Unique Cost Cutting Gimmicks on Cars in India

[anilntny]

Alto LXi - Cheapness of Maruti Suzuki

I recently purchased an alto LXi for the use of my wife.I would like to share few points regarding the same.
Maruti is giving 30000 rs dicount on both regular alto and k10 series alto.
regular alto comes in 2 trim levels one with no frills,other one with luxuries like power steering and A/C(onroad price is 302000 rs)
the side mirror Is only on right side that also flap type(fish fin??) .So I requested for it to be changed to old zen style mirrors(ofcource it only looks good,no option to control from inside) at cost of 1250rs(not body coloured,same will make it costlier by 1000 rs)
NO wheel cap,even if you wish to buy NO MARUTI GENUINE stuff avilable,as maruti recently changed disc pattern??!Went for third party wheel caps at a cost of 600 bucks
No body coloured bumbers,so to make it slightly better looking,I requested it to be painted at a cost of 2000 rs.

No head rest....

AND MOST SHOCKING OMISSION.........NO CHILD SAFTY LOCK FOR REAR doors!!!cheap move from maruti,shows how much they are concerned about passenger safty (poor KIDS) , even dealer where unaware,i just called maruti toll free,confirmed,YES maruti thinks its a luxury
nothing to write about driving comfort or performance,its just a cabin with 4 wheels,intend to take you from point A to point B
Maruti is planning to phase out this model in 2013

If anyone here is planning to buy one ,go for ALTO K10,its of much better value,better engine,better milage
attaching two pictures,last one shows doors with no child lock

 

[Varun560061]

Re: alto LXi cheapness of maruti

There are many things which are missing..Great that you have got this much.

The C pillar trim, does your car have left sun visor ? No elr type seat belts at the rear..

May be you can get the child locks fitted because it use to come with old alto's..

 

[anilntny]

Re: Alto LXi - Cheapness of Maruti Suzuki

Also NO KEYHOLE on left front door,so every time you have to come to right front door to enter.May be I should fit keyless entry,since original idea was to have lowcost 2nd car,I didnt went for it on first place.

 

[Surfer]

Re: Alto LXi - Cheapness of Maruti Suzuki

Also NO KEYHOLE on left front door,so every time you have to come to right front door to enter

Well ,you can see this in K10 also

 

[anilntny]

Re: Alto LXi - Cheapness of Maruti Suzuki

Well ,you can see this in K10 also

but ,i thnk k10 comes with central locking.....

 

[Akash]

Re: Alto LXi - Cheapness of Maruti Suzuki

I completely agree Anil. Even i own a 2008 Alto LX, it does have child locks, left door key hole, sunvisors, however, the interiors are completely basic unlike the 2005 variants before the launch of the Astar.

 

[ilango[speed thirst]]

Re: Alto LXi - Cheapness of Maruti Suzuki

Never knew , alto is stripped of some basic like left door key and child lock.

Any how the rear door lock assembly can be got in maruti spares [mgp] with the child lock, i bet is cheaper than other car's lock.

 

[Sam Dinkar]

Re: Alto LXi - Cheapness of Maruti Suzuki

Also NO KEYHOLE on left front door,so every time you have to come to right front door to enter.May be I should fit keyless entry,since original idea was to have lowcost 2nd car,I didnt went for it on first place.

This was the reply given by a Maruti SA to my friend's wife when she enquired why there is no keyhole on the passenger side of an Alto (which she had purchased):

"Madam, this is for security. If there is no keyhole, then no theif can break-in frrom the passenger side!"

 

[350Z]

Re: Alto LXi - Cheapness of Maruti Suzuki

the side mirror Is only on right side that also flap type(fish fin??). So I requested for it to be changed to old zen style mirrors(ofcource it only looks good,no option to control from inside) at cost of 1250rs(not body coloured,same will make it costlier by 1000 rs)
No head rest....

Maruti Alto is essentially an 800 in new avatar. One cannot expect much from the low-cost cars. Same is also the case with Tata Nano. But it’s pity that carmakers do not even spare certain small but significant safety features in their mission “cost cutting”.

Drive Safe,
350Z

 

[raj_5004]

^^^ +100 to Vibhor.

Certain cars are built to cost since they are cheap. To make a car cheap, manufacturer has to cut costs somewhere and that is by force, not by choice.

Similarly, if we need a cheap car, we will also have to live with some compromises. The same holds true if you buy a base model of a certain car.

Buying a basic car or a spartan version and then complaining that the manufacturer has cut costs is not fair in my humble opinion.

 

[powerpacked]

Re: Alto LXi - Cheapness of Maruti Suzuki

This was the reply given by a Maruti SA to my friend's wife when she enquired why there is no keyhole on the passenger side of an Alto (which she had purchased):

"Madam, this is for security. If there is no keyhole, then no theif can break-in frrom the passenger side!"

+1 to SA's answer -
Yes Driver side's key hole is invisible for the thief .

 

[S Class]

Re: Alto LXi - Cheapness of Maruti Suzuki

This was the reply given by a Maruti SA to my friend's wife when she enquired why there is no keyhole on the passenger side of an Alto (which she had purchased)

"Madam, this is for security. If there is no keyhole, then no theif can break-in frrom the passenger side!"

Btw, one can open alto door using a 2 feet scale. Done this.

And still I don't know why no spare wheel for BMW in India.

 

[saby]

Re: Alto LXi - Cheapness of Maruti Suzuki

+1 to SA's answer -
Yes Driver side's key hole is invisible for the thief .

lol

Some cost cutting measures that I've notices across almost all the Brands-

1-Poor quality Interior's plastics. (eg. Etios)
2-No alloy wheel for the 5th tyre. (eg. Punto)
3-Undersized tyres.(eg. Swift)
4-Every music enthusiastic has to upgrade the company fitted stereo,no matter of which brand the car is,
I've read somewhere that TATA is going to tie up with HARMAN audio solutions, that will be like a Dream come true in the Indian cars!
5-Cheap horns.
6-Less powerful headlamps.
7-Only One reverse light.
8-Not using basic safety like, Front and Side Impact beams.
Two Airbags and ABS as standard is still like a far away dream.
9-Improper sound insulation.
10-Using Thin metal sheets on the outside body and then saying "Its perfectly safe as a Merc's or Punto."
So, Fiat and Merc. should try something like Etios someday.
11-No centre armrests for lower variants. Now come on, how much this thing costs? 1000 or 2000? :|

 

[Sam Dinkar]

Using cheap, hard compund tyres (OEM favourite- JK Vectras) instead of good quality rubber.

 

[350Z]

Re: Alto LXi - Cheapness of Maruti Suzuki

11-No centre armrests for lower variants. Now come on, how much this thing costs? 1000 or 2000?

Front armrest is more of a Good to Have comfort feature rather than a Must-Have. I feel its unavailability in lower end variants is quite acceptable.

Drive Safe,
350Z