I am buying a German high-end car and have shortlisted the Mercedes-Benz C-Class 200 K, Audi A4 and the BMW 3 Series. I am interested in a petrol car as I believe they are more silent than diesels, also the engine is smoother. Further, the car will be driven about 600 km per month, add two trips a year to Mahabaleshwar and maybe a trip to Mumbai. I live in Pune and am 65. I am looking for comfortable ride quality and easy handling within the city. I have just read that Audi has introduced the A4 in 1.8 — and 2.0-litre petrol versions. Kindly advise me as to which car would be most suitable.
K D Vartak, Pune
Among the three cars — the C-Class, 3 Series and A4 — it is the Mercedes that is the most comfortable and offers ease of driving. The 3 Series is not recommended for you because of its tough steering and harsh ride. The A4 is a mix of virtues of both the C-Class and 3 Series, and yes, the new engines make it much more accessible. Still, for you, we would recommend the C 200 K, as you want comfort, good ride quality and ease of driving in the city. If you want some more performance from the C-Class, the smooth C 230 is also available.
Professional advice
I am a 26-year-old IT professional and am planning to buy my first car. I am a new driver and am not too familiar with cars. The car will be self-driven and will clock about 1,800 km a month, of which 70 per cent will be on the highways. Every three to four months, we may take it for a trip of about 700 km. My expectations from the car are good mileage, low maintenance, comfort and a professional look. My budget is about Rs 2.5-3.5 lakh and I found I can afford the Maruti Suzuki Alto, Wagon R, Estilo, Hyundai Santro Xing and the Chevrolet Spark. Can you now please suggest which car and which model I should pick so I can save maximum from my budget and can get the most out of the vehicle? Also do suggest any other car I missed out which you think suits me better. Your advice on running the car on petrol, LPG and CNG will also be helpful to me.
Prashant Mamtora, via email
We liked your last requirement “professional look.” Now, we really need to think out-of-the-box here to see which car suits a young IT professional the best. We would seriously urge you to test drive the Maruti Suzuki A-Star (it is not in your shortlist and may cost a trifle more). It is sophisticated and new, looks good, is as reliable as any Maruti Suzuki and yes, it will suit your profession too. From your shortlist, we would go for the Spark for the maximum it offers for your money or settle for the Santro if “tried and trusted” is the route you’d like to take.
One of two
I have decided to buy a new car with a bank loan. I am considering two cars; one is the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R and the other one is the Chevrolet Spark LT. Which one do you recommend?
Anil Khanna, via email
Between the Wagon R and Spark, why don’t you try the Chevrolet out as it offers excellent value-for-money? The Wagon R is capable and a good small car in its own right, but it’s older compared to the Spark. The Spark is a cheerful little car and the LT version is pretty well-loaded too. However, since you have not listed what are the expectations from your car, test-drive both of them and then take a decision.
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