Owning this car turned out to be an incredible experience. I drove nearly 30,000 miles in a year, which is my personal best in any of the vehicles I have owned.

BHPian Amby955 recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

My Suzuki Alto (A-Star in India) in the UK

This is while doing Masters in England, circa 2021-2024. Being a guy with liking to cars, the first thing I did after settling in was apply for a UK driver’s license as soon as I became eligible (six months after arrival). It took another six months to clear the tests (in first try with zero faults), thanks to the long waiting periods. Main purpose of getting a drivers license was to continue renting cars, which I did earlier with my international license and which is valid only for a year. However, my urge for driving wouldn’t let me stop at rentals—I needed my own car.

I always had access to cars/bikes in India, and living without one was not easy, this obviously increased the urge of buying one. Although the smart idea was to continue renting cars as needed, my heart thought different. Anyway, as fate would have it, I went with my heart and decided to buy a car, but on a strict student budget, I needed something affordable and practical that wouldn’t become a financial burden.

So I created a checklist to help me narrow down my options:
1. Small engine: Ideally around 1,000cc to stay in the lowest tax bracket.
2. Two-door car: Lower insurance costs compared to full size cars.
3. Fresh MOT: To avoid immediate maintenance.
4. ULEZ compliance: No extra spends other than the necessary expenses.
5. Brands considered: Toyota, Ford, Suzuki, Citroën, and Peugeot for their affordability and low running costs. Toyota, Citroën, and Peugeot had the same car under different badges called the Aygo/C1/107.

The car hunt began with no fixed timeline. If the right car came along, I’d buy it—otherwise, I’d manage without one. I enjoyed the process of searching cars more than the actual buying. Most options considered with the above checklist were disappointing: high-mileage examples with over 100,000 miles on the odometer, often in poor condition. I was okay with the high mileages but often these older cars were not cared for in the UK, provided the extremely cheap used prices for these vehicles. Beyond my check list, I did not have any demands in terms of features of the car, any bare minimum car was fine for me.

Unfortunately I do not have pictures of all the cars I test drove or looked at.

Ultimately, I found a 2011 Suzuki Alto with only 30,000 miles at a price that seemed too good to be true. And as expected the car was an insurance write off from an accident with a CAT S category, meaning it had structural damages from the crash. It was freshly repaired at a garage specialized in buying and repairing insurance write-offs. It had a replaced passenger-side door and a dent on the running board, this running board damage made the made it CAT S, but this did not raise any major red flags for me as long as it was repaid correctly. Did a short test ride and the car felt good, something similar from Marutis back in India and I felt confident with the car. Did find some minor issues including a bad alignment, bearing noise and no service history. But car seemed good and it had a fresh MOT, and they worked on the brakes before the MOT, car also had a good MOT history and the car was rust free. So, I shook hands and purchased the car on Valentine’s Day, of all days! Today is yet another valentines Day, 2 years since.

After sorting the ownership transfer and arranging insurance, I took delivery of the car in a couple of days with some of my friends. A quick stop for fuel and a short drive later, it was off to the garage for wheel bearing work, minor brake adjustments, and fixing a leaky windshield washer reservoir. Once these were sorted, I had a perfectly functional Suzuki Alto at my disposal.

Living with the Alto
Owning this car turned out to be an incredible experience. I drove nearly 30,000 miles in a year, which is my personal best in any of the vehicles I have owned. The car felt familiar, and performed very well for its size, even cruising comfortably at 70 mph (max speeds in UK motorways) with a full load. It has travelled the breadth and length of England, in the short time I owned it.

Ownership was a care free experience with just oil and filter changes every 5000 miles. For me the crash damage did not bother much and as expected the accident history did not give any issues. One thing I never fixed was the AC, it never worked on the car and I did not bother to fix as the climate was mostly cool expect for just a few weeks of unbearable heat every year and heater worked just fine.

As a decade old car and the kind of miles it was doing, I always carried some spares like a couple of bulbs, fuses, a set of wipers, bit of fluids and a decent tool set along with an emergency kit to stay warm if stuck somewhere. Fortunately, I only had to use some bulbs and wipers as the replacement.
I always made sure the car was maintained perfectly on the mechanical end of things, and on the other hand I did not bother on the cosmetic end on things. To be fair the car looked decent cosmetically expect for a few dents from banging doors while parked, thanks to small parking bays. I could live with that, also never bothered to wash my car, I have done a total of 3 washes during the time, 2 of them after some really cold weather and the other for MOT. Just before selling the car, bought a £2 dent removal tool over temu and pulled them back and the car looked just fine with another proper wash for the new owner.

Maintenance
I always took my car to this garage that was run by an older gentleman, he took great care of the car. After doing the first 1000 miles, I gave the car for a service to change all the fluids, sparkplugs, filters and gave it an overall checkup. This was done due to the lack of service history. From then on, I did general oil and filter changes every 5000 miles.

