The Hindu Business Line : Question & Auto

I want to buy a new premium sedan and I fancy the Toyota Corolla H1. But the new Toyota Corolla Axio has already been launched in Japan. I am wondering if I should go for the Corolla H1 or wait for the Axio. When do you think the Axio will be launched in India?

Piyush

Going by the fact that the current Toyota Corolla is fast losing market share to the Honda Civic, the former's biggest competitor, the Indian subsidiary should want to replace the model as early as possible. Toyota Kirloskar Motor, the Indian subsidiary, has been quietly working on a few new models, including a possible small car, that will hit Indian roads by 2009. The Toyota Corolla should also be on the company's replacement list, but it may be a bit too premature to comment about the Corolla Axio rolling out of the Toyota plant near Bangalore.

The current Corolla model may be tweaked and redesigned a bit in the interim, but a full model replacement will be the best way for Toyota to handle the competition that it is now facing from its Japanese counterpart. Between the two — the Civic and the Corolla — clearly the Honda car is the better designed and has better interiors.

The new Toyota Corolla Axio is a much more aggressive and handsome looking car than its predecessor. It was launched in Japan last December and is currently sold only in that market. Toyota must be planning a phased roll out in other countries where the Corolla is one of their most important models.

Until there is greater clarity about when Toyota will want to launch this new version of the Corolla in India, you may have to choose between the existing trim levels of the Corolla, if you are convinced that this is the car for you. On the contrary, you may want to consider the Honda Civic, which is, as yet, a better overall package for its price.

I plan to buy a bike and have my eyes set on Royal Enfield offerings. But I am undecided on what to opt for — the 350cc Machismo, the Enfield Electra 5S or the Thunderbird. As I would be mainly riding the bike in the city, handling would be a major factor, and the other considerations are maintenance and after-sales service. A few of my friends are also suggesting the new upcoming 220cc bike from Bajaj.

Debashis Basu

All the bikes that you have mentioned as your options within the Royal Enfield Bullet range share the same engine and mechanicals. All three feature the same 350cc four-stroke engine and five-speed gearbox. The bikes all share the same chassis and dimensions too, so they will behave almost similarly on the road. However, there are differences between the bikes in the design department. The Machismo and the Electra 5S are more upright, and feature simple handlebars and a raised-saddle seating position. The Machismo has a few sporty, big bike add-ons such as glass visor and stitched side storage bag. On the other hand, the Thunderbird features a relaxed, cruiser-style design with curved, raised bars and a deeply stepped seat for an easier ride.

If you are not used to big bikes and if you are of average build, our suggestion will be for you to choose the Thunderbird. With a lower seat height, handling the bike will be easier and manoeuvring through city traffic will be relatively easy. Riding comfort is also marginally better. And most important, it is the best looking amongst the existing set of bikes from Royal Enfield.

Yes, the Bajaj Pulsar 220cc is due to roll out in a couple of months. Bajaj had initially attempted to launch the Pulsar 220 in select markets, but now plans to make a phased nationwide launch in the next about two months. The Pulsar will not be in the same mould as the Enfield bikes. The big Bajaj bike will attempt to target young buyers who are keener on making an aggressive style statement. The Pulsar 220 will attempt to offer adequate power for a bike in its class, but it is unlikely to be too focused on power at the expense of looks. The Pulsar 220 will also be loaded with a number of new-age technology features to woo young buyers.

On the other hand, the Enfield trio features a more laidback style that has an old-world charm. The Pulsar 220 will be an interesting bike and may be worth waiting for.

I want to know if running a 2000 model diesel engine with BSIII diesel fuel will result in better fuel efficiency and lower maintenance. I am using a 2000 model TATA Safari 483 DL TCIC.

Suman Nandy

There is unlikely to be any significant improvement in the mileage of your vehicle on switching to Bharat Stage III (BSIII) quality diesel fuel. There may be a marginal improvement in terms of a slightly lower incidence of a few maintenance issues, including engine deposits.

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