Automotive

Buying a New Car? Here are 10 Tips to Keep More Money in Your Pocket

Published

7 years ago

September 8, 2017

fwd life Buying a New Car Here are 10 Tips to Keep More Money in Your Pocket

Words and images from: Raisa Elizabeth Mathew

With a plethora of options available in today’s auto world right from a line of manufacturers, makes, models, trims and versions, the process of buying a car weather new, used or certified has become painstakingly stressful.

Gone are those days when you just had to drive down to the dealer and choose from not more than three to five models they have. But today, if you want to test drive all the cars before buying, it would take forever and you don’t want to over look the important things.

Here are the ten tips for your new car purchase that will land you on the best deal:

Do Your Homework

Decide on your budget. Go to your banker and discuss the options, rate of interest and tenure. Get your loan pre-approved. Accepting finance options suggested by your dealer might be a tad bit expensive at times. If you do pit one bank against the other, you would find it interesting how it gives you the power to bargain over the interest rate. Most dealers have their own financing, which are mostly beneficial, but not always. Hence keeping a check helps.
Choosing the right car is the most important part in the whole process. What is the main utility of the vehicle? Do you need a petrol or diesel vehicle or an electric? Would a compact or premium hatch suffice or are you looking for a SUV? Again, do you really need a SUV or a MUV will serve your purpose? After narrowing down options based on your needs, pick at least two vehicles. Calculate the price, reliability, insurance, cost of ownership and resale.
Find out the dealer’s cost for the model, make and trim you have decided to buy. Get quotes from multiple dealers and online for the same car. Pit them against one other for a competitive price and do this in the third or fourth week of the month when the sales person is under pressure to achieve his monthly target.
Do not opt for a make or model which is about to be phased out soon. For example, buying any of the Chevrolet models would turn out to be an adversity as the company had called it quits in 2017 and closed one of its units in Gujarat. Now, the used car market is flooded with various Chevrolet models at dirt cheap prices. This isn’t the first of its kind. If we roll back the calendar, Peugoet too pulled out of India leaving thousands of consumers stranded, and all of us remember the Daewoo motors closure. It is better to stick with the market leaders like, Suzuki, Mahindra, Hyundai and Tata because they are less likely to shut down operations in India. This factor greatly influences the resale value of your car as they depreciate very fast owing to the lack of service, support or spares.

At the Dealer’s

fwd life Buying a New Car Here are 10 Tips to Keep More Money in Your Pocket 2

Raisa Elizabeth Mathew is a digital journalist and a photographer. A life-long generalist, shewrites for various blogs covering digital entertainment, social media and tech. She can be followed @raisamathew

Shop around to know the discounts various dealers offer. They are usually competitive as the auto industry has many players fighting for their slice. However, make sure lower price doesn’t means less features. Get everything in writing, verbal commitments are mostly not honoured. If you get a straight 10K discount, it is mostly the extended warranty, basic kit and other accessories that have been removed from the car’s package. Take a friend along who would mostly suggest other dealers and act uninterested in the deal 😀 Helps add pressure on the sales person.
Take your own sweet time to test drive. Drive all variants of the model you are looking to buy. An outside eye is best suited in such occasions. When you are all exited and pumped with enthusiasm, your friend or colleague will do the observing and weighing for you.
Always be ready to walk away if you don’t like the deal. This gives you more leverage and helps you bag a better deal. The dealer is not your friend; don’t be fooled by their warm smile and unlimited coffee. Every sale the sales person makes lands him a commission and every add-on, an incentive.
It is okay to buy the fully loaded top trim stock car as it is advantageous and blends with your upholstery quiet well. But accessories such as the seat covers, floor mats, sill plates, visors etc. and most importantly, speakers for your infotainment system are best bought from the authorised dealers who have a variety of options to choose from as compared to buying them from other vendors. These are the places the outside vendors work a bit cheaper, but may mess up the car’s wiring.
The extended warranty, zero depreciation, theft protection and return to invoice are a few features left to your choice depending on your geographical location and the kind of neighbourhood you live in. If it is a secure neighbourhood where your car might not get stolen and it is less likely a landslide or flood would damage your car beyond the point of repair, you could opt out of this which is just a couple of thousands usually but it is better to avail such protective measures for your car. Keep in mind the Chennai floods, post which flood affected Audis, BMWs, Mercs and Jags selling cheaper than the premium hatches. If you didn’t have these added covers, you could consider yourself doomed in such cases.
Don’t think twice to pay for safety features as it may cost you dear or god forbid, your dear ones. ABS, EBD, BA, EPS and airbags have become standard features in mid trims of most of the models retailed by all manufacturers.

Even after you got all these things right, check your car before registration for any make ups and KMS done. Check if whatever was promised is delivered before you drive out of the dealership, and to fill the complementary five of ten litres of fuel. Happy motoring!

Automotive

Mahindra Thar Roxx: Where Power Meets Style

Published

4 months ago

August 25, 2024

Reshma Vivekanandan

The long-awaited Mahindra Thar Roxx has finally arrived, and it’s making waves in the automotive world. With a blend of rugged performance and modern style, this 5-door variant is a game-changer in the off-road segment. Whether you’re an adventure enthusiast or someone who appreciates a vehicle that commands attention, the Thar Roxx is designed to impress.

