My Maruti A*: First experience with four wheeler. Review on Maruti Suzuki A Star

When I decided to buy a car, I was willing to purchase a car in minimum cost(Less than 4 lac) and least maintenance cost with minimum cost of spares. Cost of Cars of all other companies like Hundai(except Eon), Tata(Except nano, which I don't like due to its shape and looks), or Honda was costlier(> 5 lacs) so was out or reach for me.

I considered Maruti Alto & K-10. ALTO is very common & ALto K-10 is having cost just lower to A- Star and looks of alto. Therefore I was shortlisted on A-Star & Wagon-R. There is enough space in Wagon R but its look is not really like a car. Therefore I was left with A-Star.(Estilo is also spacious and better looks but looks not as beautiful as A-star, there fore not opted for)

There fore I decided to buy a star against the advise of all. Every body advised against the car mostly for the reason that it was not seen more on the road in comparison with other Maruti cars. Also in almost all reviews, it was written that it is not a family car due to small boot space, hence not successful in India.

But every body has praised A-Star for its easy handling and good quality of riding /driving experience which is comparable with Hyundai I-10. So I decided to go for the car as it was easy to drive for a person like me who is still learning to drive a car.(compromising the boot space as in most the review declared very small).

I purchased A star LXI Old model(2011 model) on 20 Sep 2012 from My Car, Pune. I got additional discount for older model. I could manage the car in just over Rs.4 lac with good music system(SONY, 4 speaker) and central locking with remote and other essential accessories . It is about 10-15 thousand more than Alto K-10.

I choose Sunlight Copper color which is very attractive(Actual Picture of the car, parked outside my Govt. quarter uploaded). Due to the easy handling of the car, I learn driving very easily. The car is very comfortable for person sitting on front seat. But not so comfortable for the taller person seating on rear seat due to limited leg space. I am having average height and also all my family except my son who is about 6 feet height. he always likes to seat on front seat only. The average occupancy of the car is as follows:

Single person - 50- 55% of total running time

Two person - 20-25 % "

3-4 person - 15-20 % "

more than 4 person - 10-15 % "

Use of Boot Space -20-25 % " For about 70-80 percent time, only one or two of us are in car, so it is not a cause of worry for me. The car is with me for last 9 months, but I have have used boot space very rarely.(for which most of the people is worried about.)

. Looks of the car is exceptional. Feel very comfortable and proud while driving.

Recently I went to Shirdi(from pune) which is about 215 kilometer one way on 29 mar 2013(Good Friday) My experience of driving on my car is very good. The road grip of the car is extraordinary. You need not to worry while taking even a sharp turn bit high speed due to its wide axle and low height.

Initially I was worried whether I will be able to drive around 500 km in single day with very limited experience of driving. Only due to comfortable driving of my car I single handed driven my car too and fro and returned back to Pune in 12 hrs including time taken for darshan at Shirdi. (with only 1000 km experience of driving four wheeler) . Driving of car on highways is extraordinary and it is easily going up to 100 kmph with full AC and four person inside the car.(Not tried to drive above 100 kmph). Sometimes it makes some noise when bad road comes, but it is sound less on good road.

Even After driving 500 km in a day, I was still in a position to drive car for another few hundred kilometer. Only my hands were tired as the steering of the car is bit higher.

And about mileage of car on highway, it is above 22 km per liter with four person & AC on.

(Initially, I was bit worried about mileage of the car as I was getting mileage of only 13-14 KMPH. My office is only 4 kilometer away from my quarter and has three signals in way). Now I have no regret about mileage of the car. I realized that car mileage is poor at Pune due to traffic and signals.

Rear seat need to be fitted with head rest(As available with VXI Model.)as it will give support at neck and head to passenger at rear. Also Parcel rack is required for keeping small packets. Space in dicky is less but enough for two suitcases.(medium size). If a bag is more it can be accommodated. My Overall experience with the car is very satisfactory.

Not any regret for my decision. As I have not driven any other car except my car and Wangon R for few kilometers, I can not compare the car with other car.

Edit-

Few years back, I fitted the car with Lovato CNG Kit. The Car is giving mileage of about 25 in city. On highways, the mileage is nearly 30. I have driven the car 43, 000 km. Till date, not any major issue other than routine works.