The Santro now runs on both, petrol & CNG and returns a mileage of 22 km in mixed conditions with AC on.

BHPian justadiz recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hello Everyone

First of all, I'm dedicating this post to every other TeamBHPians who made their posts on this specific matter before which immensely helped me, hopefully, this post will provide insight to someone who may stumble upon it in the far future.

The Car:

The car in question is a 2012 Santro Xing GLS, it has been in our family ever since we bought it in the spring of 2012 and has clocked 94,000km on the odometer, running purely on Petrol. On petrol, it returns a measly 9km/Litre running with full AC in City conditions and goes up to 12km/Litre on the Highway.

Why CNG:

As you might know, thanks to all sorts of things, the Post Covid era witnessed a sharp increase in fuel prices, climbing from the mid-70s to hitting over 100 rupees per litre for Petrol, combined with economic conditions, inflation all (combined with my cars already low fuel efficiency) meant that we couldn't drive as much as we used to do in the pre-2020 time period. Thankfully, over the past few years, there has been an upsurge of CNG adoption here in the southern part of India, with CNG filling stations being built and LPG retrofitters adopting CNG retrofitment, which opened up the possibility of having a choice that didnt involve getting a new car. (Petrol costs 109/litre, CNG costs 88/kg in my area)

The Research Begins:

In the pursuit of educating myself on this new alternative fuel option and its viability, I stumbled upon this website, which has been helpful.

I need to have my sources backed up with strong user feedback since I had to convince my father who was against the idea of retrofitting CNG.

Sequential or Open Loop:

The retrofitters in my area dealt with either Open Loop or Sequential Injection Kits, however, considering the age of my car and the fact that we might use it for the next 5 or so years before selling it off meant it didn't make much sense to invest in a 50,000 rupees Sequential Kit, besides I thought to myself- "If Open Loop system is good enough for the Kaali Peeli Santro Xing running the Taxi Infrastructure of Mumbai, its good enough for my use", however, this decision would come back to bite me in the future.

Biting the Bullet:

Finally, we settled on an installer near our house with reasonable reviews on Google, who gave me a quote of 38k for a Lovato Open Loop Kit, Timing advancer and a 10kg cylinder. The other best installer in my city quoted 63k for a sequential kit and he said he doesn't do an open loop, he had a very rude attitude and a huge ego that turned me away. In any case, before the day of retrofittment, I gave the car to HASS and serviced it put in a new set of spark plugs and spark plug wires, cleaned out the throttle body and got a new air filter.

On the 10th of February, I gave the car to the CNG Fitting guys in the morning, I got the car back at 9:30 PM, and they took me on a test drive and everything seemed good, so I paid them 38k and I thought to myself, "that's a job well done".

Trouble Begins:

Usually here on teamBHP and generally, I've seen people reporting issues 5000, 10,000km after retrofitting. However, I had the luck to get issues a lot earlier, as in literally 5 kilometres after getting off the compound of the fitment centre. After driving for a couple of kilometres, I stopped to take a phone call and shut down the engine, when I restarted the engine after a couple of minutes, it wouldn't idle correctly on petrol and the engine shook violently, and the only way the engine stays works is if I'm on full throttle, if I let it go, the engine shudders, accelerate irregularly, the time was almost 10 PM, I called the guy who fitted it and I sent him the location, he came to where I stalled and tweaked around under the hood and got it started it again. But after some time, it stalled again, and I was stuck in a bad part of the town, in a stalled car. It wouldn't start no matter what I did, I begged the car and it finally started after multiple attempts, and I had to drive the 4 or 5km home at full throttle eating through 1/2 of my clutch's life and burning lots of petrol. The next day was Sunday, and I was stuck at home, on Monday, the CNG guys came to my home tweaked around, and replaced the Emulator, yet the issue didn't go away.

At this time, I got in touch with TeamBHPian @HimanshuKenshin who has posts regarding CNG conversion and his own experiences with CNG, and we came to the conclusion it was either the wiring issue or the reducer was faulty and leaking gas while the engine was running and messing up the AFR.

Now, the engine runs smoothly on CNG. Still, on Petrol, it was acting really bad, always stalling, with long cranks to start, and refusing to stay working unless I was on full throttle, and the CNG guys started coming up with an absurd diagnosis to shuttle me between the petrol mechanic and CNG mechanics like the Fuel Pump is faulty. I needed to replace it, and that made me lose my cool. I demanded them to fix my car which was running fine on Petrol before they laid their hands on the car. They told me to bring the car on the next working day, I had to take the entire day off and lost my college attendance, however, they managed to fix the issue and tried to blame the engine was overheating and I needed to clean my radiator and flush out the cooling system. Although I knew that wasn't the issue, I was tired of all this running around and the coolant system was already due for a cleaning, got it cleaned by our family mechanic and started driving around.

Now, on CNG, I found the car was quiet and had sufficient power, but when you applied full throttle suddenly, the car seemed to bog down a bit, and I was getting a measly 10km/kg. I took it to the CNG guys to get it tuned, and they just adjusted the gas flow to a point that it was running way too lean and the engine was shuddering and felt like it was about to fall apart, I asked them if that was supposed to be normal and they told me they can't do anything about it since its an open loop and its normal. I realized it was pointless to talk to them, so I followed guides from Team-BHP to tune the CNG system myself to a point where I thought it was acceptable.

