When my friend, who is a sub-inspector, showed me a picture of the vehicle, I was shocked as it was my old Maruti Celerio.

BHPian PrasannaDhana recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

It is our responsibility to check if the car we sold has been transferred to the new owner's name. We have so many apps including Vahaan to check it.

Let me share my own experience. I wasn't affected as I very firmly make sure my cars are name-transferred within 15 days of sale.

I sold my Celerio in 2021 and made sure it was name-transferred. Later last year, I happened to have a chat with one of my friends who is a Sub-inspector of Police. He was sharing about a peculiar case where a car was spotted in the same place on an isolated river bank for 3 days, and when checked, they found a man dead inside. He was totally inebriated from the state he was found and they ruled it to be a suicide. When he proceeded to show the pic of the car, I was shocked. It was my Celerio.

First thing the SI uttered was "Luckily you transferred the ownership, else you would have faced problems."

News link 1 and link 2

Always make sure your vehicle has been name-transferred, even if you exchange it through a dealer.

We should get a delivery note as well as an Aadhar copy of the buyer attested by him. It's the only proof of sale that can legally help if some mishap happens.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

There is a big section of Indian society who are restricted to two wheelers only because of budget constraints and many of them migrate to entry level cars as and when possible.

BHPian cludflare recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Buying a first car can be a very difficult discussion for many. With India shining, most of us would end up owning at least 4 to 5 cars in our lifetime if not more. But the first one is always special. There are different opinions that people hold around first cars – some believe a used car is the best way to get your hands accustomed and then move to a new one, some believe that in the new age one can directly own an automatic and skip the manual world completely, some do not want to compromise on safety these days at all, while for many it’s a pure decision of affordability.

There is a big section of Indian society who are restricted to two wheelers only because of budget constraints and many of them migrate to entry level cars as and when possible. This is one space that I have a particular interest in. I live in Bangalore and often notice that there is an increasing drop in the number of Altos and Celerios on the road, which is understandable with Bangalore having the highest per capita income in the country. But unlike the big cities, this segment is extremely important for a massive part of India. For many of us, the first car was always an entry level car which might be changing now.

Maruti Suzuki’s chairman recently shared his view in their half yearly press conference about the significant drop-in entry-level car-space.

The objective of this post is to have some discussion around the lack of options and OEMs disappearing from this space and second, the importance of safety features in the segment.

Even if MSIL’s sales numbers from this segment remain high, this is not a value segment. I have deep respect for Maruti Suzuki to continue to focus on the demography that buys their first car based on affordability. Decade over decade, Maruti has ensured that the Indian customer is not running out of options at all non-premium price points. While others like Hyundai chose to fold, Maruti holds the fort. It was extremely sad to see first the Eon followed by the Santro coming under the axe. The cheapest Hyundai (Nios - Era) now costs 7 lakhs on road. On the other hand, Maruti still offers the lower middle class buyer the option to chose from Alto, Celerio, Wagon R and even the Ignis priced aggressively. Also notable mentions are the Kwid and Tiago still being around.

I understand that with the commodity costs on the up and the tax treatment for foreign players (excluding Koreans) makes the business less viable in this segment. That makes me think about the mandate of having 6 airbags for all cars. I do believe safety is very important aspect of a car, and it should be one of the top priorities for all car buyers, if you can afford it. But there are millions of Indians who will want to upgrade to an entry level hatch from their scooters – don’t bump in their costs.

Kudos to Tata Motors for raising our awareness towards safety, but hey – don’t mock S-Presso in your social handle for 0 stars. You are not the one offering a car at 4 lakh ex-showroom.

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

You are simply nitpicking on TATA. The cheapest car, Alto costs ₹4.6 lakh in Kerala, Tiago costs ₹6.6 lakh. In EMI terms it’s around ₹4000. There will be very minuscule percentage of people who can afford a Alto but not a Tiago! The sales of the cheapest 3 cars in India is <5% of total sales! So the percentage who can’t afford a Tiago, yet able to afford an Alto will be less than 5% of car buyers.

