I stumbled upon Maruti Udyog website after I bought my first car a Maruti 800 in 2004. I wanted to look up some more information on Maruti and I then came across this web site. And I must say that it has been a very useful service for me. http://www.marutiudyog.com, is useful for both people wishing to buy a Maruti car as well as the owners of one. Unlike most of the corporate websites which are mere PR material, this website actually is of immense help to prospective as well as existing customers. Like the company, the website is pretty ordinary looking, no fancy stuff, no frills. It has a very no nonsense look. But the features it offers are of immense help to the end user. Basically the web site is targeted at two categories – **Buyers and Owners.
I want to Buy a Maruti
The home page lists all the popular models of Maruti in the left navigation bar. So lets say you have decided to purchase that Swift model. When you click on that link, you are taken to the home page of that model. You get the basic specifications you are looking at. You can also have a look at the cost, by selecting the city. You can also find out the nearest dealer for the Swift in your city. You can also have a look at the price of various accessories, and in a way this really helps you in taking a decision related to purchase of the car.
The best part is the home page for every model also contains reviews by customers and experts giving their views about it. In a way this gives you a very clear picture on deciding your purchase. Every model listed on the home page, has it’s own web page. And while the look and feel might vary from model to model, the basic content is the same.
You could also go to the model’s home page, by clicking on tab For Buyers and then selecting your model. For Buyers there is also a link to Maruti Finance, where you could get information on Maruti car loans and there is an EMI calculator for you to do the calculations, based on the Principal and Interest. You could also get useful information about Maruti Insurance, which provides a comprehensive insurance package for your car.
Maruti True Value** leads you to http://www.marutitruevalue.com, . This site is primarily for people who intend to exchange their cars for a new model or want to sell off their existing cars. Since you are dealing directly with Maruti here, the chances of getting conned by a second hand dealer are less.
I already have a Maruti
Exisiting Maruti owners can register as a user on the site and log into to make use of this feature. For owners there is a Maruti Auto Card which is a loyalty rewards programe. You can use this a credit card, as well as totaling up Auto Points. You can check http://www.marutiautocard.com for more information on this program.You also have the option of downloading the user manual for the model you are having with you.
Extensive Sales and Service Network
Maruti may not have the cool, hip appeal that a Ford or Opel has. It does not carry the luxury tag which a BMW or Mercedes brings. But it does have a major advantage its extensive sales and service network, which penetrates into the smaller towns of India. In effect it means that wherever you are in India, you have a Maruti workshop ready for your car.
Maruti has two kind of service stations- Dealer Workshops and Maruti Authorized Service Stations. The dealer workshops handle both the sales and service, while the Maruti Authorized Service Stations handle only the service part. So if you are shifting to a new place, you can get to know the dealers that city from the website. Useful tips are also given for owners on car maintenance, fuel efficiency and how to get better mileage from your car. As well as some pretty useful information on safe driving.
Make your Trip
One of more useful utility which I came across was the Destination Route Guide. So you are planning that trip to Coorg in your Maruti. You can download the entire route map, as well as how to prepare yourself as well as your car for the trip. It also gives you the various routes which you can take to Coorg, as well as the places to be visited once you reach there. There are destination route guides to Pachmarhi, Goa, Dandeli, Rishikesh, Ranikhet etc. In fact this was pretty much helpful for me when I travelled in my car from Noida to Rishikesh.
You can also get information on some races like Maruti’s Raid De Himalaya, Desert Storm etc. There are some snazzy desktops, wallpapers and egreetings for the fun loving user. There is also a very useful section for Investors wishing to hold a stake in Maruti. You can also get some useful information on Maruti’s corporate culture, latest offers, latest news and events.Navigation is pretty much user friendly, and its easy to go to any section. And the format though not very snazzy is pretty easy on the eyes.
So all in all a pretty useful site for people who are planning to buy a car, as well as those owing it.