To CNG or not

WHICH CAR?

I am facing a dilemma of sorts. My daily drive to my workplace from home is 120 km long. Having done research on all cars available, I have come to the conclusion that neither petrol nor diesel will be feasible as far as running costs are concerned. I am thinking of buying either the Ford Ikon Flair CNG or a Maruti Esteem. Fitting the Esteem with a CNG kit from an authorised place seems to be the best bet for me. I like the Esteem as it is proven and is low on maintenance. Also, I've heard that CNG suits it well. Please advise, as I need to buy a car immediately. My budget is Rs 4-5 lakh.

Ajay Rawat, via email

Since your heart and mind is bent towards the Esteem, we suggest you go for it. It's reliable, spares are cheap, is frugal in petrol mode, so under CNG it will only be even more. Add factors such as the Esteem's overall peppiness and the peace of mind factor of owning a Maruti and we think it would work well for you. Ensure though that all safety procedures are followed while installing the kit, and make sure you go to an authorised CNG fitment centre.

Spaced out

I'm a 26-year old property developer based in Kochi and am looking for a 7-8 seater UV within a budget of Rs 15 lakh. The vehicle will carry my clients during the day and my family in the evening. It should do both jobs with ease and should be safe as well as comfortable on long trips. I clock around 35 to 50 km daily. I was impressed by the Toyota Innova's package and the Ford Endeavour's power and road presence. Do I have other options or should I wait longer?

Bobban Mathew, Kochi

Though the new Ford Endeavour, with a more powerful engine, should be out by the end of this month, we still think that the Innova presents itself as a better option for you. It has a lot of space for up to eight people and luggage, it rides and handles like a car and is quite stable at highway speeds too. Besides it also is quite safe, given its full complement of safety features, apart from Toyota's high quality fit and finish. We would suggest the V version that has rear AC vents, airbags for front occupants and ABS.

Owner's NV

I am looking for a used Fiat Palio. I'd like to know whether to go for a 1.2 or 1.2 NV "" are there any benefits to gain from one model over the other? Also, can I retrofit the Palio 1.2 or 1.2 NV with an LPG Kit, and is it compatible? Please reply at the earliest as I have seen a used Palio in good condition and will finalise the decision after your reply.

Hemant Sangani, via email

The Fiat Palio 1.2 has no issues with LPG retrofitment. What you need to take care of is that it is done by a professional and you receive the necessary warranty on it. If the car in question is an NV, the added advantage would be that the NV offers better fuel efficiency over the standard 1.2. Though if you do fit LPG on either car, the difference will be minimal.

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