Sensible choice

I am planning to upgrade from my current car, a Maruti Suzuki Alto. My budget can stretch up to Rs 8.5 lakh. Given the fact that I commute about 40 kilometres a day and on alternate weekends a family trip, accounting for about 1,000 km a month, a diesel vehicle is what I require. Which of the following cars should I consider from (please do account for Bengaluru’s traffic conditions); Hyundai i20, Mahindra Verito, Fiat Punto, Tata Manza or Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire?

Koti, Bangalore

If your driving is mostly in the city, you need a diesel car that has decent driveability with well selected gear ratios, a light clutch and a turbo that spools in gently. In short, your best options here are the Mahindra Verito and the Maruti Suzuki Dzire. Both cars are easy on your left foot, are comfortable to drive and have light controls as well. If the waiting period of the Dzire is too long, then the Verito should be your best bet. It also has more interior room, a larger boot and better ride quality on the whole.

Right decision?

I have been diligently following your posts for quite some time now and it has been useful in helping me decide my car. I wanted to buy a sedan and after considering lot of options I have narrowed it down to the Nissan Sunny, Hyundai Verna and the Ford Fiesta. I drive around 50 km daily and this led me to check out the diesel options, which is currently not available on the Sunny. After carefully considering both the Verna and the Fiesta I have decided to go in for the Verna. The problem is the waiting period but I am ready for that as I generally am a person who keeps the same car for a long time. Should I consider waiting a little longer for the Sunny diesel as it is expected to be launched around the end of first quarter of the next year? Kindly guide me.

Sriaghastya, via email

You have made a good choice in the form of the Hyundai Verna. It has a light clutch, is easy to drive around town, is powerful enough for use on the highway and is well-loaded. Yes, the waiting period is high and the Sunny’s diesel version is at least a good five to six months away at the very least, yet we think the Hyundai Verna presents a very strong case for itself.

First step

We are a family of four and are thinking of buying a car soon in the small car category. After much discussion, I came to know that one should buy a second-hand car if it’s his/her first car purchase. Our budget is a bit flexible, from Rs 1 lakh to 2.5 lakh. Will you please tell me which car (petrol) will suit us best?Also, as the price of petrol is going up at a fast pace, we are thinking of buying a diesel one. Could you please tell me which car (diesel) should we look out for?

Joyanta Mani, Kolkata

You need a car that is reliable and enjoys a low cost of maintenance. If you drive not more than 40 km a day, the economics don’t necessarily justify the need for a diesel car. If that's the case, then your best option is a used Hyundai Santro. It's frugal, easy to drive and is not expensive to maintain. There is enough space for four for both city use and the odd out-of-town drive. You should find 2007-09 cars available within your budget. Happy hunting.

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