samishka

Unless you are looking for an ultra-basic car with an almost trouble-free engine coupled with rock-bottom running costs (and overlooking its poor brakes), do not go for the Maruti 800. You will start feeling 'fed up' of its spartan interiors, in no time. Further it can be seen in used-car ads, that most second-hand Maruti 800s are over-priced. There are better options at those prices. After all it is a 20+ year old Suzuki Alto [CA72(?)] made by using low quality Indian components to make it the world's cheapest car (in 2005). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hope you will find the following links (written in an Indian context, however) useful. This link is about buying a used Maruti 800, and they recommend going for the 12-Valve, 5-speed model that came in 2001. http://www.indiacar.com/buyusedtips/800_t_...n07%2Findex.htm This article shows the truth about the "crystal light" model launched in 2005. (Maruti Suzuki has reverted to 6-Valve, 4-speed.) http://www.indiacar.com/roadtest/roadtest_...une05/index.htm

Many Happy Returns of the Day !

Agreed. Remember DPMC's old ad campaign "Paarata atha dhamu sanin" ? I voted for Bajaj Three Wheeler.

Thank you, friends.

Thank You,Very Much, Mates ! Really surprised to see birthday wishes for me, in autoLanka forum.

I guess the Maruti Alto referred by you is an 800cc version since you have not mentioned Power Shutters (front doors only, however). Regarding the looks, pre-2005 Maruti Altos (especilly the 800cc LXi trim) have very boring exteriors and interiors. For me, the only saving grace is the Digital Odometer/Tripmeter.

Anyway, Don't listen to JC !

Even in the British context there are more sensible advice than that of JC. http://www.whatcar.com/car-reviews/used/pe...-review/23717-5

Yes, of course.

Some Trivia. Magna & Verada (Australian-made) were UM's top of the range Mitsubishi cars launched in 2001. Since they were of 2500cc and 3500cc (petrol), they cost between Rs. 3 - 4 Million in those days. (When a brand-new Lancer was sold for less than 1.5 M).

I think you are talking about Burgerland. As I remember later they changed their name, but not sure whether it is 'Mummy's Dish'. However the 'Mummy's Dish' near Dehiwala bridge was there more than 3 years ago, when I lived in Wellawatte. It is no longer there, and later I saw that place near Kohuwala and thought they have moved . It's only after sometime I noticed the difference in the spellings. Confusing, isn't it?

There used to be a Mummy's Dish near Dehiwala Bridge. I thought this one is run by a breakaway group.

Nice creative work. (Really surprised to find the owner of the vehicle in autoLanka forum.)

And that Yugo! It can be found in almost every list of "Worst Cars".

The book 'World's Worst Cars' by Craig Cheetham includes those cars. (Though there are more than a dozen of titles on "Worst Cars" featured in Amazon.com, this was the only book I could find in Sri Lanka.) However if one goes through the readers' book review section in Amazon.com, critical reviews show that most of the authors have (controversially) included cars that are personally hated by them. One reader has commented " .... I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder...." (http://www.amazon.com/Worst-Cars-Ever-Sold...cm_cr_pr_sims_t)

SKODA 130

Hope A*W will come up with a "Maruti-Suzuki Club", just like "Mitsubishi Motors Club" by UM.

Indians were waiting for the Fortuner since 2005, but Toyota Kirloskar Motors postponed the launch year by year citing factory capacity constraints etc. Finally they launched the Fortuner 1 1/2 months ago, and it is said that they have received a record number of bookings within few weeks. That might be the reason for the hype.

Looks like the correct page is http://wikicars.org/en/Mitsubishi_Lancer Also read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_Lancer In this page look for the "platform" in the factbox on the right hand side. (To be honest, I'm not familiar with Lancer models other than C11 and C12.)

Since all of those Isuzu buses were made between 1996 - 2000 majority of them are now out of service. (withdrawn prematurely in typical SLTB manner) Their chassis were imported somewhere in 1993 and were lying idle in Werahera yard due to 1994-1995 Latec controversy. The remaining few in operation are in such dilapidated condition, they are no longer called Semi-Luxury. Further all of them are now painted in red livery. I used to love that sweet engine note, which also could be found in older 60 sri Isuzu MT111 (The front-engined model with a rust-prone Kitamura body. http://busexplorer.com/PHP/MidPage.php?id=1867 )

I too remember reading somewhere that wider low-profile tyres results in better handling at the expense of ride comfort.

The Kaha Kurullas you are referring was a later batch that came from 1993 onwards which were based on TATA 1210 chassis. There was an earlier batch that was launched simultaneously with the peoplisation of SLTB depots. (1990-91,This was the period SLTB buses got their livery changed into yellow.) There were 2 types of bodies built on Mercedes Benz OF-1113 chassis. Bodies built by using Duple Metsec body panels (Don't know whether Latec involved then) looked much modern compared to bodies built with SLTB's own (recycled?) body panels. The bus shown above belongs to the latter type. However don't get mislead by those Kaha Kurullas with 22 sri numbers. They are like that "Isuzu Bighorn Prototype".

Thanks. I'll check.

You won't understand what I say unless you own and drive a Kei-car for a considerable time period. Is there anything wrong with creeping through tiny gaps in traffic?

Remember to go in for Tubeless. The stock tyres are Tube-type.