Wow, now that's a seriously good machine you are considering. While the Porsche Cayman is a fantastic option, actually the best driver's sports coupe on the market, it's not cheap and will be priced in the region of Rs 60 to 65 lakh. Even the Porsche Boxster is not cheap at Rs 56 to 58 lakh. Your next best option is the Audi TT 3.2. At about Rs 50 lakh, you get a car that looks the part, and while it might not have the hallowed badge of a Porsche, it's still quite good to drive and can be fun too. It also feels great to sit on the inside with lots of little things that make Audis what they are. As a second option to a Porsche, it's not a bad deal at all.
Cost conscious
I want to upgrade to a sedan (fully loaded model) with a budget of up to Rs 6 lakh. My average daily run is about 15 km, with the occasional family outing. The car will be self driven. Driving comfort and maintenance cost are important considerations. Can you suggest maybe two or three good value-for-money options?
SK Saxena, New Delhi
You have some decent options for your budget, one of which is the recently launched Maruti Swift Dzire. It's very well loaded for its price with features like airbags, ABS, climate control and an integrated music system in the top-end ZXI variant, while also being fairly comfortable in the rear seat. Being a Maruti, maintenance costs are also on the lower side while it can also be fun to drive. You might also want to consider the Mahindra Renault Logan, 1.6 petrol. It's quite frugal, has decent performance while being spacious and inexpensive to maintain.
Size matters
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I currently own a Maruti 800 (my first car) for the last one year. I now feel comfortable driving on the road and as such would like to upgrade keeping in mind my family need and social status. We are a family of five and occasionally my mother and nephew join us. I drive to office daily, about 25 km each way. Every weekend, we go out for a joyride of 5-10 km with my family. I am not particularly looking for SUVs. My preference is luxury and space inside the car. I am looking for something in the range of Rs 5-6 lakh, but don't mind extending my budget by Rs 1-2 lakh if I get value for money. Can you help me select the best car?
Sanjeev Surana, via email
Since your family is on the larger side, we're afraid none of the saloons will offer you comfort for six people. Try and expand your budget and go for a Mahindra Scorpio 2.6 CRDe. Apart from the economy of a diesel, you will also enjoy space that's good enough for seven to eight persons and the newer Scorpios have better ride and handling characteristics. Though it's an SUV, it has a more car-like feel to the drive and that's something you might appreciate. If you still want a saloon, try out the Mahindra Logan 1.5 diesel that is spacious on the inside and cheap to run and maintain as well.
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