Apart from routine general service, here’s what I did:
1. Replaced all four tires, 3 of them for wear and tear and the 4th one tore while maneuvering to get on a footpath for parking, common way of parking in the UK.
2. Replaced some fused bulbs occasionally (expected for an older car).
3. Replaced a broken blower resistor.
4. Changed wipers a few times.
5. Never bothered to fix the AC as the heater worked fine. And the climate did not demand AC.

Interestingly, although the car was made in India (A-Star), some parts were different. For example, I brought a gearbox drain plug and fuel filter from India, only to find they didn’t fit this model.

One other interesting fact, the car had JK spare tire.

Insurance
I opted for third-party insurance to keep costs low and the value of the car did not matter much to justify a comprehensive insurance, any small claim would total the car. I had to adjust my mileage limit multiple times as my driving increased. A dashcam was also installed—not for insurance purposes, but just for safety. Of all the costs with the car, insurance was the most expensive.

Things I Loved About the Alto
1. Fantastic value for money—the main reason I bought it.
2. Surprisingly capable on highways, handling 70 mph with ease.
3. Fuel efficiency: the best I got was 14 miles per liter on motorways.
4. Minimal maintenance costs and low annual tax (£20).
5. ULEZ compliance meant no extra fees in major cities.

The Farewell
As fate would have it, my time in the UK have come to an end after completing my Masters and securing a job back in India. That meant, it was time to bid farewell to that beautiful country, great friends and of course NU11 HMH (Alto). But the memories of this car and the drives me and my friends had on that car will always stay alive as good ol memories!! Anyway, after this 30,000+ miles of joyful ownership, I sold the car to a friend of mine for almost the same price I paid—great value, I would say. That checklist really did work out, I guess. Despite moving back to India, I still cherish the memories I made with this Alto. I still use the NU11 HMH (Alto) keychain on my new ride here in India, a small reminder of a car that gave me so much joy (Pic Attached).

Now, back in India, instead of taking the conventional route and buying a car, I decided it was now or never for experiencing a motorcycle. So now I own a RE Hunter 350. The experience to this day has been great with the bike but there are changes, I had a blast driving in the UK with friends, it was filled with jokes, laughs, trolls, songs and what not. But today I ride alone, enjoying the peace, road and the machine for hours on end, that’s pure joy too.

You can read a brief about the bike journey here: https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/motor...ml#post5914775

Below are pictures to pleasure your eyes (Me flexing on TBHP t-shirt with Alto reg on):

Only thing left of the Alto

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

This DIY project has not only enhanced the functionality of my vehicle but also provided me with a sense of accomplishment and a deeper connection to my car.

BHPian vivekdewanta recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

As a frequent traveller who spends most of his time away from home, I cherish the moments I return to my own land and have the opportunity to work on my vehicles.

Recently, I've been focusing on upgrading and restoring my 2010 Maruti Alto, and today I'd like to share my experience of installing adjustable rear headrests.

Recognizing the importance of rear passenger comfort and safety, I embarked on this project to enhance the overall driving experience. While the initial installation proved challenging due to the car's budget-friendly construction and materials, I persevered and successfully implemented the adjustable headrests.

I am extremely pleased with the outcome and the noticeable improvement in rear passenger comfort and safety. This DIY project has not only enhanced the functionality of my vehicle but also provided me with a sense of accomplishment and a deeper connection to my car.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Is there any DIY fix possible or better leave it to the authorized service center?

BHPian ravin93 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hi all,

I have Maruti Alto Lxi. For the last maybe a year or so, I never touched the air circulation knob which is a horizontal knob on the dashboard. It remained in Internal Circulation. The other option is fresh air from outside.

Now it has jammed. I tried pushing it hard to the right but it does not move much. If I push it harder it might break something inside. Is there any DIY fix possible or I better leave it to the authorized service center?

There’s no immediate problem. It can continue to remain on the Internal option. Just my OCD that everything in my car must be in perfectly working condition.

Any guidance would be great. Thanks

Here's what BHPian Geo_Ipe had to say on the matter:

Most likely a mechanical issue. However, you may need to open the centre console to get to the rear of these knobs and sliders.

I wouldn't recommend a DIY. Take your Alto to an FNG or local AC specialist. An authorised service centre may not be required.

If it makes you feel any better, in my 2005 Scorpio, only the fan blower speed knob works. All other knobs and sliders have been frozen for a very long time!

Here's what BHPian NomadSK had to say on the matter:

This is mechanically actuated flaps, your best friend in such scenarios is WD-40, just put the nozzle in the horizontal crevice and spray a bit inside to see if it does the trick. Spray and leave it for some time and then try to see if the knob moves.

At the most, you might get WD smell in the cabin for a few days even if it doesn’t work.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Some of the few cars that I have in mind are Hyundai Elantra, Verna, VW Vento, Skoda Rapid and Chevrolet Cruze.

