I own the Virtus 1.5 GT. My question relates to driving the car for short distances. I’ve heard that diesel engine cars need to be driven on an open road occasionally to clean up the DPF filter. Do I need to do something similar for my turbo-petrol car, or is it okay to drive it in city traffic at slow speeds for extended periods?

Autocar India

•4w

Petrol cars don’t have a DPF filter, which, as the name suggests, diesel particulate filter- only applies to diesel cars. Your turbo petrol doesn’t have any such issues to worry about.

What you can do to keep your Volkswagen Virtus engine in top shape is to warm the engine properly on a regular basis. The trouble with very short trips is that the engine doesn’t warm up, which can lead to moisture and small amounts of unburnt fuel accumulating in the oil over time, which isn’t ideal for long-term engine health.

But a 20-30 minute run is enough for the engine to reach full operating temperature, which will keep everything running fine. Also, if you stick to your oil change schedule, with the correct VW-spec oil and decent fuel, your engine can last a lifetime.

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Hari

•7w

I’ve been using a 125 cc Bajaj Discover 125 ST since 2012. However, its braking and narrow tyres make me nervous when riding on the highway. In 2018, I bought an Apache RTR 200 4V. Though I liked its crisp performance and strong brakes, it felt too heavy for me. A couple of near accidents made me sell it the next year, and since then I’ve been using only the Discover 125 ST. Now I want to upgrade to another 125 cc bike with better braking, slightly wider tyres, similar kerb weight, and a kick starter.

Autocar India

•11h

If you want wider tyres in the 125cc sporty commuter space, you'll have to go for one of the sporty-looking, feature-loaded options like the TVS Raider, Hero Xtreme 125R and Honda CB125 Hornet. All have at least single-channel ABS on the higher variants and tyres that are grippy enough to handle all sorts of road conditions you might encounter, both of which should help you stop in a controlled manner. You've mentioned that having a kick starter is a priority for you, and of the bikes listed above, only the Hero has it as standard. However, these bikes are thoroughly modern, and their electric starters will work in just about every situation you find yourself in. So we'd advise you not to restrict yourself and potentially miss out on a high-quality product because of an antiquated notion like that.

TVS Raider

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Vikrant

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I am looking to upgrade to a bike after riding an Activa for almost 10 years, which served my daily commute of about 15 km on most days. I want a motorcycle that offers good comfort, decent mileage, and is suitable for occasional long rides with a partner. I am 5 ft 6 in tall and weigh 75 kg. I am interested in bikes like Royal Enfield and Bajaj Avenger, but I’m unsure if these will be compatible with my physique in the long run. Please advise.

Autocar India

•11h

Since you have mentioned you are looking for retro-styled, easygoing motorcycles with occasional two-up riding, here are your options. First and foremost, you should take a look at the Royal Enfield Hunter 350. With its low seat height and fairly manageable size, the Hunter will prove welcoming for a smaller person like yourself and will have decent comfort with two people onboard. For similar reasons, you should also consider the TVS Ronin. It is also a much lighter machine than the Hunter, which will give you confidence when riding the bike, especially with a pillion. If you want something with an even lower seat height, then bikes like the Royal Enfield Meteor 350 and Goan Classic 350 are what you should be looking at. They have good suspension, but owing to their feet-forward riding position, a lot of the jolt gets transferred to your back over bad stretches of road. A test ride should help you decide which is the correct bike for you.

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BILAL AHMED

•1d

I need a 7-seater car for my family. We drive more than 40 kilometres daily on village roads. Please suggest a good, fuel-efficient, and reliable car.

Autocar India

•12h

Given your requirements, you should go for the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga. The Ertiga has a spacious cabin and comes powered by a 103hp and 1.5-litre petrol engine. It has a claimed mileage of 20.51kpl with a 5-speed manual gearbox and 20.3kpl with a 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox.It can even be had in a CNG version that offers lower running costs than the petrol. Since the Ertiga is a Maruti product, it will also be reliable and stress-free to maintain. Maruti Suzuki Ertiga prices range from Rs 8.80 lakh to Rs 12.94 lakh (ex-showroom, India).