I am driving an Alto LX since April 2008. Many owners by this time would look to upgrade their cars, but I wonder what holds me back!
Alto is a practical car. It is meant to take you from your source to destination. There are no frills or features that you may boast of. But it does the job when you think you are sick of those hooligan auto rickshaw-pullers or madly crowded public transport.
Let me see what I see Alto does in the following areas.
Performance & Handling : This is a 796 CC petrol engine powered automobile. It starts nice and never bothers to hurry. It can take a couple of moderately sized and weighted human being nicely along the rugged roads. In city traffic, when you cannot put billions of horses to power, Alto does overtake some. The gear ratios are fairly good and the brakes will ensure the car will stop. If the car must carry four or more adults, it struggles.
If you put that AC on, it cools very well but the engine would find it hard to cope up if you tend to speed. The steering is pretty sharp and I feel even the mechanical steering does a good job since the car is light. The power steering is better for taking out of cramped parking. But after you attain a velocity, the mechanical seems to have a better feedback and sharpness. Maintenance of this engine is almost free. Depending upon various circumstances and driving skills and conditions, the car could fetch you a decent mileage of around 16 KM/Litre of petrol without AC. It is best for moderate distance city rides albeit it can manage to do some stretch at highways if you do not intend to hurry much. The engine is reliable and would not put you to embarrassment.
Looks : “Ah, what a car!” – I haven’t heard it from anyone. It looks moderate without too much of a curve or form factors. To me it looks decent. The outer materials are deteriorating with “rising input costs” and so get friendly with a body repair mechanic. The interiors were good till I didn’t ride my friend’s Santro. Since I paid less what do I complain here? For legroom, headroom etc, please take a test drive. All are less but many manage to fit in somehow.
Mileage & Maintenance : The cost of ownership of this car is very low. The car is so known to all mechanics that you may safely get some niggles treated by the roadside mechanics. The spares are cheap and easily available. The mileage, I get is between 15 – 16.5 KM/Litre (measured top up to top up).
Overall, this car does not put a burden on my worries and purse. It does what it is meant to do. So, as long as I need to travel to work and not lured by the features, frills, fancies and horses, I keep teaming up with million others and “Lets Go”.