The Hindu Business Line : Replacing MPFI invites risk

I OWN a 1999 model Maruti 800 that has run 31,000 km. I live in Dharamsalain, Himachal Pradesh, and the average mileage that my car offers is 13-14 km within town and 16-17 km on the highway for every litre of Speed brand petrol. Is this mileage on expected lines? Some of my acquaintances tell me that the carburettor in this old model 800 can be replaced with a new multi-point fuel injection (MPFI) system for improving mileage. Is this possible and, if so, what will be the cost? If I decide to purchase a new vehicle, which will be a better option, the Santro Xing or the Wagon-R?

Rakesh Rana

Replacing the old Maruti 800's carburetted injection system with a new MPFI system is not all that easy. It will involve changes to the engine that go beyond just lifting off the old system and placing the new one. Getting this done in the `after market' will be fraught with risk and may not be possible without compromising on the quality, reliability and longevity of the car's engine.

So, it will not be prudent to try and retrofit the MPFI system, though after-market sources will tell you that it will cost only Rs 10,000-12,000. Even if the installation is successful, there are other issues that will need to be tackled, including engine tuning.

More important, the improvement in fuel efficiency may just not be worth the expense. An average mileage of 15 kmpl both in city and on the highway appears good. The extra kilometre or two that you may get from finer fuel injection may not be worth the cost and effort.

As for the new car that you may want to buy, between the Hyundai Santro Xing eRLX and the Suzuki Wagon-R, we recommend the former. The Xing eRLX has better aesthetics and gives a slightly better mileage in the city than the Wagon-R.

We are planning to buy a new sedan in the Rs 6-lakh-plus category. The two choices I am considering are the Tata Indigo SX series and Ford Ikon Flair. The Indigo with its new LCD screens looks really cool. How does it compare with the Ikon in terms of ride quality, safety, fuel economy and maintenance?

R. Rajiv

Yes, the Tata Indigo SX series does look good and the new interiors take the car's appeal to a new high. With the new gadgets and features thrown in, the Indigo will also seem to be much better value than the other entry-level sedans in the Rs 5-6 lakh category. But the Ford Ikon Flair is almost a lakh cheaper and so may not necessarily be a fair comparison. Again, if you are looking for a petrol-engined sedan, the Indigo may not be the better of the two, especially considering parameters such as resale value and refinement.

Comparisons between the two cars in terms of ride quality, safety, fuel economy and maintenance costs may not throw up significant differences. While both may be close to each other on these parameters, the Ikon's maintenance costs may tend to be marginally higher than the Indigo's. But the Ikon's overall finish quality is better. If you are attracted by the Indigo SX series' overall package, choose the diesel-engined SX instead of the GSX.

I own a Daewoo Matiz-SS, which I have been using for the past six years. I have not had any problems with the carso far. But my only concern is its re-sale value. I hear that Daewoo India is being taken over by GM, but not sure if this is true. Also, I came to know that GM is going to reintroduce a new, revised version of the Matiz. Is this correct? I like the car so much that I would be interested in exchanging my Matiz for a new one from a GM dealer if the car is re-launched. When is the new version of Matiz going to be launched?

Jayaprakash B. S.

Daewoo India is not being taken over by GM India. Rather GM is trying to selectively acquire the manufacturing assets of the erstwhile Daewoo Motor India. The process is still in a limbo and may or may not happen. GM may reintroduce the Daewoo Matiz, which has since been redesigned and re-badged as Chevrolet Spark in some overseas markets; but currently there is no information from the company confirming this possibility.

On the contrary, GM is reported to be at an advanced stage of testing and developing the Chevrolet Aveo, another premium compact hatchback that recently made its debut in China. Word on the street is that the company is likely to launch this car in the sedan and hatchback versions as its next product offering for the Indian market and that these will replace the Opel Corsa and the Corsa Sail.

So, waiting for the new Matiz/Spark to arrive may take longer than expected. If your car is not giving you trouble, then you may want to stick with it. Its resale value is unlikely to change even if GM launches a new version next year.

I am 5 feet, 4 inches tall. Which bike would you suggest for me? I prefer the Bajaj Discover. Will you recommend this bike for me?

Sunil Dutt

Given your slightly below average height, the Bajaj Discover may be harder to handle than the low slung bikes. The Discover features a flat board seat design and the saddle height is set taller than, say, the Yamaha Fazer. Given your physique, the Fazer may be the better option given your physique, as the riding position on this bike will be more comfortable than on the Discover.

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