My mother still had a soft-corner for the Wagon-R brand but yet another thorough test drive of both these cars locked our decision.

BHPian freakmuzik recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Here's to sharing my experience of purchasing an Ignis as a replacement for a 2010 Wagon-R VXI ABS. Though there is a lot of information regarding the car on T-Bhp, I've always felt there might be some tiny thing that might be of help to some tiny soul out there. What's the forum for, otherwise? Hence trying to put out a brief, yet, honest journey of this purchase.

Ode to our beloved Wagon-R

My memory from 2010 has me with my family being excited to take delivery of our much awaited Wagon-R VXI (with ABS & Airbags, for which we had to wait for 6 months), the smell of freshly-baked interior trims, the feeling of sitting over the plastic seat covers, of praying that everything be good with the car after reading all T-Bhp gyaan as a teenager. The first ride back home is still fresh in my memory.

The very last pic of our Wagon-R that I took in September, 2024

Prior to this, we had a Premier Padmini of 1989 make as our primary car. Later, in early 2010, we got a Yellow Nano from the very first list of bookings. And then came the Wagon R in White, the blue eyed boy. The car took us safely to so many places, almost all of Kerala, a bit of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. I did my first highway drive with a learners license in this car. It saved my sister from an accident and also became part of our whole life, being with us for a considerable part of our life and a lakh kilometers. It was my mother's favourite child as she used it the most and we couldn't fathom how it was nearly 15 years already.

But, leaving the emotional part aside, the car slowly started showing its age with few parts needing replacements and a few more that might have to be changed soon. There were a couple of spots of rusting and the boot space was really tight too. Plus, there's the matter of re-registration in 2025 as well. So we finally made a decision to part ways with our Blue-eyed boy and start looking for an ideal replacement.

What to look for?

Since my mother drove the Wagon-R the most (maybe not in kilometers covered, but time spent), it was purely her comfort in mind coupled with other general parameters such as:

1. Easy Ingress/ Egress
2. Sufficient power for being driven on weird Kerala inclines with the AC on
3. Automatic
4. Hill Hold
5. Service availability
6. Decent Boot Space
7. Commanding driving position
8. Rear Wash & Wipe
9. Driver seat Height adjust

With this list, we narrowed down to test-drive the following cars: Wagon R AMT, Punch AMT, Punch EV, Citreon C3 (1.2 NA), Exter and Maruti Ignis.

The (re)search:

Let me share my inferences from the test drives here (have shared some of these in another thread before, but I feel it makes sense to put it down here again)

Maruti Wagon R

Likes:

• All the usual Wagon-R traits - ingress/egress, view, nimble, etc.
• Great usable boot space
• Still the easiest car for the elderly
• Lots of legroom all round
• Good power thanks to 1.2 L and being super light

Dislikes:

• Feels a step down in quality compared to the previous generation
• Expensive for what it offers (top end)
• Poor underthigh support at the rear
• NVH was poor
• This version of K-series feels dull and noisier compared to the one in Ignis

Good evolution in all ways except for the perceived quality and seat-comfort!

Punch AMT

Likes

• Very well appointed interiors
• Great view from driver's seat
• NVH was pretty good
• Very comfortable seats for 4 adults with good under-thigh support and decent legroom
• Decent boot
• Easy ingress and egress
• Brilliant ride and felt rock solid on the road

Dislikes

• AMT was a little slower to respond than W-R
• AC took a bit of time to cool the cabin (The TD vehicle was 25k run though)
• Power, though totally sufficient, wasn't amazing
• Biggest con is the lack of Hill Hold
• Horn position is the most impractical

Citreon C3 (1.2 NA)

Likes

• Very mature Ride and Handling
• Amazing AC
• Very good under-thigh support esp for front seats

Dislikes

• NVH was extremely poor with road noise and engine noise coming in
• Only Manual
• Interiors were super plasticky
• Lack of features
• The driver info display was super basic and looked very very poor
• The whole car felt like a Maruti it terms of flimsiness
• Non-adjustable rear headrests

Punch EV

Likes

• Amazing power with well laid out drive modes
• One pedal driving is super easy with the right regen
• Seat comfort and sufficient space
• Feature rich
• Ride quality and stability + All other pros of the petrol

Dislikes

• AC felt weak (TD car was again nearly 20k run and sun was crazy today)
• Slightly raised floor made seating position a little less comfortable than the petrol

Hyundai Exter

Likes

• Extremely roomy interiors
• Plethora of features
• Featherlight steering wheel
• One of the better digital displays
• Humungous boot space
• AMT was pretty well tuned
• Amazing air-con

Dislikes

• Rear seats were extremely low compared to front, making the rear passengers feel very weird. Even the bolstering of the front seats did not work for me
• Driving experience was very toy-car like: Dead and too light a steering, whole car felt a bit floaty
• Interiors of the TD car had some faded plastics which was surprising
• Ride comfort was neither there nor here
• There was something about the car that felt like it lacked cohesion as a product and experience
• Engine felt average for some reason
• Finally, the looks didn't work for me at all

Must say, the Hyundai sales team were amazing!

Maruti Ignis

Likes

• Great view from the drivers seat makes the car feel so small and chuck-able
• Love the engine in totality and the note
• Ride was very mature and the car felt planted till the 90 kmph. Didn't push further
• Sufficiently well kitted
• Front seats were very supportive
• Overall build felt better than other entry level Maruti's
• Amazing air-con

Dislikes

• Rubbery steering with no-real feel and typical Maruti's lack of return-to-centre action
• AMT is not the best in the set of cars
• Rear seats are a little claustrophobic compared to the rest with limited legroom
• Shape of the rear
• Boot space is smallest among all the contenders
• The fact that the car is nearly 7 years old
• No Crash Test rating available

The second round of test-drive that sealed our choice.

