Suzuki Alto (1979 - 1984)

Last updated 6 November 2013

Buying Guide

Good

• Cheap, tiny, basic car with 40 bhp 796cc 3-cylinder engine and 4-speed manual gearbox or optional 2-speed autobox.
• Weighs in at just 630kg.
• It was UK's cheapest auto at £4,000.
• Park anywhere and could still provide marginal motoring.
• Suzuki generally 3rd lowest average warranty repair costs in 2003 Warranty Direct Reliability index (index 43.23 v/s lowest 31.93) Link:- www.reliabilityindex.co.uk

Bad

• Very small indeed.
• Noisy.
• Too slow for the motorway.
• Very light build, so rusts easily.
• Model dropped from UK line-up between 1992 and 1997.

Watch

• Rust will seriously weaken the structure.
• Suspension gets tired quickly.
• Uneven tyre wear a more-than-usually bad sign.