Chevy chase

I own a Maruti 800DX (1999 model) and am interested in the Chevrolet Spark, which has come with an attractive offer. I need your advice and feedback on the car.

Suvendu Sahu, Berhampur

Despite the roots that can be traced to the erstwhile Daewoo Matiz, the Spark is a very capable car and a very attractive buy. It looks good, has adequate power and is very economical to run too. Add to that General Motors’s inimitable warranty and you get a great deal overall. Sure, it may not retain value over a period of time, but that shouldn’t stop you from buying one today.

Short notice

I plan to buy a second-hand car. My budget is a maximum of Rs 2.3 lakh. I like the Maruti Suzuki Zen, Wagon R and the Hyundai Santro. But my problem is my height (4’11”) — hence I don’t get a comfortable view of the road/bonnet corners in the Zen. I would be driving not more than 50 km in a week in Chennai city traffic. Apart from driving comfort, the car must also offer good fuel efficiency. Which car do you suggest?

Madhu Gopalakrishnan, Chennai

You don’t need to see the “bonnet ends” to drive safely. I am sure you can get used to any of the cars that you have shortlisted. Still, the Wagon R and the Santro with higher seats and the mini-SUV stance will be better for visibility. Enjoy your car — the more you drive it, the more comfortable you will get with its dimensions.

Upshift

I want to upgrade from my Ford Ikon. My budget is around Rs 12 lakh and I drive 40 km one-way to work. After trying out my friend’s automatic car, I have decided to go in for one as well. I have narrowed my choice down to the Skoda Octavia 1.9 TDI Rider AT (Rs. 11.83 lakh) and the Honda Civic AT (Rs 12.16 lakh). Which one is a better car? I will have a driver for the daily office commute, but will drive on my own during weekends. So both rear seat comfort and driving comfort are important. The diesel economy of the Octavia is appealing, especially given the long drive I have daily. What about the Volkswagen Jetta? I understand it comes in an automatic version as well.

Padma Giri, via email

Let us go through the elimination process. Volkswagen does offer the Jetta with a diesel engine and an automatic gearbox option too. The DSG gearbox of the Jetta diesel is simply brilliant and worth every penny that you spend on it. But at around Rs 16 lakh apiece, the Jetta diesel is not exactly a fit in your budget. The Octavia is a brilliant car too with excellent ride quality on Indian roads, overall build quality and, of course, diesel economy. Buy the Octavia if you are not looking at a contemporary model to replace your Ikon (the new Octavia is also sold in the country under the name Laura, which competes with the Jetta on the price and features front). The Civic is a default choice if a petrol engine is not a major issue with you.

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