to go for A Star because AStar has a large car feel.

He is in a real fix now.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Gansan
I have a feeling the Alto 800 will continue to fetch a better resale value than the K10.


The Alto Vx1.1 still fetches better resale value than Alto800, so the same logic would apply here also.

[Gansan]

Originally Posted by sachinj12

Old school psychology- Saab baadi gaadi hain(), mileage thoda kum hoga.

Correct! And the fact that the cost of spares may be more.

Originally Posted by rajeev k

The Alto Vx1.1 still fetches better resale value than Alto800, so the same logic would apply here also.

It does, but because it is so scarce now. A matter of demand and supply.

[SILVERWOOD]

Originally Posted by DRIV3R

Care to explain why?

+1 on that.Please explain.

[misquitas]

Originally Posted by asdon

But here is what I feel - as I have been driving an Alto for 3+ yrs now, with same interiors and i10 like seats now(which I don't like), and almost 60K extra for On road price, I may not upgrade to Alto k10. This does not mean I did not like the car, but for a present alto owner, I think Maruti should have done little extra on the interior to attract them, yes there is more space in rare legroom. But not sure why but I did not feel like upgrading to this one only due to the engine factor. No complain for no ABS, the AC was super cool with no power loss.

Over all a great car to begine with(from 2 wheel to 4 wheel or no wheel to 4 wheel), if I was buying my 1st car then it would have been my 1st choice for sure.

Other Alto owners - please put your views also if you have done the TD.

My thoughts exactly. Initially, I was keen to abandon my excellently performing Alto 2008 LXI in favour of the Alto K10. Then reality set in and I began to reconsider my priorities. My current Alto 800 gives me an average of 20 kmpl and OK, so the engine is not as powerful as compared to the K10. but I have taken her everywhere I wanted to go, including a Goa-Pondi-Goa trip and she did so without a fuss. We have even made a Goa-Belgaum-Kolhapur-Goa trip with 5 adults and tons of luggage and yet, she performed excellently, for her specifications, of course.

To trade my current Alto 800 mainly for the K10 engine would not make much sense as I would instantly lose about Rs 1 lakh on the resale (I may get about Rs 2 L). I would then have to put in another Rs 1.6 L for the K10 mainly for the engine. It doesn't make sense at this point in time to upgrade my Alto 800 to K10 merely because of a superior engine.

If, on the other hand, I had been a first time car buyer, the situation would have been different and I would seriously considered the K10. But then, at Rs 3.6L I may have even considered the bigger Wagon R LXI.

Asdon, I quite agree with you that if Maruti had some sort of special Alto800-to-AltoK10 offer, whereby present Alto buyers would have a bigger loyalty discount than other, then maybe the trade may could have been more enticing. But for now, my Alto 800 stays with me, until she makes like miserable for me.

While the Alto K10 offers a great deal for the new car buyer, somehow, it fails to strike the same chord with the existing Alto 800 owner. I think Gansan has posted similar views in an earlier post.

I also get the feeling that the Alto 800 will sell better than the K10 because of the Rs 50-60K difference. Not may Alto buyers would lose sleep over the smaller engine and fewer fitments. But I would love to see the sales of the Altos combined in the next sales chart on this forum.