The fuel efficiency has seen a significant boost and the shuddering issue I was experiencing has completely disappeared.

BHPian raptor_diwan recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Just got the 50k km service done

The 40k km service was actually done when the odometer was at 37k kilometers, and now it's sitting at 46,500 kilometers, prompting me to drop it off for service again. Since I bought it through True Value, I still have three free services left, and this is the first one. Most of the major maintenance was taken care of during the 40k service, so no complaints there, except for the occasional clutch shuddering at low speeds. But good thing there's warranty coverage for that, so I'm planning to make use of it and get the clutch replaced for free.

Before heading to the service center, I made sure to snap some pictures of the engine bay, battery, and a few other important items. I also took a picture of the spare tire, just in case someone decides to swap it out. You know, I've gotten into the habit of photographing everything inside and out as a precautionary measure.

It took a solid 30 to 45 minutes at the service center, and it was surprisingly busy even though it was a weekday. I informed them to do the usual general service, including an engine oil change with full synthetic oil (Mobil1), replacing the oil filter, and cleaning the AC filter.

Now, onto the issues I had:

Steering Issue

I tried explaining the steering problem in various ways, but their response was that it would only auto-straighten at speeds of 30 kmph or above due to the force. They mentioned that this is just how it is with this car model and there's nothing they can do about it.

Suzuki Smartplay App

Since I bought the car from True Value, the Suzuki app's VIN number was still registered under the first owner's details. This prevented me from connecting the app to my mobile phone, meaning I couldn't use the navigation or CarPlay features.

Their response was that there was no way to change the mobile number from the first owner's details. They suggested using either CarPlay or Android Auto, which also required a wired connection. However, the USB port wasn't working and couldn't detect my phone, so I couldn't use CarPlay either. They agreed to check and resolve the issue, and thankfully, I can now use CarPlay they fixed the USB port issue but I can never get access to Suzuki smartplay app since the number cannot be changed. They didn't charge me anything for this USB port fix.

Clutch shuddering

The clutch shuddering issue wasn't a major concern, but I did notice it happening occasionally in heavy traffic, particularly in 1st and 2nd gear. Since my car is still under warranty for another year, I thought it would be wise to address it now rather than later. When I brought it up with the service center, they agreed to replace the clutch under warranty, but they mentioned it would take 3 to 4 days as they needed to order the spare part.

I told them to go ahead and order it, and once it arrived, they could give me a call, and I'd bring the car in for replacement. However, during the pickup after the service, they informed me that they had made some adjustments to the clutch to try and reduce the shuddering issue. They suggested giving it a test run and letting them know if the problem persisted, if yes then they will order the part. Surprisingly, I haven't experienced any shuddering issues since then, even after driving around 200 kilometers in heavy traffic.

Anyway even if the issue does resurface, I still have plenty of time left on my warranty to get the clutch replaced at no extra cost.

Overall Cost paid for this service - 4144 /-

Here are the improvements I noticed after the service:

• The mileage has seen a significant boost! Previously, I was getting around 14- 15 in the city, but now it's increased to a solid 17.
• Remarkable reduction in vibrations, and the shuddering issue I was experiencing has completely disappeared. It's like driving on smooth silk now!

Adding a few pictures!

Invoice

Engine bay after service

Fresh

Inspector Paw is on duty, actively sniffing around to make sure those wheels smell as fresh as a daisy after the car service.

It's a sure sign that everything's just right and good to go. Four-legged inspector has given the four wheels a hearty tail wag of approval!

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The only silver lining in this whole episode is that the used Maruti S-Presso AMT that I bought from them is in good condition.

BHPian raptor_diwan recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Struggles with Maruti True Value: Name Transfers, Insurance Hurdles, and Frustrations

After buying the car, I had trouble changing its name with the inefficient Maruti team. The whole buying experience wasn't good, and dealing with Maruti True Value was a nightmare. The only positive was that the car itself was fine, which stopped me from worrying too much. If the car hadn't been in good condition, considering how frustrated I was, I might have fired it immediately.

Alright, let me get to the part. As you all know how it went during the buying experience. Now, after the purchase, I requested them to do a name transfer ASAP. The manager assured me that I would receive a call from someone. I did get a call from a guy, who requested a few documents, and I sent them immediately via WhatsApp. However, since then, there has been no response from either of them. When I call, they don't pick up, and if I message them on WhatsApp, they read it but don't respond.

The issue is that the car insurance was nearing expiration, and I'm facing a dilemma over renewal. KYC is mandatory (which no one has mentioned), but since the car is still registered under the previous owner, they need to agree to complete the KYC for me. Unaware of this process earlier, I proceeded to renew the insurance on Policy Bazaar and got stuck in the KYC process with no response from Maruti's side or the previous owner's side. There's an unresolved payment refund issue with the previous owner, making them unwilling to cooperate. (KYC can only be done by the person whose name is mentioned on the RC).