500 KM on CNG:

At the moment, the car is running fine on both petrol and CNG, I procured a cheap Bluetooth OBD2 scanner to scan the ECU since I had an engine warning light, it was a P0130 code for a Faulty Oxygen Sensor, and after checking the real-time data, I realized on CNG, the o2 sensor gets cut off and on Petrol, it's back online, this causes the cars ecu to think that the O2 sensor is faulty and throws the code, I cleared it and it comes back often, it doesn't affect the car's performance in any way.

As for Performance, I tuned the CNG System to a leaner setting, it idles ok with/without AC on, the pickup is slower than petrol, but it is acceptable, and you need to downshift a lot more often unlike in Petrol

Mileage:

20-22km on mixed driving conditions with AC always on

Conclusion:

So far, it's alright, yeah, if I went for a Sequential kit, but I've noticed a trend between CNG installers that one vendor won't touch the kit installed by another vendor. If your vendor is bad and you have a sequential kit, you are stuck with him since you need the specific software to tune the CNG system on sequential. Still, since I had a manual system, but if fitted by a reputed good quality installer who knows what he is doing, Sequential Kit is the way to go, also most cars these days use a Drive-By-Wire throttle, so sequential is the only choice you have, either way, ill update my experience on this thread. I'll post the pics below.

Cheers.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The same workshop already had another Santro of almost similar mileage which was undergoing engine overhaul, too.

BHPian BhaskarG recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Background: I am driving a 2019 Hyundai Santro. I was among the very first who posted regarding Hyundai's AMT issues (that I faced in my Santro). Many others later reported similar incidents in their Santro, but later we found out (by hit and trial) that it is not a major issue, and can be prevented by not allowing the battery to drain.

Now here is a BIG update:

The engine needs overhauling at 58,000 km within the warranty period. It is currently under repair at Oja Hyundai, Guwahati workshop. The issue came to light during the 50000 kms routine service, where I noticed that the engine oil was extremely low. The car had been regularly serviced as per schedule. The SA told me to keep on driving and report any future drop in engine oil levels. After a few months, at about 57000 kms, I pulled again into the workshop on seeing the Low Engine Oil light glow up. On draining, they found less than half a litre of oil remaining.

The service centre replaced the oil, and asked me to come back after 2 months with observations, and also because the workshop was fully occupied at the moment. However, oil levels kept dropping. I brought the car back to the workshop after one month, at 58000 kms. I pressed for repair under warranty and half engine (head) replacement if necessary. Head replacement was ruled out, but I was assured that the engine will be properly rebuilt with all necessary parts. The car was handed over to the workshop on 2nd November.

Current status: The warranty approval process took about 7-10 days, post some compression tests. And then it took another 10-11 days for the parts to arrive. Currently, the block is sent to the lathe. I am expecting another week's time till the car is ready.

Courtesy car: I am trying my best not to make it sound like a grumpy complaint, but Oja Hyundai did not even have the courtesy to offer me a courtesy car for the duration. I understand that the dealer/workshop is not obliged to give a courtesy car, but it is also true that my car was down without any fault on my part. This work is being done under warranty, and the dealer already knew it would take more than a months time. I finally got a loaner car after 24 days, and that too after mailing the matter to HMIL. Thank you, finally.

Reason: The workshop could not identify any reason why this happened at just 50,000 km. They assumed that there may be some defect in the manufacturing itself. Since I am not a technical person, I just hope that the workshop will do a good job.

This may be an isolated incident of this particular car, or maybe not. The same workshop already had another Santro of almost similar mileage which was undergoing engine overhaul, too. It is worth noting that the new generation Santro was launched in late 2018, and my car is from early 2019 and was of the very first batches. Considering Covid19 and lockdowns in 2020, I can assume that most Santros are not driven much. As such my Santro with a mileage of 58000 kms may be one of the high mileage ones. And the information that another one is in the same workshop for the same work, will be disturbing news for many Santro owners, to say the least.

Here are some photos:

Compression tests:

Detaching:

Parts ordered:

Struggle for the courtesy car:

Please note: This post is meant for information only. This post is not intended for defamation of any kind to any party. Also, I am not a technical person, so my words may not be 100% accurate.

Update: Engine assembled and mounted. I took a small test drive, and I found it to be smooth and without any unwanted sounds. The torque seemed normal. Some vibrations were there, though not excessive.

The workshop has informed us that it will take a few more days to get approval from Hyundai for the handover. Meanwhile, anything that I should watch out for?

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The jerk seems to be uneven and doesn't occur when accelerated in neutral gear.

BHPian Tamarind recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hello BHPians,

Mine is a 2009 Hyundai Santro, has done 1 lakh km. Been servicing it every ~6 months and am quite happy with the car. The vehicle has taken us places and been holding my trust till now

Last week when I had taken it over an 80 km drive on a bypass, avg speed could have been 90+ and all was fine.

