FAMILY CAR

WHICH CAR?

Ramesh Goel, Patna

The Versa is spacious, reliable and quite economical for a car of its size. However, it is not very popular thanks to its oddball looks and image (which even an entire Bachchan family could not change). It may sip petrol, but compare the difference you pay to get the Scorpio and this is a good deal indeed. The Scorpio on the other hand is a very capable SUV, which can accommodate a third row of passengers in some models. If you can live with the looks of the Versa, we do recommend a buy.

ACCENT DILEMMA

I recently bought a two-year old Hyundai Accent. I have a few issues with it. It only gives 9 kpl in the city with the AC. Will LPG help in cutting down costs? I drive almost 120 km daily. Will a K&N air filter enhance performance and mileage? At what time should spark plugs be changed? There seems to be a delay in engine response too. What other steps should I take, as I have had an almost carefree experience with a Maruti 800 so far. I am told the cost of spares is quite high!

Sandeep Porwal, via email

Your Accent is still young at 40,000 km. Sure, the initial acceleration won't be the same, ditto ride quality, but you can salvage the situation by going through an essential used-car drill. First, change the battery and plugs "" this will eliminate electrical problems in the period of ownership. Check and clean or replace the air filter. Check and clean the fuel injection system and replace the fuel filter if necessary. Give the car fresh oil and coolant too. With these done, your car should feel and drive better. Also check the shock absorber bushes (and even dampers) and replace if necessary (this will improve the ride quality a great deal). Also lubricate the joints (including that of the pedals) and replace the return springs of the accelerator pedal if necessary. Better breathing is always good, so an original K&N filter is not a bad idea at all.

MAKING A MERC

I am being offered a 1996 Mercedes-Benz E 220 (Indian made) for Rs 4 lakh. Is this the correct price? Is there anything that I need to worry about?

Arun, via e-mail

The W124 Mercedes-Benz E-Class is one of the most successful cars to wear the three-pointed star. It is from a generation when Mercedes-Benz cars were built to last and this model is not an exception. If the car you are looking at has done below 50,000 km, then the price is right. Haggle hard if the car needs fresh rubber or a battery "" these bits can be expensive. Spares are expensive, but freely available. In short, if the car was maintained well by its previous owner, you can extract another 4-5 years of usable life from this virtually indestructible Mercedes. And it will be safer than many other new cars similar money will buy.

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