BHPian aryannzx recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hello, I am Aryann and I am currently completing my bachelor's degree in Automobile Engineering from Punjab and live in Mohali.

I am looking to buy and replace my current daily driver which is a 2010 Maruti Alto LX. I also own a 2021 Kia Sonet 1.0L Turbo Petrol but it is currently with my dad who lives in Jaipur.

Now I have my eyes on a few models and have a rather small budget but need your help in deciding on which to go for.

Just for your information, I am looking for a Diesel Sedan with a Manual transmission, I do not prefer Automatic and Petrol but it is not a deal breaker for me whereas the Sedan part is, I do not want a Hatchback or an SUV or a coupe or anything. I want a proper sedan with a good boot (preferably 400L+) and good leg space in the 2nd row.

Now with that out of the way I will share the few models I have in mind (these are not specific listings just model names).

Hyundai Elantra 2013-2015

This is my most preferred model out of all as I personally love the looks and it almost ticks all the boxes. Now I have a question for all you enthusiasts - Is the 1.6L Diesel variant of this car limited to 3000rpm? I have recently driven a 2013 Fluidic Verna which shares the same engine and it is limited to 3000rpm.

Volkswagen Vento & Skoda Rapid 2014-2019

No specific problem with these as both are pretty good models. Slightly smaller than Elantra though but covers up in performance. But they are expensive these days.

Hyundai Verna 2016-2019

Overall a very very good car and would've been top of my list if it wasn't costing upwards of 8 Lakh rupees in my area. Same question for it - is it limited to 3000rpm?

Chevrolet Cruze 2013-2016

Ahh the Diesel Rocket, My father used to adore this car back when Chevrolet was still here but as of now, these are harder to find and even though I do not have an issue with the whole service part of this car I doubt that good condition models would be available in my area for a price I can afford.

I am still doing my due diligence in this process but I have to replace my car in the coming month or 2 as my Alto is not holding up well and keeps needing repair work which I do not want to spend my money on as it is not fast or comfortable enough to me. My last request is that I want to know places where all of you (from Punjab and Haryana) buy pre-owned vehicles as I haven't had great success in finding used car websites or places other than the ones that are popular and overpriced.

Thank you for reading. Drive Safe.

Here's what BHPian mayankk had to say about the matter:

Look for deals in Delhi. The vintage you're looking for is close enough to the death knell for Delhi cars.

Here's what BHPian SixPistons had to say about the matter:

Rightly put @mayankk.

One man’s tragedy is another man’s opportunity is perfectly summed up when it comes to Delhi’s deathbed for cars.

Plenty of Vernas and Rapids should be on sale of that spec. Elantra and Cruze will be hard to find, might need to look a bit harder, maybe some dealers might be able to source one.

Here's what BHPian IshaanIan had to say about the matter:

If diesel is actually what you desire then why aren’t you considering a Laura/Jetta or an Octavia? The VW auto group didn’t go through diesel gate for nothing; their diesel mills are arguably the best (Hyundai’s are even more refined and impressive however 1.6 liter motor in the Elantra feels small). If you’re lucky you might even come across a 1.4 TSI Jetta or Octavia if you’re into considering a petrol.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Opting for an Alto over faster hatchbacks was a deliberate choice due to the economic advantage – with all expenses, including maintenance and fuel costs, being managed by my parents.

BHPian chandrus03 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Introduction

I’ve taken delivery of my Alto car just a week prior to the launch of the new Alto K10 - 2022, I've accumulated 17,000 km in one year and wish to share my ownership experience with the Alto 800. As a college student, I rely on this car as my daily driver, and despite being new to blog writing, I'd like to provide insights into my journey. Opting for an Alto over faster hatchbacks was a deliberate choice due to the economic advantage – with all expenses, including maintenance and fuel costs, being managed by my parents.

Variant

My model is the BS6 VXI+ trim, the top variant of the car which no longer bears the 800 branding.

Pros

This car is renowned for its exceptional city mileage of around 18 kmpl, making it incredibly fuel-efficient for daily commutes. The peppy engine ensures smooth city driving, while its compact size facilitates easy parking. The AC is effective, and the maintenance and spare parts costs are notably affordable.

Cons

While the car excels in many aspects, the build quality raises concerns, with panels susceptible to bending under slight pressure. The steering lacks feedback on highways, and though NVH levels have improved, there's room for enhancement. The recommendation for upsizing to 13-inch wheels stems from the original 12-inch wheels being notably small.

Daily City Drives

The Alto 800 shines in city traffic, providing ease of maneuverability with its peppy midrange engine and balanced steering. The clutch is light, preventing stalling even in bumper-to-bumper traffic, and the small turning radius of 4.6m aids in hassle-free U-turns.

