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#1
I bought my pre-worshiped Honda City ZX GXi in April 2011 on the day of the long awaited World Cup Cricket Final where India won the title.
So it is a very memorable acquisition throughout my life.
She served me very well till date however, after using her for more than 2 years (7 years old over all) I feel am outdated and its time for an upgrade.
As many people do, I was also thinking of a lateral upgrade initially.
After using niggle free & dependable Honda for more than 2 years, both my wife & me were scared if we will be satisfied with any other brand cars.
Still we looked out for options from other brands.
Primary features under consideration were Power, Safety, Reliability & Looks.
Cars that made into the final list were:
1. Chevy Cruze
2. Honda Civic
Went through all the used car portals and painfully realized that I will have to deal with the used car dealers/ showrooms only.
More than 90% of the ADs were from the used car dealers.
Even checked OLX & Quikr, they will mention in the ADs as owners and when we talk in detail, the truth emerges and ends up with dealer.
I was not very comfortable dealing with these guys : Why? - a few instances mentioned below.
Bad Experience 1:-
While dealing with the used car showrooms & agents, Over the phone they will say the car is great without even a slight scratch, but in reality, it would not even be close.
I was irritated with one of the very reputed dealers (with named of a river) who claimed a car to be scratch less and he also said he will bring it down to my place for test drive.
He also told that a service charge will be applicable if I turn down the deal just for silly reasons like not liking the Reg Num, car color etc & I agreed.
When the car came down, it had scratches all over, could spot more than 10 small dents, couple of major dents on the rear and driver door & right fender.
Another major dent was spotted on the roof as well, which seem like a hammer being dropped from 2nd floor or so, also rust was there.
They are saying that these are very common and the price quoted was unjustifiable - 9.8L non-nego for Civic VMT 2010 Oct car, done 28K KMs.
Worst part is that they charged me 500 bucks for bringing the car to my place.
Bad Experience 2:-
I saw a Civic VMT in one of the biggest luxury used car dealers in BTM area, really liked it and took a test drive, it was in a real good shape.
2010 Aug, 23K on ODO, They quoted 10.1L and negotiated to a final of 9.75L; I was almost convinced to get it (though I knew its overpriced), but did not confirm, just walked out that day.
I was really worried if someone will give an advance and take it.
It was on a Tuesday that I went to showroom, was regularly checking the used car portals and saw the same car price revised on that Friday.
I was shocked to see the newly quoted price, it was 8.75L - Can you believe it..?
I called them and asked what is going on, they were like the price is revised and all jargons.
Was really lucky that I did not pay the booking amount on Tuesday, infact was planning to drop in and do so on Saturday.
I did not pay advance that day due to a reason, the car was not Bangalore registered, it was a Mangalore side car.
Then I realized there is something wrong and took the car to the HASS for checkup.
Told the dealers that am taking it to Whitefield Honda and went to Dakshin Honda, along with one person from the dealer.
They did a full checkup, I went into the workshop and was with the workers looking under the chassis and was asking question to them.
Then came the workshop supervisor charging at the workers.
He called a few of them and took to the corner and was talking,later came to me and told I shouldnt be inside there.
I told him my situation and said what am looking for.
Initially I thought he was a demon but later he turned out to be an angel, though the workers got some scolding that day.
He came to me and started explaining me his observations one by one, in detail, with proofs.
The car has met with some major accident, the back side was completely redone.
The dealers were initially saying it is an accident free car, neatly maintained, etc.
They even said the car though was registered not in Bangalore, it is maintained here.
That claim was also busted the moment we stepped into the HASS as no service history was available in B'lore for the car.
Saw a few more Cruzes and Civics but all were overpriced.
Cruzes were over 11L and Civics were over 9.5L - I was looking at 2009 or newer models in both.
Though I was ready to shell out upto 9.5L to 10L, never came across any example worth spending that much.
I can see almost all the cars that I looked at, almost 6 months back, in the used car portals, even today.
Am glad that I did not fall into any trap.
Then came in a few questions & comments from my Mom, on this topic.
Why do you want to spend 10L on a car now, what is the problem with the current one?
Why are you looking at a used car when you are willing to part with upto 10L, why not look for a new one?
If you buy a used car now, for 10L, will you use it for the next 5 to 8 years?
She knows my inclination towards the big cars/ trucks, SUVs - Safari & XUV to be precise and I knew she is targeting that.
I started thinking then, Well... will I be satisfied with Civic for the next 5 years?
Considering the fact that new face-lifted Civic is expected in another year or so?
Will I be satisfied with Cruze, I will not get the new Cruze for anything less than 12L-14L, which means I will only get the previous generation car for my budget.
So made the decision, after a lot of discussions, debates, contemplations, etc, that its gonna be a new car.
Thanks to my Mom for giving that trigger.
Though I had the new car thought in me, was not confident to shell out more than 12L on car.
None of the new cars below 15L made us interested.