I exited the highway via the two 180-degree bends in the shape of "S" (probably @ 40 km/h) to join another highway, when I pressed the accelerator the vehicle started to stutter. (During this entire drive the road was not bumpy neither did I put the car in a hard spot at high speed).

I immediately looked at the dash for engine temp, or any hazard lights - all seem to be fine. Tried switching off the AC and accelerating the effect seems to be the same.

Parked the vehicle in a calm spot and took a look under the hood for any leakage to the ground - None. Checked the oil dipstick and it had a sufficient level (F mark).

The engine bay though had a little wet oil spread on top of it, but that was an observation from earlier service as well and the mechanic said in the next service he will apply some paste in between the layers to stop that oil seepage but nothing bad to worry about.

The jerks seem to be uneven (I could not find a common time gap between two jerks). Putting the gear in neutral and accelerating does not produce any jerk.

Took the car to the nearest Hyundai service, and they checked the following

• Spark plugs
• Air filter
• Throttle body
• Ran the computer checks for Electronics,
• Smoke colour and exhaust pipe,
• Petrol pump, tank and filter for blockages, also
• A suspected mix of petrol + water but later ruled out.

But since they were not able to find the issue, they suggested replacing all the following one by one to test and isolate the issue

• Spark plugs
• Card wire
• Ignition coil
• Idle speed actuator
• Fuel filter

But since they told me it's going to take multiple days to get all parts, and also said it can be driven (ignoring the jerks) - I decided to bring it to my mechanic close to my house (with hazard lights on and driving slowly)

He inspected and changed all 4 spark plugs - instantly the jerk frequency and intensity reduced. But still not completely gone.

The mechanic says it can be the fuel pump (which has to be replaced and checked ~4k, followed by a few other items costing ~24k) and then the crankshaft to be checked. Then I told him the timing belt change is due from the last service (1 lakh Km) for which he quotes around Rs 6k

So a total of ~30k worth of parts & labour was quoted.

He also says the rear left bush has worn out and the wheel gives a thud sound on minor bad roads (which is true in my observation as well) - though it's not related to this problem, it needs a change for a bump-free ride. This might cost around 6k

The vehicle condition is good otherwise

Question:

1. What do you guys think about the above?
2. Could the jerk be due to the old timing belt? or possible oil seepage on the belt could cause the skipping bite?
3. Your suggestions based on prev experience, on which direction to take in addressing this issue?
4. Possibly a time to exchange for a new vehicle?

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

There is a sensor on the throttle body, check that.

Throttle body cleaning may be necessary, get it cleaned. These are the two things, which are not that costly and provide an easy fix.

I encountered such jerks in my car when it was 25k km old and after many deliberations, they were attributed to the loose connection of that sensor.

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

I think the service centre has given the correct route(!), which I suggest modifying this way (based on my experience of owning a car aged similar to yours):

1. Check and replace spark plug wires (you have already changed the plugs); check whether the accelerator pedal and cable are operating smoothly
2. Replace fuel filter
3. Replace the timing belt (if not done earlier - you have a 10+-year-old car with 1+ lakh on the odometer and the belt would be showing signs of wear & tear plus slack)
4. Check and replace the sensors (MAF/O2) if the wires appear to be brittle/aged
5. Check the Ignition coil
6. Check the fuel pump

Presume that idling is OK (i.e. not erratic) and the electricals are in good condition.

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

The same issue was observed in my dad's 2005 Santro. The engine would stutter and die after a spirited drive, with no throttle response. After switching off and cooling, the car would become normal. The issue got resolved after changing IAC (Idle Air Control) valve. The OEM part is expensive, I got the part from Aliexpress, cost less than 1k. It is 4 years now and the issue has not happened again. Worth getting it checked.

There is this thread on this issue.

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

1. Try injector cleaners like Addon P. You might be aware that these are to be put in the fuel tank in a certain proportion. Consume two tankfuls. Clogged injectors may cause uneven stuttering. This will hardly cost anything and won't be a waste anyway.
2. If new sparkplugs reduced stuttering, new coils may eliminate the same. See if your mechanic can try replacement coils from some other vehicle, just for trial. And anyway, changing the ignition coil at 1 lakh km isn't overkill. I changed the coils in my SX4 at 1.25 lakh km even though I did not have problems. The old coils are preserved as spare.
3. Worn out timing belt will cause more severe problems like loss of compression and engine stalling. And once the belt slips, it is not going to align itself again to a perfect position, so the problem will be experienced all the time.
4. Santro is a very good vehicle with a very good engine. Yours will be Santro Zing I guess. It shall easily last beyond 2 lakh km if it has been maintained properly. So no need to change the car just for stuttering.

I don't know about Chennai. But Mumbai has a large population of Santro in the taxi market. If Chennai too has Santro taxis, a typical garage that services them (very few are likely to visit the authorised SS) shall be able to diagnose the issue outright.

The fuel pump could also be the culprit. But throttle body is unlikely to be the problem. By the way, do you observe any connection between low fuel levels and stuttering?

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Cars considered so far include a Honda Brio, Etios Liva, Santro Xing & Corolla Altis.