Despite repeatedly asking Maruti to change the name before the insurance expiry for a smoother process, they missed doing so. Consequently, I had to cancel the insurance from Policy Bazaar since the pending KYC prevented further progress. They cancelled and refunded the payment. (At least Policy Bazaar customer care seems to be great).

Now that my car insurance has expired, there has been no response over the phone. I sent my dad to their location, and they claimed they couldn't proceed because I didn't answer their call. They assured me to arrange a call from the same guy again. Surprisingly, I received no calls from him, and there were no missed calls in my call log.

After some follow-up, this guy asked me for 5500/- as a charge for name transfer, which I paid immediately and shared the screenshot. He replied with "ok sir," marking the first response from Maruti on WhatsApp. However, I was well aware that a name transfer without active insurance would be problematic, and I conveyed this to him. He assured me that they knew people who could proceed without insurance, claiming they had done name transfers without active insurance a few days back.

Despite patiently waiting for one week, and then two weeks, my car is still standing at home without insurance, and I am unable to use it. After two weeks, there has been no response on WhatsApp or calls as usual.

So, I went straight to the office again and discovered they could not proceed without active insurance. The guy claimed he was not aware that insurance was required for the name transfer. He said he would check and suggested talking to the previous owner to do KYC themselves. I offered to provide my Policy Bazaar ID and asked them to put the insurance, and I would pay for it. However, they couldn't arrange for the KYC with the previous owner.

In my search for a solution, I found an agent who could put insurance on my car without KYC. The agent advised me to complete the name transfer quickly, and later we could change the insurance name and do KYC with my details. Another suggestion Policy Bazaar recommended putting only third-party insurance without KYC. Although I wasn't entirely happy with it, I managed to secure insurance without KYC through the agent, and it now reflects in the portal.

Now, I've shared the insurance copy with them (Truevalue) and have been waiting for two weeks with no response. I reached out again, and although they read the message, there is still no response. I'm contemplating going to their office again, as waiting for their reply has been futile.

This has been an extremely frustrating experience. I acknowledge making a mistake in dealing with True Value. The only silver lining is that the vehicle itself is in good condition. Without that, I can't imagine having to deal with them for service issues as well.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

On highways, I achieved a fuel efficiency of 22 km/l at speeds of 100-120 km/h and an impressive 25-26 km/l when maintaining 80 km/h, which is pretty good.

BHPian raptor_diwan recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

My Journey to Finding the Perfect City Runabout

As many already know, I've been on the hunt for another city runabout, specifically an automatic car. After numerous discussions and considering options like the Kwid, WagonR, Celerio, I ended up with the S-Presso.

I explored multiple options, took numerous test drives, engaged in various discussions, and scoured platforms like Facebook Marketplace, spinny, cars24 and OLX. After a thorough search, I stumbled upon a gem at True Value. Although I had only driven the car once for about 5 km, I was instantly smitten. The car's performance was fantastic, and among all the AMT cars I've tried, its transmission stood out for its smoothness.

When I acquired the car, it had already covered 40,000 km, so here I am, the proud owner of an S-Presso. A big shoutout and thank you to everyone who helped and recommended vehicles along the way!

Buying Experience:

I always encounter some challenges in my car buying experience, whether it's a new or used car.

I was drawn to the S-Presso pre-owned car at Maruti True Value. The impressive test drive, with its smooth transmission and engine performance, convinced us to pay the advance.

However, the delivery faced continuous delays, and amidst my distractions with work and personal commitments, I didn't actively monitor the car delivery date. Instead, I was waiting for Maruti True Value to inform me. Eventually, frustration set in as I discovered that the car was still under the previous owner's loan. The previous owner had purchased a new car from Maruti, exchanging the old one. Maruti True Value needed to settle the remaining balance & get NOC before delivering it to me. The previous owner was located 150 km away from Chennai, which added to the complexity of the process.

They consistently changed the delivery date without providing a proper timeline. Here's how it unfolded:

Every Sunday morning, I would call the salesperson to inquire about the car delivery date. Initially, I would be told it was coming on Tuesday, then on Tuesday, it would be postponed to Friday. On Friday, the explanation would be that Saturday and Sunday were off, with just one document pending, which could be addressed on Monday, promising delivery on Monday afternoon. However, come Monday, the date would shift to Wednesday, and the cycle continued for three weeks.

