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Virtual Mechanic
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Car and bike questions? We have the answers
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I lived abroad and moved back to India recently. I need a car to drive around the country, since I want to travel by road. Would it be better if I bought an SUV? As I will be travelling very often and for long distances, should I opt for an automatic or manual? When I was abroad, I drove an automatic Toyota.
Shashi S
An SUV will enable you to travel just about anywhere in the country, especially since Indian roads are far from perfect. Most new SUVs are comfortable too. There are a number of choices. The Honda CR-V, Maruti Grand Vitara etc. are more road-centric options. The likes of Toyota Prado and Audi Q7 are expensive and high-luxury, but capable SUVs. The Mitsubishi Pajero and Ford Endeavour are excellent options that sit in between – offering enough luxury, comfort and off-road prowess. We’d recommend one of these. As for the gearbox – an automatic is more convenient for city traffic than highway cruising, but not a bad option since you’re accustomed to it.
I am planning to buy a diesel car and my budget is Rs. 5 lakh to 5.5 lakh. We are a family of four and the car will be used to commute to work and for weekend getaways with family. I want a vehicle that is comfortable, spacious and does not require too much maintenance. Also, I want an Indian-made car since I believe there is better after-sale service for such cars. Is this true?
Sri Naidu
The cost of repairing Indian-made cars is considerably lower because the parts are manufactured locally. This brings service costs down as well, though it can’t account for labour charges. The car that best fills this need is the Maruti Swift Diesel – it doesn’t require much maintenance and you’re never too far from a service centre. However, it isn’t the most spacious car. You can also consider the Tata Indica, Indigo or Marina, based on your boot-space requirement. The best option, if you can stretch your budget a little, is the Logan Diesel, it is a superb all-round car.
I purchased a Maruti Swift last year, and so far I have no complaints with my car. I got the petrol version. However, my wife wants to buy a car as well and she prefers the Maruti Swift diesel. Since we already own a
Swift, do you think it is a good idea to buy the same car but the diesel version? Or would you suggest we choose something else? If another car, what model and company would be a good choice?
Kumar Reddy
There’s no harm in buying the same car twice if you are happy with it, and we highly recommend the Swift Diesel. It also makes for quite a different driving experience from the petrol version with its new gearbox and diesel torque.
I have a Santro Xing and I want to give it a new paint job and change the wheels. Would this affect the performance of the car?
Kailash Subramanium
Both these modifications are won’t affect the performance of your car. Changing the steel wheels to lighter alloys would make the car marginally lighter, but not enough to increase performance. If you install larger wheels with lower profile tyres, it will result in a harsher ride.
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