Thursday, September 1, 2011

Car queries

I am planning to buy a second-hand Ford Fiesta Classic 1.4 SXI diesel version. Year 2007, km run 40000. What should be the best deal? I have heard that maintenance and spare parts are costly and also not easily available. So for any small problem, we have to go to an authorised service centre. Please guide. — Shreyas, by email
A 2007 1.4 diesel Fiesta should ring up around `4.5 lakh depending
on condition and service history. Maintenance costs
and spares are like any other car in the segment. It is advisable
to get the car serviced at an authorised service centre as much
as possible, but getting it at your local mechanic shouldn’t be
too much of a problem either.

I am very confused between the Verna and Vento diesels. Please suggest which one should I buy. I am looking for comfort, good mileage and interiors. —Harshil Parikh, by email 

While the Vento satisfies all your criteria, the Verna does it
better. It is a newer car with a more engaging design and comes
with a lot of features as standard.

I am planning to buy my first car. I want a family car which
can seat 5 people comfortably for long drives. I am confused
between the i20 and the new Jazz. Can you advise?
— Dr Amit Ingle, by email

The new Jazz, with it’s reduced price is a great choice for a
family of five. But beware the waiting list. Yet another option
would be the new Swift, which is fantastic.

I am looking to buy a small car. Which one’s the best in
price, mileage, space and handling among Ford Figo, i10 and
Wagon R? — Sanjay Kakade, Thane, by email

If you are spending most of the time in the city with occasional
highway drives, you can’t go wrong with the i10. With
it’s light and effortless controls, it takes the pain out of city driving.
If you are planning regular long-distance drives, the Figo
is a better option, though the Wagon R comes close too. The
diesel Figo offers great value for money.

I have a slight handicap in one ofmy legs. But I comfortably
drive cars with automatic transmission. My present Zen
automatic is getting old; I need to buy a new car. I drive about
25-35 km per day on an average. Please provide me with the
options. — Abhijit Sarkar, by email

The Maruti A-star automatic is a good choice. If you want to
buy something costlier, the Hyundai i10 offers a good deal. Further
up, there is the Hyundai i20 and the Honda City, but the
final choice will depend on the money you can spend.

I have a `25 lakh budget. Please advise which one to buy
among Skoda Superb, Audi A4 and BMW, and why. — Suneet
Kabra, by email

Remember, the intended use of the
vehicle makes a huge difference in this
price range. The BMW 3 series and the
Audi A4 are more driver-oriented cars,
while the Skoda Superb offers fantastic
value for money and has a lot more
interior room. If you plan on being driven,
the Superb it is.

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