After enduring three weeks of patience, I reached my limit. I visited the dealership with the intention of canceling the car and seeking a refund. Without any argument, I requested a refund, expressing my disinterest in continuing business with them. Surprisingly, during the cancellation process, the manager spoke to a few people and discovered that the required document had been released. As a result, the car could be delivered promptly. Despite the challenging dealership experience, I decided to accept the car.

While the buying experience was challenging and frustrating, the car ultimately proved to be perfect. Despite the unexpected twists and waiting, I finally got the car I wanted that day.

It's one of the most uneventful deliveries I've ever experienced—no frills. But hey, that doesn't matter. I'm determined to add excitement to the future with this car.

Delivery day: The ribbon is being attached by my mom herself, not by any of the employees.

With siblings

Likes and dislikes of the car

Likes

Front Appearance

The car's front and side appearance grew on me; I love its overall look. Initially, it seemed different when I saw online pictures before the purchase, but over time, I developed a strong liking for it, especially the front design.

AC:

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

Size:

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

Mileage:

So far, the best!! On the highway, I achieve 22 km/l at speeds of 100-120 km/h and an impressive 25-26 km/l when maintaining 80 km/h, which is pretty good. On ghat roads, the efficiency touches even 35 km/l on display not sure how true it is.

With one full tank, I can cover more than 600 km, even though the fuel tank capacity is only 27. No need to worry about frequent refills.

Dislikes

Rear Appearance

Rear View

The backside is a bit meh, kinda on the shorter side, could've been more impressive, but I guess it is what it is.

The Darn Steering Wheel

The steering wheel in my S-Presso has become a significant source of frustration. It's excessively hard, sluggish, fails to rotate back to the center point smoothly, and driving feels akin to manoeuvring a truck from the '90s. Even within city limits, making small turns requires an unusual amount of effort. After a recent 10-hour highway trip, coupled with navigating ghat roads, I experienced pain in my shoulders and hands. It's evident that the steering needs attention and improvement from Maruti's end.

Headlights

Before buying, after reading several reviews, I noticed that many mentioned the headlights being powerful. However, in all honesty, they don't quite live up to that claim. I drove in pitch darkness, and the high beam was somewhat disappointing. The low beam is decent, but during highway drives, it's a bit challenging. I'm considering replacing the headlights and currently in a dilemma. Let's see if I can find more powerful lights.

Interior storage, practicality & boot space

Never felt cramped, yet never sensed an abundance of space; it's just right for a smooth ride, perhaps for two people—my primary use. I've also embarked on a long two 1000 km round trip within a single month, and I must say the car performs admirably on the highway. There's a slight body roll at times, but with proper handling, it evens out after a few hours of driving.

Driver Seat View

In the initial period without an armrest, I felt a bit tucked in and uncomfortably seated. The absence of a comfortable handrest was noticeable, but after adding one, I now have a comfortable seating position suitable for both long journeys and city traffic drives.

Front Leg room

Rear Seat - Speaking of the back seat, I haven't had the chance to sit there myself during travels. However, friends who've occupied the rear seats mentioned it was comfortable, and a few even managed to catch some good sleep back there. Nevertheless, I primarily use this car as a two-person vehicle, essentially treating it like a two-door car. Most of the time, there's no need for anyone to hop into the back.

Overall View from Rear seat

Rear seat leg room

Glove Box:

The glove box is really small. I can't even fit many things inside, not even a document pouch. There's no good spot on the dashboard to put my phone or even sunglasses. So, what I do is, I keep the glove box open with a yellow cloth inside. That way, I can easily put my phone there. Since the car is not very wide, I can reach the glove box easily and grab my phone while driving without any problems. I just wish there were better places to put stuff in the car.

I used to store my sunglasses on the sun visor.

Boot Space

Narrow Entry to access boot

The 240-liter boot space isn't sufficient for a family on a long trip. Even for a journey with just two people, it fills up fast. I always carry a portable BBQ suitcase and a chimney starter, which already takes up a lot of space. When I add a regular suitcase and other items, the space runs out quickly. I often end up using the rear seat to accommodate some luggage. But, well, you can't expect much more from a compact car and I initially bought it primarily for city driving, but I find myself using it more on the highway than in the city for now.

Continue reading raptor_diwan's ownership review for BHPian comments, insights and more information.

Maruti claims that 70% customers prefer the brand's digital touchpoints.

Maruti Suzuki has announced that 40 lakh pre-owned cars have been sold through its True Value chain since 2001.

Today, there are 550 True Value showrooms across 268 cities. Maruti claims that 70% customers prefer the brand's digital touchpoints.

Every used car goes through a 376 point evaluation, refurbishment and certification process. The cars come with up to 1 year warranty and 3 free services.