Overall analysis

View from Driver's seat - Ignis>Wagon-R=C3=Punch=Exter
Ride Comfort - C3=Punch>Ignis>Exter=Wagon-R
Perceived Quality - Punch>Exter>Ignis>Wagon-R=C3
Front Seating comfort - Punch>Ignis>C3>Exter>Wagon-R
Rear Seating comfort - Punch>Exter>C3>Ignis>Wagon-R
Boot Space - Exter>Wagon-R>Punch>C3>Ignis
Engine+AMT - Ignis>Wagon-R>Punch>Exter
NVH - Punch>Exter>Ignis>Wagon-R=C3

Regarding the pricing,

Wagon R ZXI+ DT AGS- Rs. 8.30 L
Ignis Alpha AGS - Rs. 9.02 L
Hyundai Exter SX(O) AMT - Rs. 11.20 L
Tata Punch Creative AMT - Approx Rs. 11 L (from carwale)
Citreon C3 Shine NA Manual - Approx Rs. 9.3 L (from carwale)

My mother still had a soft-corner for the Wagon-R brand but yet another thorough test drive of both these cars locked our decision. Booked Maruti Ignis Alpha AGS in Nexa Blue from Indus Nexa showroom in the Kazhakoottam By-pass. We initially booked it with Sarathy motors but later figured they only had a showroom in Kollam which they did not mention. There were a few more stuff that they weren't transparent about so we went ahead with Indus.

Ex-showroom: 8,06,000/-
Insurance: 25,651/-
Road Tax: 1,04,780/-
Extended Warranty (6 yrs): 19,588/-
Registration: 1155/-
Fastag: 500/-
Nexacard: 885/-
On-Road: Rs. 958719/-

Discounts:

Consumer offer: 50,000/-
Bonus Offer: 20,000/-
Exchange Bonus: 14,000/-

Net on-road: 8,74,719/-

Since I wasn't in town, I got my father to check the car out in the yard and take a few photos for me. I definitely couldn't ask him to do a PDI but witnessing the car with a clean paintwork atleast felt good.

We had a decent delivery experience as we had to settle with the day before Onam. They had to deliver 60 cars so one can imagine the kind of confusions and delays but, they did their level best. The car did have a few fingerprints here and there, they forgot to put paper mats inside and all that. But still, I won't complain as the experience was respectful in total. For folks wondering why we chose such a busy date, this was the only time that all four in our family were in town.

Continue reading BHPian freakmuzik's Maruti Ignis review for BHPian comments, insights and more information.

In addition to 6 airbags, all passengers now get 3-point seatbelts.

Maruti Suzuki has launched the updated version of one of its most popular hatchbacks, the WagonR. The 2025 edition of the WagonR gets 6 airbags as standard across all variants.

The new WagonR looks identical to the outgoing version and carries forward the same two-tone interior. The car is equipped with 14-inch alloy wheels, a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, electric ORVMs and more.

In addition to 6 airbags, all passengers now get 3-point seatbelts. The car is also equipped with ABS with EBD, ESP, central locking and rear parking sensors.

No mechanical changes have been made. The WagonR is powered by the same 68 BHP 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder and 90 BHP 1.2-litre, 4-cylinder engines. Transmission options include a 5-speed manual and 5-speed AMT. The 1.0-litre version also gets a factory-fitted CNG option.

The Hyundai Creta secured the third spot with 1,94,871 units.

Maruti Suzuki registered its highest-ever sales of 22,34,266 units in FY2024-25. The brand continued to dominate the market, with 7 of the top 10 best-selling cars being Maruti Suzukis.

The Maruti WagonR emerged as the best-selling model, beating the Tata Punch. The carmaker sold 1,98,451 units of the WagonR compared to 1,96,572 units of the Punch.

The Hyundai Creta secured the third spot with 1,94,871 units, followed by the Maruti Ertiga, Brezza and Swift with 1,90,974 units, 1,89,163 units and 1,79,641 units, respectively.

The seventh, eighth and ninth best-selling models were the Maruti Baleno (1,67,161 units), Fronx (1,66,216 units) and Dzire (1,65,021 units), respectively.

The sole Mahindra among the top 10 was the Scorpio with 1,64,842 units of sales.

Source: India Today

I was reluctant to drive out during the holiday season, as my Mom can no more jostle in heavy crowds.

BHPian Prithvi Mundur recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Here’s a journal of my road trip from Bangalore to historical and pilgrimage centers in North Karnataka and Maharashtra, interspersed with vids and photos.

Minor yet significant motivation:

Many sleepless nights passed by, and each time, I found myself losing the fight.

AllOut no longer seemed effective, and with the only choices being fight or flight, the next move became clear.

I swallowed the flight pill, but where could I flee to for even a brief respite?

Damn those mosquitoes!

Making of the itinerary:

Itinerary wasn't finalized, and no pre-booking of accommodation was done.

As in software parlance, agile methodology was put to practice.

Constraints:

I was reluctant to drive out during the holiday season, as my Mom can no more jostle in heavy crowds.

Moreover, I can't be 18 forever, and as the years kept piling up, my appetite for driving in the rain has plummeted.

Was waiting for the monsoon to be over, but the 'Get set po' moment never arrived last year.

Just as I thought the cyclonic storm had passed, another one was brewing up. Damn it!

Ironically, on the day I finally set out to Pandharpur this January, there was unannounced rain in Bangalore again!

Mother nature wins all the time.

The Kitty problem:

The rear tire of my 2-wheeler had become a magnet for sharp nails, and I found myself visiting puncture shops quite often.  On one such trip, I discovered a frail kitten near an open drain.
I couldn’t resist and picked it up, bringing it home.

I very well knew, it wasn’t the most practical decision, especially since we were all packed up and ready to leave for Pandharpur the very next day.
We quickly had the kitten vaccinated for triple virus protection, and dewormed it as it was infested with fleas.

