Dec 24, 2001 09:03 PM
28366 Views
(Updated Dec 24, 2001 09:07 PM)
When someone dies you sing and praise him or her in the form of eulogy or building a memorial. I am in a dilemmatic situation: What do you do, when someone is about to die but not yet dead! Maruti 800, for years this was the ONLY Indian car.
M A R U T I :
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Maruti was launched in 1985 as the people's car by some dumb but honest politician-bureaucrats nexus in India. They were sick and tired of the dumb and arrogant Premier Auto (also known as Fiat).
So powerful was the demand for Maruti that they fell in the same trap that Fiat went. Demand could not be met. And I remember when my mom booked a Maruti in 1989, she was asked to wait for a YEAR!!! I remember my mom calling every month the dealers, to get an update as to when her car will be available.
Dumb Price:
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Maruti 800 never improved. Never improves, but its arrogant Managing Directors (who enjoyed Delhi priveleges) always managed to get press even if they increased prices every 6 months. Yes, every 6 months Maruti increased the prices by 10% ! There was no competition. The auto sector was banned for other companies. Local companies had nothing to invest in.
Technical Details:
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800 cc. Do you believe it. 800 cc cant even support an air conditioner, forget long drives and uphill journeys. Somehow, Maruti could never increase the power. Cheaters as they are, they made enough money to accumulate huge amounts in the banks. 800cc is often available in foreign bikes!
Maruti 800's interior still has the same 1985 looks. No improvement in ergonomics. No improvement in seating. No improvement in body shape since the second model.
Dealer Arrogance:
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Maruti 800 was so popular that it quickly attracted service stations all over teh country. Popularity came not because of superiority but monopoly or duopoly (if you call PAL as an auto manufacturer). Maruti's dealers always behaved arrogantly. They are still arrogant. Maruti's dealer always cheated in service...never paid the personal attention your car deserved. They still haven't improved. They are still the same.
Only recently has Maruti improved their 800 with some ''gimmicks'' They have introduced 5 gears. Oh give me a break. 5breaks and 800cc? Who needs it. Prices are still increased every 6 months.
Marketing :
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Marketing dept. does another gimmick. The MD announces price reduction at huge press conferences every year (5%) reduction but marketing QUIETLY increases prices by 10%. Ok the numbers here are not accurate, but the point I am making is they do gimmicks.
My Verdict:
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Stay away from ALL MARUTI PRODUCTS. STAY AWAY FROM MARUTI 800. Hyundai and Daewoo are better options.
PS: You must be wondering why I have written a history instead of a review. Answer is simple: Maruti has not changed in the last 15 years. So history=Current state! They are still the same and their products are same. Will they invite me when they are to be buried?