True Value customers are also offered other services like insurance, finance and accessories. Customers can also sell their car to True Value by booking an appointment for home evaluation from the True Value website or app. True Value does a complete digital evaluation using an AI-based scientific pricing engine and offers hassle-free documentation.

Maruti Suzuki has launched a loyalty rewards program called Maruti Suzuki Rewards for all Arena, Nexa and True Value customers.

Under the program, customers will be classified into four tiers - Member, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Customers will receive reward points on the purchase of additional car, service, Maruti insurance, accessories and customer referrals. They will also receive badges which will give them a chance to access exclusive events and offers.

Members from the existing AutoCard and MyNexa program will be transitioning to the new Maruti Suzuki Rewards. No additional fee will be charged and point value balance from the previous program will be carried forward.

To enroll, customers can log in to www.marutisuzuki.com or www.nexaexperience.com.

Maruti Suzuki True Value has now started a Cars24-like car buying service, where customers are not required to buy a new Maruti car in exchange of their old car.

Maruti Suzuki True Value has more than 570 outlets in 280 cities. The company also offers its services online and is said to get 80 lakh visitors on its website. Customers can get their cars evaluated online, following which a price offer is made based on an AI-based pricing engine.

True Value certified pre-owned cars undergo a 376 point check. The cars are offered with 1-year warranty and 3 free services.

The company claims to have sold over 4 lakh cars in FY 2019-20, recording sales growth of 3.7%.

Maruti Suzuki claims to have set up more than 250 True Value outlets in 2 years. The carmaker's pre-owned sales channel has now expanded to 151 cities.

According to Maruti, True Value has sold over 8 lakh cars. The WagonR, Alto and Swift are said to be the most popular used cars among buyers. True Value customers are mostly in the age group of 25-45 years.

Cars sold at True Value outlets are put through a 376-point evaluation process which include engine, suspension, brakes, electrical fittings and equipment, transmission and steering control checks. The cars are refurbished and then certified. True Value Certified cars come with a warranty of up to 1 year and 3 free services.

Customers can browse through the inventory online on the True Value website. They can also check the availability of True Value cars on the brand's mobile app.

Maruti has expanded its True Value pre-owned car network to 200 outlets across 132 cities, since its re-launch 19 months ago.

Maruti Suzuki has revamped its True Value outlets, which now feature a large display area. The company has also launched a new website and a mobile app where customers can browse through the inventory and book a test drive. 

True Value only offers non-accidental cars that are less than 7 years old, have less than 1 lakh km on their odometers and not more than two ownerships. Cars that have been used for commercial purposes or those retrofitted with CNG or LPG kits are not sold at True Value.

Every car sold at True Value goes through a 376-point evaluation, which includes assessment of the engine, suspension, brakes, electrical fittings and equipment, transmission and steering control. Following this, the car is refurbished and certified. Maruti offers 1 year warranty and 3 free services on True Value cars.

Maruti Suzuki has announced that it will set up revamped True Value outlets across India. The plan is to set up 150 outlets by March 2018. These outlets will be standalone pre-owned car showrooms with larger display areas.

The network of independent True Value outlets spread across India will be digitally integrated, which will allow customers to access the online database of used cars from anywhere in India. True Value websites will display information about all the cars including their specifications, features and star ratings. The cars will undergo an evaluation based on 376 parameters and will be awarded star ratings (1 to 5 stars). 

True Value dealerships will sell Maruti Suzuki cars that are not more than 7 years old and with a mileage of less than 1,00,000 km. Only those cars that have been registered for personal use and with not more than two previous owners will be accepted. Cabs or other commercial vehicles will not qualify to be sold at True Value outlets. Cars that have been retrofitted with CNG or LPG kits will be rejected as well. 

Before a car is True Value certified, it will undergo the aforementioned 376-point check which will ascertain its refurbishment and service requirements. The vehicle will then be refurbished at a Maruti Suzuki workshop. Following an inspection, it will be rated on six parameters - engine, suspension, brakes, electrical, transmission & steering control and exteriors & interiors. Certified used cars will come with a warranty of up to one year and multiple free services.

Maruti Suzuki is set to revamp its sales and service network in India. This will include adding new True Value pre-owned car outlets, Nexa service stations and refurbishing existing showrooms.

Maruti aims to expand their pre-owned car business by adding 150 new True Value outlets. They also plan to add 60-70 dedicated Nexa service outlets across India. Additionally, traditional Maruti Suzuki dealerships will be refurbished by March 2018.

The revamp includes re-building existing showrooms to global standards. To enhance customer experience, showrooms will have the latest digital interfaces allowing customers to book test drives and place their orders online.

Source: ET Auto