At home, we already had two well-grown cats, who I was sure would manage just fine in our absence, and maybe even pray for our safe return.
But I found myself in a dilemma—could I really leave this newly adopted kitten alone at home? It was also a potential risk for travel.

I was cautious about whichever stay we might choose, wondering if they'd allow a pet.  As time ticked on, the decision grew more urgent.
We had to postpone our journey by over two weeks, during which I reached out to my neighbors and friends, to see if anyone could care for the kitten for a week, or even adopt it permanently.
I half expected no one to step forward, and as predicted, I got a variety of excuses—everything from being allergic to cats, to the belief that felines are a bad omen and to hush them away, to space constraints at home. I didn’t harbor any hard feelings, though.

Even made a futile attempt to post an adoption appeal in a Facebook cat community.

Then, the unexpected happened—a Juicewala I regularly visit turned out to be the savior. I’d always suspected he had a kind heart.

Risk mitigation:

Carried along a portable, manual air pump for emergency use, which also doubles as gym equipment for hand and feet exercises.  Fortunately, I never had to use it during the entire journey, and I feel lucky that there were no untoward incidents.

To set more context, narrating couple of travel stories from my other trips.

Travel story 1:

I often hear elders and colleagues in my circle murmur "Ayyo Panduranga", and I'm quite familiar with the iconic akimbo pose of Lord Vitthala. While sipping hot chai at a Mauli tea stall in Kolhapur, I struck up a conversation with the stall owner about the meaning of "Mauli". Not only did he answer my question, but he also went on to explain the Wari yatra and how people travel barefoot over hundreds of kilometers to reach Pandaripura.

Though I had my doubts, he confirmed that countless people indeed march barefoot for those vast distances even in this day & modern age. Had a yearning from a long time, to bow my forehead at the Lotus feet of Vithoba, and this interaction accelerated my meet up with the Lord. Famous hands-on-hips pose of the Sri Vitthala Panduranga.

Clicked it at Yogiraj Tukaram Baba Ashram in Pandharpur.

Travel Story 2:

I tend to drive out of Bangalore on long-distance journeys at odd hours of the night, as I find routes like the Bangalore-Hassan, Bangalore-Chitradurga, and Hampi Expressway, or even the Mysore 10-lane expressway, to be non-scenic.  Plus, I prefer to avoid the daytime heat.

On one such occasion, I was surprised to find several groups of people walking along the Bangalore-Hassan stretch.  Initially, I presumed they were workers from a nearby factory, either heading to or returning from work.  However, the idea of them walking long distances at night due to an unusual shift timing didn’t quite add up.

Overcoming my initial fear & hesitation, I pulled over on the shoulder of the highway, and asked one of the groups what was going on.  They warmly explained that they were all on their way to Dharmasthala to have darshan of Sri Manjunatha Swami, and they were walking there voluntarily.  I was taken aback. It was a moment that truly made me realize how faith can move mountains. Seeing is believing!  I gave them a Roadies styled salute, and continued on my journey towards my destination.

Soon, I stopped overthinking the various constraints that were holding back my travel plans to Pandharpur—it's time for action from here on out.

The Car - WagonR:

My car got a spa treatment, and it was the first to get ready for the Northern trip.

Pushpa - The flower:
The last time, I used a Godrej Aer , but it didn’t emit any fragrance in my car.  Perhaps, I had received a counterfeit product.  Once bitten, twice shy—so this time I opted for something more natural: flowers.  I wanted to surprise and delight my mother with Jasmine flowers.

Unfortunately, it turns out I got duped and ended up buying lookalike Kakada flowers instead, which had no fragrance.  It was a damp squib moment, for sure.  My mom explained that fragrant Jasmine flowers are seasonal and bloom in the summer, so I can give them to her in March.

Following the google suggestion:
I don’t usually plan every detail to the tee, preferring to roll the dice and make spontaneous pit stops at random restaurants.  However, this time, I made an extra effort and asked GMaps to suggest eateries en route.  Of the suggestions, Upadhya Veg near Chitradurga was highly rated, so I added it as a stopover without much thought.

The name 'Upadhya' felt off to us as we couldn't decode it's meaning, and a heated debate ensued in my car about whether it should have been 'Upaya' or 'Upadhyaya'. The discussion soon veered to a Shakespearean quote – 'What’s in a name?' – and whether the ongoing trend of renaming places is relevant.  This led to a mention of Vijayapura, alias Bijapur, and out of nowhere, it got added onto our itinerary.

Nevertheless, our hunch about 'Upadhya' proved right.  The restaurant was filled with smoke, and we joined the chorus of coughing customers, adding our own loud sneezes.

We wanted to exit the restaurant ASAP, and selected an item which had no wait time - Idly. They were served cold, and we quickly devoured them and hurriedly vacated our seats.

Unsure if the exhaust system in the kitchen had conked off or if the wind direction funneled all the smoke into the service area during our visit.  After this suffocating experience, we seriously considered removing a couple of letters from its nameboard until better sense prevailed.  Overall, we concluded that the name 'Apaaya' would suit better and jokingly quipped that this restaurant has BS-I emission standards.

We had to take a detour and a U-turn since the hotel was in the opposite direction of our main route. Definitely, not worth the effort and time.  Google coders, if you’re reading, please take this feedback: suggest rest stops in the same direction as the journey—it should be an easy fix.

Vijayapura -- Gol Gumbaz, Anand Mahal, Gagan Mahal, Barah Kaman, Ibrahim Roza

First & foremost, want to thank and applaud the government's move to open up the ASI heritage sites from as early as 6AM on most days. Note: There is a discount of Rs. 5/- per ticket if paid via online.

