going strong
q: A friend recently came upon a sparsely-driven (14,000km), well maintained 2004 Palio 1.6 GTX. His daily running will be around 10km and he is aware of the car’s fuel economy. Can a 1.6 GTX be upgraded with a CNG or LPG kit? What price should he offer?
Rakesh Nalavade
a: The 1.6 Palio is one of the best hatchbacks to drive, thanks to its strong 100bhp twin-cam engine. It would be an absolute waste to throw that all away by converting the engine to CNG or LPG. Since the daily running is only 10km a day, it’s really not worth converting to gas. Your friend should leave the engine as it is and enjoy the car to its full potential. And for a five-year-old Palio, you should not be paying more than Rs 1.2 lakh.
a swift choice
q: I plan to buy a Maruti Swift VDi. Will an upgraded or face-lifted version be introduced soon?
Vasanth Shastry
a: The Swift has already gone through a minor face-lift and though it could be refreshed again, the changes are likely to be very minor. An all-new Swift is being developed but it’s expected only in 2011. Go for the Swift VDi if you like it but be prepared to wait as there is a waiting list for this model.
conversion woes
q: Can I convert my 4x2 Ford Endeavour into a 4x4?
Maneesh Malhotra
a: Converting your two-wheel-drive Endeavour to four-wheel-drive is a complicated process, beyond the scope of a regular garage. Even if you could find a specialist who could do it, the cost of the conversion wouldn’t make sense. Your only option is to sell your Endeavour and look for a slightly used 4x4 model. Alternatively, buy the refreshed Endeavour that has just been launched with 4x4 and automatic transmission.
a new face
q: I want to buy a new car for city driving. My budget is Rs 3 lakh to Rs 3.5 lakh. I’m considering a Santro e-GLX. But is the new Santro good? Which other cars should I consider?
Nikhil Savla
a:The new Santro is a face lifted version of the older version. It includes some improvement in the quality of the interiors. There are no changes under the hood. If you found the previous Santro appealing, then you’ll like the new face-lifted model.