Let us assume a person wants to buy a car. I bought my first car 20 years back, it was an used Zen, I drove it for 14 years. Mind you there were less options then. Now for the cost of an Alto you can get lot of good used cars. So, it is not that cost of entry level cars is high, the country has grown up in income and that is reflected in car sales. My first car was bought for ₹3 lakh in 2002, so with regard to inflation the car prices has not grown that much. ₹3 lakh in inflation terms would be ₹11 lakh now. That means while the former could only afford me a Zen, that too a used one, now for same inflation adjusted money I can almost get a new Virtus/Slavia! We can simply crib on imaginary issues, while the fact is entirely different.

Here's what BHPian Aakash118 had to say on the matter:

More than anything, it’s the decreasing aspirational value of cars like Alto & Celerio which is responsible for downfall of this segment. I know at least 3-4 people in my circle who bought their first car in the form of a used i10 or Ritz, learned driving on it and then directly upgraded to a Nexon or Creta. A new Alto or even Tiago is just not aspiring enough for them.

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

Buying a car is a big jump for a lot of middle-class Indians; but for the same, the decision also focuses on maintenance costs. And with regards to that aspect, Maruti leaps ahead by a huge margin. In reality, the cost of ownership for a Maruti might not be very far from a Hyundai in the same segment, when serviced at regular service centers. But from a mindset, Maruti still screams as value-for-money for the average fellow on the road. And that also gets revalidated when one goes to an FNG or tries to sell an existing Maruti car.

I believe the likes of Hyundai, Tata and others have realized they can't fight this and have "shifted" their entry level segment range while focusing on other aspects (e.g. safety, gadgetry). Maruti would love to do so but the bottom of the pyramid is still a cash-cow for them (even if the margins are very low) and hence they have to make-do with whatever possible (e.g. limited safety features). I expect over time the old models (Alto, etc.) will be phased out eventually.

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

I believe its the easy availability of EMIs and loans. People with jobs can easily sign a few documents and add one more year to their loan tenure and get a car thats segment above. Hence everyone is going for it. Since the idea of having more than one EMIs is getting accepted by the younger earning population, from EMIs for the new iphone and a car feels mostly similar. So why not? Is the question of the new earners. I am not saying anyone is being financially irresponsible with their funds, because at the end YOLO...

Here's what BHPian rishi.roger had to say on the matter:

There is not a substantial difference between 5 lakh and 10 lakhs these days. If someone can purchase a 5 lakh car, buying a used or even a new 8-9 lakh car won't be very difficult. Thanks to the financing scheme provided by banks, and also a change in purchase mentality in modern Indian population (particularly those in Metro/Tier-1 and some Tier-2 cities).
Social media content also has a lot of influence on the youth.

I think the puzzle could be solved further if one gets their hands on amount of cars that have been sold on loan, % of loan amount and age groups they're sold to.

I feel, A lot of people buying cars these days are youngsters, who don't mind the burden of EMIs as they see a bright future for Indian economy. They understand that for sure, they could get an Alto right now but soon enough they'll earn more and desire more - so why not put their money somewhere that's also slightly future proof in terms of meeting the desire/needs.

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

So far, I'm getting 15 km/L mileage or above within city limits.

BHPian raptor_diwan recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hey everyone!

Thank you so much for all your inputs. After months of searching, facing dislikes, and various stories of people trying to cheat me during the purchase (which I'll cover in a different post), I finally bought a S-presso VXI+ AGS from True Value. It impressed me during the test drive, and it's well-maintained.

It's a 2019 version registered in 2020, with 40k KM on it. It was maintained by a lady doctor, and the condition is perfect. I love it, and I'm already having fun within the city.

The only experience I couldn't find on either Team-BHP or any platform is how the AMT actually feels in a hill station. So, planning a quick hill ride soon and will update. Here are a few pictures of my new car.

There are a few scratches on the side of the car. The front bonnet and trunk have been completely repainted by Maruti True Value free of cost. However, I'll have to take care of the scratches on the side myself, either through insurance or by seeking services outside.

I don't have any plans to repaint it at the moment, as it will primarily be used for city rides, and scratches are inevitable. The existing scratches are not very noticeable unless observed closely.

