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Car and bike questions? We have the answers
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I would like to buy a new car in the price range of Rs. 6 to 6.6 lakh. I have short-listed Skoda Fabia and Swift Dzire and had a test drive of both. During the test drive I felt that the rear glass is too small and a bit high in Dzire ZXi, so the visibility through the rear view mirror is poor. Also, the rear seats felt a bit cramped. I am also worried about the increased weight of 32 kg for adding up the boot which may affect the engine in the long run in the Dzire. But overall the car is good and Maruti’s after-sales service is an advantage. In the Fabia, the boot space is less but what I am really worried about is the maintenance costs.
Arindam Banerjee
If you don’t need the extra boot space, the Fabia is a better car because the build quality is solid, the interiors are superb and the ride quality and comfort are superior. However, what’s going for the Swift Dzire are more boot space and low maintenance costs. The extra weight is not an issue and the Dzire’s engine can easily cope with it.
I am presently driving a Ford Ikon 1 and want to buy a new car. I have zeroed in on the Honda City GXI. Can you suggest which one is better of the two — Maruti SX4 and Honda City?
Deven Shah
If you enjoy driving and can live with a car that is slightly thirsty then go for the SX4. It is good on rough roads, has lots of features and is better value than the Honda. The City is a much more refined car than the SX4 and more fuel efficient too. The City is easy to drive but it’s not great on bad roads and the ground clearance is not as good as the SX4. Also, the City will be replaced by a new model in November. So it will be outdated in the next six months.
I bought a Santro Xing last year and I am happy with it. I want to purchase another car. I want to go in for a diesel car and my options are Swift, Getz or Indica. Which one is better? I need good mileage and durability. My budget is Rs. 6 lakh.
Harish Mahalingaiah
All these cars are very capable. The Hyundai Getz is the most powerful but also the most expensive, while the Tata Indica is the cheapest but isn’t too great in terms of quality. For your budget, we suggest you go for the Swift Diesel. It’s the best of the lot and offers good economy, performance and the assurance of good service from Maruti.
I want to buy a good diesel car. My budget is Rs. 6 lakh. I had decided to buy the Swift VDi but I believe the Fiat Punto is going to be launched soon. Is it worth waiting for or should I go ahead with Swift? Are there any other options?
Sahil Bansal
The Punto is likely to be launched this December or January 2009. So the wait is too long, go for the Swift diesel, it’s the best in its class at the moment.
I am planning to buy a new car. I am considering Chevrolet Aveo 1.4 LS and Ford Fiesta 1.4/1.6. Which car is best with regard to performance, maintenance and resale? In the long run, which engine is good — diesel or petrol? My daily run is 20 km and I make around three trips of 1000 km per year? Also, which engine I should go for — 1.4 or 1.6?
Amit Sharma
Between the Fiesta and the Aveo, the Fiesta is a better car as it more responsive and more enjoyable to drive and has a better suspension too. For a daily run of 20 km it doesn’t make sense to go for a diesel or a 1.6 engine. Besides, the resale value of the 1.4 is better.
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