We had breakfast at Kamat Veg Restaurant, and the service was lightning quick. It’s a neat place.  Afterward, we filled up on LPG at a station adjacent to Kamat, and it was a pleasant surprise to find that the gas was cheaper by Rs. 6 compared to Bangalore rates. Until then, I had assumed that fuel rates were the same across the state, but it turns out they vary between depots, like those in Bangalore and Hospet.

Gol Gumbaz:

One of my favorite bedtime stories was about the legendary engineer, Sir M. Visvesvarayya.My grandmother used to tell me how the newly constructed auditorium at Andhra University became unusable due to sound reverberations.No speech, function, or performance could take place because of the acoustic issue, and none of the local engineers could find a solution.
They had to seek the expertise of the master himself, who resolved the problem using a frugal and efficient method.

While Gol Gumbaz is undoubtedly an enormous mausoleum, in my opinion, it has a design flaw when it comes to acoustics.I put on my engineer’s hat and began to imagine how the great Visvesvarayya would have tackled the echoing problem inside the dome.

Before I knew it, we were making weird sounds and enjoying the echoes and whispers inside Gol Gumbaz.There is a narrow stairway leading to the top of the monument, and had a great time climbing up and down the steps.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/piclKwskTPc

Anand Mahal:

Gagan Mahal:
Appears to be an unfinished construction. Don't why the Sultan left this incomplete.

Ibrahim Roza

Supposedly, an inspiration for the Taj Mahal in Agra.
The Black Taj Mahal:

Typo:Can't unsee a typo once it's seen.

A parrot on apex point of the Gumbaz:

Barah Kaman:

Did score a centum in Maths during my college days, but now I find myself doubting my own credentials. Barah Kaman, which literally translates to 'twelve arches', seems a bit misleading when only eight are visible in a row.  There’s such a wide gap between what’s named and what actually is on the ground. Heights of hypocrisy.  Unsure of the veracity, the folklore goes that the sponsor of this monument was killed due to family jealousy—relatives didn’t want Barah Kaman to overshadow Gol Gumbaz in grandeur.

My car was humming the following lines at Barah Kaman as we were about to depart for Pandharpur:
maana apna ishq adhoora
...
Poora hoke khatam hua sab
Jo hai aadha wohi zinda hain..

I sometimes feel, my car has feelings too.

We then drove toward Pandharpur.
Pandharpur, here we come!

Pandharpur & Bheema river:

Google Maps seems to have a mind of its own. I had set the location to Sant Gajanan Maharaj Niwas, but it took us to Shri Vittala Rukmini Bhakta Nivas instead and announced that we had reached our destination. I was a bit confused but decided to go ahead and book a room there. The place has a long corridor, well-maintained lawns, and basement parking.

After a quick power nap, we headed to the ISKCON Temple, where we were greeted with chants of "Hare Rama Hare Krishna". Post darshan and feeding the cows at the gaushala, we spent some peaceful time at Prabhupada Ghat, watching the sunset. Just as a pointer for others, there are accommodation facilities here as well.

The next morning, we went to Shri Vithhal Rukmini Temple, where we had a quick mukh and charan darshan of the deity.  We felt content and fulfilled.  Many women were dancing shortly after the darshan.  It seems to be part of the Warkari tradition, and my mom joined in, putting on her dancing shoes.  It was a joyous moment.

Keen observers would notice the Warkari traditional dance steps in the below pic:

Pundalika Temple:

We made a small contribution toward Annadanam here.
There are boat services from this point to Prabhupada Ghat and Vishnu Pad.
We opted for a private boat and set sail toward Vishnu Pad.

On the way, the boatman pointed out a half-submerged Narada Muni temple.
According to him, it’s the only temple dedicated to Narada, and it remains submerged for half the year due to a curse for his 'fitting' between Vittala and Rukmini.
He is said to have caused the rift, which is why Vittala and Rukmini are not in the same sanctum sanctorum.

My bro performed the Samarpayami of the Sri Rama Koti book, written by my mother, in the Chandrabhaga River:

Vishnu Pad:

There's a popular nano tale about how a painting depicting a small bird calmly sitting on its eggs in a nest, amidst a roaring waterfall and a rocky landscape, won the competition.  The painting was said to truly represent "Peace" in the midst of violent and rocky surroundings.  This story had a profound impact on me.
The sparrows here seemed much like those in the painting—undisturbed by the boatloads of people. It was even more surprising to see how such small birds could build a nest on the rocks! https://www.youtube.com/shorts/h4WgofwEWl8

I love Tulsi Vrindavana

We visited here in the evening, and it quickly became my mom's favorite place.
I kind of knew it would, since she's into gardening and such.
One of the Tulsi leaves tasted just like Saunf.
She struck up a long conversation with the gardener, who kindly offered us some saplings.
Once back in Bangalore, we shared the Tulsi stems with people we knew.

Yogiraj Tukaram Baba Ashram

Tuljapur -- Amba Tulja Bhavani Shakti Peeth:

From the outside, this temple has a fort-like appearance.  We arrived at dawn, so we got to see the temple both in its decorative lights and later, without them.  We had a quick darshan of Tulja Bhavani Maa, and also touched the bed of the Devi. While I waited, admiring the picture of Shivaji being presented a sword by the Goddess, my Maa did some saree shopping.

Sholapur - Shri Siddheshwara Temple:

Personally, I enjoy driving in traffic, especially in B2B scenarios. There was an ongoing mela, and the Panch Katta area was jam-packed. My car and I were in our element, navigating the congestion and chaos that ensued.

We arrived at Shri Siddheshwar Devasthan a bit later than expected. We circled the Yogi's samadhi, and the volunteers there were polite and friendly. The location itself is picturesque, surrounded by a large Talav. Must mention that the Kesari Bath served during lunch was absolutely delicious.

Note: Highway toll road from Pandharpur - Tuljapur - Sholapur is currently in butter smooth condition.