Impressions:

Transmission was generally smooth, except in heavy traffic where I felt a slight jerk, though not as much as the Kwid. The transmission is smooth overall, and I drive with a light foot, so I haven't experienced much head nodding. However, there were a few instances when I pressed the vehicle for quick acceleration, and it downshifted with a slight delay. I'll need some time to get used to it. ( Gotta be careful during overtakes )

Odor:

The car came with these leather-type seats, thanks to the previous owner. Thinking of ditching them, though. Not a big fan of seat covers. Plus, there's this smell I'm not vibing with; it's giving me a bit of a dizzy spell. Planning to yank off those seat covers soon. Fingers crossed the original seats are okay.

Missing Armrest:

There is no comfortable place to rest my hand on either side. The right side too high near the window, and the side armrest is too low to rest my hand properly on the steering wheel. I need to figure out a solution for this.

AC:

The air conditioning is excellent. Even though I haven't used it beyond the first point (perhaps due to winter), the AC is powerful and quickly blocks my nose.

Size:

I love the compact size of the car. I'm basically driving it like an auto, slipping through gaps like a breeze.

Mileage:

So far, I'm getting 15 km per liter or above within city limits. I'm a light-foot driver, haven't pushed past 70 km/h yet, but I've clocked over 300 km. Not bad on the mileage front.

Lack of Storage:

There is literally no designated space to keep my mobile phone. I'm currently using a cloth in the cup holder to keep my phone. It would have been better if there was a designated space for mobile storage. Fortunately, there is an infotainment system with CarPlay, although it requires a wired connection.

Right now, no big road trips planned, but I'm thinking of taking the car to the hills just once to see how it handles there. Never driven an AMT in hilly areas, so it's a bit of an experiment for me.

Before getting this car, I tried finding info on how AMTs perform in hills online, but came up empty. So, I'm just going to test it out myself.

Just ordered a Zed Black tint sunshade side cover to close off the rear side. No one's gonna be chilling in the back, just a two-seater vibe.

Got to deal with a slacking wiper blade; it's not doing its job right. Time for a switch. And the horn's not winning any awards, so that's on the change list too. Little tweaks here and there to keep the ride smooth.

Also, considering putting some legal tint on the windows. Not really keen on repainting or going all out with a wrap; feels like too much for a daily beater car.

Thinking of adding a TPMS for a heads-up on tire pressure. The key needs a fix, central locking's being a bit stubborn, While I can unlock the car with the central locking, the locking function isn't working properly. I'll have to check this issue during the next service.

Also, I need to replace the mat and plan on a full interior shampoo cleaning to get rid of any odors.

That's the current rundown. Any suggestions on what else I should be looking into or considering for an upgrade or replacement?

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I had planned to hit the 1L kms mark on it and then consider a replacement - Mostly an EV from Maruti/Toyota.

BHPian audioholic recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

And it is time to pull the curtains down on the Celerio ownership

After a bit more than seven years and 77k kms later, we bid goodbye to the Celerio today. The car has had a stellar run and has taken all the traffic abuse Bengaluru could give it, and yet survived it unscathed mechanically, even though the body has taken all the abuse with no resistance.

The AMT is widely criticised by every Tom, Dick, and Harry. But considering this was the first implementation by Maruti, the hardware has been trouble-free. The clutch itself is a different topic and that's a wear and tear issue but it's a cheap item to replace, which I paid 6k once apart from the two times it was replaced free of cost. This is much lighter on the pocket than say, a DSG or multi-clutch failure. And even though this was the first car that Maruti launched with the AMT, they got the reliability aspect right.

• The front suspension is still in good shape, rear damper was replaced some time ago since it was a bit weak
• Tyres still have a decent life in them, with no alignment issues
• Mechanically in excellent condition and no issues with the powertrain
• Electricals in perfect working condition
• No fading or wear out of interior or exterior parts
• Interiors have been regularly washed every few months and spotless
• Only periodic service was carried out, with AMT oil proactively replaced and wear and tear parts replaced when needed

Motivation to sell:
Considering how much the Celerio used to run, I had planned to hit the 1L kms mark on it and then consider a replacement - Mostly an EV from Maruti/Toyota. However, a friend's relative had put up a Honda Jazz VX CVT on sale which was only 3 years old and had run only 14k kms. He had seen the car and the car was clean with excellent service history and not a single panel that was replaced or repainted. The car was almost scratch-free. The owner was upgrading to a Brezza and had got a quote from Maruti True Value and was not looking for a better offer.