Highway Drivability

While the car is not primarily designed for highways, maintaining speeds below 120 kmph ensures confident driving. Braking has improved with the addition of ABS, and the mileage reaches around 22 kmpl on highways with the AC on.

Infotainment System

The Alto VXI+ boasts a 7-inch infotainment system supporting wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The overall experience is commendable for its price, especially with the utility of Apple CarPlay and Maps.

Safety

Enhancements in safety features include ABS, twin airbags, seatbelt pre-tensioners for all seats, and effective reverse parking sensors. However, despite these features, there's room for improvement in the overall build quality.

After Sales Service

Maruti Suzuki's after-sales service has been smooth, with responsive service engineers promptly addressing concerns. Recently, my car experienced a slight rattling noise, promptly resolved within 30 minutes. Kudos to the service team for their efficient assistance.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Every drive in it so far has offered new learning about German driving rules, Berlin's exceptions to those rules, and car ownership outside India.

BHPian vigneshg recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

A short story of how I bought my first car—a used Suzuki Alto (A-Star)—in Berlin:

Introduction

Like many of you, I'm a permanent fly on this massive wall that is Team-BHP. I love reading your reviews and travelogues. I don't contribute as much or as frequently as I'd like to, but I like to think I'm still every bit a BHPian. I love driving responsibly and sharing the joys and pains of car ownership with a community. The last time I wrote here was to report on the retrofitted LED daytime running lights of my Maruti Suzuki Estilo (LED Fog Lamps as DRLs). That was nearly a full decade ago, when I was still living in Bangalore, in college, and had the time to experiment. Since then, I've graduated twice, found (and lost) many jobs, married the love of my life, sold my dearest Estilo and moved to Berlin for work.

It took me the better part of a full year to convert my Indian driving licence to a German one because the conversion process is excruciatingly long and complex, but that's a story I'll save for another post. In fact, sharing my experience might help newcomers to Germany. For now, I'll share my experience of buying my first car in Germany.

Addressing the desire to buy a car

Berlin's public transportation network is vast, and you can get to most places within the large city without ever relying on a car. Besides, parking in the city centre is next to impossible, and of late there's been ample display of rage from climate activists. That's why 95% of my colleagues, friends, and neighbours dissuaded me from buying a car. Making the purchase less justifiable are the many easy car-sharing options (from Miles, Bolt, etc.), which allow you to rent a car from the city streets for something like €1–2 per kilometre. Logically speaking, you never need to buy a car.

But after selling my Estilo, I was itching to get behind the wheel of a suitable replacement. I wasn't looking for anything fancy: just a much shorter hatchback with a peppy motor and a manual gearbox. With cars quickly becoming increasingly digital and electric—rental ones especially, I wanted to spend my 30s still effortlessly clutching in and out and shifting swiftly through straights and bends. For all we know, my next car might not offer this mechanical thrill. So I decided to stand firm on my desire to buy my own car in Berlin.

Picking a car and dealer

I knew I wanted my first purchase to be a used car so I get enough practice driving the German way and spend less on insurance. For about three months I oscillated between models that fulfill driving pleasure and practicality. Every day I would spend my commuting hours browsing AutoScout24, mobile.de, and Kleinanzeigen (the classifieds). My heart warmed at the sight of a Volvo V40, BMW 118i, and the Suzuki SX4 hatchback. Meanwhile, my wallet preferred the likes of the Toyota Aygo (aka Peugeot 108 and Citroen C1), Kia Picanto, and Fiat Panda.

I was open to buying from both private sellers and used car dealers (Autohändler), but I was keenly aware of the risks of both. With private, you can be very right or very wrong, depending on how good a judge of character and car you are. If you're right, you drive away with a very good deal. With dealers, you pay up to €1500 more, but you rest assured that you get a 6-month guarantee on the motor and gearbox, even if it's mostly a placebo.

I came close to sealing the deal on a Ford Ka (private, 2004, 160,000km, €1400) and later a Subaru Justy—basically a Perodua Myvi with a bulletproof 1L Toyota motor—(dealer-sold, 2009, 100,000, €3890), but somehow I just couldn't bring myself to do it. I was really torn between the two types of sellers, and I just wasn't sure how reckless this transaction was. Some personal commitments also took priority, and the offers just slipped away. A week or two before my birthday in September, I grew tired of comparing offers and sellers, so I just went for the most sensible-looking option at that point: a Suzuki Alto, first registered in 2010 with 100,000 km on the clock.

Finding the Alto

The Suzuki Alto sold in Europe is basically the Maruti Suzuki A-Star with a beefed-up safety kit. Between 2008 and 2014, A-Stars were manufactured at Maruti's Manesar plant and shipped through the Mundra port to be sold in various European countries as the Suzuki Alto and Nissan Pixo. Having grown up around mostly Suzuki cars, I felt comfortable at the thought of making the Alto my first car in Germany. The car would carry me and my wife most of the time, so the poor rear legroom and small boot did not deter me. After my Estilo, I wanted a break from tallboy models, so I was happy the Alto wasn't one. However, I had to make my peace with the Alto's modest 1L K10B 3-cylinder motor. The consolation was the ~5L/100km (20km/l) fuel efficiency rating.

