Hyundai Santro Xing - Very Long Term Ownership Review (1,42,600 Kms)


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Hi All,

Today i am going to share long term review of my santro Xing XL 2006. for me its not just car, its more then a GF for me.

Car Details
Model : Hyundai Santro Xing - XL March 2006

Features : Heater + AC, power stering, frot power windows, manual central lock

Addition : Pioneer MP3 CD+ USB + AUX, sony 2 channel amplifier, 2 sony explode 350W 6x9 speakers, 1 Sub Woofer (a local brand that work but not explode. ), Seat covers , foot mats, leather staring cover, rear parcel tray.

story :
as its my first car & i have always some special love for cars so i take care of this baby even when i learn driving on it, got very good driving position in it so its easy to learn & in few moths i am a perfect driver.

2013-06-22 14.43.22.jpg
Car still look like new .. no sign of 7 years

this car in 90% driven by me , i never give its key to any one else as from my point GF & car not made to share, if you share they started making noice [lol] .
& i must say that my car is also loyal to me & always make me feel safe when i am in it.

2013-06-22 14.43.09.jpg

7 year maintenance cost :-
parts that changed

Air filter to throttle body hose pipe @ 70000 km cost :Rs 700 issue CNG mechanic damage it.

Spark plug lead @ 85000 km cost: Rs 1400, issue 2 wire not working properly & car started giving vibration. i replace full sat of 4 wires.

Rear shock-absorber damper rubber(i am not sure about its name, its a hard rubber 3" gutka in between spring of rear shock absorbers ). cost : Rs 450 each, issue :- CNG cylinder weight in bad roads make them like a flower.

bulbs : 1 front 2 rear cost rs 40, (2 front are free with Car i only bought rear)

Paint job on Bumphers : Rs 5000, as i got black bumpers from company so decide to color them & also remove one dent from bottom front door that a rickshaw pooler make on my parked car.

rear brakes cylenders : Rs 1800, issue: small oil leak.

2013-06-22 14.44.09.jpg
plan to clock 200k ...

Other then this all cost is of regularly servicing & parts that need to replace with the use & time these are :

battery@ km 108000- 5year - Amrone cost :Rs:- 3100 issue :- 2-3 times show starting problem winter so changes as its already week.

Clutch plate, pressure plate, Clutch wire, Front Shock Absorber @ 140000km : cost Clutch = pressure plate Rs 2600, Shock Absorber : 3100, clutch wire rs 350, labor charge rs 1000, issue: Pressure plate become hard due to long running's in water,clutch plate is still remains around 40% but i prefer to replace it, Front shock :- small cut in road feel in cabin, its difficult to handle bad roads.

Timing belt : @ 130000km, cost Rs 2500
fan belts 2 @ 141000km, cost Rs 1400 issue : noise in clod start even after applying some grease on them.

2 set of spark plugs @ 70000 & @ 14000 Km Cost Rs 280 & Rs 340. issue: none , periodic replacement.

AC servicing @ 70000Km, cost Rs 800, issue : due to dust ac cils need to be cleaned.

this is what i pay in last seven years now what i save in seven years

I run 27000km on petrol then install tomesato CNG & my running cost decrease by 60 to 65%.

Fuel efficiency petrol City with ac : 15 Km/L, without ac 16 km/L
Highway with Ac: 19km/L without Ac 21 Km/L

Cng (thats the real deal) City with AC: 19 Km/Kg Without AC : 22
Highway with Ac: 23km/Km, Without Ac 27km/Kg


2013-06-22 14.44.28.jpg
from inside its still as good as new car.. i keep my car clean, never drive with open windows to keep interior dust free.

best i got in CNG in 30km/Kg without ac with only me in car & specially drive to get best efficiency. Thats why i not want to change this car.
2013-06-22 14.44.55.jpg
ownership experience: i just want to say amazing, i never face any breakdown on the way, lot of space, best drivers car under 4L, even after completing 142K it still runs like new there is no effect of age on the engine performance, i always check for engine oil level & till now it does not pick a single drop. Engine sounds like new.
2013-06-22 14.45.13.jpg
soon add some more details when i have free time to write. thanks.
 

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You car looks in very good nick, my 2000 model santro only did 72000, but did not look half as good.

Plus I had a lot of damages from people crashing into me etc.[anger]
 
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Wonderful review and I must say the car is in top notch condition. Very nicely maintained, does not seem to be 142K KM old at all.[clap]
 
Thread Starter #4
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You car looks in very good nick, my 2000 model santro only did 72000, but did not look half as good.

