Owning a new car is dream of most of people in world. There are few factors to consider while buying a car.
Budget
- Do your calculations and decide amount of money you want to shell out without giving a dent in your pocket.
- If you are planning to buy vehicle on EMI, calculate the monthly premium that you are willing to pay without over-troubling your finances.
- Also, it is recommended to pay a sizable down payment amount so that your monthly EMI’s shrink.
Which car should I buy
There are many factors that influence your car buying decision
- Number of members in family
- Purpose of buying (daily commute/ weekend drive)
- Where you are going to use car (city/ highways)
- Which car manufacturer showroom is in vicinity of your house
- If car is going to be used mainly for driving in metro cities it’s better that you buy a hatchback or a premium hatch, smaller the size of car more easier it is to maneuver and find a parking lot
Petrol, Diesel or CNG
Petrol
- Petrol cars are cheaper to maintain
- Petrol engine’s are less noisy
- Petrol cars are less fuel efficient
- Petrol engine’s need the driver to change gear more regularly, for example when overtaking, to make the most of the engine’s power – but some people will actually prefer this style of driving
Diesel
- Diesel engines are more efficient and use 15−20% less fuel meaning cheaper running costs.
- Diesel cars historically used to have a slightly higher resale value too, but this is changing with time
- Diesel cars offer more low-speed torque which means they have better overtaking power and towing ability
- Diesel cars are more costlier to buy than their petrol counterparts
- Gone are those days where diesel used to be cheaper than petrol
- Diesel engine’s tend to be slightly noisier, but this problem is improving
CNG
- CNG is clean fuel. Natural gas produces very less hydrocarbon emissions than petrol and diesel
- CNG is cheaper
- CNG engine’s require less lubrication
- Limited number of CNG outlet
- CNG tank acquires large amount of space in boot
Manual or Automatic Transmission
Manual Transmission
- Manual transmission cars are less expensive to purchase, if you are having tight budget, then it’s better to opt for manual transmission
- Manual transmission car’s require very little maintenance, and generally maintenance and repairs end up being significantly less costly
- Manual car’s are more fuel efficient than their Automatic counterparts
- Manual transmission give drivers greater control over the vehicle.
- Driving a Manual transmission car in bumper to bumper traffic is a strenuous task
Automatic Transmission
- Automatic transmissions, by comparison, are much simpler and take drivers significantly less time to learn
- Most new drivers are taught that the safest way to drive is to keep both hands firmly on the wheel at all times. This is possible when driving an automatic transmission vehicle, but is not possible with a manual transmission.
- Automatic transmission reduce risk of stalling
- Automatic transmissions allow the driver to move through heavy traffic without having to do more than push a single pedal all thanks to Creep function which essentially enables the car to move forward at a very slow speed say 5 or 6 kmph when the car is in Drive mode and the brake pedal is not pressed.
- Automatic cars are more expensive to buy, whether new or second-hand. As they’re more complex, repairs are more expensive if automatics go wrong. So it’s always advisable to buy extended warranty while opting for automatic transmission
Safety Features
- It’s the most crucial but often ignored factor while choosing any car has to be the safety features
- But in India people focus more on “Kitna deti hai (how much mileage is given by car)” than that of safety features
- While the Indian government has been making the safety norms more stringent for four-wheelers so it’s now mandatory for car manufacturer to have dual airbags, ABS, and reverse parking sensors, as part of standard equipment (but are they sufficient enough to save you from impact)
- Make sure you check for additional safety features like Electronic Stability Control, Brake Assist, Electronic Brake-force Distribution, number of Airbags to name a few
- Car’s safety also depends on Thickness of metal sheet used (which is reducing day by day to increase Mileage), Crumple zone’s, Thickness of A-pillar and so on.
Discount
Here comes the most important point which all new car buyer look for
- A majority of automobile manufacturers introduce monthly discounts and schemes which change on a timely basis. Keep yourself updated with the latest offers
- Sometimes the offers and discounts vary depending up on the dealer location. So it’s important to do a research on this bit before hitting the showrooms
- Don’t reveal your exact ability to pay since sales people are trained to push your budget a notch higher if you name price right off
- Just figure out which model, variant and engine configuration you need and stick to it
- When it comes to old car exchange, go to a multi-brand used car dealer to get it valuated and then negotiate accordingly
- Never hesitate to ask for extra discount
Best Time To Buy
- Many people opt to buy car during festive season and think that they would get best discount during festive season it’s right to some extent
- But there are few disadvantages of buying car during festive season such as Sales advisor have target to complete in lesser period of time so you won’t get proper treatment at the time of delivery and will have to wait for your delivery for longer time
- If you still wish to buy your car on occasion of festival then make sure you reach showroom in their opening hours
- But if you really want to make good saving on your car purchase, please buy it in December
- The reason being, dealer and manufacturer both make their efforts to clear current year stock
- Customer do not prefer old model in next year (starting Jan). Year of manufacturing for a car, though NOT very imp in terms of resale, is considered a factor by many customer
- Due to which Manufacturer and dealer will give huge discounts in Dec – Its a benefit for you as well as to them
- So the hack is, you book your car in Dec (or complete the payment process) and get it registered in Jan (any date). This way you get a car at much lesser rate and the recent “year of registration”. Also IMPORTANT part, its the “year of registration” that matters the most while resale – if at all you want to resale.