Lal Bahadur Shastri Almatti Dam:

India Map in Rock Garden

We watched the laser show and musical fountain, and it felt like an anti-Sputnik moment.  No disrespect intended, as I understand the significant effort that goes into organizing such light shows.  It’s a nice show in its own way; it’s just that they feel outdated, especially with the current trend of aerial drone shows in the sky.

Kudalasangama:

Kudala sangama - confluence point of Krishna & Ghataprabha rivers.

I was taking photos of the sunrise in burst mode when a bird, most likely a dove, flew into my frame.  Can someone cheer me up by saying it's National Geographic-level photography?

We visited the Sangameshwara Temple and the sacred Aikya Mantap of Basavanna.

Shri Mathe Mahadevi Ashrama:

The sculptures of prominent Lingayat figures, such as Allama Prabhu, Madiwala, Akka Mahadevi, and others, are displayed there.

Both Jain Yatri Nivas and Mangalore Yatri Nivas were sold out, which was surprising, as I thought it was the off-season.  Due to the lack of better alternatives, we opted to stay in a hostel room with bunk beds, located behind the Ashrama. It's a case of "something is better than nothing".

Shakambari Banashankari Temple, Badami, Pattadkal & Aihole:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8NV...=PrithviMundur

Over a year or two ago, I went on a solo trip to Badami, the Shakambari Banashankari Temple, and Pattadkal.

While wandering through the Badami caves, I overheard a guide shouting at his foreign patrons.  Apparently, Badami got its name from 'badam' (almond), due to the color of the rocks resembling almonds.

I couldn’t resist laughing out loud, and, as laughter is contagious, many of the tourists had a hard time controlling their laughter too.  It was a damn funny episode.

I had a gala time during my solo sojourn, and it was much fun interacting with school students as well as witnessing a goat fight with the picturesque Agastya Lake in the backdrop.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N34y...=PrithviMundur

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rb9n...=PrithviMundur

Ain't really a history buff, but my mom certainly is.

She can go on and on, discoursing about the Chalukyas, Pallavas, Guptas, and their dynasties and lineage. Even though, I lack much interest in history as a subject, I tend not to be a mood hoover and instead listen attentively and be a sport. She was right about the Chalukya kingdom, which originated in Karnataka and stretched into parts of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.  As attested by the archaeological plaque below, the Chalukyas did defeat a North Indian king.  Indeed, it was a lesser-known yet powerful kingdom.

'Parameshwara' Pulakesin II

Going solo to Badami and such places, leaving her out, felt like a crime, and I knew punishment was due upon my return home, courtesy of her Majesty. An out-of-court settlement ensued, and I promised to take her along only to Pattadkal next time.

Badami, however, was off-limits.

I knew my mother would unhesitatingly agree to explore Badami, but I also knew she would have made it there out of sheer will and grit, but not comfortably.

The steep steps to reach the four caves, the long walk around Agastya Lake, and the uphill trek to the fort are truly arduous.

It was a tough decision to deny her the opportunity to visit such an important heritage site.  So, I consoled her, assuring her there was nothing more to see than what was already shown virtually over a WhatsApp video call.

Spoiler alert: This is what is atop the Badami Fort.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yduG1gH_aOI

Enigma of 'Vatapi Ganapati':

I was sweating and tired when I finally reached the Shivalaya.  Frankly, didn't have prior knowledge that the temple would be without any idols.  Disappointment quickly set in, especially since I had grown up chanting "Vatapi Jheernam", much like the filmi "All izz Well" mantra.

I slipped into a hallucinatory state, imagining myself as the Last Samurai on a sole mission to retrieve the idol.  But the sound of monkeys jumping around snapped me back to reality.

I decided to use my trusty "astra" – Google. The result was a tongue-twister: "Vatapi Ganapati idol is now in Uthrapathiswaraswamy Temple, Tiruchenkattankudi, Tamil Nadu". Later, I tried cross-checking the info with ChatGPT, which offered a somewhat tangentially different answer.  Now, I’m left with no choice but to travel back in time to solve this mystery.

We explored Aihole and Pattadkal on the return leg of our trip.  Unless eagle-eyed, it's easy to miss the Malaprabha River in Pattadkal.

We had darshan of Shakambari Banashankari Devi, who was adorned with vegetables, a revered Shakti Peeth, and felt both blessed and blissful.

Thus far, the journey had been smooth sailing, and we hoped the good run would continue.

Fatigue hadn’t set in despite the long trip. Amma suggested we extend our travels to Gadag, but I felt it would be one stop too many, so I decided to skip it.

Ghar waapsi:

We set out to drive home.  Didn’t rely on Google for recommendations this time.  Just made a halt a few kilometers after Hospet, and our stars were shining bright as it turned out to be an authentic Punjabi Dhaba.

The whooshing sound of rigs and trailers in the background felt like a lullaby, and I drifted off to sleep while waiting for the food to be served.  The Aloo Paranthas and Lassi here were yumm!

Once we got home, the first thing we did was take the handover of our kitten. We were relieved to find it hale and hearty.
Akash with Boocha:

The next day, while watching the Republic Day parade, we saw the Karnataka tableau showcasing the Brahma Jinalaya of Lakkundi.  We had been so close to Gadag, and suddenly, a wave of regret crept in, making the journey feel incomplete as I realized we had missed a golden opportunity to visit.

This time around, it was my turn to hum the song "Bulleya".

The End:
Oh gosh! have written quite a bit.

I hope you enjoyed reading. It’s time to wrap up for now. ‘

Till next time. Cya!

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Upon reaching home, I planned to purchase it but the thought of checking registration details came to mind.

