DNA answers readers' queries about their automobiles.
DNA answers readers' queries about their rides.
I would like to know the effect of CNG on the engine in the long term as well as the short-term. —N M Kadu
In the short run as well as the long one, the engine performance, as in peak power, will be lower, but engine life is actually increased because there is less wear and tear on the engine combustion chamber. The engine oil will also last longer and the spark plugs too, so in the end, performance may be reduced, but there are good benefits to be had from CNG.
I have a WagonR 2009 edition. Would like to install a music system with front and rear speakers. Of course, there isn’t any factory provision to install the rear speakers. What is the best way to do so? Also, my preference is a plain Jane system with basic playback, AM/FM and thumb drive playback. CD is not necessary. However, I am looking forward to a front unit which can take my phone calls and relay them through the speakers when I am driving. Suggest some basic options and some good speakers, too. —Raj Thevar
To set up rear speakers, you’ll need to install a rear parcel shelf. As for Bluetooth capabilities, there are plenty of systems available. Check out the Sony Xplod series -- that will fit into your budget and possibly some JBL speakers to go with them.
I want to buy a petrol-CNG hatch with good mileage and value for money. Usage is 50-100 km monthly. I am considering the WagonR. What’s the difference between Duo and LXi CNG? Any other choices — Kiran Jadhav
The main difference between the Duo and the CNG is that the Duo runs on LPG and petrol while the CNG one is CNG and petrol. Since you wanted a CNG-Petrol car, you should look at the WagonR CNG.
I booked a WagonR CNG as my monthly run was supposed to be around 2,000 km. But now, my usage has suddenly reduced to a max 700 km. Now, are there any drawbacks of using a CNG car over shorter distances? The dealer is giving me the option of choosing any other Maruti car as he has not started the registration procedure, so my options are still open. Please advise. —Dinesh Kataria
In that case, if you can get a slightly larger car in your budget, we suggest you go for that as the advantages of CNG will not be seen anymore with such a short commute. The Ritz would be our pick.
I need your advice on selecting a car following options: the Hyundai Asta CRDI 1.4 litre, Fiat Punto 90 BHP (diesel) and the Maruti Suzuki New Swift ZDI. My preference is for safety, pick-up, fuel efficiency, low maintenance, rough-terrain fitness. —Suresh Karnik
Both the Hyundai i20 and the Swift offer great safety features, comfort and decent ability over rough terrain. The i20 comes loaded with features, so that is the one to go for if you’re a fan of gizmos.
I bought a used Santro 2007 after seeing you recommend one to a reader who learnt driving recently. I, too, took driving lessons and received my driving licence. I occasionally drive late in the night to avoid the Mumbai traffic. But I don’t have much confidence yet to drive in day traffic. The very thought of driving the car in traffic gives me the jitters, especially the challenge of using three mechanisms of clutch, brake and accelerator, which is like a nightmare. I have read about no-clutch usage made possible by auto clutch or city clutch. Are these reliable kits? The approximate kit charge with fitting expenses works out to Rs38,000 to Rs40,000. Do these kits make car maintenance difficult? Would they affect the car’s performance? —Virendra Shah
The mechanisms themselves are quite easy to use and fairly reliable, so they are worth a shot, but remember they will never work like a proper automatic and you’ll still have to change gears. We would suggest you rather get over your fears. Driving is no rocket science — only calls for patience!
I am using a Honda City 2005 model which I currently want to upgrade. My budget is up to Rs10 lakh. I am confused between the new Honda City and the Hyundai Verna Fluidic 1.6 petrol. Which one is better in terms of mileage, comfort and maintenance? —Gautam Lilani
If you’re looking for a petrol car, then the City is the one to have, but the Verna does come with a lot more interior features though, so if those matter to you, then the scales tip in favour of the Verna.
I am planning to buy a Maruti Suzuki (Ritz ZXi - petrol). My basic requirements are: low maintenance, drives with family (four people) on highways, travelling either eastern side or southern part of our country and local drives. What are the pros and cons of this car? —K R R Babu
The Ritz is a fantastic choice actually; the only problem is it gets overshadowed by the Swift in the line-up, but otherwise, it’s the practical choice for a hatchback.
