Small worries

WHICH CAR?

Your urgent opinion is needed. My wife's Maruti 800 needs a replacement in Thiruvananthapuram. We test drove the Hyundai i10, Maruti Suzuki Alto and Chevrolet Spark. The Spark seems to have better ride quality, while the i10 is more modern and the Alto is the cheapest upgrade. We would have bought the Spark because it is easier to drive and park. It's also quite comfortable and costs nearly Rs 60,000 less than the comparable i10. Please advise if it is wise to buy the Spark. We are worried about the future of the Chevrolet brand in India, cost of maintenance, availability of spares and the car's durability.

Ajish Gopan, via email

There is no reason for concern with the Chevrolet Spark. General Motors is investing a considerable amount of money into India and the brand is on a roll, with it registering the fastest growth by an auto company in India in 2007. Besides, the Spark is as cheap to maintain as a Hyundai or Maruti small car, and it is a proven car in India and across the world. As a small car buy, it is a very good choice.

Hatch 22

I am 24 and I love driving. I am ready to buy a car for Rs 5-7 lakh and am thinking seriously about hatchbacks. My preference is for petrols. I've zeroed in on the following petrol models, after a round of analysis: the Maruti Swift ZXI, the Fiat Palio 1.6, the Skoda Fabia 1.4 and the Ford Fiesta 1.4. Considering the various aspects of the said cars, I've finally decided on the Palio Sport, which I believe is an economy "pocket rocket". However, there are a few concerns I have. The interiors are almost a decade old and definitely require an upgrade. Do you have any news of an upgrade anytime soon?

Is fuel economy really as bad as people make it out to be? Does the Tata factor help in terms of service and spares? My drive is limited to regular city driving on weekdays and about 150 km to my hometown, down a National Highway. Fuel efficiency should be decent, but not a priority. Have I made the right choice?

Mithun Mohan, via email

We don't think the Fiat Palio 1.6 is a bad choice. After all, there have been some changes to the car, which have made it more fuel efficient than before, albeit with a slight loss in performance. It's still a fast car, mind you, and will bring a smile to your face every time you drive it. The car has just been recently face-lifted, so no, there won't be any more in the near future. You should get decent quality service from Tata's widespread network, an overall fuel efficiency of 10-11 kpl and a car that is as much at home in the city as it is munching miles on the highway. You'll be happy with it, indeed.

Middle ground

I am looking at selling my four-year old Tata Indigo petrol and purchasing a petrol car in the range of Rs 6.5-8.5 lakh. I travel to office by car two days in a week (which could increase to the entire week) and would like to have a good car for weekend drives and an occasional drive to nearby hill stations. Currently, I am considering the Maruti Suzuki SX4 and Honda City, but am tempted to wait for Maruti Suzuki's Dezire, the replacement for the Esteem. Please suggest what car to buy.

Rahul Shah, Mumbai

We suggest the Maruti Suzuki SX4 ZXi for you. With your kind of low running, fuel efficiency won't make too much of a difference to your wallet, and given the SX4's good ride quality and high ground clearance, it's a very good long distance companion. The engine too is torquey and with airbags and ABS, it offers terrific value for money. The Dezire is a Swift with a boot, and the Swift doesn't have the kind of cabin space that the SX4 does.

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