BHPian jomson13 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hello folks,

I'm looking for a car for my sister who recently got married. She's been driving for quite a while. We've had an Alto and currently have a Celerio at home. Brother in law is learning to drive.

Requirements

• Petrol, Manual gearbox. Airbags would be nice to have.
• Primary usage would be shopping runs in the city and the occasional drive towards some touristy places.
• Highway running is minimal (once in 6 months or so).
• Must be low on maintenance (trouble-free ownership).
• Plan to hold onto it for at least 5 years.
• Budget - 4L, don't want to spend more now since BIL is in the army and they plan to get a car through CSD later.

Cars considered till now

• 2015 Honda Brio S MT, 32k kms (Cars 24). Low-run car and is in decent shape. I found the asking price (3.5L) to be a bit high for a 2015 model.
• Etios Liva (Cars 24 - Haven't driven this one yet. Car is in Mumbai
• 2009, Santro Xing, GLS, 66k kms - Is a known car hence under consideration. Haven't driven it yet.
• 2012 Corolla Altis G, 32k kms (Spinny) - This one suddenly came into the consideration set. I drove it yesterday and the car is in top shape. Asking price 5L.

My Opinion

I quite liked the Brio and I feel it fits the bill nicely for my sister. It also falls within their budget.

They are more attracted to the Corolla due to its safety features. I know it has airbags, I'm guessing the G variant has ABS too.

While the Corolla is in top nick and is quite a deal at 5L, I feel it is a bit too much of a car to be their first car. It's designed and manufactured to transport 5 people, comfortably over really long distances; not to go grocery shopping or for the occasional weekend getaway. Moreover, it's too powerful for a new driver.

The argument in favor of the Corolla is about its safety quotient to which I countered by asking them to consider a Polo which would cost them pretty much the same and would have pretty similar safety features.

What would you guys advise? Does it make sense to get the Corolla or should they go for a small hatch?

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

I'd suggest looking at the Etios (preferably) or the Liva to be honest.

The Brio is a touch too small and if they are planning a family : the Brio could fall short on space a lot quicker than the others.

The Santro is just too old! Any old car will require maintenance : even if well maintained, there will be wear and tear. It may not burn a hole in the pocket but it is an inconvenience.

The Liva is nice : good visibility, you can look for a higher-end model with ABS & Airbags, it has a stable structure, etc. The Etios takes this a step further with boot space & a better 1.5L engine for those highway runs. It's popularity in the taxi market makes maintaining it that much easier and the car is abuse friendly.

The Corolla too is a good option, but as someone new to cars and car ownership : it is a little too old for my liking and it is very easy to be taken for a ride in terms of maintenance cost. Plus you wouldn't get zero dep insurance : so any accidents would be costly to fix as parts pricing will still be on par with that of a new Corolla.

About performance, etc : I wouldn't be too worried - it is important to first find a car with good visibility, good ergonomics, and linear acceleration & braking. In a month or so, they will get used to the power and size.
At the end of the day, the Corolla is a family car - not a performance car where the rationale to suggest something slower / practical is different : I wouldn't suggest a stiff suspension, low profile tyre performance vehicle to a beginner as it would just be more stuff to worry about for them - like avoiding bumps, crawling over speed breakers at an angle, etc. but none of this is applicable to the Corolla or even the Etios 1.5.

In fact, I am not suggesting popular cars like the Honda City 3rd Gen, Civic, etc. because of the ground clearance and visibility : for newer drivers, it becomes more things to watch out for and be mindful about - and that distracts from the basics of driving safely.

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

I will rule out the Xing. Most cars today are much better. Brio is great for the city, but outstation trips? Luggage space on the lower side.

Do check other options beyond these. Corolla can be a long-termer. Ask both not to be over-awed by the size of this compared to the Brio/Xing. Doesn't take long to get used to.

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

Go for the Corolla if the condition is very good. Honda Jazz is another good option. You should be able to get one if you increase the budget a little.

Jazz advantages:

• Spacious
• Boot capacity
• Reliable
• Don't need to think of upgrading next few years
• Occasional in-laws visit or long journey is not a problem

Here's what BHPian AJ56 had to say about the matter:

If you’re willing to spend 5L on a 2012 Corolla, spend that 5 on an Accord instead, you’ll get a nicer vehicle with a higher quality interior that’s built solid unlike the tin can Brio (I have an Amaze which is essentially the same car) so can speak first hand comparing both, there’s simply no comparison in build and safety (and power + space).

Accord is also much more stable at highway speeds and isn’t affected by crosswinds like the Amaze is, I learnt to drive on it and it’s fairly easy even for beginners, it only takes a few mins to get used to when switching from a smaller vehicle. Corolla feels fairly underpowered in comparison.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The latest iteration of the Santro was introduced in the Indian market back in 2018.

Earlier this month, we reported that Hyundai had increased the prices of the Santro, while also stopping sales of the Magna and Asta AMT variants. Now, if recent reports are true, then the Santro may be taken off the shelves completely.