The Thar Roxx presents a more comfortable and family-friendly alternative to the regular Thar, offering enhanced features and greater value. It’s the perfect solution for car buyers seeking an SUV that’s capable of going anywhere and doing anything while still being practical and comfortable for the family. The Mahindra Thar Roxx is priced competitively, with the base model starting at Rs. 12.99 lakh, and the top model going up to Rs. 20.49 lakh (average ex-showroom).

The 2.2-litre 4×4 mHawk diesel engine in the Mahindra Thar Roxx offers two power outputs 150bhp/330Nm with the six-speed manual transmission and 172bhp/370Nm with the six-speed torque converter automatic. It features Crawl Smart for precise throttle control over obstacles and IntelliTurn for executing tight U-turns or navigating tricky off-road trails. With a water-wading depth of 650mm, and impressive approach and departure angles of 41.7 degrees and 36.1 degrees respectively, it’s well-equipped for challenging terrains. The 4XPLOR terrain modes, including Snow, Mud, and Sand, further enhance its off-road capabilities. Driving the Thar Roxx is both smooth and exhilarating, whether accelerating from a standstill or overtaking other vehicles just press the accelerator, and it effortlessly overtakes almost anything on the road. The automatic gearbox is particularly noteworthy for its smooth shifts, quick response, and alertness, making it ideal for both city and highway driving. The Thar Roxx easily reaches and cruises at higher triple-digit speeds, with the diesel engine and automatic transmission combo offering excellent efficiency when cruising between 95-100kmph, making it a great highway SUV. City driving is also a breeze thanks to its light and responsive steering, which makes tasks like parking and performing U-turns effortless. The visibility is decent, the ride quality improves as speeds increase, and its straight-line stability is impressive. The brakes are particularly confidence-inspiring, with a strong bite and a progressive feel that enhances the overall driving experience.

The steering of the Mahindra Thar Roxx feels unresponsive and unnecessarily heavy around the center at three-digit highway speeds, requiring constant corrections to maintain a straight line. It also shakes and feels harsh when driving over bumpy or pothole-ridden roads, and tends to bounce continuously on undulating road sections at higher speeds. The brake pedal has a significant amount of travel before the braking effect begins, which can be disconcerting. Additionally, the automatic Thar Roxx lacks paddle shifters, which might be a drawback for some drivers. Once you exceed 100kmph, there is noticeable wind noise inside the cabin, and driving consistently at these speeds can cause a substantial drop in fuel efficiency.

The Mahindra Thar Roxx is offered in seven distinct colors: Tango Red, Stealth Black, Everest White, Deep Forest, Nebula Blue, Battleship Grey, and Burnt Sienna.

Automotive

The All New Mahindra Thar 5 Door

Published

10 months ago

February 13, 2024

Reshma Vivekanandan

The automotive industry is abuzz with excitement as Mahindra introduces the much-anticipated All-New Thar 5-Door variant, taking the iconic off-roader to new heights. The most recent update on Thar reveals fresh information about its features, interiors, and design. Here is everything we currently know about the larger Mahindra Thar.

The three-door model on which the five-door Mahindra Thar is based may continue to influence its design and feature set. Highlights of the features could include aggressive wheel cladding, cruise control, remote keyless entry, a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system, TPMS, power windows, square tail lamps, 18-inch alloy wheels, and a roll-cage. It is anticipated that this Mahindra SUV will be powered by a 2.2-liter Hawk diesel engine and a 2.0-liter Stallion turbo-petrol engine. Options for transmissions are probably going to include six-speed manual and automatic models. Prices for the Mahindra Five-door Thar are anticipated to vary from Rs. 15.00 Lakh, depending upon the version chosen.

The 5-door Thar’s overall appearance is almost unchanged from the smaller model, with the exception of a few tiny grille adjustments and an updated round headlamp signature. Additionally visible from this angle are the front parking sensors. In addition to the two extra doors, the side profile features 19-inch alloy wheels that are designed differently from the 3-door model. The spare wheel is still installed on the tailboard and the rear profile appears to remain unaltered.

The new dashboard’s dual-tone black and brown theme is the first thing you see inside the vehicle. Additionally, this dashboard has a larger touchscreen entertainment system (maybe a 10.25-inch one), resembling the one found on the upgraded XUV400 electric SUV. This screen is expected to include Mahindra’s ArdenoX connected car technologies in addition to wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

This version, with five doors, is expected to compete with the Force Gurkha and Maruti Suzuki Jimny five-door models.

Automotive

Mustang Forever

Published

3 years ago

April 27, 2022

Contributor

It isn’t often that we see a classic muscle making waves even after being a standard mark for about 6 decades, but the charisma it holds on is far more impactful than what we see in the vehicles of today.

The 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 is clearly the wet dream of any American muscle lover, just look at everything it has. The 2-door coupe FR layout car had an initial Windsor V8 in it as the engine in its 1st generation, while the current successor has a V8 Coyote in it. The 4 transmission car of the late 60s is still a statement piece which can be seen in many movies owing it to be either the inspiration for the modification or the devil itself.

The devilish beauty which has a 250 horsepower, capturing a top speed of 206 kmph making it go 0-100 km in just 8 seconds. This truly is a beast of the classics that shouldn’t be overlooked.

Words By: Goutham Satheesh