The dealer at Flott Autohandel was asking for €3900 for the A-Star. A busy man attending to tens of visiting customers, the dealer allowed me to take a test drive of the A-Star. After a quick spin, I came back mostly happy. I went through the car's service history book, and nothing seemed particularly off. That said, it had some repainting and scratches here and there. I informed him of a few glitches (faulty front left indicator, depleted battery on the key fob, etc.). He said he would need two weeks to prep the car and have his mechanic fix the niggles. He would give it a full inspection, change the engine oil, get the biannual fitness and emission tests (Hauptuntersuchung and Abgasuntersuchung) done, and register it in my name with a preferred number. His registration fee was €150. Mostly convinced with this offer, I said yes, and I signed the contract to buy the Alto. I paid €1000 as a deposit.

Collecting the Alto

Two weeks later, after wrapping up work early on a Friday, I went to pick up the Alto. I was both excited and nervous. Car deliveries in India make you feel special like you've really earned your wheels. I was slightly disappointed by the absence of any celebration or warmth. The dealer was busy with many other tasks. He had just about enough time and patience to walk me through the money transfer process for the remainder of the amount and to hand over the keys.

I know I can't expect much fuss over a used hatchback. Still, I'd have appreciated a little more attention and care from the dealer. Going by the way he behaved through the entire process I may as well have gone there to pick up a used vacuum cleaner. This is one cultural difference that's hard to ignore.

Fixing the Alto

The initial days with the Alto were a bit tense. I was somehow more concerned than happy. The battery seemed weak and the engine's idle speed felt low. I got a free battery check done from a nearby workshop chain, where they assured me the battery was fine. Another A-Star owner told me the idle speed was lowered for European emission norms. It was perhaps a matter of getting used to it. I also had to find a good insurance package. Luckily, the insurance broker the car dealer had referred me to gave me a good deal in the form of Allianz car insurance and ARAG legal protection insurance.

The front left indicator was still not working, and the battery on the key fob hadn't been replaced. Despite many heated phone calls to the dealer and a visit to his mechanic's workshop, I couldn't get them fixed. The CR1616 battery for the key fob wasn't easily available, and the dealer's mechanic said he'd have to call in an external electrician for the front left indicator. It was diagnosed as a case of damaged wiring. The dealer was ready to pay the electrician's bill if I could find an electrician myself.

Fortunately, both faults saw an easy resolution in good time. The key repairman near my home had the replacement battery for the key fob and charged me €5 for the replacement. After some research, I made a visit to Acit Autocenter (an unofficial Suzuki and Lada service partner), where a slightly elderly mechanic patiently attended to the wiring issue with the left indicator. He not only carefully soldered some broken wires but also didn't take any money for it. Given that Acit Autocenter has been my most positive experience with car service so far, I'm definitely returning to them for future repairs and regular services.

Living with the Alto

It's been a month since I eagerly (and trepidatiously) brought home the Alto. My wife and I have so far taken it around the city (weekly trips around the nearby areas of Treptow and Kreuzberg, to the Berlin-Brandenburg airport a few times, and to Wustermark). We also made a day trip to the nearby city of Cottbus. We have yet to plan a longer drive. Every drive in it so far has offered new learning about German driving rules, Berlin's exceptions to those rules, and car ownership outside India. There are still plenty of things that are new to me, including refueling the car and checking the tire pressure myself. With time, I'm sure I'll become habituated to these things. I hope to report again soon with updates on the Alto. Below are some pictures of the Alto. Cheers!

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The Alto was introduced in India back in the year 2000.

The Maruti Suzuki Alto has become India's highest-selling car with over 45 lakh units sold in over 2 decades.

The Alto was introduced in India back in the year 2000. In 2010, Maruti launched the Alto K10 and Alto CNG. By 2012, the carmaker had sold over 20 lakh units of the hatchback.

Maruti Suzuki rolled out the Alto 800 in the year 2012, followed by the second-generation Alto K10 two years later. In 2016, the carmaker celebrated 30 lakh sales of the Alto. Sales surpassed the 40 lakh unit mark in 2020.

Last year, the company introduced the third-generation Alto K10 in the Indian market. The car is available with a 796cc, 3-cylinder engine that puts out 47 BHP and 69 Nm. The engine is mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox and also comes with a factory-fitted CNG option.

The Alto K10 is powered by a 998cc engine that puts out 66 BHP and 89 Nm and is paired with either a 5-speed manual or a 5-speed AMT. The K10 also gets a CNG option.

The car is almost 20 years old and I do not wish to risk anything.