Pre-delivery Inspection (PDI)
There are some necessary precautions to be taken before driving away in your new machine.
Before Registration
- It’s recommended to visit the dealerships stockyard and check your car prior to registration
- Once car is registered in your name, there is little you can do
- Check the car manufacturing month / year, especially when buying in the first quarter of any year
- Best way is to ask the dealer for the “Form 22” certificate (issued by the manufacturer). You will find the engine / chassis numbers on this certificate, while the month / year of manufacture are on the “road-worthiness” certificate (part of Form 22)
- If the odometer is disconnected, in all probability, the allocated car has been used as a test-drive vehicle
- Also check for any repair jobs / body damage, damage to some cars is inevitable in transit and most repair work is glaringly obvious
Preparations
- Confirm the date of delivery with your dealership. It is best to go there only after the car has been prepared and is ready. If you have a preference for a particular day / time (for auspicious reasons), inform the sales person
- It’s recommended accepting delivery in broad daylight, since the dark can conceal a lot. You may also not get good service in the evening since dealership personnel are in a hurry to wrap the day up
- Carry all required documents with you. This may include forms, receipts, ID’s etc
- If any payment formalities are to be completed, carry along the relevant Cheque / Cash / Credit Cards
- It’s always a good idea to take a relative / friend along with you for suggestions, observations and comments
- Take a camera along
- Carry a CD / cassette / pendrive if your car is equipped with a stereo
- Take a token gift along for the sales advisor
At Showroom
- Be courteous with staff. It’s a nice happy moment and the sales staff is as excited as you are. Treat them with respect, and you will get better service.
- It’s sales advisors job to acquaint you with your new car’s features and how each one operates. Ask him to demonstrate the car fully, and top to bottom, in order to understand how everything works on the vehicle
- It’s recommended meeting the service manager and getting familiar with the service center facilities
Final Inspection
- Check the car again. A lot could have happened between the pre-registration inspection and today. It’s best to walk around the car and ascertain that the car is super clean. Look for any signs of repair work / damage such as paint difference, dents etc. Even the interiors should be squeaky clean
- Check that all lights and electric accessories are working fine
- Confirm that all the accessories you ordered are fitted on the car
- If you are planning to fix any electronic accessories to your car it’s advisable to buy it from showroom itself, because car manufacturers don’t give warranty if your car catches fire due to short circuit in aftermarket electronic accessories
- Check that the spare wheel is fresh. And that all related tools (spanner, jack etc.) are present. Check if wipers are working properly, floor matting, first-aid kit & hazard sign
- What is the mileage on your car? It should not be more than a 100 km (or in the whereabouts) for most brands
- Ensure that there is enough fuel in the car. At least to get you to the nearest petrol pump
- Somehow, most new cars are delivered with over-inflated tyres by the showroom. Check the tyre pressure and make the necessary adjustments
- Tally your car’s registration number on the R.C. Book, with the number plate.
Documentation
- Read the paperwork. Don’t take anybody’s word for anything
- Make sure all the blanks in the contract are filled in
- Invoice (Check that the Chassis and Engine number of the car matches with the Invoice and / or Challan)
- Sales certificate
- All payment receipts
- Registration book or temporary certificate (Some States). Is your name spelt correctly? Are the car chassis / engine number matching with the actual?
- Insurance: Ensure that coverage is valid and active
- Original PUC certificate. This is valid for one year
- Owners Manual
- Duplicate Keys
- Original warranty with all relevant dealership stamps
- Extended Warranty (If opted for)
- Warranty of third party items such as battery, tyres etc
- Roadside assistance Contact details
- Business cards of dealership and service personnel
After Sales Service
It’s always advisable to get your car serviced from an authorised service station and all maintain service records
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Disclaimer- This blog is published by and reflects the personal views of the Carograaafy team, in their individual capacity
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