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| Good company |
| BSM Team / Mumbai Jun 13, 2009, 00:08 IST |
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As per our company’s policy, the officers in our grade and above are provided with car, for their official and personal use. The eligible officers are given a choice to select model and colour of car, from the makes identified for their grade. The available car models (only petrol) are: Hyundai Verna Xi, Ford Fiesta ZXi, Maruti SX4 VXi and Chevrolet Aveo 1.4. We are requested to choose only one of the vehicles mentioned above. After the expiry of five years, the officer can buy the car originally provided at five per cent of the purchase cost. What would you advise?
KVM Rao, via email
Each of the cars you have shortlisted has its own strengths. To encapsulate them, the Verna is a capable all-rounder, the Fiesta offers decent performance and good rear seat ride, the SX4 is reliable and offers value for money while Maruti Suzuki’s after-sales service is exemplary and finally, the Aveo is a good-looking car that looks more expensive than it actually is. But among the four cars, we would recommend the Verna for your executives. It offers a fair mix of performance for the self-driven, decent ride comfort for the rear passenger, fine build quality and Hyundai’s after-sales service is also quite good.
Safety first
I am in south India and am looking at upgrading from an old Maruti 800 to a new hatchback with safety features such as ABS and airbags. But recently I was told that in India, airbags get triggered by mild jolts, causing a lot of damage to the front panels, side panels, etc. The cost of repairing all that is much more than any real accident, or damage to the car (or person)! Obviously snow and heavy rain are not major problems here, warranting the need of ABS also. So I am wondering whether I really should go in for all these safety features.
Anil K, via email
Airbags don’t get deployed when there are minor bumps; they inflate only when the car is impacted at higher speeds. And ABS is extremely useful when you have to manoeuvre, yet shed speed while avoiding an obstacle. They also help in better braking when the roads are slippery, like in the monsoons or when there is an oil slick on the road. Safety features like airbags and ABS are essential in our country because our roads are very dangerous. These features may be expensive, but they help save lives. Do tick them in the options list if you can afford it.
50:50
I’m in the market for a diesel SUV for Rs 50 lakh. My primary use will be on the highways and the reason I need an SUV is because I frequently drive to my farmhouse and the approach road isn’t very good. So a vehicle with good ground clearance is essential. I’ve looked at both the BMW X3 2.0D and the Audi Q5 3.0 TDI. I don’t find the BMW well loaded, while the fully-loaded Q5 costs me about Rs 63 lakh, on-road Mumbai, which is way over my budget. Can you suggest an alternative SUV that I can consider for the same budget that can tackle the rough stuff well?
Yuvraj, Mumbai
Technically, neither the Q5 nor the X3 are “real” SUVs – so if you are looking for something capable, why not try out the Mitsubishi Montero? It’s got space for seven, is bigger than either of the two and is well loaded with a fantastic Rockford Fosgate stereo system and a torquey 3.2-litre diesel engine. It has proper four-wheel drive gear with diff-locks and the works, which means it can tackle nearly all kinds of terrain. You also have the choice of an automatic or manual, both of which are priced similarly. The on-road price might exceed Rs 50 lakh by a bit, but it is still very good value.
Any automotive questions? Ask us at bijoy.y@bsmail.in
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