Details on the new car shortlist & final decision coming soon..!!!
So it is a very memorable acquisition throughout my life.
She served me very well till date however, after using her for more than 2 years (7 years old over all) I feel am outdated and its time for an upgrade.
As many people do, I was also thinking of a lateral upgrade initially.
After using niggle free & dependable Honda for more than 2 years, both my wife & me were scared if we will be satisfied with any other brand cars.
Still we looked out for options from other brands.
Primary features under consideration were Power, Safety, Reliability & Looks.
Cars that made into the final list were:
1. Chevy Cruze
2. Honda Civic
Went through all the used car portals and painfully realized that I will have to deal with the used car dealers/ showrooms only.
More than 90% of the ADs were from the used car dealers.
Even checked OLX & Quikr, they will mention in the ADs as owners and when we talk in detail, the truth emerges and ends up with dealer.
I was not very comfortable dealing with these guys : Why? - a few instances mentioned below.
Bad Experience 1:-
While dealing with the used car showrooms & agents, Over the phone they will say the car is great without even a slight scratch, but in reality, it would not even be close.
I was irritated with one of the very reputed dealers (with named of a river) who claimed a car to be scratch less and he also said he will bring it down to my place for test drive.
He also told that a service charge will be applicable if I turn down the deal just for silly reasons like not liking the Reg Num, car color etc & I agreed.
When the car came down, it had scratches all over, could spot more than 10 small dents, couple of major dents on the rear and driver door & right fender.
Another major dent was spotted on the roof as well, which seem like a hammer being dropped from 2nd floor or so, also rust was there.
They are saying that these are very common and the price quoted was unjustifiable - 9.8L non-nego for Civic VMT 2010 Oct car, done 28K KMs.
Worst part is that they charged me 500 bucks for bringing the car to my place.
Bad Experience 2:-
I saw a Civic VMT in one of the biggest luxury used car dealers in BTM area, really liked it and took a test drive, it was in a real good shape.
2010 Aug, 23K on ODO, They quoted 10.1L and negotiated to a final of 9.75L; I was almost convinced to get it (though I knew its overpriced), but did not confirm, just walked out that day.
I was really worried if someone will give an advance and take it.
It was on a Tuesday that I went to showroom, was regularly checking the used car portals and saw the same car price revised on that Friday.
I was shocked to see the newly quoted price, it was 8.75L - Can you believe it..?
I called them and asked what is going on, they were like the price is revised and all jargons.
Was really lucky that I did not pay the booking amount on Tuesday, infact was planning to drop in and do so on Saturday.
I did not pay advance that day due to a reason, the car was not Bangalore registered, it was a Mangalore side car.
Then I realized there is something wrong and took the car to the HASS for checkup.
Told the dealers that am taking it to Whitefield Honda and went to Dakshin Honda, along with one person from the dealer.
They did a full checkup, I went into the workshop and was with the workers looking under the chassis and was asking question to them.
Then came the workshop supervisor charging at the workers.
He called a few of them and took to the corner and was talking,later came to me and told I shouldnt be inside there.
I told him my situation and said what am looking for.
Initially I thought he was a demon but later he turned out to be an angel, though the workers got some scolding that day.
He came to me and started explaining me his observations one by one, in detail, with proofs.
The car has met with some major accident, the back side was completely redone.
The dealers were initially saying it is an accident free car, neatly maintained, etc.
They even said the car though was registered not in Bangalore, it is maintained here.
That claim was also busted the moment we stepped into the HASS as no service history was available in B'lore for the car.
Saw a few more Cruzes and Civics but all were overpriced.
Cruzes were over 11L and Civics were over 9.5L - I was looking at 2009 or newer models in both.
Though I was ready to shell out upto 9.5L to 10L, never came across any example worth spending that much.
I can see almost all the cars that I looked at, almost 6 months back, in the used car portals, even today.
Am glad that I did not fall into any trap.
Then came in a few questions & comments from my Mom, on this topic.
Why do you want to spend 10L on a car now, what is the problem with the current one?
Why are you looking at a used car when you are willing to part with upto 10L, why not look for a new one?
If you buy a used car now, for 10L, will you use it for the next 5 to 8 years?
She knows my inclination towards the big cars/ trucks, SUVs - Safari & XUV to be precise and I knew she is targeting that.
I started thinking then, Well... will I be satisfied with Civic for the next 5 years?
Considering the fact that new face-lifted Civic is expected in another year or so?
Will I be satisfied with Cruze, I will not get the new Cruze for anything less than 12L-14L, which means I will only get the previous generation car for my budget.
So made the decision, after a lot of discussions, debates, contemplations, etc, that its gonna be a new car.
Thanks to my Mom for giving that trigger.
Though I had the new car thought in me, was not confident to shell out more than 12L on car.
None of the new cars below 15L made us interested.
Details on the new car shortlist & final decision coming soon..!!!