Two to tango

I have always desired the BMW 3 Series and, finally, have summed up the courage (considering the cost and driving conditions in Mumbai) to buy one. Between the 320i & 325i, please advise which car. My daily usage is not more than 15 km and I have the following concerns:
1. The Rs 7 lakh difference
2. The eventual resale value
It's not very often I can gather the courage to spend this much on a car, thus kindly advise if there are any other cars that I should consider?

Nirav Shah, Mumbai

Tough choice indeed. Honestly, you do not need anything more than a 320 diesel (Highline) to enjoy the BMW ownership in India. It is quick and fast with 167 bhp, and is very well built. And the Highline version gives you the I-drive and sunroof too. The 325i petrol with its six pack motor is really fun to drive, but do not expect it to fetch good resale value as and when you are ready to sell, despite its 218 bhp. So our advice is to go for the diesel and have a ball.

Fantastic four

I am planning to buy a car for my parents. My budget is around Rs 4 lakh but I can stretch it. I have been looking at the Hyundai i10, though the Tata Indigo CS Diesel looks good to me. My preference for the car would be reliability and lower maintenance cost. My parents would not drive much (around 200 to 300 km a month). Please advise about the Indigo CS and its reliability, maintenance and fuel efficiency.

Nitin Kumar, US

Looks like you are torn between giving your parents a comfortable, easy to drive car versus the biggest car that your money can buy. We would do the former and choose a reliable, economical petrol car (since your parents do not drive a lot) and there are many you can choose from. If the i10 is above your budget we urge you to take a good look at the Santro "" it is an older design but still quite capable as an all-rounder. Our choice? The i10.

To the faithful

I am planning to upgrade from a Tata Indica DLS to a three box car. The daily average drive is about 70 km. Most of it is city based, with holiday driving to the hills once in three months to Uttaranchal, Himachal and J&K. My Indica has been very good value for money over the 1,55,000 km it has run and I am looking for similar performance from a diesel sedan. I like the interior of the Chevrolet Aveo over the Ford Fiesta. I don't like the overall fit and finish of the Maruti Suzuki cars, though the Dzire's specifications fit my requirements well. Should I opt for any of these, wait for the Aveo diesel or look for something else? Please advise.

Alok Deep, New Delhi

From the looks of it, you need a sturdy car that can serve you well over a long period of time. Maybe another 1,50,000 km, right? If I were you, I would invest my money in the Mahindra Logan diesel. It is a well built car with great ride quality and can match the Indica and Indigo when it comes to fuel economy. Sure, it's not as well finished with quality materials as the Aveo or Ford Fiesta, still. My second choice would be the Fiesta diesel despite the higher price tag. You get a modern day diesel with quality interiors and good build quality too.

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