The Hindu Business Line : Accent & Honda City

I HAVE a 1998 model Maruti Zen VX petrol. The car has run only 15,000 km. Some people have advised me that I should change the car since a six-year-old car could start giving problems because of static wear and atmospheric corrosion in a city like Chennai, even if it has not clocked a high kilometre count. There is also an advice that I should at least change the tyres. What are your views? If I retain the car, are there any parts that need to be checked or replaced for trouble-free driving? Do you advise use of Indian Oil's High Octane Petrol (Premium) for this car?

Srikanth Padmanabhan

Older cars, obviously, tend to have more maintenance problems than newer ones. The point to be noted here is that older cars are likely to have problems even if they have not clocked big mileage during those years. Metal fatigue and deterioration that resembles wear and tear happen even with the car standing still.

In your case, a few things need to be checked so that while essential replacements are done, simultaneously unnecessary expenditure is avoided. Tyre wear happens due to usage, but deterioration of the rubber can also happen due to overexposure to sunlight and due to uneven weight distribution when the car has been standing for long. Look for unusual wear marks on the tyres and for possible cracks on the tyre's sidewalls. If there is high incidence of either of these, there probably has been irreparable damage to the tyres, warranting a change. You may want to get a wheel alignment check done. Check the car's body for corrosion, paint damage, dents and rust. Rust is one of the biggest problems that cars left standing for long periods of time tend to suffer from. Rust most commonly occurs in the car's floor and under-body, door edges and joints near the bonnet and boot. If you locate rust spots get them treated and painted right away. You can also consider treating the car's under-body with a proprietary anti-rust coating for added protection.

A routine check of the engine for oil quality, gasket wear and nozzle and sparkplug clogging will be adequate given the low usage profile for the car. Use of petrol with additives such as BPCL's Speed or IOC's Premium will help boost the car's performance slightly and also clean the car's engine simultaneously. We will recommend the use of this type of petrol (93 octane), even if the car has been running on routine unleaded petrol earlier.

I have a five-year-old Maruti Zen and am looking at purchasing a car from the next, higher priced segment. I am looking at a car that offers value for money in terms of low maintenance cost, good mileage and decent resale value. My first choice was the Maruti Esteem LXi. However, some people tell me that it may not be a good option and that Hyundai Accent may be a better choice. I am confused. Is the Esteem a bad choice or is it that the general perception about it is poor? Your advice.

Raj

The Esteem is a bit of a dated car in terms of its overall design. But after the reworked exterior, the car's looks have been refreshed considerably. However, many car buyers still consider the Esteem an old, dated car. On the other hand, car buyers looking for a low-priced, bargain amongst entry-level C-segment cars, cannot ignore the Esteem.

The Esteem's plus point lies in its pricing and value packaging. The car is also one of the lightest in the segment, therefore its 1.3-litre engine does not seem underpowered and fuel efficiency is also slightly higher than the others. But the Esteem's minuses include the cramped interior space compared to its more spacious peers such as the Hyundai Accent and Ford Ikon, the low seating position and of course its dated design.

If your car shopping budget can be stretched to anywhere between Rs 6 lakhs to Rs 7 lakhs, the Accent or the new Honda City may be better choices compared to the Esteem. But if it is below the Rs 5-lakh range, then stick with the Esteem.

I am planning to buy a Maruti Suzuki Alto LX. I want to know whether I should go for the LXi variant instead, or whether it does not make any sense to opt for power steering in an 800cc car? How is the performance of the Alto LX?

Anju Verma

It will be advisable to opt for the LXi variant of the Suzuki Alto. The power steering will turn out to be a powerful feature though the vehicle is a small car. Power steering not only adds to the car's driving comfort, but also increases the overall stability and safety of the car.

Unlike other cars that feature traditional, hydraulic power steering, in the Alto's case, the electronic power steering (EPS) is speed responsive and draws less than half the amount power that conventional power steering systems draw from the engine. In the Alto, the EPS system draws only about two per cent of the engine's power for steering assistance compared to about five per cent that a traditional power steering would have drawn.

In the Alto LXi's case, the 800cc engine is already underpowered and the EPS as a result would mean that the engine does not get overloaded and the mileage advantage the car offers is not affected too much. The Alto LX and LXi are not meant to offer power and performance like the other small cars can muster. This car is meant for buyers who are looking for a frugal, fuel-efficient people's mover. So, while the EPS will be a bit of a drag on the Alto LXi's 800cc (same as the Maruti 800) engine, it could still be a feature worth that extra price and the bit of fuel efficiency compromise.

(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.)

Srikanth Padmanabhan

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