Discussed this idea with my parents since my Mom had been the primary user of the Celerio for the last few years and she was actually looking for a car with bigger space and comfort. They were initially hesitant about the idea of a used car since we have always brought new cars. But I explained 14k kms is like nothing for a Japanese car and the car is clean. And since the price quoted + excellent resale value of the Celerio meant we had to pay a small amount of money for this upgrade, we sealed the deal with the owner of the Jazz.

Even though I had finalised the buy in July, the Brezza delivery got delayed and the seller was not sure if we would wait until his car was delivered but I was okay since I had a lot of time to sell the Celerio. Hence after a rather long wait for him as well as me, we got the deal going last week.

Sale of the Celerio:
Had to wait till Pitrupaksha season here to really get some enquiries since people here don't cut any deals during this time, and then there is a sudden rush to get stuff done by the end of Dasara. However, the seller of the Jazz was getting his new car home just after Pitrupaksha and he couldn't keep the Jazz longer due to parking limitations. Hence I brought the Jazz home last Sunday and also invited various companies to evaluate the car. There were a few personal buyers who enquired but no one wanted to visit the car and then negotiate. I had quoted a price that was less than the average listings online for Celeries in various platforms and yet all I did was to get absurd offers.

I had Cars24, Spinny, and Olx Auto evaluate the car, and while Olx Autos quoted an absurd 3.1L, Cars24 at 3.65L and Spinny at 3.82L. Just look at the difference. Considering the distance driven and the various body-related issues and repaint done I was not in a position to demand too much of a premium from an individual buyer and hence decided to go ahead with Spinny. They were extremely detailed with their inspection and yet offered a good price. Imagine retaining more than 60% of the value of the car even after 7 years and 77k kms of use. That's just amazing.

The twist in the story came when a personal buyer approached me one day before handing over the car to Spinny. He was supposed to inspect the car earlier but could not do so for various reasons and hence only contacted me one day prior to the handover of the car. I was not really sure if this deal would go through and hence asked him to inspect the car and then decide. Due to the time pressure for me as well as him, he had to make some last-minute arrangements and rush to my house to take a look at the car. All the while I was pretty unsure given that the car was not in the perfect condition I would have expected(especially if I could keep the Jazz as a benchmark).

However, he was okay with the car and agreed to buy it. But this made me somewhat anxious or rather defensive because - 1. Spinny has made a detailed inspection, they know in and out of the car and I have already set up the sale with them, and 2. Because the buyer is making this discussion in a short time window and might have second thoughts later, which might turn bad for both of us. Hence I had refused to sell the car to him but changed my mind a few minutes later, cancelled the pickup by Spinny, and handed over the car to this family.

Final ODO:

Attachment 2519833

And the replacement:

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The Kwid looks light and good, while the WagonR is not aesthetically pleasing, but I believe it offers more interior space.

BHPian raptor_diwan recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I am looking to buy a second car for city rides, mainly with an automatic transmission. My budget is 5 Lakhs, and I have checked the used car market, but I am not satisfied with the way they have been maintained. Now, I am slightly extending my budget to 6 Lakhs and planning to buy any one of these cars new with an automatic transmission.

I am confused between these three options. Personally, I am not happy with the way the Celerio and Alto look. They don't suit my body shape, and I feel they might appear too small when I sit in them. The Kwid looks light and good, while the WagonR is not aesthetically pleasing, but I believe it offers more interior space.

Is the Kwid more spacious than the WagonR? Can the Kwid provide better mileage than the WagonR? The WagonR AGS claims to have a mileage of 25, but even if it's 18, it's acceptable to me.

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

Let me help in terms of the WagonR query only. I have no idea about the Kwid , nor the new Celerio or Alto.

