Carry on Doc

WHICH CAR?

We are planning to make a trip to Leh and Ladakh, going via Manali and the Khardungla pass, returning to Ahmedabad through Srinagar, Jammu, Jaipur, Ajmer and Bikaner in approximately 2-3 weeks' time.

We definitely need a 4x4, and are stuck between the Safari, the Sumo and the Scorpio. Which in your opinion would be the best vehicle to buy, keeping in mind that after the expedition, we will be putting it to daily use?

Mukul Doctor, via email

We have seen the 4x4 version of the Scorpio perform well in the mountains and it was awesome "� you should have no worries with this car. As you go higher into the Himalayas, a petrol car is better, since waking up a diesel motor early in the morning can be a cause of worry.

That said, we cannot recommend the REV 116 petrol version of the Scorpio since it will be well night impossible to cure if something goes wrong with its engine during your epic drive. So we urge you to choose between the Scorpio 4x4 diesel and the Maruti Gypsy (petrol).

E-lementary

My friend wants to buy a Mercedes-Benz. Do you think the new E-Class is a good buy over the C-Class? He is also confused between the E240 and the E200. He has no problem with the money it will cost or the fuel efficiency the car will offer.

The car will mainly be chauffeur-driven in the city, with the occassional highway drive thrown in. What is required is reliability in the long run. Please give your expert advice.

N Navin, Mumbai

The E-Class is a bigger, better car than the C-Class and we recommend you one if you have the budget for it. Please test drive the E270 CDI, it may drink diesel, but it is the best E-Class we have driven in India yet. The E270 CDI is extremely driveable in traffic and is a blast on the highway.

Today's Mercedes diesels are quite reliable as long as you take care of them. Make sure that you get unadulterated fuel at any cost since repairing or replacing fuel pumps and injector nozzles can be expensive.

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