BEAT IT!

q: I travel around 1,000km a month in the city and would like a diesel hatchback. I’m seriously considering the Chevrolet Beat diesel. Please advise.

Akshay Joshi

a: The Beat diesel is a good option as it’s a decent city car, thanks to its compact size and very driveable engine. It also gives the best mileage in its class and is reasonably priced.

SUPER STEERING

q: Can I fit my Maruti Suzuki Zen VX, 1999 model, with a power steering? If yes, what will it cost?

Samson

a: It is not advisable to fit power steering in the Zen. A few private garages have tried fitting it in a few cars but I don’t recommend it. The best option would be to sell the car and invest in a Zen VXi, which comes with factory- fitted power steering.

POWER PUNCH

q: I own a Bajaj Pulsar 135LS. It has been six months since I bought my bike and it’s running smoothly, without too much hassle. However, I am not happy with its low-end torque. In comparison, I found that my friend’s Bajaj Discover 150 DTS-i is a better puller for commuter-style riding. Should I modify my bike to take on the cylinder and head of a Discover 150 DTS-i to gain additional punch from the engine at low revs? Will this have any adverse effect on the engine?

Pradeep Nagendran

a: No, it’s strongly advised that you avoid any such modification as this will surely end up leaving your bike with major and unwanted side effects. The Bajaj Pulsar 135LS is engineered to use the engine it comes with. Its frame, suspension and brakes are all designed to cater to the current engine weight, performance and other critical criteria, hence tinkering with the engine will lead to performance issues.