General Tips on Buying a Car

The title poses such a question due to a justified and valid reason. The reason being that no one wants to take a teeanger’s word(who has never driven a car) on how to buy a car. But as my fellow MSians proved by rating my review on Buying a Used Car "Very Useful", age really is no bar on mouthshut. So, now if you are still here, let’s get onto the procedure of buying a car and how you can save some money when buying cars.  Firstly, make a list of the features your car needs to have. This will inevitably decide your budget. Also, do not expect too many features in your car unless you are buying a rolls Royce Phantom. For example, if you want a diesel car with decent boot space and power steering along with decent fuel efficiency, head for the Tata Indigo. If, on the other hand, you want a more opulent feel but cannot wait for the new Accent or Skoda Fabia to arrive, head for the Honda City. In this way, categorising features and distinguishing between needs and wants allows you to hone in on your dream car.

*WHAT IF I OWN A HOTEL?

You are luckier than you thought. Hotel owners who register foreign exchange earnings can import cars into the country without paying too many duties. This scheme is the Export Promotion Capital Goods Scheme or **EPCG scheme. The only drawback? The cars are given yellow license plates like cabs and taxis. But just look at the discounts on offer: The Honda CR-V can be bought for almost half its price and the Chevrolet Optra becomes cheaper by a few lakhs. To know more about this scheme, visit your local dealer. This scheme is not as rosy as it sounds however, but can save you a lot of money.

*SO, WHICH IS BETTER: PETROL OR DIESEL?

*Long gone are the days when petrol cars had the nippier performance and diesel cars generated more torque. Today, the gap has been bridged with innovative technologies like the CRDe from Mahindra and the CRDi from hyundai. Both are based on the revolutionary common rail diesel format, which delivers a far more satisfying experience than normal diesel engines. Also, alternate fuel sources should also be considered now that the day and age of the Rs50+ per litre is well and truly with us. The Honda Insight and the Toyota Pruis, though not available in India, have done a remarkable job in making alternative fuel sources more mainstream.

FOR THOSE TO WHOM BUDGET IS NO BAR

If you can really afford to spend around Rs 2 crores or more on a car, then the price of petrol doesn’t affect you much, does it? So, you have cars like the BMW M5, Porsche Cayman S and the Mercedes SL to choose from? Well, to them I say this: a Ferrari or Lamborghini(wow.drool) makes little sense in India because of low ground clearance and deamnd for high octane petrol. Instead, opt for a rugged SUV so that atleast bad roads do not hinder your car’s satisfactory meter. But alas, parking is a big pain for these cars. So opt for a sedan like the Merc S Class or the BMW 7 series(wow.drool).

*WHICH CARS ARE ON THE ANVIL IN INDIA?

*A host of manufacturers will be bringing their newest and most stylish designs to India in the next 18 months or so. Watch out for these awesome cars listed here:

1. New Hyundai Accent(expected launch:Dcember 2006) Rs7 lakhs

   
   




2. Maruti Swift Diesel(expected launch- not clear) Rs 6 lakhs

   
   




3. Renault Logan(expected launch- soon) Rs5.6 -Rs 7.5 lakhs

   
   




4. New Maruti Zen(expected lauch-soon) Rs 3.5 lakhs

   
   




5. Skoda Fabia(expected launch-not clear) Rs 6.5 lakhs

   
   

*WHICH ACCESORIES/SAFETY FEATURES SHOULD I INSIST ON?

*1. 2 Airbags

1. Seat belts for 4 passengers

   
   




2. ABS

   
   




3. Tubeless tyres

   
   




4. Adequately positioned and sized rear view  mirrors

   
   




5. Driver aids like Traction Control and Power Steering

   
   




6. Head restraints should be there on both front and rear seats

   
   




7. Child Safety features are necessary and helpful if a small child is expected to sit in the car

   
   




8. Crumple Zones, door pillars etc. should be proven in crash tests.

   
   




9. Electronic Stability systems are helpful too.

   
   

All in all, buying a car is a delicate process and make suire that you test drive a car for atleast 20 minutes to check AC quality, handling and ride comfort. Alos, deciding to take a loan should be a wiser choice. Do not be fooled into buying cars that are on the way out(like the current Accent or Zen), as dealers will be wanting to push you towards these. Buy only if heavy discounts are offered. Also, by reading auto magazines like Autocar India, you will come to know about the latest market trends and discounts.

Do not blindly believe anything and everything the dealer tell you. The skeletons in the closet can be exposed by asking fellow users of the car or experts who test these cars regularly. Advertisements on TV and other media too, cannot be trusted. Read consumer-writtten reviews on MS and professional tests in magazines to arrive at a conclusion.

~WIshing You  Happy Miles Ahead~