BHPian Vishnu Shaji recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

The first immediate thing that I wanted to do was to change all the fluids and belts. The accessory belts & timing belts along with the water pump. I'm not sure whether it was changed anytime recently. The car has been almost 20 years old and I do not wish to risk the chance of the timing belt snapping while driving around. All parts were sourced from Boodmo.

Work in progress

V Belt, Part number: 95141M79F00

Water Pump Belt, Part Number: 17521M79F10

Water pump, Part number: 17400M53M02

Fresh out of the box!

Timing Belt, Part Number: 12761M84430

Valve cover gasket, Part number: 11189M79F30

Timing Belt Tensioner, Part number: 12810M76G20

The old timing belt was showing its age. I think this was never being changed. Good call!

Accessory belts too. They were already making squealing noises in cold starts.

The original water pump. It was not leaking however it's high time for retirement

The timing belt tensioner was bad. The bearing was making some noises. Good thing it was replaced on time.

The Holy F10D

The valve cover was leaking and was replaced. The engine looks varnishy as expected. Nothing serious to worry about.

Was checking NGK for an upgraded plug and to my surprise they had both Platinum and Iridium plugs available for this engine.

Went with the G-Power plugs as the price difference was too much between Iridium and G-power and I felt the G-power plugs are adequate enough.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I'm planning to keep this car as a long-termer. I'll be going for a full restoration of the car as it progresses.

BHPian Vishnu Shaji recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Before I jump the gun, a little bit of history on how I ended up with another Alto!

Back in 2002, My Family decided to sell off our unreliable Ambassador and get a new reliable car that can replace our Ambassador. Maruti was the only word in reliability back in the day, at least to us, and considering we had a very small budget back then we went to the showroom to get a Zen. Unfortunately, the sales representative had different plans in his mind. He convinced my family that the Zen is having a low roof line and the waiting period was around 2 months, whereas if you're going for an Alto, which is supposed to be having a higher roof line and is surprisingly in ready stock. My dad opted for the 1.1 variant and again the sales guy stepped in by saying that the 1.1 was having low mileage comparing the 800cc Alto. We finally settled on an 800cc Alto LXI Spin Variant in a Cool Silver shade. All this was done just to make sure that the sales guy was achieving his target on time and all this information was irrelevant to me back in 2002 because I was just 8 years old.

Unfortunately, this is one of the few good pics of our first Alto. This was taken in 2006 at my native place. Dad sitting beside wondering what the hell is this guy doing

Fast forward to 2012, I got my Driving license and started driving our Alto. I initially loved driving this car around. We usually drive down to our native place often and went to Munnar and a few other places en route. Soon the car started to get boring for me. What more can you expect from an 18-year-old whose just into driving? At least the so-called wannabe enthusiast inside me started to get irritated with our beloved car.

This was Odo around 2012. 10 years done and barely touching 35K. A happy pic was taken when Dad sponsored a full tank!

To further exaggerate the situation Alto was very hard to drive with all 4 on board and AC. The car would barely move which again started an itch for a diesel car. Over the period I have grown to a 6-foot guy which further escalated the travel comfort for my mother, who used to sit behind me.

Garage mates circa 2013

Fast forward to 2013, we've got ourselves a new Honda Amaze Diesel. To be frank this car blew my mind. The 99bhp/200nm car was a huge upgrade compared to the Alto and the low-end grunt from the Diesel engine felt heavenly to me. Soon I stopped driving the Alto and whenever little time I drove the car, I just wanted to get rid of it. Yes, it really hurts now that it was me who pressured my family to get rid of Alto without knowing how much my Dad loved this car. It was the first car he bought with his hard-earned money. I wanted the alto to be replaced by a powerful petrol car and the itch made me go blind over my dad's priced possession.

Soon, Alto was sold to our cousin and I got my hands on a 2002 Honda City Vtec. More on that later.

Fast Forward to 2022, the cousin we sold our Alto pretty much ill-maintained it. The saddest part is that you have to see your beloved car being treated poorly. By that time, I was having a huge wave of guilt as my father pretty much stopped using our cars after Alto was sold. Being a late learner to driving, my father was thrown out of his comfort zone when I was forcing him to drive the different upgrades that made way after Alto. The last nail in the coffin was our cousin calling me back saying Alto had its engine seized and needed my help to fix it.

This was the condition of our Alto in 2022

I was heartbroken to see the car in this state and I thought of buying it back and restoring it for my Dad. Even if my cousin gave it back to me for free, a restoration would easily cost around 1L+ considering the abuse this car has been going through. Keeping that in mind and the buried guilt inside me triggered me to get a better Alto and restore it for him. I always wished we had an Alto 1.1 and moreover my father wanted it back in 2002.

I must say this was one of my shortest searches for a car.

Likes

• 4Cylinder F10D instead of the 3cylinder F8D.
• Fewer vibrations considering it's a 4cylinder balanced engine.
• The car doesn't struggle to get a move on full load.
• Since it's a Maruti, restoration won't be a headache.