The new WagonR is a spacious car, I am sure it is bigger than the Kwid on the inside. It is the perfect car for city use because of the easy ingress/egress and being a small footprint car, it easy to drive. We have one at home since early last year which was bought as a replacement for an old Swift, for my father who is in his mid-70's and drives to work everyday. So I opted for the AMT 1.0 version knowing that is sufficient for his use.

Fast forward around 6000 kms and 18 months, except for some dents and scratches due to parking, the sheet metal is as good as a cola can, the car is perfect for him and as well as me to use it for short distances. More than enough space on the side, including a decent sized boot.

On the fuel efficiency front, the car has been giving a consistent 12 kmpl with AC in city use. So you can confidently ignore the advertised figures.

There is no wheel cladding or noise deadening in the car, it feels like I am driving a 800 in the 90's. Same with the shocks and add to that the hard MRF tyres, a pothole if not avoided, hits with an impact in the cabin and on passengers.

The AMT needs to get used to. Now I am used to letting go of the accelerator to shift gears and I don't let the ECU do that. It works out more comfortable and predictable this way. But I heard the AMT is better on the updated version of the car launched last year.

End of the day, I would recommend it as a family city car or for ageing parents.

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

Before I state my opinion, I'd like to let you know that none of these cars shall fit in your budget of 6L. The cheapest automatic in India is the Alto K10 VXI which costs 5.61L ex-showroom and should cost around a lakh more on road in Chennai. This is the car which shall allow you to stick the closest to your budget.

If budget is no bar, the WagonR is the best choice in the 1.2 guise though. The WagonR 1.2 ZXi AMT costs only about 30k more than the 1.0 VXi and is actually more fuel efficient. The extra features and the peppier engine shall be an added bonus. Kwid is a good car(and it offers a tachometer as standard) but the Kwid AMT does not have a manual mode unlike the other cars. A manual mode may come in handy during some tricky situations. Due to this omission in the Kwid, I'd personally avoid it.

Between the WagonR 1.0 and the Celerio 1.0, while you have stated the Celerio is not to your liking, it does come with a tachometer(if it matters to you) and a better instrument cluster with a mode modern design while costing you 15k less. The power window placement is an issue though.

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

Before I state my opinion, I'd like to let you know that none of these cars shall fit in your budget of 6L. The cheapest automatic in India is the Alto K10 VXI which costs 5.61L ex-showroom and should cost around a lakh more on road in Chennai. This is the car which shall allow you to stick the closest to your budget.

If budget is no bar, the WagonR is the best choice in the 1.2 guise though. The WagonR 1.2 ZXi AMT costs only about 30k more than the 1.0 VXi and is actually more fuel efficient. The extra features and the peppier engine shall be an added bonus. Kwid is a good car(and it offers a tachometer as standard) but the Kwid AMT does not have a manual mode unlike the other cars. A manual mode may come in handy during some tricky situations. Due to this omission in the Kwid, I'd personally avoid it.

Between the WagonR 1.0 and the Celerio 1.0, while you have stated the Celerio is not to your liking, it does come with a tachometer(if it matters to you) and a better instrument cluster with a mode modern design while costing you 15k less. The power window placement is an issue though.

Here's what BHPian mgastor2022grey had to say on the matter:

I will recommend to you the Kwid Climber AMT. There is one in my near family, and I got to drove it a couple times. My observations are:

• Good and spacious car, when compared to my friend's WagonR.
• A great looker, better than the WagonR.
• Though Mediocre interiors, they definitely feel upmarket and is safe by Renault standards.
• You might want a Renault badge over a Maruti Badge IMHO.
• Beautiful looking car, compared to the WagonR (I hate the tallboy design).
• Better high speed stability than the WagonR due to better aerodynamical phase.

If you are looking for other cars, will suggest you the Tata Tiago/Tigor. Amazing safety and best looking designs, both inside-out.

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I still can't rely on the 360 camera as the image is very poor to accurately gauge a tight spot.

