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| BSM Team / Mumbai May 23, 2009, 00:00 IST |
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 I want to purchase either a Maruti 800 or a Maruti Omni five-seater with LPG. Which of the two do you suggest I go for, considering fuel efficiency, cost of maintenance and looks?
Vinayak Bagewadi, via email
It really depends on the space you need. The Omni will give you more room, but drives like a van, while the 800 is small but it’s car-like. You will get better mileage from the 800, but the car is very dated and old now. Why don’t you look at the Wagon R Duo, which runs on LPG and is more friendly and car-like?
Take an auto
 I want to buy a small automatic car like the Hyundai i10. I have not come across many small cars that offer an automatic option, especially from Maruti Suzuki. I live in Mumbai and do about 26 kilometres a day and travel to Pune once a month. I have been driving a manual gearbox car for many years. Considering the kind of traffic one finds in Mumbai, I feel an automatic would be the best choice for a self-driven car. Can you give me your expert view on a good automatic small car which is easy on maintenance and fuel consumption. I would like to use the car for at least 4-5 years.
J Dipak, via email
The i10 automatic is the best option available in small cars today. Though you don't have much of a choice in small automatic cars, the i10 auto is a very good car anyway! It’s built well and is a contemporary car, which means it’s not going to age too soon if you are going to keep it for the next 4-5 years. The quality of components going into it is also very good. And it looks modern too. The automatic gearbox is smooth enough for city driving and takes away the effort involved in stop-and-go traffic. And on the highway, the engine is quite peppy. You can realistically expect about 9-9.5 kpl in Mumbai city’s atrocious traffic, which is acceptable considering the convenience it offers. We don’t recommend the Wagon R automatic.
Sedan done
 I am looking for options among sedans in the Rs 6-6.5 lakh range. My monthly running is about 1200 km and is primarily urban driving. The car should be fuel efficient, yet offer a whole host of safety features. I’ve narrowed down my choices to the Skoda Fabia, Fiat Linea and Hyundai Accent. Kindly help out.
D Bhasin, Mumbai
For your budget of Rs 6-6.5 lakh, you can fit in the Fabia (which is a hatchback and not a sedan), the Logan petrol and the Maruti Suzuki Dzire. The Accent is dated while the Linea will go over your budget. If you are willing to settle for a hatch, the Fabia is a good car for your requirements. If not, test drive the Dzire and Logan, see which offers the best features and value and go for either.
Any automotive questions? Ask us at bijoy.y@bsmail.in
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