When we are on a slope, if we keep our car in neutral, does fuel get wasted? Or, should I keep the car in gear? —Prithviraj Dorge
There are two camps here, when you’re in neutral, you’re using as much fuel as you do when idling at a signal, in gear, your fuel consumption is a little lower. But when going downhill, it’s better to keep the car in gear to help give you some engine braking, it will make your brakes last longer.
I want to buy a new car. My budget is around Rs3-4 lakh. I’m looking for good mileage, low maintenance and a stylish car. My monthly usage will be less than 200 km per month. Please advise. —Shubham Gandhi
For that little usage, a petrol car will suit your needs just fine. Check out cars like the Chevrolet Beat and the Hyundai Eon. IF you can, wait a little while as a new Maruti small car is just round the corner.
I purchased i10 Blue Drive (LPG + petrol) in July. My running till now is 2,500 km. I get a mileage of 16 kmpl in city on petrol, but I hardly get 10 kmpl on LPG. Please suggest a remedy. —Nandkishor Mohite
Generally, the mileage on LPG will be a little less than on petrol due to the way the fuel works, the economy is in the fact that LPG is cheaper than petrol.
I wait for Fridays to read your column! I am 13 and my family owns a Ford Figo 1.2 ZXi. My dad just received a letter from Ford India, stating a recall for a particular lot of Ford vehicles related to “power steering high pressure hose”. Could you please explain? Also, what are the things to be checked before receiving the vehicle after servicing? —Siddharth Shivram
If your vehicle falls under the recall, then head to your dealership and have them check out if there’s a problem. After the service, they’ll generally show you the old hose and the box for the new replacement hose to tell you that it has been replaced.
You are doing a great job in educating the people in the auto sector. I would like to know your views on the Maruti Suzuki SX4 VDi diesel. — Umesh Parekh
The SX4 is a great car, but it’s getting a little dated now, there are other, newer options out there in that segment, so check those out too, like the Nissan Sunny and the Skoda Rapid.
I am planning to buy a Volkswagen Vento. I’m confused between petrol and diesel models. My monthly run may or may not be more than 150 km. My budget is Rs8.5 lakh maximum. If you have any other suggestions, than please let me know. —Sandeep Agarwal
If that’s 150 km, then there’s absolutely no need for a diesel car for you, but if that was a typo and the mileage is 1500km, then surely the diesel model is the one you need to be looking at. We always recommend the Skoda Rapid in place of the Vento because it’s more or less the same car at a far lower price.
I am planning to buy my first car. I have shortlisted the Toyota Etios V petrol, Hyundai i20 Sportz petrol and the Swift DZire VDi. My personal favourite is the i20 Sportz because it no less than a sedan and among the three gives the best features and interiors. What’s your take? Also, can you suggest any other good car in this segment? My budget is Rs6.5 lakh to Rs8.5 lakh —Aryan Singhania
We, too, think the i20 is the one for you here. Depending on your usage, the petrol will suit you just fine, and the features in the i20 will keep you busy for a while to come.
I am contemplating CNG, but am given to understand that the maintenance is pretty tough and the engine life may not last beyond three years. I was considering the WagonR or the LPG Eon. Kindly advise. Or, should I wait for the Maruti 800 to be launched next month irrespective of the fuel option? My budget is around Rs4 lakh. —Sharad Drolia
Do wait for the new Maruti Alto being launched next month if you don’t need a car urgently. If you can’t wait, then the WagonR seems to be the better option of these two.
This is a very helpful column. I want to buy a new two-seater car. My budget is around Rs2.5 crore, but I am confused -- should I import a car or buy it here? I have shortlisted the BMW Z4 and the Mercedes SLS. Please suggest. —Apoorv Baghla
The Z4 and SLS don’t really compete at all, the SLS is a better car hands down, but the Z4 also has its merits. In that price range, you can also get yourself certain Porsches which will knock your socks off, so you really have a wide choice.