BHPian wadewilson recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Hello dear BHPians, We have four cars in the house: an XUV700, Kia Seltos, Hyundai Creta, and Isuzu D-Max. However, these cars are too cumbersome to navigate in the city’s traffic and I’ve had a few brushes with traffic where, for example, the bumper of Seltos and Creta were damaged by rash Scooty drivers who suddenly merged into my lane in the market.

The need for a beater car was felt for a while now but I’d always kept it off. Anyway, fast forward to today, I decide to drive to the nearby town to check out used cars on a whim. I come across Maruti True Value and find a Wagon R (AGS) model. The car had 50,000+ kms on it but drove well. A couple of nicks here and there and some rust on the top of the boot but overall it was okay.

One point of concern was the wires coming in the boot which I later found out was for a sub woofer which the previous owner had installed but removed before selling it. Upon reaching home, I planned to purchase it but the thought of checking registration details came to mind. When I checked, the car was shown as a second owner car. However, it was told to me that the car was a first hand car and driven by a lady. I’m wondering whether to trust the used car dealership or the details shown in Govt portal?

The dealership told me that they could sell the car for ₹4,50,000. Is that a good price for what would essentially be a third hand car? What scares me is also a doubt in my mind regarding why the second owner sold the Wagon-R after purchasing it. Perhaps the AMT gearbox might have issues? Would appreciate some suggestions from dear members.

Here's what BHPian PetrolHead2272 had to say on the matter:

Your need for a beater is fully understandable but as someone who’s looking into so many used cars lately, my two cents on your dilemma is that this particular car seems a bit too fishy. Firstly, any car with even a hint of rust (especially a Maruti with their tin can build) should be avoided. Secondly, it’s very clearly been driven by two separate people. From what I can make out and what my instincts tell me is that you’re the 3rd owner of the car.

Thirdly, the used car market is HUGE. No need to get the first car you look at.

P.S - Please mention what year the WagonR is from because 4.5 Lacs for a used WagonR with 50k+ kms seem way too expensive. You could easily get one for around a lac lesser.

Happy hunting!

Here's what BHPian arnav17 had to say on the matter:

5 lakhs seems a little too steep for a 3rd hand Wagon R. I don't know which city you're in hence can't comment on exact used car prices, but I just checked on a few used car websites and the average price seems to be hovering around 4,00,000 to 4,20,000. Best if you can negotiate a bit or better look at other examples if you're not convinced IMHO.

Good luck for the buy

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

The AGS (AMT) as discussed on the forum is quite jerky and would not be a good option to consider while driving through the city traffic. Would suggest to look into the Jazz cvt, Amaze cvt, Hyundai i10 AT (TC) as the same would be sold within the same price as quoted for the mentioned Wagonr and would have a better fit and finish. If the budget permits there would be no better option than the Tiago/Comet EV since same would be cost efficient as well as there would be no hassle of an AMT.

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More than 32 lakh units of the WagonR have been sold since it was first introduced in 1999.

Maruti Suzuki is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the WagonR in India.

The WagonR has been the highest-selling car in India for the last three consecutive fiscal years. More than 32 lakh units have been sold since it was first introduced in 1999.

The WagonR retains its tallboy design even today. The popular hatchback is offered with two engine options. These include a 1.0-litre litre petrol engine that makes 65.7 BHP @ 5,500 rpm and 89 Nm @ 3,500 rpm and a 1.2-litre petrol engine that produces 88.5 BHP @ 6,000 rpm and 113 Nm @ 4,400 rpm. Both engines are available with manual and automated manual transmissions.

The WagonR was one of the first cars in India to be offered with a factory-fitted CNG kit. The WagonR S-CNG has been India’s highest-selling CNG model with 6.6 lakh units sold to date.

After test-driving several vehicles, they liked the Maruti WagonR. I also suggested them the Tata Punch.

BHPian V0rtex recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

My elderly relative, who has back issues and prefers cars without bucket seats, is looking for a petrol car within a budget of ₹8.5 lakhs on-road in Kerala. The car should ideally have an automatic gearbox and offer good fuel efficiency.

After test-driving several cars, they liked the Maruti WagonR. I also suggested the Tata Punch as an alternative. Could you please recommend the best options that meet these criteria?

Here's what BHPian Sensible_Speed replied:

WagonR is a solid car for the money. It even comes with the 1.2 engine for 8.5 lakhs. If they like it, I'd suggest they go ahead and buy it. Given you mentioned elderly, I can't think of any better car than the WagonR. Its ergonomics are quite good, the tall boy design allows for good ingress and egress and visibility is great too.

Here's what BHPian RavSam replied:

I would recommend the Ignis as an alternative to Wagon R. With the 1.2L and now with Hill-Hold feature it also has great stability for highway runs and the exhaust note is raspy if driven enthusiastically. Has 4 adjustable headrests, clean interior layout and is also vfm.

I've had close to zero problems in 4 years of ownership. One was a dead battery due to my extremely low usage last year and the other was the dents due to some idiots who damaged it at the parking.

Here's what BHPian greenhorn replied:

+1 for Wagon R. The only other suggestion I would give is the S-Presso.

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The engine, transmission, steering and brakes appear to respond intuitively and predictably.

BHPian autonow recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

My new Elevate VX CVT Apex Edition

Background:

My first car was a WagonR that I had been driving happily for 12 years. Initially I had planned to keep it for 10 years, but having used it sparingly it stretched to 12 years with 67K on the odo. The car served me well and I have written a small tribute to it here.

It was running fine but after doing 30-35 km daily runs recently in peak hour traffic, I found myself yearning for an automatic, given my age (45+) and back issues which often led to pain and numbness in my left leg. Thus started the search for a new car. I read up many threads on the forums and concluded that Brezza ZXi AT would be a good replacement, with its high stance and trusted Maruti Suzuki badge.

I had also considered Magnite/Kiger Turbo CVT, but decided against them after having read not so impressive reviews from their owners. Also, considered Fronx AT, but I couldn’t shake off the feeling that it is just a glorified Baleno, which I was not considering at all.

