Crank case

Looking for a swanky set of wheels but don't know what to buy? Ask our expert Srunivas Krishnan

I am planning to buy a car for my commute within Nashik city. I would like a diesel-powered car that won’t give me any trouble when it starts up because I won’t be driving the car every day. I am confused between the Tata Indica Vista and the Maruti Suzuki Swift VDi. Could you please advise me as to which car to buy or recommend any other option I may consider?

Vaibhavi Yardi, Nashik

The Maruti Suzuki Swift VDi is a proven car and has a good diesel engine that is reliable and efficient. If you intend to keep the car without driving it for extended periods, do make it a habit to crank the engine for ten minutes once a week, just to ensure that the battery gets charged and other components keep running in fine order.

Fluent speak

I am looking to buy a sedan within a budget of Rs 14 lakh. I am considering only fuel efficient cars as my daily travel is around 80 kms. I have shortlisted two diesels — the Renault Fluence Advantage Edition and Hyundai Verna 1.6 CRDi SX. I am also considering the petrol Toyota Corolla Altis 1.8 G and the Honda City 1.5 V MT. I will be chauffeur driven on a daily basis, so I need a car with good rear suspension and good seating comfort. Please let me know which of these cars makes the most sense for my requirements.

Chirag Vora, via email

There is no doubt about it. For your usage pattern, the Fluence diesel makes the most sense compared to all the cars you have shortlisted. It is efficient plus the rear comfort is also excellent, which means it would suit your needs completely.

Stretch it out

I had written to you a while ago asking for your advice on which car would be good to replace my Honda Accord with. You had then recommended the Skoda Superb. In the time that has passed since then, I have developed a back condition which prevents me from sitting for more than two hours at a stretch. Once in three weeks I travel to Alibaug, and the journey takes three to four hours one way and the return journey takes even longer. I am 66 years old and generally sit behind the chauffeur, while my wife sits to the left. I would like to buy a vehicle where I can lie down flat during these journeys. Is there any such vehicle within a budget of Rs 25 to 27 lakh?

KK Bhatia, Mumbai

If that’s the case, honestly, the only car we can think of is the Nissan Teana. Its front passenger seat comes with an extendable foot rest, a bit like that in business class in a flight. This might mean your wife may need to sit behind the driver. Try it out at your local Nissan dealer and go ahead with it if it suits you. It’s a decent car on the whole, with a peppy and refined petrol motor, good space and features and pretty good ride quality too.

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