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Car and bike questions? We have the answers
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I want to buy the Tata Indigo XL. How is this car compared to the Maruti Esteem and Hyundai Verna in terms of stability, build, fuel economy and maintenance cost? I will use it for 20-25 km everyday. Should I go for a petrol or diesel?
Mohan Deshmukh
The Indigo XL is a well-equipped car for its price and offers unmatched rear legroom in this price segment. Unfortunately, it isn’t as well built as the Esteem, and is miles away from the Verna – which is a class ahead in terms of price and quality. For your usage, we would recommend the turbo-diesel version, but overall, in this segment, we would recommend the Mahindra-Renault Logan. It is a better car in almost every respect.
I want to buy a car and my budget is Rs 5-8 lakh. I am looking for good boot space, legroom, low maintenance costs, fuel economy and decent performance. I have short-listed the Ford Fiesta and SX4; petrol and diesel versions. Which of the two fits my requirements? You can also recommend any other car.
A K Krishnan
For fuel economy, there is nothing like a diesel, provided that you don’t mind the slight loss in responsiveness due to turbo lag, as well as a bit more engine noise. Both the saloons you mentioned fit your bill well, but if you want more space, especially for luggage, you should also consider the Ford Fusion. It comes with the same great 1.6 petrol and 1.4 diesel engines as the Fiesta, has good ground clearance and tons of space. All it lacks, perhaps, is equipment.
My daughter would like to buy a car with automatic gears and she will use it mainly in the city. Her budget car is Rs 5 lakh. She is looking for mileage and maintenance? What are my options in this range?
R Kuppuswamy
There aren’t too many automatic-transmission cars available in your daughter’s price range. The only options are the Hyundai Santro and the Maruti Wagon R. We would recommend the Santro, but you could also wait for the forthcoming automatic version of the new Hyundai i10, which promises to be even better.
I want to buy a low budget car and am interested in the Ambassador Diesel. I want to know how this car rates in terms of fuel efficiency, safety, handling and resale value.
S Vannia Perumal
The Ambassador is not a car we’d recommend, unless purchased for nostalgia. Its biggest plus point is that it is very comfortable to sit in. Besides that it doesn’t have much going for it. It doesn’t come with any safety features, except seatbelts. So all that’s protecting you is the car’s structure. It is a hefty saloon car with archaic underpinnings, so handling is not good at all. All these factors contribute to a poor resale value. For a good budget car, go for a Mahindra Logan, Maruti Esteem or Tata Indigo.
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