Carbonated or power-packed?!

IT'S A dream of every middle class household. Once, the effect of possessing a two-wheeler and testing its endurance levels by plonking the entire family becomes next to impossible after sometime, the mind invariably yearns for a four-wheeler.

For a looong time, the choice more or less was restricted to the Ambassador or Fiat or the Herald. As you can see, it didn't require mulling for making a choice. Their advanced versions came and went, air-conditioning was something which was a novelty, but buying them was still not as easy.

Computers and Marutis came in the '80s and successfully changed the script of the four-wheelers. Suddenly, riding is much easier, finances are available and `graduating to a car from a two- wheeler' is not difficult anymore.

Just when one thought a car means Maruti Suzuki, the Koreans landed doing the unthinkable - of giving the Japs a real competition with their Matizs, Santros et al. Owning a car was as easy as `have money and drive away'. But, the range available at the moment could make one tear his hair what with Maruti coming up with its own fresh batch of models - Wagon R, Zens.

Which gives better mileage, whose looks are better, which looks cool, what will the neighbours say? If this looks mundane, try this bombardment by the car companies: engine performance, gears, brakes, interiors, leg space, back space, seats, safety, etcetra.

To set right the confusion, the companies decided to ask the customers to judge it themselves as to which car is superior. Maruti called it grandiloquently, `The Judgement Day' - You drive, You decide'. It put the Wagon R, Matiz and Santro and asked the customers to decide which one to buy by test-driving each one at the Exhibition Grounds.

"Wagon R is a more powerful car, its shape is radical, its more comfort riding. Morever, it is six inches higher than any other car," says Vinay Saboo, Managing Director, Saboo. "But, it's the customers satisfaction which matters most. We have made this event a fun-filled one for the entire family with games for the kids too," he adds.

While the `Wagon R Challenge' is going on, the Daewoo chaps are not lagging behind. They held their own challenge round at the Necklace Road. Even they had the same ensemble of cars - Wagon R, Santro and Matiz. "We have been conducting this event in many parts of the twin cities. This is to give the customer a real feel of comparing and contrasting," explains V. Mohan, Sales Officer, Ranisha Automobiles.

Obviously, Matiz people say their car was the first to come out with multi-fuel injections, sturdy body, more stylish and such ones. "Besides, it won the most beautiful small car, adjudged the best on the `BBC Top Gear'...." trails on Kumar, another sales officer. When asked, one gentleman, who tried all three, exclaimed: "Whew! I am more confused than ever, now." More choice means more headaches, huh!!!

By V. Geetanath

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Section  : Southern States
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