Suzuki/Maruti Alto

"duurtlang" (duurtlang) 06/03/2016 at 08:42 • Filed to: suzuki alto, alto, suzuki, maruti

3

27

As I sold a real car to my parents I’ve been given the task to sell their old stroller. It’s an Indian built Suzuki Alto in luxury spec. Should I write a review?

At 159k km this shopping cart’s got higher kilometerage than 93% of similar Altos offered for sale. Oh, and ‘luxury spec’ means power windows, power locks, manual steering, manual mirrors and zero airbags. In 2001 (its last full year). Oh, and if it wasn’t apparent, it’s smaller than a 2016 Fiat 500. The 4 pot produces 58 horses.

Also: what’s it worth? Note: no apparent faults, timing belt 2015, 2 tires+brake lines 2014, exhaust 2013.

RT > duurtlang 06/03/2016 at 08:56

0

Go ahead with the review, I'm interested.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > duurtlang 06/03/2016 at 08:59

0

Id read a review, 58 horses actually doesnt seem too bad in such a light car.

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > duurtlang 06/03/2016 at 09:02

0

What kind of real car did you sell them?

duurtlang > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 06/03/2016 at 09:03

0

700 kg empty. It’s not slow in town. On the highway it’s, well, it doesn’t like it much.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > duurtlang 06/03/2016 at 09:04

1

I’d buy it without the review if I could. This looks marvelous!

duurtlang > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 06/03/2016 at 09:06

0

It’s for sale! 15 years old, so eligible for import into Canada (I’ve got no idea where you live)

Steve in Manhattan > duurtlang 06/03/2016 at 09:18

0

Yeah - do a video review if you can.

Cé hé sin > duurtlang 06/03/2016 at 09:25

0

Are you selling it with a full tank? It’ll make a big difference to the value...

I haven’t seen one for years. I see there’s quite a bit of rust going on and I wouldn’t like to know what’s happening underneath. Mind you I’d hate to look under my car too...

smobgirl > duurtlang 06/03/2016 at 09:41

0

This is just the sort of silly thing I adore.

VonBootWilly - Likes Toyota, but it's still complicated. > duurtlang 06/03/2016 at 09:53

0

The fact that it’s a LHD Kai car makes it a bit more fun to import to North America. I know there is a 110hp version of this engine in older Arctic Cat T660 snowmobiles, the K6A I believe, parts could be had at those dealers too. Would be hilarious.

MonkeePuzzle > duurtlang 06/03/2016 at 10:02

0

yes! do a review. Basic cars can still be a blast.

a little sad to find that the license plate wasn’t showing its horsepower :(

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > duurtlang 06/03/2016 at 10:37

0

I live in the free world, so ten more years

Ilike_cougars > duurtlang 06/03/2016 at 10:47

0

This was called the Maruti Zen in India, and the funny thing is they sold the previous generation of the car as the Maruti 800 alongside.

We never got the 2 door version though, you lucky sods which country are you in?

duurtlang > Cé hé sin 06/03/2016 at 10:56

0

I don’t really know where you’re seeing all that rust to be honest. Under the hood and the wiper arms? It’s not bad at all, for an Alto. On the right hand side both wheel wells have a bit, but I don’t think they ever needed to weld on the car to make it pass inspection. Brake lines have been changed relatively recently.

I see these all the time by the way. They’re very cheap to own here. We’re taxed on vehicle weight, and unless you go 2CV (yes please!) it doesn’t get any lighter than this. My dad (64) says he averages 4.5L/100 km on gasoline in this car in summer.

duurtlang > VonBootWilly - Likes Toyota, but it's still complicated. 06/03/2016 at 10:59

0

It’s not a full kei car because at 1.0 liter it’s got far too much displacement for a kei. But I get your point. The car is somewhat fun to throw around at low speeds.

duurtlang > Ilike_cougars 06/03/2016 at 11:00

0

The Netherlands.

duurtlang > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer 06/03/2016 at 11:03

1

This one ! Lots of suspension parts replaced, mid and rear parts of the exhaust, all belts (all 4 of them!), a wheel bearing, front brake discs and pads (and 1 caliper) and the rear shocks. It’s in great shape now.

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > duurtlang 06/03/2016 at 11:05

0

Ah I see, so the Galant lives on. Those 4 belts do seem a bit over-engineered, don’t they?

duurtlang > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer 06/03/2016 at 11:07

1

Absolutely. 1 regular timing belt, 1 timing belt for the balance shaft, 2 auxiliary belts. Parts costs for this Mitsubishi are certainly higher than what I’m used to with my Peugeots. I had to go used for the exhaust parts due to the cost of the (relatively hard to find) new parts.

Cé hé sin > duurtlang 06/03/2016 at 12:18

0

I’m looking at the strut towers and the brackets holding the radiator, although I must admit that my 1994 car had to have a plate welded around one strut tower a few years ago and my garage tells me every year that it’s going to fail its NCT (annual test) due to rust on one of the chassis rails.

Taxing on weight is a new one to me. I think that in Japan they tax you on the area that the car covers (because crowded towns).

4.5 l/100km is very good though. I borrowed my father’s diesel Focus a couple of years ago for a long trip which I did almost entirely in sixth gear and it did only slightly better - 4.3 l.

duurtlang > Cé hé sin 06/03/2016 at 12:25

0

My diesel Focus only manages 5.8L/100 km according to the fuel bill (5.4L according to the computer). That’s with doing mostly 135 km/h on cruise and occasional city traffic.

I will have to look at those strut towers, that’s a good point.

My father is a very mellow driver I must add. I don’t think I’ll be able to drive as frugal as he manages.

Klaus Schmoll > duurtlang 06/03/2016 at 15:08

0

Do you think they’ll visit more often now that they have a decent car? Also, you are a good son!

duurtlang > Klaus Schmoll 06/03/2016 at 15:26

0

They might. Did I speak about this before? Anyway, they live 2 hours away. 2 hours is peanuts to me. When you’re in your 60s and have to drive that for 2 hours it’s almost an expedition. You live on Rügen, so I’m sure you’re familiar with sea wind. My dad drove the Alto over the Afsluitdijk ( Abschlussdeich , English link ) yesterday and complained he had to hold on to the wheel for his dear life. Long story short: the Mitsubishi (my carbagerun car, fixed up completely) is a huge upgrade. The only downside is that it’s almost twice as thirsty.

Klaus Schmoll > duurtlang 06/03/2016 at 15:35

0

Yeah, you mentioned that they didn’t like driving that ... thing on the motorway, which doesn’t really surprise anyone. Maybe the Galant will trigger some new behaviour, like little weekend getaways etc...

You also mentioned that they had the Alto because of the cheap running costs, and that they don’t like spending money on cars, so it’s a bit surprising that they accepted the Galant.

duurtlang > Klaus Schmoll 06/03/2016 at 16:30

0

Well, first I convinced them they needed something more comfortable. Then I borrowed the Mitsubishi to them. It sealed the deal.

Klaus Schmoll > duurtlang 06/03/2016 at 18:34

0

The usual dealer tactics. “Just take it home over the weekend, let’s talk numbers on Monday.” Glad that it worked. Nobody wants their parents to be in what is essentially pretty much a death trap in today’s traffic.

I think I already told you that my aunt had a Galant wagon of that gen with the 2.3 GDI manual in a slightly darker shade of blue. She loved it. They replaced it with one of these. Needless to say that she still somewhat misses it.

CaptDale - is secretly British > duurtlang 06/03/2016 at 18:58

0

I would DD that!! Looks like so much fun.