Hyundai or Hyundai?

For the last four weeks, I smoked my brains to think about which car to buy. Please help me. My priorities: 1. My wife should also be able to drive the car. 2. It will mainly be used in city traffic (Chennai) and for the occasional 300 km run. 3. It should give 10-12 km to the litre. 4. It should be easy to park. 5. My budget is Rs 4.5 to 6 lakh.

I decided to go for the Hyundai Santro, but still can't make up my mind whether to opt for the Getz, as I heard that it was not doing too well. And I definitely don't want a Ford Ikon Flair for fear of maintenance costs over a long period. Is the Getz still the car to go for, or can I stick to the Santro for its mileage and proven success?

Senthil Nathan, Chennai

We have always believed in people buying cars for their respective needs. And in your case, the Santro seems to be good enough. As you say, it is proven, economical to run and reliable too. Your wife will enjoy driving it, and it is easy to park, even in the tightest spots (the thick C-pillar is a deterrent, but you will get used to the dimensions of the car).

Now all said and done, your budget lets you have a choice "" so it is up to you to decide whether you need a bigger car with more space and little bit more performance. The Getz is very well built and is equally easy to drive. Do not flip a coin though "" test drive both cars with your wife and take the final decision.

Making the Swift

We have been owning a Maruti 800 over the last 10 years and are now planning to buy a new car. We are a family of four, and stay in Mysore, which is 135 km from Bangalore. We use the car mainly for city driving, and do about 8-10 km a day. Occasionally, we go out of town, maybe once in three months.

We have shortlisted the Fiat Palio 1.6 GTX and the Suzuki Swift VXi. We like the Palio, but Fiat does not have a service centre in Mysore. We have to take it to Bangalore for servicing. We are not impressed by the looks of the Swift and also its interiors, but we are considering it as an option only because we are worried about Fiat. Is it worth buying the Palio 1.6? We like it because of its power and looks.

Bipin, Mysore

We love the Fiat Palio 1.6 GTX too "" it is a 100 bhp hatch that is fun to drive. However FTD is not, and should not be the only reason, you buy a family car. Even the best car suffers when it does not get regular attention from authorised service points, and the absence of a service outlet in Mysore is reason enough for you to look elsewhere. The Swift is a great way to upgrade from the M-800 that has served you well.

As far as its looks go, it is contemporary, but perhaps a bit too early for its time in India. Don't worry, the new lines will grow on you over a period of time. It may lack a 100 bhp powerplant, but the Swift is peppy enough and will prove to be cheaper to run over time. And yes, you are assured of a better resale value as and when you plan to sell the car.

Self Esteem

I want to buy a new car. My budget is Rs 4 to 5 lakh. The car will run only 5-8 km a day in the city, and around 200 km per month on the highways. I live in a small city right now, and my office can transfer me to some small, remote locations. I have shortlisted the Maruti Esteem LXi, Swift LXi and Hyundai Santro Xing, out of which I like the Esteem the most (because of its new looks). Should I go for it?

S S Bhatnagar, via email

One of the fundamental things when it comes to buying a set of wheels is how much you like a car. If your heart is set on an Esteem, why not buy it? Sure, it is a bit of old hat under its new trim, but the powertrain is proven, and is cheap to run and maintain too. That said, going by the number of km you drive everyday, we are tempted to say that all the car you need is a Santro or a Wagon R!

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