The report states that Hyundai was compelled to pull the plug on the Santro due to rising prices and falling demand from entry-level car buyers. It is also said that the 6 airbags rule for M1 category vehicles may have influenced the decision.

The latest iteration of the Santro was introduced in the Indian market back in 2018. Its average sales in the last 6 months have been around 1,500-2,000 units per month. Reports suggest, that the last unit of the car was produced last week.

Source: ET Auto

Hyundai has also rejigged the variant line-up of the Santro and Grand i10 Nios.

Hyundai has increased the prices of the Santro, Grand i10 Nios and i20. Depending on the model, prices have gone up by Rs 3,000 - 9,000.

Prices of the Santro have been increased by Rs 4,000 for the Era, Executive, Magna and Sportz trims. While the prices of the AMT variants remain unchanged, the Asta trim as well as the CNG variants now cost Rs 3,000 more. Hyundai has discontinued the Magna and Asta AMT variants.

Prices of the Grand i10 Nios have been increased by up to Rs 10,000. Except for the Era Petrol and Asta Petrol trims, all other variants get a hike of Rs 9,000. The Diesel Magna variant has been discontinued.

Finally, all variants of the i20, except for the Asta Petrol AT and Asta 1.0L Turbo DCT now cost Rs 5,000 more.

Hyundai is offering discounts on select versions of the Grand i10 NIOS, Aura and Santro.

Hyundai has announced discount offers for the month of April on the Grand i10 NIOS, Aura and Santro.

The carmaker is offering discounts of up to Rs. 28,000 on the petrol variants of the Santro. The Grand i10 NIOS and Aura get a maximum discount of up to Rs. 48,000 each, on both petrol and diesel versions. These offers are in the form of cash discounts, exchange bonuses and corporate discounts.

The Hyundai lineup also includes the i20, Verna, and SUVs like the Venue, Creta, Alcazar and Tucson. The carmaker hasn't announced any offers on these models.

The replacement wiper stalk costs less than Rs. 800 and makes monsoon drives safer & more convenient.

BHPian Gannu_1 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

My parents use a 2018 Hyundai Santro Sportz AMT. The Santro has a wiper stalk which has a let-down - lack of the intermittent (INT) mode wherein the wiper works in breaks/pauses.

We usually engage this mode, when there's a light rain/drizzle and switch to the low speed when it starts pouring. In the Santro however, Hyundai chose to do away with the intermittent speed mode. When I visit my parents, I take the car out and during monsoons, this used to be bothersome. You've to constantly engage the wiper for that one wipe.

That’s when I decided to check the wiper stalk of the Grand i10 and Xcent which has the intermittent mode and figured that they all looked similar in construction including the electrical connector (verified from Boodmo's images).

I decided to try my luck, bought a wiper stalk assy. from the Xcent off Boodmo, installed it and guess what! Not only did the intermittent mode work, as a bonus, but the wash-and-wipe feature also worked too! In the Santro, if you were to pull the wiper stalk towards the driver side, the nozzles spray the fluid on the windshield but the wipers won’t work in tandem. We have to manually turn the wiper on. This issue was sorted too which I realized during a drive later. Two birds in one shot eh?

Installation is simple and takes about 20 minutes tops. The replacement wiper stalk costs less than Rs. 800 (inclusive of shipping charges) and this upgrade is highly recommended for existing Santro owners! As always, I’ve listed down the tools required, part required, the procedure and a video as well. Santro owners who are bothered about this should definitely get the stalk replaced – makes your drive during monsoons that much more convenient.

Tools required:

• Phillips screwdriver
• Flat blade screwdriver
• Trim removal tool or cover the flat blade screwdriver with some masking tape

Part required:

• SWITCH ASSY. - WIPER & WASHER - 93440-4N100 (Boodmo – link)
• Costs Rs. 671 (during Sep '21). Boodmo shipped the part on time and shipping charges were reasonable (Rs 76).

Procedure:

1. Undo the 3 Phillips screws holding the bottom steering cowl.

There are 2 screws on either side of the cowl:

And 1 at the bottom:

2. Use a trim removal tool (or a flat blade screwdriver covered with masking tape) to pry open the top and bottom steering column cowls.

3. Pull the top and bottom steering column cowls.

While removing the bottom cowl, you need to take it out of the ignition lock assy. carefully.

4. Press the tab on the connector of the wiper stalk and pull it off.

5. Use the flat blade screwdriver on the tab and that will release the stalk assembly from the slot.

Some snaps of the areas around the steering column:

The two stalks side-by-side (same size; the image is causing a perspective difference):

6. Reverse the steps - insert the new stalk in the slot and it will lock itself in with a firm click.

7. Plug the connector into the assy.

8. Before replacing the cowls back, test the working of the new stalk assy. just to be sure it is working fine.

9. Replace the bottom cowl and the 3 screws holding the cowl.

10. Replace the top cowl.

This is going to be a bit of a struggle as the steering column isn’t adjustable and there is limited space on top to work with. I took the most time here.

Result:

The intermittent mode works nicely now! After this was done, we went for a drive and that's when I realised the wash-and-wipe system works without the need to engage the wipers after the wiper stalk is pulled!