However, the proposal for Brezza was greeted with ‘meh’ by the family. Apparently, the upgrade was not upgrade enough and Maruti was ‘boring’ and ‘dabba’, meaning not safe enough. I had to agree and so the search continued, now in the next class i.e. longer than 4 metres.

Accordingly, I listed the requirements.

• It had to be an SUV with a high stance, thanks to the conditioning in the ‘Tall boy’ WagonR. The rear seating area had to be spacious and the bigger the boot the better.
• Automatic transmission was also a must for the reason I mentioned above and also so that the missus could drive it easily, as the only problem she used to face with the manual WagonR was stalling because of the improper gear shifts especially on inclines.
• The car had to be trustworthy and hassle free, as these were the things that we had come to appreciate while owning the Maruti.
• As I was going to drive it on a daily basis, I wanted a car that was fun to drive (I know, VAG).
• Price below 20L OTR in Kerala, mind you, taxes are one of the highest here and BH registration is also not available.

Brezza: The test drive was ok, nothing very inspiring but I felt it would do the job. Not pursued because of the ‘meh’ mentioned earlier.

Creta: Test drive was again ok, nothing very inspiring. The cabin felt nice and luxurious. S(O) was the variant which was within my budget, but the dealer didn’t pursue it much. Exchange value offered was also less than my expectation and the fact that everyone was buying it also went against it. Moreover, I had read about the questionable safety of the car.

Taigun: They first brought the 1.5 Turbo AT for the test drive and I loved it, but it was beyond my purchasing power. The 1.0 Turbo AT was almost as good but having experienced the other one it felt bland in comparison. Still, it came under the fun to drive category, but the dealer was not offering the price/discount that I had heard about. Plus the family was also not too keen on it, since it looked smaller than the competitors (yes, I am coming to the Elevate) and consequently had smaller rear legroom and boot. Doubts were also there about maintenance costs and AC performance, although the dealer was stressing that all that is old story and these newer VAG cars are heavily localized and won’t have those issues. Still, we decided to look elsewhere. Coming back to the drive, it was really smooth and effortless, and although I had been driving a much smaller car before, I was able to handle it confidently within no time. Small annoyances aside like the swapped wiper and indicator handles, it was a pleasure to drive. In an alternate universe I see myself driving it.

Elevate: Went to both showrooms in Trivandrum. Test drive was not much different from others. The engine felt peppy enough, reasonably fun to drive. I was not looking for a race car and considering that the engine was non-turbo and the transmission a CVT, it did not disappoint. The high stance and the cabin space seemed impressive. Plus, it had the novelty factor and overall felt the most bang for the buck. Simultaneously, I had been reading ownership reviews and found them mostly encouraging.

Citroen Aircross (Wild card): Actually visited the showroom to take a look at Basalt which had just been launched and the reviews were mostly positive. However, we found the Aircross more suited to our requirements. The car had a nice and fresh design and looked imposing. The test drive was also great and we liked the engine as well as the suspension, which I felt were quite similar to the Taigun. The factors that came in the way were:

• Citroen as a new entrant did not inspire trust.
• The dealership were not sure about the prices, feature upgrades that were on the cards and overall availability.
• I was expecting some killer deals considering their low sales but none was offered.

Started by enquiring about the V CVT variant, later decided to buy the top ZX variant as that was also coming under my budget and finally decided to go for VX CVT R and save some money, being not too keen on ADAS, although cruise control would have been nice. However, it remains to be seen whether I am going to miss it on the highway trips that I might plan. The Apex Edition was just launched and I decided to get it for the added bling. The dealer also confirmed that the additional 15k would normally only get me the seat covers and that everything extra was a bonus. The exchange price offered was also quite close to my expectation and I managed to convince them to give a discount of 75k inclusive of 20k exchange bonus.

I paid the booking amount of 21K and they were ready to deliver the pearl white by 12th October (Vijayadashmi). It was a pleasure dealing with Mr. Midhun and Mr. Umesh from Muthoot Honda, who kept me informed about all the developments and religiously followed the timeline that I had given. They didn’t push for buying anything extra, allowed me to pick my car in the yard and helped me do a thorough PDI (as much I could on my own using the Team-BHP checklist). They even installed the 70 mai dual dashcam that I had bought from Amazon upon my request. Even though my chosen date of delivery was a non-working day, they made it worthwhile by arranging for a cake and unveiling the red cloth etc.

At the Yard:

Delivery Day:

Observations so far:

Having brought Miss Elly (yes, that’s what my children named the car) home, it took a day or two to get used to the dimensions of the car. The full view of the bonnet, the rear and the lane watch cameras, all helped in inspiring the required confidence. My wife has also been trying her hand and she is also getting there. I can’t wait to sit and relax on the back seat.

Driving impressions:

The engine, transmission, steering and brakes appear to respond intuitively and predictably. I can’t say for sure now whether they were better in the Taigun/Aircross. To be honest, I really don’t know what a rubber band effect is. If it means pressing the pedal hard and the car not zooming past everything else, then yes, it is there. However, I don’t expect the car to respond like that, it would be dangerous! I have not tried that anyway, considering that the manual recommends the RPM to be kept under 2K for the first 1000 KM. It pulls as expected when I press the accelerator pedal within the limited RPM levels. I have also been trying the paddle shifters, and found shifting down useful for engine braking in order to avoid using the car brakes too often. I have observed some positive effects on mileage due to this. I am still looking for use case scenarios for the (+) shifter. Experienced people can throw some light on it.

I also want to know from the experienced people here about their method of closing the gaps in day to day traffic. Sometimes, it is annoying to see two-wheelers, auto-rickshaws or even some nimble smaller cars rushing into those gaps which should reasonably be occupied by me. I think it has more to do with me trying to safeguard my car from getting brushed by them.