I am planning to buy a new car for my family of three adults and one four-year-old child. It is going to be my first car. I would like your advice based on the following criteria: 1. Average monthly running: 450 to 550 km (mostly within the city); 2. Hatchback; 3. Budget Rs4.5 lakh to Rs5 lakh; 4. Good looks and interiors; and 5. Preferably petrol. I have shortlisted the i10 (1.2 Magna/Sportz) and the WagonR Pro. Please advise. —Ashish Bagchi
Of these two, the Wagon R is roomier and comes with more features, but the i20 has more modern looking interiors and is also a little easier to drive, too. We’re still leaning a little towards the WagonR for you though.
I am planning to buy a second-hand petrol sedan with a budget of around Rs2 lakh. What are my options? My preferences are Hyundai, Maruti, Toyota or Honda. I plan to keep this car for about 2-3 years. Can I add a CNG kit to this car? —Dharmesh Gangani
You can get a Hyundai Accent in good shape for that money and yes, you can also fit a CNG kit to it. Other options are the Maruti Esteem and possibly the Honda City.
This section – Car Queries in DNA Drive – gives interesting suggestions and insights into various aspects of vehicle selection. Currently, I own a Hyundai Santro and looking to upgrade to a sedan (budget is Rs9 lakh to Rs11 lakh). Vehicle running won’t be much (city drives and occasional off-city ones). Please suggest which sedan (automatic version preferred) would be a good buy. Is festival time (October-November) a good time to buy a vehicle, in terms of discounts on offer? Or, should I go for year-end purchase? —Neelayam Sorte
The Skoda Rapid offers an automatic transmission option which will fall into your budget. Other options are the Hyundai Verna, which is a great car to drive and the Honda City automatic. Of these, we prefer the Hyundai Verna because of the features it offers.
I have booked a Swift VDi which I will receive after October 5 due to the waiting period. Now, after seeing the image of the Quanto, I’m confused and want to know more about it. For, boot space of the Swift is my main worry because I love to go on weekend drives. Is the Quanto 65 PS or 100 PS? Should I wait or go ahead with the Swift? —Rajesh Pandey
If you want to have a look at the Quanto, wait till next week same time. But we would say the Swift is hard to beat. The Quanto will come with a 3-cylinder engine making around 65 bhp and a larger engine version is also planned. It will have seven seats, with the last two being side facing ones. We still suggest you hold off on that till some initial review comes out though.
I want to buy an automatic transmission car, but am confused between the A-Star and the Hyundai i10. Which is better? What is the response of AT in India? —Yogesh Kushwaha
The i10 is the better car to have because the A-Star feels really weak with an automatic transmission in it. The i10 pulls it off a lot better in terms of acceleration and efficiency as well.
I want to buy a car within a budget of Rs9 lakh. I have shortlisted the Manza Elan SX4 ZDI, Fiat Linea, Verna 1.4 – all diesel. The car must impress the three rear-seat passengers. Main criteria are mileage, performance, features and low maintenance. —Prashant Mulay
We think the Verna is the one to go for you, it’s a great engine and you’ll have more than enough features to keep you and your passengers busy. It’s also the newer car in this line-up, so it’s safer and better equipped as well.
I am planning to buy a second-hand Maruti 800 car 2005 model. Apart from the running and condition of vehicle, what are the other things that I should take care of? Also, would it be beneficial to convert it to CNG as it will be usually used on weekends? Please advise. —Mohan Kulkarni
Check out the general state of the body and the electrical, have a mechanic look over it before pulling the trigger. Don’t install a kit just yet because you will only use it for shorter distances.
Your column is very good. I eagerly wait for Fridays. As the Etios has come up with new interiors, will you recommend it to prospective buyers interested in buying a car in the mid-sized sedan segment? I found the interiors pretty exciting. They offer a rich feel. —Shashvat Agarwal
Indeed, with better quality interiors, the Etios is now a good all-round package to buy!