I've also clicked a video of the whole process for those who find videos convenient.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

So, with the basic service done, my dad had already convinced my grandma to think of replacing it with some newer car, possibly an automatic.

BHPian Tgo recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

For as long as I can remember, our house has always been a 2-car garage. One that my dad used which was also assigned road trip duties and the other was the beater which was primarily driven by my grandmother. Their usage summary over the years, looks like this:

• 90’s | Dad - Omni ( 97,000 km) | Grandma - Omni (~ 43,000 km)
• 00’s | Dad - Qualis (215,000 km) | Grandma - Santro Xing (27,000 km)
• 10’s | Dad - Duster (202,000 km)| Grandma - Figo Petrol (37,800 km)
• 2015 | I bought the Duster AWD
• 2020 | My brother bought the Nexon

If one excludes these newer additions which are stationed outside my home town, the garage still retains its 2-car status, even with my grandmother turning 80 next month.

T-8 days - Shots fired

It was almost a week ago that the Figo was sent-in for a service. One which was long overdue. The major complaint was that the AC was not cooling. Ford guys were quick in picking up and delivering the car within 2 days. The bill came up to an amount which is safe to say was at least two times higher than its last insurance premium. With the car pushing 11 years of age and the dents and dings it had picked up, it seemed like a burden to get it back in pristine condition. So, with the basic service done, my dad had already convinced my grandma to think of replacing it with some newer car, possibly an automatic.

T-7 days - 5 Lakh doesn’t cut the cake anymore

He relayed the intention to me late in the evening while I was going to call it a day. I look up the prices of cars available in the Rs 5 Lakh (ex-showroom) price bracket. Find out that the Rs 5 Lakh (on-road) price bracket in which the Figo was bought back in 2010 has a lot of new and not-likeable cars in it (based on their sales figures and appeal). Eg. Kwid, Redigo, Triber, Alto, S-presso, Celerio

Realization 1 - Rs 7 lakh is the new Rs 5 lakh after a decade with the Figo

T-6 days - Is this becoming the next case of revenge buying

I scour through cars in the Rs 5 - 10 Lakh segment. Eg. Polo, Magnite, Kiger, WagonR, Grand i10 Nios, Tiago. Some appeal with their features and some feel like the sensible thing to do. With lots of confusion, and an overload of segment-first features, I realize I cannot make a decision in just one day.

Realization 2 - Grandma doesn’t care about being segment first anymore.

Realization 3 - Over the years her driving may reduce further and the cars considered should have good resale value in the 5-year time frame.

T-5 days - Lets pool-in and go electric

Discuss with my brother and plant the seed to go electric. According to the devised plan, we need to convince dad to pool in and get a car to be shared between him and grandma. They both decide the days when they get the car for their needs. I travel home and pitch the Idea to Dad (stating section 80EEb rebate and reduced running costs due to installed rooftop solar PV micro plants at both our houses etc.)

Realization 4 - A well informed dad isn’t going to dive into EVs yet, even though being really impressed with the TD of the Nexon EV last year.

T-4 days - Mass market king comes for a TD after almost 2 decades

The list is down to 3 serious contenders:

• Santro Asta AMT - doesn’t sell well (Why?)
• Tiago ZXA+ AMT - has poor resale
• WagonR ZXI AMT - can’t go wrong, can it?

The Wagon-R comes in for a TD. Grandma drives it. Finds the brakes too sensitive. Has no problems adhering to the rule of keeping the left arm and leg paralyzed. There is too much room inside. The visibility is great. TD done in 15 minutes. Discuss with dad about the gear shift quality and he admits there is some delay in shifting but it wasn’t jerky as such, just a bit slow and mainly because you have nothing to do while changing gears so you go ahead and press the throttle further anyway. I couldn’t take the TD. Discussed with grandma separately and told her the key take-aways - comfortable seating posture, better ingress and egress, smaller dimensions, better visibility etc., to most of which she seemed to agree.

Maruti guy sends us a quotation. Is uncertain of the expected price hike. States a 2-4 week waiting period of ZXI AMT. The next lower (VXI) trim comes with a smaller 1.0 Ltr 3 cylinder engine and misses out on the passenger airbag. Paltry discounts on offer. 1.40 Lac quoted for the old car in exchange.

Tata showroom closest to us did not answer the phone. Hopeless.

Hyundai was no less with their chat bot and phone numbers which one cannot connect to if dialing from a landline. The closest Hyundai showroom is owned by a 2nd contact of my dad. Was a breeze from there on.

T-3 days - What can one do on a Sunday?

Managed to get the Santro AMT Magna for a test drive. Grandma might have been a bit nostalgic but she masked it really well. Was eager to learn the controls. Managed to drive the short route easily. No hiccups or misguided search for the gear/clutch lever. In between she stopped and said I want to check the reverse too. Did a 3-point turn. Drove back home. Touched a few surfaces, asked a few questions. Looked around, in the boot, the engine bay and then walked inside leaving my dad and I to discuss other points.

