I want a hatchback that is better than the Wagon R that I have been driving. It’s done close to 65,000 km over the last five years and am very happy with the experience. I am interested only in Maruti Suzuki products. Do you think I should buy the Swift petrol or shall I wait and take delivery of a Ritz 1.2?

Rambha Nair, via e-mail

Under normal circumstances we would have recommended you wait for the Ritz since it is a newer car and features a new-gen engine. But it is too similar in its external layout to the Wagon R and hence you may find the Swift a bit more special. We hear a 1.2 version of the Swift, which borrows the Ritz’s engine, is due any time now.

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I need a car that’s easy to drive in the city, and on occasion, take my family in comfort too. I am on a tight budget and scoured the used car market for something suitable. I looked at the usual Santros and Wagon Rs, but then I chanced upon the Maruti Suzuki Versa. What do you think of it? Is it a good used car buy? I am getting a decent example for Rs 1.9 lakh (23,000 km only).

Raghav, via e-mail

The Maruti Suzuki Versa is as much a marketing disaster as it is a masterpiece in packaging. You can pack in entire joint families and the Esteem engine is as reliable as it gets. You are getting a good deal — buy it if you like the idea of ferrying people. And do know that new ones cost Rs 5 lakh not so long ago.

C and E

I bought a Mercedes-Benz C-Class early this year — the 230 petrol. But since the launch of the E-Class, I have been tempted to upgrade. I know I will get a terrible knock on the used price front, but if you guys think the new E-Class is worth it, then I wouldn’t mind switching to it. So what will it be?

Rajneesh Mehta, via e-mail

Easy answer — the C 230 is all the car you need for the time being. It is relatively new, has the space (push the front passenger seat forward if needed) and has a gem of an engine. Yes, the new E-Class may be very tempting, but how about waiting for, say, a year? When the new BMW 5 Series is launched in India, you can take a good look at that one!

Any automotive questions? Ask us at bijoy.y@bsmail.in 

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