BHPian no_boundaries recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

We welcomed the 2023 Baleno Alpha AGS 3 weeks ago. Sharing my initial impressions, coming from 2017 Celerio AGS

I like -

• Engine has become very silent and responsive to throttle inputs

• It takes at least 100kms of driving for gearbox to tune to driver's driving style. Now the gear shifts right when I want it to

• Seats are so comfortable, all controls just falls in your access

• AC chills well even under blazing sun, typical of a Maruti.

• Car feels stable in a straight line and well built

What I'm trying to cope with -

• AGS is better than the 1st gen AGS, it still requires the driver's conscious effort to moderate acceleration inputs. If a new driver adapting to this gearbox is not careful about this, they could prematurely ruin the gearbox, as my dad did with the celerio

• Suspension is soft such that you feel the car move more than the tyres turn on road

• Seat fabric could have been softer to touch

• Audio is still poorly tuned. Would have loved some more tuning and differentiation between low, mid and high frequency distribution

• Rear visibility is poor through the rear windshield as it slopes limiting a clear view. I still can't rely on the 360 camera as the image is very poor to accurately gauge a tight spot. My wife makes fun of me when I try to ignore the camera and look around from the car

Overall, if you fall in love with a car for simple basic things it does, it's easy to overlook the other shortcomings.

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

We are looking to buy another vehicle soon. It would likely be either Tata Punch or Nexon diesel.

BHPian PrasannaDhana recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Update

Odo: 41,500 km

I have been super busy with work since the last update. I was quite held up that I even missed doing the routine month-end updates.

February and a couple of unlucky events.

Stress crack on the windshield of Altroz

I was not mindful enough to realize the car had been parked in the hot sun and proceeded to go on with the weekly Sunday TLC of washing it. Hosing the panel beneath the windshield with water may have caused rapid temperature differences between the 2 materials and it resulted in a 40 cm long stress crack from the bottom towards the middle.

I called the service manager at Tata dealership who directed me to the body shop manager. I was told it would take 3 days and the windshield of XZ+ which comes with a rain sensor will cost around 14000 INR. Money wasn't an issue, but leaving the car at the body shop for 3 days was something I was totally against.

The next option was AIS Windshield Experts. I haven't read or heard about them before. When I shared about this windshield crack in our Teambhp Madras WhatsApp group, there were at least 4 BHPians who had nothing but nice things to say about Windshield Experts when they replaced their windshields.

Luckily, Trichy has a branch and I called them. I was surprised that they had the exact OE windshield with rain sensor in stock and it can be replaced in 4 hours tops.

I went ahead and they suggested an insurance claim. I made it clear that I needed the car by the evening, for which the person there told me that the work is subject to the insurance company approving the job first and until then they won't start working. I told him I will pay him the expenses and he can reimburse me once the insurance pays him back. I left my driver there and left for work. Exactly in 3 hours, the job was done. I was totally satisfied with the work.

With the new windshield

There was this poor Altroz which had been subjected to vandalism. All windshields shattered. I was told it was sitting in the garage for 15 days waiting for the insurance company to approve the work to begin.

Total damage to the wallet was 10k, of which 9k will be reimbursed by insurance, which hasn't been done so far. Lol. The insurance company says I might receive the reimbursement anytime next week.

New Celerio and recurring minor accidents

My 2021 (sheesh, I bought it on 23rd December 2021) Celerio has been driven just 5000 km so far. It has been into 3 minor accidents so far. Twice with 2 wheelers rear-ending the bumper when it was stationary, and once a Brio sideswiping it and knocking off the ORVM.

One of those instances was my driver driving and the other two were while my dad was driving. This time, the rear bumper tore like fabric. My dad was frustrated and we decided to let the car go. I spoke to my usual Truevalue manager and asked him to dispose of the car. We arrived at 6.4 lakhs as the price and the deal was done. They took the delivery and handed me the delivery report.

I then booked a Tata Punch Adventure Rhythm in orange colour. The next day our true value guy calls and says his superiors are not giving approval and Maruti doesn't have funds to take 5L+ rupee used cars right now and whatnot! I could have refused to take the car back as I already had the delivery report. But since the guy is known us for over 2 decades and has taken 6 of my cars so far, I Iet it slide. Only thing, the guy will get no further business through me. Trust lost, is business lost.

