NRI special

WHICH CAR?

WHICH SEDAN?.

I am a NRI who comes to Mumbai only for a month or two in a year. I wish to buy a car for my use during my this time. I'm looking for a car in the not-too-expensive, yet not-too-cheap (say Rs 6 to 8 lakh) segment. I am over 6 feet tall so I need something I can fit into and drive comfortably without my knees bumping into the steering wheel.

The car must be easy to maintain, as I don't want to spend my first week in India trying to get the car up and running. The car won't be idle in my absence, but it won't be doing a lot of running around either. What do you recommend?

Alternatively, are there any reliable car rental companies in Mumbai who would rent me a car (self drive) at reasonable prices?

Mithil Pai, Jakarta

I suggest you buy a car with lot of safety built into it "� more so because you are going to be driving in India only occasionally.

Driving in India needs a lot of getting used to and you do not want to be risking it in a car without, say, ABS and airbags.

I suggest you take a look at the Chevrolet Optra NY edition "� it is a fairly big car and will be reliable over the long run too. Yes, there are firms that rent out cars on a self-drive basis, but they are expensive compared to other countries.

Indian accent

FUN TO DRIVE OR ALL-ROUND CAPABILITY?

Please advise between the Accent GVS (which I now understand is the GLE) and the Baleno LXI "� fuel efficiency, cost of spares, resale value, any issues/ problems regarding each. Both on road are at around Rs 6 lakh in Mumbai, from what I know.

Sandeep Hasurkar, via e-mail

If you want a car that is fun to drive and involving, the Baleno wins the case. If you are looking for an all rounder that is equally good inside the city and on the highway, the Accent should get the nod.

The latter also is more of a chauffeur driven car than the Baleno. The Baleno, though an aging design, is a very well conceived and built automobile "� it is as reliable and economical as Japanese cars get.

The Accent looks fresh (and is new compared to the Baleno) and retains its value pretty well. Our choice? Go for the estate version of the Baleno, the Altura "�it is a trifle more expensive, but well worth the tag.

Star power

IS A USED MERCEDES-BENZ FEASIBLE?

I am a big fan of Mercedes-Benz and I am looking forward to owning one. Though I like the new C-Class, I will have to settle for something old.

How much will I have to pay for the W 123-style Mercedes-Benz? How good is the 190 class? Is there anything important that I should know when I am buying one of these cars? Where can I shop for good, used (cheap) Mercedes cars?

Ravi Kurian, Kollam

You can live your dream if you have Rs 2-3 lakh to spend. Good W 123 cars are available for that money but you should be looking for them in Delhi and Mumbai.

The Mercedes-Benz 190 (both petrol and diesel versions) are not so loved by Mercedes aficionados and come cheaper than most recent Mercedes-Benz cars.

Look for mechanically sound cars "� shiny body work may not guarantee hassle-free ownership. Cars with troublesome engines and gearboxes should be avoided since repairs can be at times more expensive than the value of the whole automobile.

Even the 190 has a certain level of electronics going into it, and spares are tough and expensive to come by. Look for petrol cars since older diesels would have already done the distance to the moon and back by now. Buy an older car and most good mechanics will be able to keep it running "� if not in concourse shape.

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