| What are the fuel efficiency figures for the V6 and the 2.4 manual versions of the Accord? Also, I read somewhere that the Accord being a 2003 model, is expected to get a facelift this year "� is that true? If so, should I wait until then? I need to buy a car by September. Dr Arun Anand, via email The Mondeo is a great car to drive, but the Accord promises a better ownership experience overall "� go for the Honda. In terms of fuel consumption, the Accord V6 (which is only available with an automatic gearbox) is a bit thirsty "� expect between 7 and 7.5 kpl on an average. |
| The manual version, on the other hand, offers 10.5 kpl on the highways and about 9 kpl in urban areas. The Accord available in India is fairly new, and a facelift is unlikely for at least one more year. |
| Automatic choice |
| I am planning to buy my first car and am quite confused. I have a small family and I reside in Mumbai. I will be using the car for my 25-km daily commute to office and back. About three times a year, we travel to hill-stations, not more than 500-km from Mumbai. |
| Being a new driver, I prefer an automatic, especially considering Mumbai's bumper-to-bumper traffic. I have seen a last-generation Honda City automatic, 1999 model year, available for Rs 3 lakh. My budget is Rs 4.5 lakh. What about the new Suzuki Swift? Does it come with an automatic gearbox? Sandeep Dalal, Mumbai No, the Swift has not been launched with an automatic gearbox yet. But if you're willing to shift gears manually, the Swift is a good option to go for. Alternatively, you could opt for the Hyundai Santro Xing which has an automatic version -"� it may be smaller than the Swift, but will meet your requirements well. |
| As for the second-hand City, we think you can perhaps bargain on the price to get a better deal. The last-generation City's engine is great, but the rest of the car ages rather quickly. If you are really keen about the City automatic, do get your mechanic to evaluate the car thoroughly and test-drive it before you sign on the dotted line. |
| Fun-damental |
| I am 30 years old and want to buy an exciting car. I checked out the Toyota Innova D4D recently and I really liked it. |
| I have also been thinking about the Hyundai Tucson, keeping the diesel factor in mind. Budget is not a constraint. I am confused between these two "� the Innova offers a lot of space and seating capacity, while the Tucson is more exciting. Please help me decide. Amit S, via email Want excitement? Go for the Tucson. The Innova is a bit bland and is not as much fun to drive. The Tucson is capable, and you can also go off-roading with it. Besides it looks better too. |
| Planning to buy a car or bike? Ask us at bijoy@business-standard.com |
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