Festival season is also when vehicles manufactured before and during the monsoon season end up in the market, and if you are not careful, you could end up with wheels that have been in transit or lying out in the open, for months
Festival season is a great time for manufacturers when they hope to move maximum stock which is why they offer a variety of ‘schemes’. Festival season is also when motor vehicles manufactured before and during the monsoon season end up in the market, and if you are not careful, you could end up with wheels that have been in transit or lying out in the open, for months.
Recently, we were out looking for a new car, and got an almost unbelievable deal from a top global manufacturer. This is a manufacturer who keeps talking about the strong West European heritage and technical attributes. They have also been talking a lot about improving their well-deserved, but rather unfortunate, infamy in after-sales and service.
A ‘new’ vehicle is one that is no more than 30 days old from its date of manufacture, add a maximum of 15 days for transportation. So anything that came off the shop-floor before 30-45 days is to be considered ‘stale’. Unfortunately, manufacturers and dealers try their best to move ‘stale’ stock, by hook or by crook, to unwary customers.
For customers who buy vehicles regularly, like fleet operators, finding out whether a vehicle is ‘new’ or ‘stale’ is very easy. They score huge discounts on ‘stale’ vehicles and that too only after intensive inspections and bargaining at every step. For the average customer, however, it is easy to get tricked; so here are some points to consider:
• Buying a new colour is one way of ensuring you get a ‘new’ car. This does not happen frequently though.
• Try not to buy anything manufactured just before, or during, the monsoons.
• Look for the VIN (vehicle identification number) you will find it at various places—on the car’s documents, under the bonnet, on a sticker in more than one window and stamped on the chassis in a visible place—usually next to the engine. You can then decode the VIN using any number of online tools and know the month and year of manufacture.
• Ask for and take a copy of the excise gate pass for the specific vehicle.
• Look carefully at the tyres and try to spot the manufacturer’s code; take a photo; and ask your tyre shop to let you know when the tyres were made. Anything over 75-90 days is not acceptable.
• Take a photograph with flash along the sides of the vehicle as well as on other flat surfaces, this is when high resolution helps; then expand on your monitor to look for weather- and age-related imperfections.
• Remove the rear seat and look for possible corrosion under it. Likewise, front floorboard under the foot-pedals and on the passenger side.
Remember, if the ‘deal’ or ‘scheme’ during the festival season looks too good to be true, then it is probably hiding something.
Petrol Car Sales May Revive
The pendulum appears to be rapidly shifting towards petrol cars again, especially if the price differential between the two fuel options keeps reducing and you account for ownership cost. Diesel engines are inherently more complicated than petrol engines, therefore, spare parts as well as consumables for engine maintenance cost more.
There is, however, something to be said about the ‘grunt’ and sheer torque pumped out by diesel engines, especially in low RPM city driving. Add to that better efficiency per litre, especially in traffic jams. When all you need is an air-conditioner with wheels, there is nothing that beats a diesel car hatchback.
Yet, my next car is likely to be petrol-operated and there will be many choices soon.
(Veeresh Malik started and sold a couple of companies, is now back to his first love—writing. He is also involved in helping small and midsize family-run businesses re-invent themselves.)
Would be grateful for the advice because I have just placed order for my new car and do not wish to be taken for a ride.