Maruti Eeco - "My Family's Car" Buying and Ownership Review


Thread Starter #1
Joined
Feb 28, 2012
Messages
463
Likes
117
Location
Jamnagar
I am using this car/van/mpv/suv, whatever u call it I call it MY FAMILY'S CAR for the last 18 months have done 19500 km with family and to say the least am very satisfied with it.

Hunting for our first family car:-
My priorities were a family car minimum 6/7 people had short listed the following
Vehicles-
1. Eeco
2. Omni
3. Sumo (used)
I was low on budget, my cousin has a Omni and he was insisting that I go for it, my friends wanted me to go for sumo, as this would be my first car and I have never driven a car before. I did not know anything about this vehicles.I had always liked versa (Bachans promo)
After a lot of discussion & surfing through the net I decided on eeco, I had seen its pictures in the 2010 expo.Liked the price tag as I need not stretch my budget. Finally decided to go with MARUTI EECO 7 STR. It’s a non ac vehicle.

Dealership:-
The day arrived(07/07- my gurus birthday) I called up the dealership guys & told them I wanted to have a look at ecco and to bring it to my house, so that all family members can have a look at it. The demo car arrived at 5 pm as promised by the dealer was offered a test drive which I had to refuse(I didn't know how to drive then).My daughter & mom liked it very much & I booked the same immediately gave a cheque of rs.10000.00 as booking amount color was already decided WHITE. The waiting period was 7/8 months, to which I refused, I wanted the delivery on 17/10 being my brothers birthday & it was also duserrah on that day, what a coincident) after much persuasion they agreed.
I got a call from them dealer confirming my order and the delivery date. I was all smiles. Now the wait started.

My Learning to drive experience:-
In the mean time I started searching for a good driving school, after a lot of inquiry I again landed on MARUTI’s web site where I learned about their driving school.MDS.Looked upon their address & went to meet them.

This was my best decision, the staff was friendly and was offered 22 days of training with 1 hour’s slot every day we had theory on Saturdays and Sundays.
First day I was all nervous, the same a kid is when he goes for his first class. I met my instructor for simulator practice, she told me it would make me familiar with the layout of the car and true to her words it was a very good experience. I had three lessons on the simulator.
Now starts the real driving, I met my instructor Mr.Mobin a slim tall guy (me being overweight), first look I liked him I knew I could adjust with him. he explained me the basics of the car, steering, clutch, brake, lever, gear shaft etc etc.I didn’t have have much difficulty on the first day thanks to experience with simulator.1st day 1st gear I started off slowly and went on without pressing acellator pedal as my instructor was in control of it (which I found out later on).he told me not to push it as the vehicle was tuned to travel in 1 st gear without pressing the acellator.
From then on it was a great experience everything went smoothly the one I was taught all the basics for good driving skills. On Saturdays & Sundays we were shown picture clips of the mistakes by rash driving and the result of the same.
Finally after 21 days of learning I came to the day when I gave exam. The head of MDS of my school sat on the passenger’s seat and gave me a map I had to follow it and drive ,the total distance that I had to cover was 7 km in city going through main road, intersections, and crowded roads. I did well and the principal was all happy for me, still he said I need to focus more on my driving (even though he gave me v.good)
For my final test with RTO, In my city (Jamnagar) we have a lake-LAKHOTA LAKE in the middle of the city which has a ground where RTO conducts the exam for vehicle license (two/three/four wheelers) All we had to do was drive straight forward and reverse the same way .The RTO officer did not even look at the way I drove. He had a look at me once when I was standing near my vehicle waiting for my turn. And l finished my test I would get my smart card driving license the next day.

Delivery of the vehicle:-
As promised by the dealer I got a call from them a week before the delivery date asking if I wanted any accessories for the vehicle for which I agreed;
1. Dvd player (exchanged with the stock after paying for the difference)
2. Mud flaps
3. Reverse horn.
4. steering cover.
Finally the day arrived I had fixed the time at 12:30 noon as told by my guru. We reached the showroom at 12 sharp the vehicle was ready and parked outside the showroom with red ribbon on the bonnet, and man I can’t explain how happy I was.

pa178434.jpg

the car was ready as promised washed, polished ,waxed with the accessories that I had told(without mud flaps added later on), later on I had been given free(original) wheel cover by the dealer, I was happy to get them.The people at atul motors very very helpful and cooperative to me.
Then the normal rituals pooja garland placing the idol of GANESHJI in the vehicle & first self @ sharp 12:30 and there was my car ready and full of life and we went to the temple.

dscf1107s.jpg

Our first trip:-
As I said I didn’t have any driving experience, I had to call a driver (I was ready to drive on had full confidence) but my family members decided that we should take driver along with as this was our first trip. We started from out house towards my guru’s ashram in Kutch some 200 km away from Jamnagar.
The driver was driving well and then after about 50 km he started pushing the vehicle towards 100 mark where I told him to slow down as he was getting on my nerves[frustration]. Any way we reached at 7.00pm.
Got the car blessed from guru

pa178475.jpg

pa178476.jpg

and I asked the driver to leave on his own and took command of the car. On the way back I was driving at the average speed maintaining 60/80 kmph.My first experience on highway NH8A[:D].it was just great, after a few km of driving my wife who was sitting next to me slowly asked me to slow down, when asked why she said you are GOING AT 110[:D] now and I just lifted my leg from the accelerator petal. I didn’t even realize when the car crossed 100 it’s so smooth.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Joined
May 11, 2011
Messages
4,095
Likes
948
Location
Bangalore
Hello Jayesh congrats for your new Eeco, that was a nice detailed review,
Yes Eeco has lighter All aluminium Engine so you cannot hear the mill running under the stress upto 120kmph(My personal experiences).
 
