Welcome to round 7 of Questions & Answers at CarAdvice. In the past week I got a array of questions in quick succession so I had to respond in quick time (no pun here). First things first, people who are looking to buy a new car in the next few weeks/months should decide right away on what they want. Do they want a cheaper car or a car made in the new year. If you want a cheaper car, go to the dealer and ask him for a 2009 made car for a good discount. Else just get the made in 2010 car. Some clever souls get a 2009 car at a cheaper rate and register it in 2010 to get the best of both worlds.
Madhava says “I am looking for a new car. While my budget would allow the big cars, my parking space won’t allow it. While my Maruti Wagon R would go through without problems, my neighbours’ Accent and and Swift had scratches on Day 1. I would like to have a top end car within the small car segment like the I20, but it’s width at 1715 mm seems to be a dampener. Can you help me find a good small car.”
Looking at your requirements of a small car which would easily fit your parking, I would suggest the Hyundai i10. The top end version comes loaded with alot of features and you get to keep it scratch free too. If you don’t like the i10 much you can look at the A-Star which also has compact dimensions.
Hemant Sharma writes ” I want to to buy Indigo Manza. I want to know The merits and demerits of Indigo Manza. If, you can suggest any other car in the same range, please suggest.”
The new Indigo aka the Manza is a very good attempt by Tata Motors in the C segment. The car has excellent space, features and offers bang for the buck. However like most Tata cars, quality is still not upto the mark. For detailed analysis on the Indigo Manza, you can read a review on the Manza Quadrajet here. Alternatve to the Manza is the Swift DZire, which though an excellent all rounder suffers from lack of aesthetic appeal.
Kshitiz Gupta is confused between Accent LPG, DZire VDI, Ikon Diesel and asked which one should he prefer to buy?
The Accent is now quite old and its best to eliminate it from the list. Coming to the Ikon and the Swift DZire, we must remember both cars have quite a difference in pricing and though the Ikon is extreme value for what you pay, the DZire is the one to have owing to fantastic performance, service, economy and maintenance. This one is a no brainer, DZire is all you desire.
Sunder Ram is planning to buy a car, with power windows, pow steering etc., under 5 lakhs. He doesnt drive more than 500km a month. Ruled out Swift diesel because its exceeding his budget and not much km/month. Which is the best option? Is it worth waiting for Chevy Beat, Figo and Volkswagen Polo is what he wants to know.
The Chevy Beat will be here real soon, infact 5th January is when GM India will officially launch it in India. The Figo is still 6-8 months away and the VW Polo won’t come cheap and won’t be light on the pocket either when it comes to maintenance. Your best bet is to wait for the Beat as it seems very promising, atleast on paper.
Sanajy wants to purchase new Xylo E8 model in January, 2010. He wants to know if its possible to get it for 1 lakh less?
Dealer often clear out last year inventory for a nominal discount. However getting 1 lakh discount on the Xylo is a distant possibility. Instead try bargaining with the dealer the best you can and you can get Rs. 60,000/- knocked off the price of the Xylo.
Pradeep Wason says “I am confused about New VVT SX4. It looks good but the gears i have heard are clunky and the average is below 10 for new one not known. Clutch issues are also there. Honda City looks overpriced. Linea doesn’t have good head room and Fiat after sales is a suspect. Please advice.”
Pradeep, the new SX4 though a step in the right direction is still not as close to the Honda City when it comes to performance, quality and smoothness. The SX4 has always delivered a mileage of less then 10 so the new one won’t be any different. Honda City does come at a slight premium and Fiat service is improving drastically. Looking at your requirements and my conversation with you, the Verna is out as well. That leaves us with the Fiesta and the Indigo Manza which are both a very good option at that price range.
Rahul says “My Budget is -5-7 lakhs and i have short listed Indigo CS, Hyundai i20, Maruti SX4 and Honda City.
My Crieteria is : -
1. Better Mileage
2. Stylish look (Like Honda City or Hyundai i20)
3. Low maintainence.
Also i would expect your suggestions that suit my budget and requirements.
The Honda City and Maruti SX4 cost way above your budget, so they are out of consideration unless you re-valuate your budget. That leaves us with Hyundai i20 and Indigo CS. The Indigo CS does not satisfy your stylish quotient nor is it advisable to buy the CS when the Manza is out. The i20 diesel fits the bill perfectly as it offers the style you are looking for along with economy. However maintenance is not cheap and if you are looking at a car which fits all the three bills then you should get the Swift DDiS.
Ravi wrote “I am planning to buy a used CERVY OPTRA 1.6 LS 2004 model 45,000kms done, 2nd owner. The car looks good and the interior is also very good. I took a test drive but I didn’t find any issues than hiding.The price quoted was Rs.2.55 lakhs . My mechanics says that its worth for the price , but I would like to know if the maintenance cost is too high. Currently I use a FORD IKON 1.3 ROCAM petrol. Please advice if I can buy the same or otherwise.”
Ravi, the Optra was a gem in its time but now Chevrolet has moved forward with the Cruze which is essentially the formers replacement. But at 2.55 lakhs the car is a bargain. Maintainence is not at all high but make sure you check the tyres (the Optra loves to eat them up) and the handbrake (which at times does give away) before you decide. Also try to procure the full service history to ensure the car is accident free.
Senthil says “I am planning to buy new Car, with a buget of 4 lakh, Things in my mind are Spark, and Wagon R. What do you suggest.”
I suggest you wait till 10th January till the Auto Expo concludes as a array of small cars will be launched. The new Beat is a good alternative to look at but if you are in a hurry, get the Spark. Or else, wait.
Kedar Vijay Bendre says “I want to know about Mahindra Scorpio M2DI model.
1) Technical Specifications
2) Price TAG (on road price in Pune)
3) Performace
4) Mileage
Kedar, why would you want to buy a Scorpio with old school M2DI powerplant when the latest mHawk and mEagle with CRDe technology is available. Anyways here goes : -
1) Technical Specifications – Similar to the regular Scorpio, except the non-CRDe, DI engine to cut costs.
2) Price TAG (on road price in Pune) – 7,43,528/-
3) Performace – Just about average, nothing to write home about.
4) Mileage – 10-11 kmpl.
