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S. Muralidhar

I AM a software engineer planning to buy a new car. My friends and relatives are pointing towards the Tata Indigo, but I personally think that the Maruti Esteem would be a better choice. I have researched both the cars but cannot take a firm decision. Which do you think I should choose?

Shardul Kulkarni

The Maruti Esteem is a compromise in terms of cabin space, rear seat legroom and available boot space. But it is an extremely practical car in other respects, with the highlight of its positive attributes being fuel efficiency. Despite the restyling that the Esteem's exterior has been put through, it still is a fairly dated design compared to the Tata Indigo.

If you are a petrol-head and will not compromise on the engine refinement and noise department, then our recommendation will be the Esteem, with a warning that what you will get inside will only be just a few millimetres more shoulder space compared to the Zen. But in terms of price to value, the Esteem petrol is still the benchmark that others will want to beat.

On the contrary, if you are even more conscious about fuel efficiency and running costs and do not mind the clatter of a diesel engine, the Tata Indigo should be the one to choose. The production of Maruti Esteem diesel has been discontinued and, therefore, will not be available in most markets.

The Indigo diesel features the same Indica V2's 1.4 litre diesel engine, but with the addition of a turbocharger. The Indigo has also been relaunched with a common rail direct injection system that has improved its performance and the reduced noise levels.

I own a 2001 model Maruti 800 Std. The car has been performing well with normal maintenance and has done approximately 10,000 km till date. I would like to install an air-conditioner. Is it advisable to install one at this stage? Is there a checklist that I must go through before I decide to fit an air-conditioner?

Ritesh Sharma

Fitting an air-conditioner to your four-year-old Maruti 800 standard should not be a problem. Our advice though, would be that you stick with fitting a Maruti authorised Sanden or Denso brand air-conditioner at a Maruti authorised workshop or dealership.

The whole deal, fitment and components together could set you back by about Rs 23,000 and modifications will have to be made to the electricals and dashboard of the car. Also be ready for a drop in performance, both in terms of power available (since the air-conditioner will be a drag on the engine) and in terms of fuel efficiency. However, going by your usage of the car, fuel efficiency does not seem like a big concern.

Which diesel car in the entry-level `C' segment will be best suited for rural roads and considering that I will commute an average distance of 75 km daily? How do the Hyundai Accent CRDi and the Ford Ikon 1.8d stack up? Which of the two would you recommend? I would also like to know if the Maruti Suzuki Swift will come with a diesel engine option?

A. S. N. Prakasa Rao

The Hyundai Accent CRDi may not be the right option for you considering the fact that you will be largely using the car in rural areas.

The common rail direct injection diesel engine in the Accent is already compliant with Bharat Stage III emission norms and requires high quality diesel fuel that may not be available in your locality.

Low sulphur diesel of grade that meets BS II norms, which in turn is a Euro II equivalent standard, is being rolled out nationally, but this still may not be the best grade fuel to use in the common rail direct injection engine.

Our recommendation will therefore be the Ford Ikon 1.8 diesel. Incidentally, this Ford diesel has been pulled out of the 11 metros where BS III norms have come into effect from April 1, this year. As for Swift, Maruti is unlikely to come up with a diesel version in the near future but the possibility exists.

I want to purchase either the Maruit-800 or the Alto. What are the pros and cons of both these cars and how do they compare vis-à-vis price, fuel economy with/or without the air-conditioner, the effect of the AC on the engine, the interior space, leg space available for passengers and the overall comfort factor.

I am 61 years old and issues such as the design and the thrill of driving do not hold much attraction for me. Which of the two would you recommend?

B. M. Bajaj

After the Alto and the Maruti 800 were `repriced' and repositioned last year, the VXi variant of the Alto, which featured the same 1.1 litre engine of the Wagon-R was dropped. So, all the three variants of the Alto — Std, LX and LXi — sport the same sized, multi-point fuel injected 796cc engine that is also available in the Maruti 800. But there is a difference in performance between the two engines.

Comparison between the two cars will invariably have to revolve around parameters such as the edge in performance that the Alto engine offers, fit and finish, quality of interiors, ride quality, gearbox and a marginal difference in interior space. The Maruti 800 and the Alto would both be nearly on par in terms of ride quality.

The interior room and boot space in the Alto will only be marginally more than in the M800. But the difference will come in the drivability. The Alto's 800cc engine puts out a peak power of 47 bhp at 6,200 rpm, while the M800's engine does 37 bhp at 5,000 rpm.

The difference between the two in terms of torque is much lesser. Overall, getting the best out of the 800cc engine in the Alto would be better with its five-speed gearbox, compared to the sticky four-speed shifter in the M800.

Thanks to the two overdrive slots in the five-speed gearbox of the Alto and the higher power output of the engine, air-conditioner performance also tends to be better than the M800's. Finish quality, interior trim quality and a more contemporary design also give the Alto more appeal.

Comparing the similar air-conditioned, non-power-steering variant of the Alto and the M800 AC, the price differential works out to about Rs 40,000. Of course, there are few bits like a heater, halogen headlamp and child lock at the rear that you will not get in the M800.

For its safer, more comfortable ride our recommendation will be the Alto. If you are not constrained by a budget, you may want to choose the Alto LXi, which comes with the added comfort of a power steering, a feature that would make driving the car less strenuous.

(Queries may be sent to: q&a@thehindu.co.in or by post to Q&A, Business Line, 859/860, Kasturi Buildings, Anna Salai, Chennai - 600 002.)

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