Looking for a used car that motivates you to push it every time you drive? Here are our answers to the Ford Mustangs, the Chevy Camaros, and the Toyota Supras of the world:
a) Maruti Zen– It has arguably been the car with the best power-to-weight ration for several years now. Not only did this car handle like a gokart, but its platform had tremendous potential for modification. You will notice the car still being used for several motocross events, including drag racing. Lay your hands on the 2003 model for best results.
Estimated price– INR 35,000- 1 lakh
b) Gen 1 Honda City 1.5 VTEC– Back in the early 2000’s, this vehicle rapidly came to the forefront as the preferred car for the great Indian middle class. However, not too many know that this Honda City comes with a very tuner friendly engine, which can constantly be sent to its rev limit. The car also stands out with alloy wheels and twin exhausts, but do stay away from CNG setups.
Estimated price– INR 1-1.5 lakh
c) Volkswagen Polo 1.6– It has always been one of the most well balanced hatchbacks in the country, but drivers always felt the need for a more powerful engine. Volkswagen played a master stroke by introducing the 1.6 liter, 4 cylinder engine in this small car, coupled with manual transmission. The result? A 104 bhp land rocket!
Estimated price– INR 4 lakh
d) Hyundai Accent VIVA– One of the first vehicles to get a CRDI (Common Rail Direct Injection) diesel engine, it was every enthusiast’s dream. The car literally takes off after touching 1800 RPM and its acceleration in 2nd and 3rd gear is simply out of this world. The red color was the most popular shade for this car. However, you may want to keep it under control when at high speeds!
Estimated price– INR 50,000-1.2 lakh
e) Fiat Palio 1.6 GTX– It was easily one of the most stable and sturdy hatchbacks in the country till 2013. This rev happy engine could produce about 100 bhp of power, which made it India’s first “hot hatch”. Fiat Palio S10 was endorsed by none other than Sachin Tendulkar!
Estimated price– INR 50,000- 1 lakh
f) Skoda Laura TSI– Anyone who has ever owned this car would know about its unlimited tuning potential. It offers enthusiast a chance to enter the domain of forced induction at the cost of a hatchback. The later versions of this car were better built than the earlier ones, and were equipped with steering mounted audio controls. The 1.8 liter turbocharged engine in this vehicle must be treated with care, or it could cause considerable problems.
Estimated price– INR 1–5 lakh
g) Ford Fiesta 1.6 S- This is a rare car that not too many people in India know about. It came with special features such as wide tires and special suspension setup from the company itself. Though power was reasonable at 101 bhp, its agile handling was what truly made a mark amongst auto enthusiasts.
Estimated price– INR 50,000-2 lakh
h) Abarth Punto– This is the only hatchback in the country priced below INR 10 lakh which can rocket from 0-100 kmph in less than 10 seconds. Despite a massive 145 bhp under the hood, it wasn’t particularly loved by Indians, and Fiat’s aftersales only made matters worse.
Estimated price– INR 4-5 lakh