The Hindu Business Line : Fuel efficiency hinges on discipline driving

I OWN a Maruti Zen VXi (2005 model). I find the car's suspension and seats hard. The car is bumpy in off-road conditions and village roads. Is there a way by which I can improve the suspension, say, by changing the shock absorber or the seats?

C. B. Senthilkumar

The Maruti Suzuki Zen's suspension is not really meant to take on rough roads and for off-road conditions. The suspension set-up is meant for blacktop roads and will, at best, provide a ride that attempts to ease the effect of pot-holed roads. The seats of the Zen are again meant to offer firm support, and so you may find it less comfortable than your living room couch. But these are comfort levels that are set based on the expected driving conditions in most Indian cities.

Fixing the suspension settings is tricky. Setting it too soft may offer a more cushioned ride, but you will run the risk of the shock absorbers bottoming out and getting ruined in the long run. Setting it too hard will transfer more of the road's undulations into the passenger cabin and make the ride bumpy.

So, there has to be a balance, to reduce the possibility of either of the two happening.

Now, that is reason for choosing a certain tyre size and profile for any car. A larger, wider wheel may lead to increased vibration transfer from the road.

This may require a firmer suspension setting and could lead to lower fuel efficiency. The same issues will crop up if low profile tyres are chosen.

On the other hand, a smaller wheel or a higher profile tyre may leave huge gaps in the car's wheel arches which will affect its aesthetics.

So, changing the shock absorbers or for that matter the seats may be too costly an exercise for the marginal improvement in comfort likely in the kind of conditions you have mentioned.

The easier and cheaper alternative would be to accept the car's limitations and look for a slightly better ride comfort by adding aftermarket seat covers that offer extra padding. But care must be taken that the covers do not affect the anti-submarining properties of the seats.

Similar-sized alloy wheels and thicker walled tyres may also offer a bit more of comfort.

I booked a Suzuki Swift VXi two months ago and am waiting for its delivery. I have been hearing from friends and colleagues that the Swift's mileage is not as high as expected (12 kmpl plus), but an abysmally low 7-8 kmpl. These may be rumours, but I want to know what mileage the car actually gives. It has been on the road for some time now and there must be feedback on the mileage figures.

Also, if I fit the ZXi's wheel and tyre combo (tubeless, broader and lower-profile tyres with alloy-wheels) to my VXi model, will there be any mileage-loss?

Arpan Ray

Mileage numbers will vary depending on the specific car, the owner's driving style and road conditions. So, the Suzuki Swift's fuel efficiency is also likely to be affected by all these parameters. Overall, the Swift can be expected to offer a mileage average of about 10 kmpl in city and about 15 kmpl on the highway. But it must be remembered that when we mention this mileage average we are still talking about a certain degree of restrained driving. Quick acceleration and deceleration will lead to a fall in mileage, as will be the case if you are going to be in second and third gears in crowded traffic conditions.

If you were to swap the Swift VXi's 165/ 80 R14 tyres and 14-inch wheels with the broader, low-pro 185/ 70 R14 tyres and alloy wheels of the ZXi, the mileage loss will be marginal.

The gain from alloys will probably be set off by the small loss of mileage having low-pro tyres will lead to. The other aspect of the swap will also be that while the alloys and the broader, low-pro tyres give you better road grip and handling, it will also lead to an increased feel of the road and its undulations.

I live in Delhi and am planning to buy a mid-size sedan. My budget is Rs 7-9 lakh. I drive about 1,500 km a month and plan to own the car for about five years. The prime considerations for me are the car's total lifecycle cost of ownership (including upfront price, maintenance costs, fuel cost and resale value) and a driving comfort. Rear seat comfort is not a key concern as the car will mostly be self-driven. I would prefer in-cabin space to boot space, as I normally do not carry a lot of luggage. What will be a suitable car for me from the current pack or from one which is to be launched within the next six months? Also suggest if a pre-owned Skoda Octavia 2004 for Rs 8-9 lakh would be a good option.

Prakash Sharma

Going by your primary considerations, we would have recommended the Honda City, but for the fact that you are also looking for a bit of peppy performance. The other car, which will probably suit your requirements and will not also feel sluggish or underpowered, will be the Hyundai Accent Viva.

The Accent Viva will be able to offer a roomy interior, while its notch back styling gives it a short boot. Maintenance costs can be expected to be relatively low compared to competing models in the non-entry level sedan category. And though resale values may not be best in the class, it will still be decent enough.

What is more, both the Accent Viva petrol and the diesel driven Viva CRDi will be able to offer more value for money features than the corresponding Accent 1.6L GLS petrol and the Accent CRDi. Also, though the Viva twins are priced marginally higher than the regular Accent, dealer discounts will be more easily available for the same.

A 2004 model Skoda Octavia may be a good option to consider if you are purchasing the same from reliable sources and if your do not intend to part finance the used car, which then could turn out to be an expensive affair.

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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