I'm looking to buy my first car, so I would appreciate if you could make things a little easier for me by giving some valuable suggestions. On weekdays, the drives are confined to office runs, about 50 kilometres a day. I'm looking for a car with good mileage, decent handling and good airconditioning. I was looking at the Hyundai i10, Hyundai Santro Xing, Chevrolet Spark, Chevrolet Aveo U-VA and Maruti Suzuki Wagon-R. Which one do you think would suit me best? Is there any other car that you can suggest?
Sromon Das, via email
Amongst all the cars you have listed, the Hyundai i10 is your best bet. It is good across all parameters, and not just the ones you are looking at. The i10 is supposed to get a new engine in the next two months. So if you are willing to wait then it makes sense to do so. Still there is nothing wrong with this engine anyway!
Safe thinking
I want to buy a diesel car for my daughter and son-in-law who travel every fortnight from Gurgaon to Jaipur. My budget is around Rs 10 lakh and I can stretch it a bit if necessary. The car may also be used in Delhi during working days. Safety features are my prime concern. Which sedan do you suggest?
HP Goyal, via email
The best diesel car in your budget is the Chevrolet Optra Magnum. Go in for the LT version which comes equipped with lots of features, including safety features like ABS and airbags. It's also one of the best riding cars in its class and performance and fuel efficiency are also quite good, a perfect match for highway use. It is the best fit for your requirements.
Old or new?
I was looking at a sedan in the Rs 10 lakh range, but am really tempted by a corporate offer for the fully loaded Toyota Corolla at Rs 12 lakh, on-road, Bangalore. Though a new model is expected, the offer looks very attractive. Please advise whether this is a good buy. Are there any major drawbacks in going for a model that is on the verge of an upgrade?
K Ananth, Bangalore
Yes, the existing Corolla offers good value, and we believe the new one will be slightly more expensive than the outgoing model. The only drawback to buying the Corolla now is that you won't get good resale value. But if you are okay with that, then there is nothing to stop you from going for it. It's a good performer, is comfortable and is fuel efficient, to top it all. Service and spares for the period you will be using it will not be an issue either.
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