Now the car is back in my garage, I decided to replace the bumper. Total damage to wallet -8k. I have told the Tata sales TL to keep the booking and not allot any car till I tell him. I might be looking at a 4th car within the next 6 months. So I didn't cancel the booking. It might either be Punch or Nexon diesel, to be used by dad.

February saw the least usage for Altroz ownership so far has seen. Just 1400 km. It was because I drove the Storme close to 3000 km in February.

Storme has been used close to 4000 km in 40 days

Altroz, though sparingly used in February, is back to its stride in March. I had completed 1000 km in 9 days.

Kodaikanal Trip

I needed a break after a hectic February and decided to have a holiday in Kodaikanal. It is the 2nd time the Altroz is being driven to Kodaikanal, and the 3rd time it is being driven on hills in the 16 months of Ownership. It has always been a delight to drive on ghats.

But this time though, I had a really frustrating time driving around the rural parts of Kodaikanal where the roads were terrible. The stiff low-speed ride + bad roads really took a toll on my lower back. I almost decided to sell the car off That was until we hit the good roads and ghats again. What a lovely little car to drive on good roads and what a crappy car to be in, on bad roads.

The 1.5L diesel mill shines everywhere. I did Dindigul to Trichy in 45 minutes, which means averaging at the speed limit. The car still returned 20 kmpl while being rock solid at speeds.

Compact dimensions of Altroz were a boon in Kodaikanal town, where there are no properly planned parking areas anywhere. Every car/bus has to be parked on the main roads at the side.

Things to be taken care of at the 45000 km routine service

• AC air flow has become reduced. Cabin air filter might need a replacement. Right now the ACC requires the blower speed to be at 5 or 6 initially for a few minutes to get the cabin cooled. Hot summer and gloss black roof don't help either.
• The wipers will have to be replaced.
• The disc pads are stock ones which haven't been replaced since purchase. Most probably they will have to be changed.

Few pics as usual

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The Celerio Classic Edition was showcased at the 2023 Bangkok International Motor Show (BIMS).

Suzuki has launched a special edition of the Celerio in Thailand. It’s called the Celerio Classic Edition and it costs approximately Rs 11.62 lakh.

The Celerio Classic Edition gets quite a few updates even by “special edition” standards. It is based on the previous generation model and comes with a bespoke body kit. It includes a black bumper and fender extensions, side skirts and a rear bumper with quad exhaust tips, which obviously are fake.

The Celerio Classic Edition is finished in a retro paint job with a gold roof, a gold stripe and red ORVMs. However, the standout feature is the chrome wheel hub caps. The interior of the car looks pretty stock, except for the dual-tone beige and brown seat upholstery.

The Celerio Classic Edition was showcased at the 2023 Bangkok International Motor Show (BIMS). It is solely aimed at the Thai market and we aren’t complaining.

Source: Rushlane

The carmaker also sells the Ertiga-based Rumion and the Starlet, which is a re-badged Maruti Baleno in South Africa.

Toyota has revealed its Maruti Celerio-based hatchback for the South African market. It’s called the Toyota Vitz.

The Toyota Vitz looks identical to the Celerio sold in India. Except for the Toyota badges, the car uses the same grille and headlamps. The 15-inch gloss black alloy wheels are also identical to the Indian version.

The Toyota Vitz is powered by a 1.0-litre petrol engine that makes 66 BHP and 89 Nm. The engine is paired with either a 5-speed manual or a 5-speed AMT. 

The Vitz is not the only Maruti-based model Toyota offers in South Africa. The carmaker also sells the Ertiga-based Rumion and the Starlet, which is a re-badged Maruti Baleno. All three models are manufactured in India under the Toyota-Suzuki partnership to be exported overseas.

Source: IOL

I repeatedly said sorry but he was not ready to listen to anything & even abused my parents.

BHPian Lovecars recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hi,

This happened to me on 18 Nov 2022 at Kashmere Gate, Delhi. I was parking my car (SX4) and it accidentally touched a Celerio's bumper standing there. A police representative came out of the car furiously and started beating me and hurling abusive words about me and my parents.