Joined
Jan 25, 2012
Messages
128
Likes
109
Location
Bangalore
Congratulations, jayesh. Of the three choices you had listed, you definitely made the right choice. Eeco is definitely a more comfortable car compared to the omni and definitely a cheaper car to maintain compared to the sumo.

Personally, i require a 4seater car and also prefer a 4seater car, but a 7seater is definitely fun if one has a large family or if one has the habit of hanging out with another family or with a group of friends.

Congratulations once again and you can NEVER go wrong with a maruti!
 
Joined
May 11, 2011
Messages
4,095
Likes
948
Location
Bangalore
but a 7seater is definitely fun if one has a large family or if one has the habit of hanging out with another family or with a group of friends.
+1 to that, we loved to travel long distances when we had Eeco same 7 seater version, Now whenever i see an Eeco on the road i feel my alto is nothing in front of it when it comes with the joy of traveling together.

Congratulations once again and you can NEVER go wrong with a maruti!
Yes this Car is definitely a better upgrade from Omni.
 
Joined
Feb 9, 2012
Messages
209
Likes
44
Location
NA
Congrat on the buy. I have driven the OMNI before and it does feel scary being so close to the front and knowing there is no bonnet space ahead of you. It also had this body roll when pressed to its limit. Do you see any such challenge in this model?
 
Thread Starter #7
Joined
Feb 28, 2012
Messages
463
Likes
117
Location
Jamnagar
Hi Jayesh,congrats for your new ride. Whats the average mileage you had till now.
On the first trip i got 15 kmpl on highway...then 10 now its back to 12/13 on highways and 10/11 in city.

Thank you everyone for the positive feed back[:)]
 
Last edited by a moderator:

lxi.

Suspended
Joined
Jan 6, 2012
Messages
916
Likes
13
Location
New Delhi
Congrats jayesh for the EECO, your family car.
It is the best which you should have taken as a first car.
Wish you have miles and miles of happy and trouble free driving with this car.

I have heard that there are different badges/ emblem(sticker, badge,etc) for each model of eeco, do give some info on that.

Cheers.
 
Joined
May 11, 2011
Messages
4,095
Likes
948
Location
Bangalore
I have heard that there are different badges/ emblem(sticker, badge,etc) for each model of eeco, do give some info on that.
Cheers.
Eeco has 5 versions currently of which 3(except ambulance) has different badging/stickering

The Base model with 5 seats is the one without side body Graphics and the company name and car name is in sticker. The Seven seater has side body graphics and stickers in it.

The 5 seater with A/C(Heater/CNG) has side body graphics, and monogram for company badge and car name.
 

lxi.

Suspended
Joined
Jan 6, 2012
Messages
916
Likes
13
Location
New Delhi
Thanks for info Vishwas. My neighbour has purchased one with body graphics and stickers of EECO,etc.
 
Joined
Sep 22, 2009
Messages
6,377
Likes
489
Location
NYC
Welcome aborad, Jayesh.

Excellent ride you own. How about some modifications like alloys, spoiler? Will make your MUV turn into a real hot ride.
 
Thread Starter #13
Joined
Feb 28, 2012
Messages
463
Likes
117
Location
Jamnagar
Sorry friends,
Have not been able to reply to your questions.
As far as modifications are concerned I have a few in mind:-
1. Spoiler
2. Extra seat (like the ones in in nova-foldable)
3. Painting bumpers to body color.
4. Good fog lamps.
5. Good head rests (as head rests are not provided for passengers by company)
Alloy wheels I will do later.

1. Spoiler I have seen one and I like it cost 2000/-will purchase it by week end.
2. I have enquired a lot for this extra seat but it’s not available here in Jamnagar, will have to buy it from Delhi or wherever available had found two people in Delhi (a) SUNNY ENTERPRISES (b)shekri auto parts.
The person at sunny enterprises first agreed to send the same for 2000/- with head rest @200/-pair. When I send the payment by cheque, ha said we deal only in wholesale no retail.[frustration]
I am not sure about shekri the pictures that he sends me looks ok but am not sure whether the seats have lock to fix it to body as they have in other MUVs.
I think you guys can :help: me in finding the right seat for my car.
3. The body paint shop has quoted 3000/- for both bumper and side mirrors, am looking for more options.
4. I had fitted fog lights to my ride bought them for 1200/- wasted the money they are no good am searching for replacements.
I also found this BLIND SPOT MIRRORS IN E BAY are they useful or just for show. Have any one used these please share.
Will be posting pictures of my ride once I get the paint job done, will post both pictures prior to paint job and after paint job.
 

lxi.

Suspended
Joined
Jan 6, 2012
Messages
916
Likes
13
Location
New Delhi
What about roof lights? They are four lights (Mostly blue colour)placed at the roof in SUVs like Scorpio, Safari,etc. Will look nice on Eeco, I think. And, Rs.3000 is costly dude. Our member AKASH got his Alto's Bumper, Handles, Mirrors, Rear Dickey opener painted in white for Rs.3000. I was qouted Rs.2700 for the Bumpers (Silver)on Alto. Do ask that guy to paint the Door handles also. I have never used the BLIND SPOT mirrors but they seem to be useful.

Cheers. Waiting for pics!
 
Thread Starter #15
Joined
Feb 28, 2012
Messages
463
Likes
117
Location
Jamnagar
will go and look for roof lights by week end,have still to negotiate the price for painting,will ask him to paint handles,dickey opener, lets see what he says.[;)].
I have ordered the blind spot mirrors , waiting for them to arrive.
will post pictures soon
 

Top Bottom