Plus I had a lot of damages from people crashing into me etc.[anger]
Thnanks dear, i always take care of my car & always got serviced on or before time so its still looks & runs like new,

about the damage - i know how i manage to keep it clean from dents & scratches[roll]. we can improve our driving skills but what to do of others [confused]

Wonderful review and I must say the car is in top notch condition. Very nicely maintained, does not seem to be 142K KM old at all.[clap]
Thanks dear, soon i will write a post about how to keep your car young & tell some secretes to maintain car & increase total life of your vehicle.
 
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nicely maintained ride even after 142K its marvelous condition.

i have a question all the changes such as spark plugs, water pump belts, air filters ect.. are done with more than 70K. but what i see in the manufactures guide is they need to be change around 20K-30K in Maruthi Suzuki vehicles even in Japan models are same. is this due to this being Hyundai or they are recommend at these high mileages or waited till they giving trouble. [surprise]
 
Thread Starter #7
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nicely maintained ride even after 142K its marvelous condition.

i have a question all the changes such as spark plugs, water pump belts, air filters ect.. are done with more than 70K. but what i see in the manufactures guide is they need to be change around 20K-30K in Maruthi Suzuki vehicles even in Japan models are same. is this due to this being Hyundai or they are recommend at these high mileages or waited till they giving trouble. [surprise]
in replacing parts i follow a simple but effective strategy, keep close look on regularly wear & tear of parts, i.e spark plug - if regularly cleaned at every 4-5k they have 20-30% more life, while hyundai mention 80K for timing belt replacement & i think 80K for fan belts too (not sure 80 or 60) but my mechanic check them on every 10K & found them in good condition so not replace but @ 130K i prefer to change timing belt as if it broken in running engine expense goes very high, & fan belts started making noise when engine rpg is low so i replace them at 141k. May be this is due to regular check & tightening & cleaning of all these parts. even i am also surprised & my mechanic too.
 
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in replacing parts i follow a simple but effective strategy, keep close look on regularly wear & tear of parts, i.e spark plug - if regularly cleaned at every 4-5k they have 20-30% more life, while hyundai mention 80K for timing belt replacement & i think 80K for fan belts too (not sure 80 or 60) but my mechanic check them on every 10K & found them in good condition so not replace but @ 130K i prefer to change timing belt as if it broken in running engine expense goes very high, & fan belts started making noise when engine rpg is low so i replace them at 141k. May be this is due to regular check & tightening & cleaning of all these parts. even i am also surprised & my mechanic too.
My belts were all in good condition but the workshop (theiving beggars) changed them without telling me and charged me for it.

So I went to another workshop and told them do not do anything apart from the work i asked they said the fan belt was not on properly and was worn out (after just 500km) and charged me for it.

I guess the only way not to be cheated is to learn the basics, so when they talk crap you know they are talking crap.
 
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praveen, ur machanic must be a superb guy. else others try to ripoff the customers by telling them crap..."sir, we have a change this.. that.."
 
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Wait a minute. That is a 7 year old car? [surprise] And to think I thought I took good care of my car.

That car looks like it is in perfect shape mate. We have a 2006 Santro XP. Has done only 55000 kms and is with my uncle (he uses it most of the times). The car is in decent shape and has been pretty good to him till now. [:)]
 
Thread Starter #11
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My belts were all in good condition but the workshop (theiving beggars) changed them without telling me and charged me for it.

So I went to another workshop and told them do not do anything apart from the work i asked they said the fan belt was not on properly and was worn out (after just 500km) and charged me for it.

I guess the only way not to be cheated is to learn the basics, so when they talk crap you know they are talking crap.
I agree with u, once my Activa's steering wheel balls wer broke, my Dad goes to a local mechanic to find issue & mechanic say that the issue is with engine bearings [frustration] i am lucky that my Dad call me before he started opening engine & i save my machine from open heart surgery. later i went to honda service center & they replace some part in steering & problem resolved.
 
Thread Starter #12
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praveen, ur machanic must be a superb guy. else others try to ripoff the customers by telling them crap..."sir, we have a change this.. that.."
Yes, he is a ex - hyundai mechanic & have lot to customers so he always think of making space for upcoming cars instead of cheating with the car owners with cars in service station.
 
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yeap.. in here its also same i found a guy near my office who works in another service station who used to work in MASS but quite from there some time back. he just inform me first what need to be changed then ask do we need to do it or not. if i say yes he will proceed. example i didn't notice my brake fluid has exceed the life span and need to be changed but he showed to me as it need to be changed and showed why. it was obvious i need to change it.
 
Thread Starter #14
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this weekend i spend 2k on car, replaced front bearings .... due to long run in water & mud they started making noise.
 
Thread Starter #15
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Hi all

just want to update that i have exchanged my Santro with Ertiga Vdi. at time of exchange my santro completed 160K & still look like new. now using ertiga which have same driving position as that of santro & happy with upgrade. [:D] but still i will say santro is very good car [cheers]
 

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