I drive it with 4 adults on-board. Totally floored by the look and feel of the interior plastics. Even the monochromatic audio system display with warm amber lighting on the Magna variant looked quite nice. The top of the steering was hindering the line of sight to the speedo but pushing the seat back a bit solved that problem too. The dials looked swell. The gear position indicator was backlit. The doors felt heavy, heavier than the old Santro / i10 at least. Seats were comfortable. Visibility outside was as expected. With four on board, creep function worked well on level surfaces. The rear bobbed up and down on sharp bumps only. Manual mode felt unnecessary. Slight roll back on incline was understandable and manageable. Something one shouldn’t expect an AT car to deal with on its own (being reasonable here when migrating from a MT car without hill hold). The Steering felt magically light even when the engine wasn't running.

We come back home and discuss the price. As usual, we ask for the top-end Asta trim pricing. The sales guys suggest the Magna trim. We ask remind him that we need 2 airbags at least (... well that’s the most on offer here). He suggests going for the Sportz trim as in comparison to Asta, we would only lose on:

• Rear windshield Wash-Wipe and defogger
• Vanity mirror on passenger sun visor
• Eco-coating on the AC evaporator core (cooling coil)
• Chrome grill surround on the front bumper.

Done Deal. We ask for ready stock colours. White, Silver and Gray was available. White okayed by grandma.

Figo needed to be sold off. While we were on the test drive, the used car surveyor had worked up a low quote on the Figo which after putting our foot down was brought up to 1.60 Lac. Fair price I would say.

We visit the showroom as they arranged the Sportz trim for display from the stock-yard. We like what we see. Discuss the price, discounts and offers:

• 5K - Corp/Retd. Service person
• 10K - Exchange bonus
• 15K - July 2021 Offer by Hyundai
• 15K - Discount on insurance
• 8K - when you know the Boss offer

Considering add-ons such as Extended Warranty till 5th year/100K km, Essential Accessories, Zero-Dep insurance, Shield Of Trust package and deducting all discounts and value of old car the final On-road price for the Santro Sportz AMT was INR 5,01,000/-.

T-2 Days - Monday, here, take our money

The Hyundai used car (H-promise) guy comes home and gets the paperwork (a collection rather, nicely arranged in the form of a booklet) for the old car signed. We renew the PUC certificate, fish out the original printed-on-paper RC, insurance papers and place them in the glove box along with the original owner’s manuals. Drive the car around the block, fill up the washer tank, top up the tyre pressure. Remove personal belongings. Unpair and delete all devices from the audio system. Put in a cancellation request for the fastag. Removed the windshield ID sticker of our residential colony. Put both the keys in the same key ring and parked the car in the drive-way. It was now to be driven one last time to the showroom where it meets its replacement.

The sales guy comes home to collect the cheque for the new car. He gets on the phone with the Boss who states the final amount to be written on the cheque. Pleasantries exchanged. Paperwork gets signed for the registration work. I go to the showroom to look at the seat cover options and finalize them.

T-1 Day - Number allotted, car prepared for delivery

We wanted to get 6162 but the rules now made it a poor financial decision. However, the allotted number was a rearrangement of the same digits - 6621, by pure coincidence. A message is sent to the sales guy to ensure the following before delivery:

• Clean carpets
• Install all accessories as part of the kit except for steering cover,
• Removal of all protective plastic films from the interior trims,
• Not to use polish on dashboard,
• Not to install dealer advertisement sticker on the exterior,
• Not to stick any idol / perfume on the dashboard
• Installation of registration mark sticker on passenger side top corner of windshield

The guy promptly sent us a picture with all installations done as per instructions by the evening.

T-7 hours - Thoughts as I type this report late at night.

I have gone through multiple sources to gather information (print and video) on the Santro. I was quite puzzled to see the low sales numbers this car is doing. Was even told it was a mediocre product. I was skeptical about losing on the cabin space in comparison to the Figo we were replacing. Here are some thoughts on the theme - Taking a step down isn’t always taking a step back:

• Proof is in the pudding - I never considered the Santro thinking it was a big step back when replacing the Figo
• Decade old cars are no match to current cars from even a segment or two below in many aspects.
• For the elderly, tallboy designs offer really unparalleled practicality and comfort over short runs
• A smaller, underpowered car is okay when there is no need to carry passengers or luggage. Since my grandfather passed away, there is no requirement to have extra space for a wheelchair and a caretaker
• It is good to simplify things as you age. Drop out some features (intermittent wiper speeds, rear wash-wipe, keyless entry and go etc) in this case.
• An AMT gearbox rather than being an irritation might actually help my grandmother regain the confidence she lost by not driving too often in the past year and dealing with ever more crowded streets
• Look, Touch and Feel of the interiors, if done well, is a big differentiating factor.
• Even the cheaper cars with thin door panels come with intrusion prevention bracing in the doors
• The biggest pat on the back TATA deserves is for pricing spares and components for its new range realistically and passing on the benefit of localized sourcing to its customers even though they do not manufacture at a scale even remotely close to MSIL. Tata cars have really affordable components. I have spent many hours scanning through OEM parts catalogues on boodmo and verifying this.

Hope this car serves us well for the next 10 years.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

This was agreed to and all in all, I paid about 45% of the car's on-road value as taxes (includes both Income Tax and RTO) and insurance.

