The biggest challenge I’m facing is not choosing the right car, but deciding on the fuel type
BHPian Mr. Nobody recently shared this with other enthusiasts:
I currently drive a Grand i10 petrol that has done around 91,000 km and will turn 10 years old in two months. While the car has served me well, I’m looking to upgrade to an automatic vehicle that is more reliable, comfortable over Gurgaon’s deteriorating roads, and is safer, as my current car does not have ABS or airbags.
With constant changes in policy and regulations, it’s hard to plan for the long term. I want to keep my next car for 10 to 12 years, but each fuel option comes with its own set of issues.
Concerns with Petrol:
The Ethanol policy is vague, and with E30 soon, even the E20 petrol engines will be very inefficient after 5 years.
Concerns with Diesel:
There’s the 10-year rule, which means I would need to sell the car in 8 to 9 years. On top of that, every winter brings anxiety about sudden diesel bans in the NCT. Since I don’t have a second vehicle, it’s bothersome. I do love diesels, and the Kia Sonet Diesel Auto is lucrative otherwise.
Concerns with EVs:
I live in an apartment on the 8th floor with no EV charging setup, and I may move to a different apartment in the next few years. Charging outside the home kills the cost efficiency with unstandardized prices. Also lack of proper EVs from Hyundai and Suzuki, which value customers and give peace of mind for a decade. I can do with a minimum range of 250 km, and eagerly awaiting the e-Vitara as the Creta EV is a few lakhs more than my budget.
My car is still in good condition, though it does need some work soon. This includes replacing the front suspension, getting new tyres and brakes, and fixing a starter issue. Should I fix my current car, which already took 30k to fix in the previous service and use it another year, hoping that the e-Vitara turns out good and that Hyundai or Kia introduce a more budget-friendly EV option?
If I decide to go for a petrol car now, I’m considering the Brezza automatic or the Grand Vitara automatic. Would love to hear the thoughts of fellow Team-BHP members on this.
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