Dislikes

• Interior space is very limited, especially in the rear.
• A bigger engine means more fuel burned and hence less fuel economy.
• It's an old car, hence the interior is basic.

Buying Process

I was on the search for an Alto VXi 1.1 all again. I saw many ads on Olx and almost all of them were VX 1.1. The difference between VX & VXi was that the VX doesn't come with Power steering and Rear headrests and the VXi has both of them as standard. This felt strange for me because our Alto was an LXi Spin Variant and it had a power steering from the factory. At least this is what I came to understand while on the search. I saw an FB Marketplace AD saying Alto VXi 1.1 is for sale. It was around 5 km from my place and I immediately went to check the car. It was a park and sale and the dealer was a very clean person. He was not pushing me to get the car or forcing me to give him an advance in order to block the car. Initial impressions were good, but not great. The car felt mechanically in great shape and I instantly fell in love with the 1.1 engine. The car pulled effortlessly even with the AC on. But the car didn't feel clean to my standards. I forgot the fact that I was buying an Alto. Almost all of them were bought as the first car, or most of them were bought as city cars or secondary cars for the runabouts. I left the place with a few pictures that I took for further reference. Later, almost a week later, after searching both online and offline for a cleaner car, I came to the understanding that, this car I checked out earlier is the cleanest it can get. I called Dilip, a close friend of mine to assist me to check the car once again on his presence. He instantly convinced me that this is as clean as it can get and go ahead with the buying process. The dealer was asking 75K for this single-owner car. I was ready to get the car at that price even though I thought of negotiating a bit. To my luck, the dealer agreed to settle down for 57K which made me close and secure the deal instantly. Money saved can be spent later in the restoration process.

Why Alto again? Why are no other cars considered?

This buying was more like a debt being paid off or guilt being settled for me. Years back, When I forced my dad to sell his Alto for an upgrade to a Honda City Vtec 2002 I forgot the fact that my dad learned to drive in his mid 30's and he has his own fair share of hesitation. When I forced him to drive a longer and wider car all of a sudden, he was thrown out of his comfort zone. I was unable to understand the fact that he was forcing himself to adapt to the bigger car. It took me years to understand that he was avoiding scenarios where he has to take the car all out by himself. As years passed by, his driving steadily declined and that's when I noticed that he is having trouble taking the sedans out. The city was sold all of a sudden and I bought a 2008 Ford Fiesta 1.6S to replace the city. He was getting a hang of the city and again I'm pushing him thinking that he will adapt. But it took me a few more years to understand that the confidence he had driving an Alto can only be regained with the same car. Even though I buy him some other car of the same size and width, I understood it isn't gonna work for him.

Driving Experience

The car felt very peppy and quick off the line in comparison to the F8D. Although it felt quick off the line, the car doesn't give you enough confidence at triple-digit speeds. You can instantly understand that apart from the better engine, everything else is shared with the 800cc alto. The seats are very basic and average. You can instantly feel the cheapness of the seats once you step in. Come on, what else can you expect from a 4L car back in the 2000's. The car feels good on straight lines and is incredibly smoother to drive around, thanks to the 4 cylinders and the car won't be struggling whenever you're driving around with people on board and AC, A lethal combination for the F8D Alto's I was getting around 11-12kmpl on mixed driving conditions. This is never going to be a highway car and hence these fuel efficiency figures are more or less going to be the same. The Odo was standing around 80K kms while I bought the car. I already put down 2K kms in less than 6 months. Weekly my runabouts will be around 25-50kms max for the alto. I personally love the First gen Alto compared to the facelift cars with the clear lens headlight. The older Alto had a Kei car vibe considering the later facelift ones. Alto originally came with 12" Steel rims. It was shod with 145/80/12 section tires. The tires I got with the car 2018 make and fairly new. I have plans to upgrade the tires to 13". Anything more will be overkill for a daily car. Alto came with a 5 Speed Manual Gearbox. 5 forward gears and 1 reverse gear. The gearshifts have a positive feel to them, but other than that, gear throws feel very basic. A refresh to all the bushes around the gear lever should enhance the experience if I'm not wrong. The suspension feels more on the softer side. This car was definitely built as a commuter car and it can be felt while driving. The car feels ok until you hit triple-digit speeds. Anything above feels floaty and not at all confidence-inspiring.

Difference between 800cc Alto & 1.1 Alto

• The biggest difference is the engine. The 800cc Alto is powered by a 47bhp F8D engine whereas the 1.1 is powered by a more powerful 62bhp F10D engine shared from WagonR of that era.
• F8D had a different instrument cluster compared to 1.1 which had the tachometer as standard.

I just love this Cluster compared to the older alto.