He dragged me out of my car. I said I am sorry and I will get his car bumper repaired but he was so furious that he continuously abused me. I repeatedly said sorry. Meanwhile, his companion threatened me that he can do anything to me instantly and he has his profile picture with some political leader.

I got scared by this. I repeatedly said sorry but he was not ready to listen to anything and kept "harassing" me. My father also tried to calm him over the phone and said sorry but he was being very rude and did not pay heed. He asked Rs.30,000 for this but after repeated requests from everyone, he agreed to Rs.5000.

• Is this bullying and harassment just because he is a policeman justified?
• I paid him Rs.5000 from my hard-earned money which is a huge amount for the damage caused. Was it necessary to pay him? (I think insurance covers this).
• I am mentally depressed by the incident.
• Is there anyone who listens to a common man?

I have never had such an experience before. I usually say sorry for even others' mistakes just to avoid arguments and save my mind for the day. I realised that day that the common man doesn't have any powers. Those in power know very well how to extract money from us. If you don't have any influential links (like I don't have) then you have to bear their pressure and be a scapegoat.

I kept shivering for at least 3-4 hours after the incident and cannot come over it even now. But giving my hard-earned money saved me from the cobweb of court and police. I would, any day, like to avoid them as they are well mastered and have strong links which could further pressurise my family.

After the incident, I felt that the phrase "The power of the common man" is only true in theory and those in power take full advantage of that.

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

Write to his superior, media and tweet to the Law Minister along with lodging a complaint in the PMO grievance web portal. This high-handedness shall cost someone else tomorrow. If he has not taken your ID then please proceed. He should apologize for this rude behaviour.

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

When did this happen? If the injuries are still fresh get an MLC done in a government hospital and file an official complaint against him to the respective DCP, call PCR and file the complaint there also and also tweet on all the police media handles along with his photo and share your incident how he thrashed and extorted Rs.5000 after demanding Rs.30,000.

I request you to never step out of the vehicle when any incident happens lock the doors roll the window a bit, gauge the situation whip out your phone record him also dial 100 so that there is always a record that such an incident did happen. You need to understand that even small dings or dents can get you a head bashing which in several cases has resulted in death, it is a vile world out there and you need to protect yourself. Get a dashcam too.

Don't be afraid, you have the power of social media and if you have any lawyer friend the cop is in for a ride plus you'll get compensation for harassment and physical abuse too. You can consult lawyers on the forum too.

I now read that it happened on 18th Nov. If you have any photos of the assault it would help your case. MLC will not help as the wounds might not be fresh but file the complaint to DCP and tweet about it to respective authorities. Our delay in action results in such officers going unpunished.

Here's what BHPian Nissan1180 had to say about the matter:

He is abusing his position as a policeman. You can write to the PMO grievance portal. However, because the police are now meant to serve political interests and not citizens, there is a risk that hoodlums might bother you or your family because the PMO complaint portal takes in all your details.

Honestly the police in other countries behave better with criminals than those in India do with law-abiding citizens.

Don’t be depressed- think of it as a terrorist who attacked you. We cannot defend against such acts because they are committed by people who do not identify with basic human values.

Here's what BHPian Yieldway17 had to say about the matter:

Sorry this happened to you. We are still a country with laws on paper and a bit of the Wild West otherwise.

I remember an incident a decade back when a middle-aged two-wheeler rider was repeatedly slapped by a low-level politico/gunda on the road in front of everyone because he dared to shout at him for riding on the wrong side of the road. I had never seen a grown man cry out of humiliation before and it was heart-wrenching.

Plenty of people helped him after the incident to get him some soda and water to recoup himself and to put on his bike and send him on his way but none of us could ask the other guy anything and mostly were helpless similar to him. We all could have been him. Just the sad state of this country and a decade or so with smartphones and cameras only have marginally improved the situation.

If you want to pursue this, the only option is to use social media and amplify this incident to the max. If you don't want to pursue this, you need to let this go of your mind and just have to move on to not feel bad at yourself and for your own mental health.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.