Archisman recently shared this with other BHPians.

How a prize car became a prized car.

I have two cars - A 2009 Santro Xing (red) and a 2019 Santro (the prize car in question) and this thread is about the two cars.

I have run away twice from my license tests at RTO in my younger days, after developing cold feet and nearly ruining a few family member's cars in the meantime. Cut to 2007 when I was doing my PhD in Mumbai, when I finally got my license at a ripe age of 27. Having got a job, I finally mustered up the courage to buy a car and enter the 2009 Santro Xing. This after test driving a Zen Estillo and Alto. The car became my primary ride and has taken me to Daman, Lonavla, Pune, Alibag and Nasik (15000 km in 4 years). Low usage was mostly because I used to work in Mumbai High offshore for 15 days a month. The car has performed wonderfully and the pickup and highway manners is something to die for (a trait still strong after 12 years).

I was transferred to Silchar and thanks to HORRRRRRRRIBLE roads, the car racked up 4000 km in 4 years. Me, the missus and young son did a Silchar-Agartala road trip and that was pretty much it. As the car used to drive very little, I had to once change the entire steering assembly as it had jammed up.

In 2017, I was transferred to Vadodara and brought my Santro Xing with me. The NOC followed nearly a year later but it was a paper NOC and Vadodara RTO could not enter the data and the car pretty much became a dangerous alien in Gujarat. I was on the lookout to buy a new car and had zeroed in on Honda Amaze. Took a test drive and found it nice. It was then I saw a hoarding which informed that on filling up Rs 2000 worth petrol/diesel one could enter a contest of Indian Oil-Hyundai and the grand prizes were 5 i20 and 5 Eon cars.

I entered the contest just for fun in September 2018. I forgot all about that but thankfully kept the fuel receipt in my wallet. Suddenly in November 2018, I received a call informing me that I won a Hyundai Eon and they requested my details. Sounded like a scam but gave them my details.

Cutting a long story short, after many months and much to-and-fro between myself, Hyundai and Indian Oil, a new Santro was delivered to me in October 2019 as Eon had been discontinued. I was initially offered the base model of the Santro but politely asked if I can be given the next higher model if I paid the difference from my pocket. This was agreed to and all in all, I paid about 45% of the car's on-road value as taxes (includes both Income Tax and RTO) and insurance.

The new car is a white Santro which is parked next to my old red Santro Xing, its namesake but a very different car.

The new car has taken me to Ahmedabad multiple times and I have made a few trips to temples in Dakor (Ranchodji) and Kavi (Stambeshwar) for divine blessings and recently to Statue of Unity. It has raked up 6000 km in 1.5 years which includes the lockdown period of many months when it never went out of Vadodara.

I have added a touchscreen music system and a rear view camera and put on fabric seat covers. The car thankfully has not given much grief except a few niggles here and there.

I am in a prime position to compare the Santro Xing and the new Santro as I drive them interchangeably every day depending on my mood.

Some view on the 2009 Santro Xing

• The car has superb pickup and can race away even on open city roads. I love it when I leave behind bigger and more powerful cars at the traffic light. It has remarkable stability at low speed and at very high speeds on Expressways like Mumbai-Pune and Vadodara-Ahmedabad.
• Even after 12 years, NVH levels are minimum. Most of the time I cant hear the engine noise.
• The car built is sturdy. There have been two major accidents (both involving other cars plowing into my car breaking traffic rules) and damage has been less. Most other cars would have been really gone.
• Driver comfort is excellent. The tall boy design is a boon. I literally boss over Balenos, i20s and most sedans. The view beyond the bonnet is very very advantageous in city traffic.
• Not so good fact is that 12 years and a discontinued model means spare parts are sometimes difficult to find and takes a few days to come even in a well connected place like Vadodara. This problem was acute in Silchar.
• Hyundai service centers may be ubiquitous but costs have gone up steeply atleast for small cars. The car has died right in the middle of the road twice and I had to be towed away and repairs have been costly.
• I love the tall OVRMs. Best in any class probably.

Overall in about 12 years of Santro Xing ownership, the good memories are more than bad ones. Only those who have driven the Santro Xing will know why it ruled city streets at one time giving good competition to 800s and Altos.

Some views on the new Santro

• A very refined car (a very Mr. Darcy). Smart, suave and decent looker. A city car if there is a category such.
• Highway manners are excellent on expressways. Never feel a roll even at high speeds. A trait shared with its older namesake.
• Pickup, acceleration are not so good. For a city car, it can be challenging to drive at times.
• Lower car means less presence on roads.
• Noise levels are high, especially during early morning starts.
• Very small rear window and not so tall OVRMs make reversing tricky. Also the older car lets in lots of light.

One interesting thing is that even with notoriously bad traffic manners in Gujarat, every one including larger cars like Balenos, i20s and even Mahindras leave way for the older Santro which commands respect but these very cars don't even acknowledge the new Santro.

That's all about my prize car and its predecessor. Two Santros joined only by their name and nothing else.

Thanks to Archisman once again! Check out BHPian comments for more insights & information.