• The VXi had adjustable rear headrests as standard, whereas the F8D had fixed headrests. The disadvantage is your visibility through ORVM is hindered.
• The 1.1 had rear wash/wiper standard, which is a nice feature. By design, the rear glass will attract a lot of dust on a rainy drive.

First glimpse of the car. It was a park and sale and the dealer was a courteous and clean guy to my surprise. You can also see Dilip, my close friend checking the car in detail for me. He convinced me to get this car, as this was one of the cleanest Alto that has come up for sale in recent times

The right headlight was new compared to the left. Should be a small mishap because everything else was untouched

Yes, the car had a few scuff marks all around, but that was quite self-explanatory considering this was a 2002 car and the previous owner was an aged guy.

I was surprised to see the original invoice being kept intact. I was already convinced to get this car and this was the icing on the cake. Yes, you read it right, 3.9L on-road in 2002

Closed the deal then and there and bought my new old Alto home. It was one of the most satisfying purchases in recent times.

What's in the pipeline?

I'm planning to keep this car as a long-termer. Everyone in my family loves this car. I'll be going for a full restoration of the car as it progresses. I will be munching up miles in the meantime and will be dealing with any mechanical issues that might prop up during my ownership. Once the mechanicals is completely sorted, I will be moving for a full repaint since the car's paint has its own fair share of blemishes. I have been searching in Boodmo for parts and to my surprise, almost everything is available in Boodmo. Stay tuned!

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Our highways were not too wide during those years and this was the perfect car for those quick overtakes in short gaps.

BHPian psispace recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I had a VX 1.1 for more than 13 years from 2001. And it was literally a pocket rocket considering its' size. Coming from an M800, this felt like a more modern car. Wow, digital trip meter! Wow, back-lit speedometer and oh, wow, a tachometer! Internally adjustable (manual) ORVMs were a luxury after years of asking your co- passenger to 'kindly' adjust the passenger side mirror for you. I had retrofitted one in my erstwhile 8 double 'O'.

I used to grin wickedly as I used to watch cars three to ten times the price of the car not able to keep up on the highways. They had the pace, but they didn't have the space. Ok, I'm sounding cheeky now, but that's how it was then. It was a time when I was still young and a 'not so sedate' driver. I shudder to think now of the speeds I did on that car.

It was after my son was born that I started slowing down. This became a city-only car and long trips were only in my dad's Accord. The Alto had no airbags at that time. Kerb's weight of around 750 kg meant the tires were barely touching the tarmac at high speeds. I have had quite a bit of my fair share of scary moments on panic braking in that car. I have unwittingly done a power slide on this once. This was when I had to brake hard while making a turn at a junction. I had to avoid hitting a bike that jumped a red light. The rear started moving out and I had to opposite lock and accelerate. Fortunately, the front found traction and I straightened out. The biker must have said some extra prayers that day. As for a guy on the roadside, he gave me a thumbs up, thinking it was an intentional power slide when actually, I had my heart in my mouth. It also reminded me to change the tyres ASAP. Since then I am obsessive about changing tyres before they are fully worn out.

My car was the initial VX 1.1 model without the 'i'. This means that there is no electric power steering (SPIN in Maruti speak). Because of the heavier engine up front, the steering was very tedious at parking speeds. The smaller steering wheel only compounded the problem. But this was a boon at higher speeds. It gave good road feedback which is critical if you are an enthusiast. At that age, I didn't find this a problem. I doubt I will be able to drive it now without a visit to my Physiotherapist.

As a proud Indian, I have carried up to 9 passengers in this car (including 2 kids) and this thing pulled up inclines quite well with such loads (albeit with some downshifting and effort). The gearbox in this was not as smooth as the Zen or Esteem, but it did its' business well.

Like most of the Maruti engines of its' time, this was a workhorse and is quite remarkable for something at its' price point. I did a Vahan search of my erstwhile Alto and I am happy to say that it still seems to be running. The present owner seems to have renewed its' insurance till next year. The age of the car as mentioned is 21 years and 2 months! I don't know the condition of the car now. But how's that for something that had cost just around three and a half lakhs on road?

I struggled to find some good photos, and sadly these are all I could recover from my hard drive.

That's her in her middle years with my wife and son. The only mod is the alloy wheels. They definitely improve the looks. I am now missing the golden years of sun films.

This sad photo was taken for an insurance claim after a small shunt with a truck. By this time, I was fighting the upgrade itch and started playing with the car to pacify myself. Apart from that 'over-the-top spoiler, rain visors and upgraded upholstery; this had a K&N drop-down filter and free flow exhaust. Notice, no sun films.

In the end, this is the very last photo of her before she was sent off to her new home.

It was sold off to be replaced by another hot hatch - was bought by a neighbour in Thrissur for his wife.

It was an emotional moment as the car was with me through my college years, through my initial professional struggles, my marriage and the birth of my son.

I am glad she is still around and hope she is being well taken care of.

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