The Hindu Business Line : Question & Auto

I am planning to buy a new diesel car in the Rs 7-8 lakh price bracket. I am looking at either the Hyundai Verna or the Ford Fiesta. Which is the better option? I have heard that the Fiesta's ground clearance is very low. Also, is there any other better choice apart from these two? My priorities are service, maintenance and mileage.

P. Venkata Ramana

In the mid-size diesel car segment, which is the best car in India if we consider the price, average mileage, safety, technology, comfort, after sales and service, resale value and style? I am contemplating buying the Maruti Swift VDi model. Will it be the right choice amongst the available small- and mid-size diesel cars in India?

A. Viswanathan

The `comparo' between the Hyundai Verna CRDi and the Ford Fiesta TDCi is not just in the mix of alphabets. The primary characteristics of these two engines differ substantially in real world conditions.

The Hyundai Verna's common rail engine is clearly the more powerful and torquey. But while the engine delivers a lot of top-end whack, what it lacks in is delivering enough of the two key performance indicators during low speeds and while in the lower gear slots. This means that in city traffic you may need to shift more often to the next lower gear to handle the low speeds. But on the highway the Verna has a clear edge over its competition.

The Ford Fiesta diesel, on the other hand, is a city car. Geared and powered to handle slow speeds well, the Fiesta will also tend to consume lesser fuel in city driving conditions. With just adequate power and torque, the Fiesta is not a great performer on the highway, but is a more focused diesel car for the city dweller. The Fiesta's ground clearance is 168mm compared to the Hyundai Verna's 170mm and the Honda City ZX's 160mm. So, there really should be no problem with its ground clearance being low.

The only other choice for a refined, reliable diesel car given the other expectations that you have listed will be the Suzuki Swift DDiS diesel.

It has got style, is a very driver oriented car, will offer class-leading mileage, handles brilliantly and is, finally, a Maruti. The only safety feature that you will not get in the diesel variant of the Swift compared to its petrol twin is the twin airbags.

The most important feature of the Suzuki Swift VDi diesel variant is, of course, the extremely refined DDiS common rail diesel engine that is manufactured by Maruti-Suzuki; this was originally developed jointly by Adam Opel (GM) and Fiat.

I am planning to buy a gearless scooter. I suffer from mild back pain. Do you think that the Honda Activa will be an apt two-wheeler for me?

Satyanarayana Bollu

Lower back pain due to prolonged usage of a two-wheeler is often the result of poor ergonomics and poor suspension quality. But some amount of back pain is inevitable in long distance travel on a two-wheeler, which many in India resort to due to the lack of a cheaper, more convenient transportation solution.

But it is also a fact that small-wheeled two-wheelers such as scooters and scooterettes tend to strain the back more compared to the large-wheeled ones such as motorcycles. Correct riding posture is crucial to ensure that prolonged two-wheeler usage does not lead to back pain.

One other factor that affects the rider's back and can lead to pain in the elbows and shoulder is vibration transfer from the two-wheeler's handle bar. This can be the quiet culprit that tires the rider quickly, even without him realising that it is the real reason for his fatigue. The overall refinement of the engine and vehicle build usually defines the level of vibration that gets generated.

But the level of impact that the two-wheeler, even a scooter, will have on the rider's spine and back can be reduced. For one, flat bed, rectangular seats (as in the previous generation of bikes and scooters) are clearly bad for the rider's back. The newer seats, stepped up and shaped ergonomically to accommodate the rider better, are the first step in reducing the impact on his back.

Suspension quality has also improved dramatically over the last five years, with most new bikes and scooters now featuring improved cushioning and load bearing capabilities. Basically with the broader, shapelier seats, combined with improved suspension, the impact of bad roads is also absorbed by the rider's thighs, thereby reducing the level of direct effect on the rider's back.

The Honda Activa's riding position is ideal for most riders of average Indian build. The broad moulded-seat and the suspension set-up that features spring loaded hydraulic dampers also manage to do a good job of softening the impact of bad roads. Overall, the Activa's package can be a good fit for your profile, if you are looking only at gearless scooters as an option.

But remember, the best scooter is finally just that, and some amount of impact on your back is inevitable depending on the distance travelled and the quality of roads in your city.

Sampath