Reposting the question I asked a few weeks back. Could you please give your expert opinion? I own a 2020 Tiguan TDI Highline. The practicality of the SUV, with its interior space, top-notch build quality, fuel economy, AWD capability, and driving pleasure, is second to none. VW is no longer selling the 2.0-litre TDI engine with the DQ500 gearbox, so I plan to keep this car for another five years. With the warranty period completed, I would like to remap the engine to 180+ bhp with 400 Nm torque. Will the DQ500 gearbox be able to handle this? Do I need to install a bigger turbo? What other precautions should I consider (suspension, brakes, etc.)?

Autocar India

•13h

This usually happens because the engine and the automatic gearbox are cold. Right after a cold start, the engine idles a bit higher, and the gearbox oil is still thick. When you slot into reverse at that moment, the reverse clutch grabs with more force than it does when warm, so you feel a quick jerk. Once the engine settles and the oil warms up, the shift into reverse feels smooth.If the jerk is small and happens only on the first cold start, it is generally normal and not harmful. Try this: start the car, keep your foot firmly on the brake, wait 5 to 10 seconds for the idle to settle, then shift to R. Do not touch the accelerator while selecting reverse. This should remove the thud.If the jerk is strong, comes with a clunk noise, or keeps happening even after a short warm-up, get it checked under warranty. Ask the workshop to run a true cold-start test after the car sits overnight and to check a few simple things: gearbox oil level and condition, any transmission software updates, engine idle speed when cold, and the engine and gearbox mounts. These can also cause a harsh engagement.Based on what you described, it sounds more like normal cold behaviour than a fault. Try the short pause on start-up. If it still bothers you, have Citroen log it on a cold morning, and they can fine-tune or fix anything if needed.

Citroen Basalt

Autocar India

•19h

Planning to keep it for 10 years and want hassle‑free ownership for that use, the Innova Crysta 2.4 diesel manual in the mid VX trim is a safe pick. It fits long family trips and daily duty, and Toyota’s track record on this model over many years is strong.On service and parts, you are on solid ground. The Crysta is used by many families and also by taxis and company cars across India, so Toyota keeps parts well stocked, and most jobs are straightforward at their workshops. Even outside shops can source common parts easily, which helps if you plan to keep it for a long time.Resale value is among the best in this class. If you sell at 5 to 7 years, you will likely get more than you would for most rivals because buyers trust the Innova for long life. If you keep it for the full 10 years, the value will still be decent in most states, though it will drop faster as it ages.On rules, the current Crysta on sale meets the latest BS6 Phase 2 norms. One key point: in Delhi‑NCR, diesel cars must come off the road after 10 years. So your 10‑year plan is fine there, but resale near the end will be weak. In most other states, private cars can run 15 years before fitness tests start.Trade-offs to note: it is manual‑only, so heavy traffic can get tiring. Also, if most of your drives are very short, the diesel may need an occasional longer run to keep its diesel particulate filter happy.Overall, yes, for long, worry‑free use, the Crysta is a safe choice.

Toyota Innova Crysta

Autocar India

•2d

What you experienced is typical of how a DCT behaves, and it can catch you out on steep inclines. In your Kia Seltos DCT, there is no traditional torque converter to “creep” forward like a regular automatic, so on a steep U-turn when you come off the brake, the car can momentarily roll back before the gearbox engages and builds drive. If you then accelerate quickly, there can be a slight delay before power comes in, which is likely why the car rolled back and tapped the wall.To avoid this, the key is to control the car on inclines rather than relying on the throttle alone. Use the brake firmly, then ease onto the accelerator smoothly instead of stabbing it, giving the gearbox a moment to engage. If your car has hill hold, make sure it is active, as it will hold the car briefly when you release the brake. In tighter situations, such as steep U-turns, it is also safer to use the handbrake method by holding the car with the handbrake, then releasing it as you start moving forward. Keeping a slightly larger gap behind you in such situations also helps.The only drawback with DCTs is exactly this behaviour in stop-go or incline conditions, as they are not as intuitive as torque converter automatics.

Kia Seltos