Cabin noise: Having read so much about cabin noise, I find that the issue is there. However, coming from the humble WagonR, I am not really bothered. I think it is mostly the engine revs and the tires against the road, and I kind of expect it. Actually, I find it helpful in the sense that it keeps me aware of the goings on and keeps me alert. Regarding the so called bothersome noises at speeds higher than 100 kmph, I am yet to check that. In fact I would like to know from Keralites in this forum about the roads where I can do this checking. I don’t know if there is any place near Trivandrum or anywhere in Kerala where you can safely or legally drive at those speeds.

I had considered changing the tyres right after delivery, but somehow got lazy and didn’t pursue it much. Also, I had the unnecessary financial burden at the back of my mind. I am hopeful (again based upon some of the reviews here) that the tyre noise will reduce to comfortable levels after a few thousand kilometres.

Fuel efficiency: I have been getting an average of 10-12 kmpl on my daily runs (as per the MID), which involves a mix of rush hour traffic, open but winding roads and highway with traffic lights. On good days it is closer to 12 kmpl and on bad days it is closer to 10 kmpl. On my few runs on the highways I have seen the average between 15-20kmpl. I always try to keep accelerator inputs to a minimum and glide as much as possible. Nothing gives me more pleasure than seeing the average gauge on the MID fill up.

This what I am talking about:

Any pro tips for further increasing the mileage will be highly appreciated.

Comfort and stability:  One of the main reasons for buying this car was the comfort it offered. I had read about the comfort levels in Honda City and my reasoning was that Elevate having been built on the same platform should be similar. I will say that I am not disappointed with the suspension setup and mostly I find the ride comfortable on all kinds of roads. Sometimes it does get bumpy on very bad roads. Similarly, owing to the size and weight, the car seems planted and handles well enough. The rear seat space is huge and is spacious enough for three average sized persons. The feeling on long highway trips is yet to be observed. I have driven maximum two hours at a stretch and have come out not feeling tired or cramped, so that is a plus. I am 5’9” and find the seat at the lowest level pushed back to a notch before the furthest the most comfortable driving position with the steering wheel at the highest and furthest away from me. The ACC also seems to work well and creates a comfortable environment soon enough.

Cameras: The cameras are just ok and do their job. They could have been better and a 360 degree camera would have been ideal.

Infotainment: Again, it is adequate and works well with wireless android auto. I have seen some rare disconnections but nothing really to complain. Music flows loud and clear enough from the six-speaker setup that the VX variant gets. The voice assistant button mostly works as expected and so do the other buttons on the steering wheel. The Honda Connect app is also useful and I often use it to check my driving score after my trips. Ability to lock the car remotely is also useful.

Final Thoughts: I am happy with the purchase and I don’t think I would gave got anything better at the price I paid. It is exciting to drive and I keep learning something new now and then. I plan to take it on longer trips. Trivandrum-Madurai-Kodaikanal is on my mind, lets see how soon I can make it happen.

I eagerly await inputs from the folks on this wonderful platform.

Parked at Home:

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In the current fiscal, the Maruti WagonR has a market share of 64% in the mid-hatchback segment.

Maruti Suzuki has launched the WagonR Waltz Edition at Rs 5,64,671 (ex-showroom). The limited edition version gets cosmetic updates and added features.

The WagonR Waltz Edition comes with fog lamps, wheel arch cladding, bumper protectors, side skirts, body side moulding and a chrome grille. Inside, the car gets an interior styling kit with designer floor mats and seat covers, a 6.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with a reverse parking camera, speakers, and a security system.

The WagonR Waltz Edition is available in LXi, VXi and ZXi variants. It comes with two K-series engine options – a 1.0-litre litre petrol engine that makes 65.7 BHP @ 5,500 rpm and 89 Nm @ 3,500 rpm and a 1.2-litre petrol engine that produces 88.5 BHP @ 6,000 rpm and 113 Nm @ 4,400 rpm. Both engines are available with manual and automated manual transmissions.

According to Maruti Suzuki, the WagonR commanded a 61% market share in the mid-hatchback segment in the last fiscal, which has grown to 64% in the current financial year.

The air-conditioning is definitely a sore point unlike most Maruti cars and the weird vent positioning makes matters worse.

BHPian Maverick Avi recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Well, you pretty much summed up my experience with 1.2 AMT which has run 25k mostly in Delhi traffic. It's a great car for the city and I have no qualms about the AMT either other than when driving on hills.

Since it's a manual transmission that has actuators for auto shifting people should understand that keeping the accelerator pedal pressed the whole time is eventually going to lead to severe clutch slippage and hence the early wear and tear of the clutch.

In a manual transmission we usually let go of the A pedal while changing gears and if you can mimic that in AMT it's definitely going to enhance the clutch life. Though the system itself has been engineered to liberally slip the clutch in order to provide a smooth ride and not stall the engine we can help avoid making matters worse by letting go of the A pedal at regular intervals which will allow the gear changes to happen during those intervals. Once you get the hang of it it's pretty much seamless.

I am pretty happy about the seats though and have no issues being a 6-footer. AC is definitely a sore point unlike most Marutis and the weird vent positioning makes matters worse. It is able to keep the front occupants comfortable in 45 to 47-degree summers in Delhi but just barely makes it. Back seaters would definitely complain.

My service bills never exceed 5 to 6K because I get those additional jobs removed. You can definitely avoid injector cleaning, gas top up and some other value-added jobs which are just a rip-off. Just basic fluid changes and calliper greasing should be enough to keep your car going strong. Anything beyond the periodic maintenance schedule can be avoided unless you have some specific issue.

People might call the Wagon R a dabba, taxi car and tin can but owners really appreciate the sheer practicality and reliability of this workhorse.

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