BIKE QUERIES
I am 18, now interested in buying a bike. I have shortlisted the Yamaha FZ, Pulsar 220 and the Avenger 220. But all of them are low on mileage. Is there anything better on that score? —Bhawesh
Well, smaller capacity bikes like the Pulsar 135LS and the Honda Stunner offer much better mileage while still being fun to ride, so check them out.
At the outset, let me congratulate you on your excellent and helpful column. I have a Honda Aviator and am looking to upgrade to 125 cc scooter. What’s your take on Mahindra’s Rodeo RZ? Unfortunately, they don’t have a showroom near where I stay. Will this be an issue? Please advise. —Sameer Gadkari
If you can, check out the Suzuki scooter because they are a little better than the Mahindra Duro. The Duro has improved a lot in this iteration, but the Suzuki is a lot smoother to drive.
I eagerly wait for Friday mornings to read the DNA Drive! I am planning to buy the Bajaj Pulsar 220F. How is the bike? Any other options that are easy on the pocket and durable? —Rohan Sharma
The 220F may not be too easy on the pocket, but it is certainly reliable. Otherwise, you can also check out the FZ serier from Yamaha or the new Pulsar 200NS as well.
I have a 2011 Yamaha FZ-16 which has done over 6,000 km. I am very happy with it, but recently, it has had starting problems. The ignition button does not operate when I try to start while it is in gear with clutch fully pressed. But it starts immediately after I bring it back to neutral. This is very irritating in traffic. Also, sometimes the engine turns itself off when idling. What could be the problem? —Chinmay Naik
This ignition problem could be the result of a cut-off installed to prevent you from cranking in gear, that may have been there from the beginning. As for the idling problem, get it serviced and your carb tuned once and that should be solved.
I bought a Honda CB Unicorn in February, but am not satisfied with its performance as there are starting problems. When I shift to first and second gears, it jerks and knocks as if it’s on last ounces of fuel despite a full tank. Please help as I tried both Speed and normal petrol and have also changed the oil as well. —Chintan Adhiya
It may not be the fuel but your carburetor, so get it serviced and make sure it’s tuned correctly and you won’t have those problems again.
I am planning to buy an RE 350, but I read in some reviews that it vibrates a lot over a speed of 80 kmph and that its parts rust. Should I buy it? – Smitesh Gawas
It definitely vibrates a lot, but that’s the very nature of the single cylinder engine. If you plan on touring or longer rides, then there’s nothing better than a Bullet. Some parts like nuts and bolts do show some surface rust, but it’s nothing serious.
I want have to buy a Honda make. But which model to buy – the Honda CB Unicorn or the Honda Unicorn? I heard that the Unicorn model is better than the CB Unicorn model. I am confused. Please advise. —Nilesh Bangar
They’re more or less the same bike, so choose the one that you think looks better and you’ll be fine.
Keep up the good deed which DNA Drive is! I am buying a new bike and have narrowed down my options to the Pulsar 135lS, Discover 150 and Discover 125ST, but can’t decide. Please help. —Nikhil Paradkar
It all comes down to looks, but the one you think looks better as the performance of all three is more or less on a similar level. They all will be reliable, get decent mileage and serve you well too.
I am a fan of your column. My mother wants to buy herself a scooty. Which would be better for her from the following models: the Activa, Wego, Maestro? She wants a vehicle with a good performance, mileage and low maintenance. —Abhishek
Any of these three will be great for her, as they are all fairly reliable, give good mileage and are low on maintenance. We’d give a slight preference to the Hero because it’s basically the same as the Activa but with a better looking body.
I eagerly wait for the Friday’s edition of DNA. I am 16 and have had driving experience over the last 4-5 years. I am a heavy-built-with-a-medium-height kind of person. I am interested a lot in high-pick-up two-wheeler such as the Bullet, which is my favourite. But some of my friends say that people below 18 years cannot ride any two-wheeler below 100-150cc. Is this information true? If yes, can you suggest me any bike (with gear) for daily use of about 5-10 km with high mileage, low maintenance and good performance? —Vishal Venkatesh
At 16, you can only get a licence for a motorcycle without gear, so you’re limited to scooters. We suggest you check out the Hero Maestro and in two years, get yourself a bike.
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