S. Muralidhar

I want a bike with loads of performance and good riding comfort for long weekend trips. I have two bikes in my mind — the Bajaj Pulsar 180 DTSi and the Hero Honda Karizma. Is the Rs 11,000 premium over the Pulsar 180 DTSi justified for the Karizma? How do the two bikes measure up considering parameters such as build quality and maintenance costs, as well as the warranty period? Does the fixed fairing restrict the Karizma's ability to take sharp turns at night?

Projjal Kumar Roy

The Karizma is one of a kind from Hero Honda. No other bike from Hero Honda features the fixed fairing combination that leaves the handle bar and forks free to turn within the gap in the panels housing the fairing, headlamps and instrument cluster. The large headlamps and elongated body panels may be a bit distracting and will take some getting used to. But in terms of performance and effectiveness it will be no different from the other bikes. In fact, the large 35/35W halogen headlamp (same as in the Pulsar) in the Karizma will perform just as good as other bikes under night riding conditions, with only a small blind spot on either side past the headlamp beam.

The Karizma is a big bike with unique looks. The sculpted body panels and the classy, chrome-plated exhaust pipe give it a much larger look. It also features diecast wheels and a more powerful engine compared to the Pulsar 180. Despite the points in favour of the Karizma, the biggest difference between this bike and the Pulsar is really only its looks. A comparison of the other performance parameters between the Karizma and the Pulsar 180 DTSi comes up with little that is dramatically different between the two. The Karizma's engine is nearly 45 cc bigger than the Pulsar 180 DTSi's but is only about one bhp more in terms of peak power. Both the bikes have design themes that may be appealing to different buyers. Build quality and maintenance costs will be similar. So, the decision really depends on your likes and dislikes. The Karizma may still be a better choice given its unique design and the bike is also currently available at a lowered price.

I own a Fiat Uno, which has given me excellent service, ad want to upgrade to a Fiat Petra. My second choice would be the Ford Fusion. Which one would you recommend?

Shankar Prasad

The Fiat Petra will be a great choice as an upgrade from the Uno you currently own. You may choose either the 1.6-litre petrol engine or the Petra version that is powered by the 1.9-litre diesel engine. Both these are class leading engines with their own performance features. But the important rider that you may want to consider before you shop for a Fiat car is resale value.

Fiat's sales have been dampened by the financial problems that the company's parent has been facing during the last two years.

This has, in turn, affected the resale value of the company's cars in India. But that is no reflection on the company's future prospects in India. Fiat India has also begun reworking its dealership network and servicing quality, which was also an issue in the past. So, if resale value is not too much of an issue go for the Petra.

On the other hand, the Ford Fusion, which is to be launched by early December, may be a car worth waiting for. But remember the Ford Fusion is a two-box car, unlike the Petra, which is a sedan. The running costs of the Fusion will also be higher than that of the Petra Diesel. Pricing for the Fusion is expected to be in the Rs 4.5 lakh-Rs 6 lakh range.

We are planning to buy a car. It is most likely to be either the Suzuki Baleno or the Honda City.

The car will be used for commuting an average 90-100 km on the highways and an additional 5-10 km inside the city everyday.

The parameters of significance for us are cost of maintenance, performance, fuel efficiency, interior space, cost of spares and so on. And should I also consider the Ford Fusion and the Hyundai Getz?

Neeraj Jain

The Ford Fusion and the Hyundai Getz belong to the large hatches category. But though both are two-box cars, the interior space and legroom will be nearly as much as is available in most entry-level mid-size sedans.

But you will miss a decent sized boot. Both these cars will be cheaper than the Suzuki Baleno (starts at Rs 5.6 lakh) and the Honda City (starts at about Rs 6.6 lakh). A comment about the cost of spares and maintenance may not possible to make this early, but running costs may not be necessarily lower, though they are smaller cars.

Of the two — Baleno and new City — our choice will be the Honda, for its excellent fit and finish quality, its practical and contemporary design and the class leading fuel efficiency that it can offer. Given your expected highway usage, the City may be able to offer a good 14-15 kmpl. Honda's dealers may quote a higher mileage, but this number may be the more realistic fuel efficiency average that you will get. The Baleno suffers from lower resale value and higher maintenance costs.

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