Sep 04, 2001 10:43 AM
5673 Views
Alarm bells have been ringing at MUL over new entrants who were coming out with better cars after so many years of monopoly. With the company also going in red over loss of face to the competition. Maruti 800 was losing market despite the face lifts and Esteem was losing steam despite the new engine (both now look as familiar as century old ambys / fiats). People buy these cars because they are cheap and easily serviceable (same applied to Amby, but remember where it went)!
So all of a sudden it wakes up and serves a few new(?) cars to us including an alto, Wagon R, Baleno, etc.
Alto looks like a cross between Maruti 800 (God knows why people call it ''fanty'' in Gujarat) and Zen and had it not been for the minor changes in body shape, you could mistake it for either.
It is as good as any other Jap car and the quality of ride, performance is OK, except that better cars like Santro and Zen are available in India.
It is overpriced like Maruti 800 (remember the price cuts?)and the dealers are still prone to charge you a premium if you want it immediately (old habits die hard!).
In the final verdict, there is nothing new or radical in this car about its looks, price, performance or dealer attitude. I think the only attractin is its novelty (which is likely to wear off fast) and strong service network which MUL has built over the years.
