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Virtual Mechanic
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Car and bike questions? We have the answers
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I want to buy a new car and my budget is between Rs. 5 to 6.6 lakh. I have my mind set on the Maruti SX4. I would like to know how good the car is with regard to fuel efficiency and maintenance costs. Are there more cars in this price range? My priority is fuel economy.
Naren
The SX4 is a good car which offers value for money. The fuel efficiency is around 9.3kpl and 14.5kpl for the city and highway cycles respectively. The spares may not be as cheap as you would expect from Maruti to be. But it is comparable to the competition. You have the Honda City and Ford Fiesta. If your priority is fuel economy, then go for the Honda City, it is reliable and fuel efficient and regular service items cost less than that of the SX4. But it is slightly out of your budget.
I want to buy a wagon that comes with automatic transmission. My budget is around Rs. 12 lakh. Please suggest a few suitable options?
Vijay
As of now, the only choice you have for your budget is the Octavia Combi and even that doesn’t come with an automatic option. If you could settle for a sedan, then you can’t go wrong with the Honda Civic. Alternatively, if you want a diesel then you could take a look at the Octavia, which has an automatic or the Optra diesel but it is available only in manual transmission.
I own a yellow (non-metallic) Maruti Wagon R. I am happy with the car’s performance but want to change the colour. Is it possible to get the car painted and if yes, how much would it cost? Also, what colour you think would suit the car?
Surya
You could surely change the colour. But ensure you endorse this in the RTO papers. But there is one downside, if your car has been repainted to a colour that is different, then people might suspect this for an accident repair job and your resale value will take a hit. A complete repaint should cost you anything from Rs 18,000 onwards depending on the quality.
I purchased a Fiat Siena diesel 1999 model and it has done around one lakh kilometres since. Recently, I heard a noise from the gearbox and found out it was filled with water! I am getting it fixed but want to know what precautions I can take to avoid such an incident in the future. Also, what causes this? Can I fit my car with 14-inch alloy wheels and tyres? Will a K&N Performance Filter be of any use?
Annadorai
Was your car flooded? Was it driven through high waters for a prolonged period? Check the rubber boots on the driveshafts for wear and tear and replace if necessary. Also, check the casing for any leaks. Remember to change the gearbox oil. It is really hard to diagnose the problem without hearing the noise for ourselves. If it’s a grating noise, then your clutch could be the cause. Also get the gearbox bushes checked.
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