Planning to buy a
new car? Here are some essentials to consider.
Pic Courtesy : Jeep - India
Buying a new car is wonderful experience, but for many people
the process can turn out to be quite an ordeal. This gets intensified by the
choices available, whether they are buying a car for a first time or exchanging
an old car for a new one.
When you are a first
time buyer
Here is a step by step guide for first time buyers.
1.
The
first issue to tackle is to decide on the budget.
2.
Once
this is done, the next will be to decide whether to go for a bank loan or use
your savings. If it is bank loan decide on the time period (1, 3 or 5 years) and
also decide on the EMI (equated monthly instalment) to see to that it doesn’t
pinch your pocket. In case you feel the EMI is on the higher side try to pay a
partial amount as down payment so that it reduces your EMI.
3.
Decide
on the size of the car, whether to go for a hatchback or a saloon (small,
medium or large car).
4.
The
next thing to be decided is whether to go for a Petrol or a Diesel car. If your
daily running is predominantly city driving and involving less than 30 kms it
is better to buy a petrol car. If you’re daily running is more than 30 km/day
then it is better to go for a Diesel car.
5.
Many
people have bad vibes about diesel cars, egged on by bad memories from their fathers
and/or grandfathers days. All they remember is that it is smelly, smoky, slow,
noisy, and with a lot of vibration and high amounts of maintenance. However, present
day diesel engines are efficient, have very low noise levels, are low on
maintenance and are quite fast too.
6.
Next
is to decide on the brand of the car. Do not decide the brand based on the approval
of the neighbours/friends/relatives or on the basis of resale value. If the
decision is based on the resale value alone, we really don’t need to choose
from so many brands. Only one brand would be enough like the good old days. Decide
on the basis of what you like and not on your mechanic’s choice. You might have
the car for 3 to 5 years, so enjoy the car you love and drive without regrets. If
you have a car for more than 5 years even the popular car models would lose
their resale value. So at the end of the day, the resale value simply does not
matter.
7.
Next
is to decide on the specs of the car. For example, Indian brand Maruti has a nomenclature
of calling the low end model as LX or LD, middle end as V and top end as Z.
Decide what suits your budget and what specific fittings you would like to have.
When you are exchanging
your old car for a new car
When it comes to this option many are confused, as they don’t
know when is the right time to sell their old car and buy a new one. Let’s
consider the many scenarios.
1.
First
you have to decide whether your old car is worth repairing or if it’s wiser to replace
it.
2.
If
your car is somewhere around 10 years, it is time to replace it even if it is
well maintained .One reason is that many metropolitan cities are forcing the
car owners to dispose of their cars of the road at a 10 years period and in
some cities it is 15 years.
3.
If
your car body is getting severely rusted it is time to change. Gone are the
days when, if a car is rusted, one takes it to a tinkering shop to get it
tinkered and runs it for the next 2 years.
4.
If
you have a petrol engine car of less than 1ltr capacity and your engine is
close to a 1 lakh kilometres or the age is more than 5 years, replace it. Small
capacity petrol engines are more stressed out than the larger capacity cars,
hence wear and tear is more in small cars.
5.
Sometimes
a particular model would have been discontinued, in that case replace unless
you are sentimental about the car.
6.
In
some cases you would have purchased the car at a discounted price, but
maintenance is untenable because of high cost of spares. In this case, replace
it after the loan period or after the extended period of warranty.
7.
Never
retain a car after 2 lakh kilometres (even if it’s a diesel car), because the
overhauling cost will be more than the resale value. Generally speaking Diesel
engines are hardier than Petrol engines, they can withstand stress at 80 %
level for a long duration. Petrol engines cannot withstand stress for long
duration. In the present day turbo engines, the turbo charger can be a costly
affair, and sometimes costs can escalate up to Rs 50,000/-.
Tips of caution for new car owners:
1. Before starting the car for the day, always open the
bonnet. Check the engine oil level, radiator water level, brake fluid, coolant,
windscreen washer level etc. Always keep a watchful eye for any leaks. Even
though it is not necessary in the modern cars, it is better to be safe than
sorry.
2. Rats usually raid the cars bonnet and chew on something. A
precautious attitude will prevent unwanted breakdowns and costly expenditure.
Modern cars uses lot of electronics and even though it does not require you to
open the bonnet on a daily basis it is better to be safe .Keep the surroundings
clean. Keep dried tobacco leaves in the bonnet and replace it after 2 or 3
weeks. You could also try some of the rat sprays are available in the market.
Do not leave leftover food items in the car.
3. Never take your
eyes of the road while driving. Do not get distracted by anything in the car
like cell phone, videos, etc. It is better to stop the car while talking on the
phone or you can take the call later or via Bluetooth.
4. Some of the horns that are banned in our country are
musical horns, Air horns and Electro-pneumatic horns. The legal limit for horns
is only 75 decibels. Mostly manufacturers fit the legally allowed horns. Some
low budget cars are fitted with only a single horn like that of a bike horn. In
such a case, you can replace the original with better horns.
5. If your car is equipped with central locking facility do
not leave the car without taking the key out, chances are you might be locked
out
6. Always wear the seat belts.
7. Do not fix ultra dark sun control films in your car.
Legally it is banned in our country.
Moreover, it affects your peripheral view, side view and it is difficult
to reverse especially during night time.
8. If your car is equipped with a reverse camera learn to use
it. Also it is better to check with your naked eye, because there are always some
blind corners.
9. If you are driving
through unknown towns ask for directions preferably from policemen, or petty
shop keepers. Do not ask strangers standing on the road as mostly they will
confuse you. If you’re using your cars or smart phone’s GPS, use it with
discretion.
Pic Courtesy: Google Images
Wish you a happy motoring
experience with your new car!
