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Car and bike questions? We have the answers
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I want a new diesel car. My budget is Rs 10 lakh. I like the Chevrolet Optra Magnum diesel and the Skoda diesel. The car will be driven mostly in the city with occasional weekend trips out of town. Good mileage, resale value and ground clearance are my requirements.
Prasad P
The Optra Magnum is an attractive package, especially with the low-maintenance plan that GM is currently offering. The Octavia is more expensive to maintain but its resale value is better than Magnum’s and this will offset the money you might save by way of the Magnum’s cheaper running costs. Also, with its instant engine response at low speeds, the Octavia is better suited for city driving than the Magnum, which requires more effort thanks to its non-linear power delivery. Also, the Octavia’s ground clearance is good enough for most purposes. However, on the highway, the Optra is a dream and far better to drive than the Octavia.
I plan to buy an SUV or MUV and my budget is Rs 7 to 8.5 lakh. I have to travel around 7,000-9,000 km per month on bad and good roads. I am looking for a vehicle which is fuel-efficient, reliable, comfortable to drive and low maintenance. I have short-listed the Bolero, Scorpio, Tavera, Sumo and Safari. Please advise me which vehicle should I go for?
Sumeet
It appears that cost of ownership is your main priority, in which case we would recommend the Tavera, as it is more fuel-efficient than all the other MUVs and is well-priced. It has also earned a reputation among taxi drivers for being reliable and easy on the pocket. The only downside is that the Tavera doesn’t have the prestige and status of say a Safari or a Scorpio. However, it might be worth waiting for the Tavera’s facelift, which though essentially a cosmetic change, will result in revamped interiors and a more upmarket look.
I have a Hyundai Santro and want to buy a second car for long distance trips. I have two options — a used Toyota Innova or a new car for around Rs. 5 lakh. Which car will provide good performance on the highway along with comfort for the driver at this price? The car should also be reliable as I don’t want to face any problems when I am out of town. Please advise.
Vishal Dange
The Innova is a good car for the highway, but if you’re looking at a used one, you should make sure the car is in good shape. Also, do you really need all the space that the Innova has to offer? You could look at the diesel hatchbacks in the market today which offer good performance and economy, namely, the Hyundai Getz Prime, the Tata Indica and the Maruti Swift. The Getz diesel offers excellent performance, while the Indica diesel will be cheaper to buy but not as fast. The Swift diesel is also a good car to drive with excellent service backup, but falls short on rear space. We suggest you go for the Getz.
I want to buy a car that costs between Rs 5 and Rs 6 lakhs. I can’t decide between the Swift Dzire ZXi and Logan 1.6 GLS. Which is better in terms of features, maintenance costs, space, comfort and interiors? I usually drive around 700-800 km in a week so comfort and economy are what I’m looking at.
Prasad R
The two cars you have mentioned are quite different. If you want driving pleasure and refinement then the Dzire is good. The Logan is a more practical choice. It is a much more comfortable and spacious car that offers better ride too. Since you have a long daily commute, we think you will appreciate the ‘big-car’ feel of the Logan. Hence, we would recommend it. But bear in mind that it is marginally less fuel-efficient and has the looks of a bread box.
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