Tata Motors has created a resounding splash in the Indian car market with the launch of teh all new Zest. A compact sedan with decent features, the Zest has made headlines for its sub 5 lakh starting price and its spacious interiors. The Zest will compete with the Honda Amaze and the Swift Dzire. The Hyundai Xcent has also been launched pretty recently and makes for a good option in this segment as well. All in all, the compact sedan segment has been heating up with more and more manufacturers slated to bring in a slew of vehicles on the roads.
What may well work in the favour of the Tata Zest are its roomy cabin, powerful engine, decent build quality and decent features. The low price, of course, is the biggest USP in this regard and will definitely draw more buyers to this loveable compact sedan. Are you thinking of purchasing the Tata Zest? You might want to do a rethink on your purchase and opt for quality used car options instead. A Tata Zest would cost you upwards of 5.5 lakhs and may even go up to 6 lakhs depending on the model you opt for. This is mainly because of the additional charges that are levied on cars. Though taxes are lower owing to the Zest’s sub 4 mm category, you still have to shell out a high amount in insurance, taxes, and octroi and registration charges. As a result, your total investment may even cross 6 lakhs if you opt for the high end Zest model. Is this worth it?
While some would definitely answer positively in this regard, it is a fact that you can get a plethora of used car models at the price that you pay for the Zest. Used car markets are booming in India as customers are steadily relishing the prospect of having to pay substantially less for their favourite vehicles in addition to being able to avoid taxes, charges and all other financial levies. These act as a deterrent towards indulging in one’s favourite models and a quality used car can be yours at an unbelievable price in most cases as a result!
In addition, buying a used car means that you do not have to worry about registration, insurance or taxes for a particular period of time. Most used car owners already pay these charges in advance and you can save money on these as well. You can also get access to a wider selection of vehicles. You can even buy a quality SUV or luxury sedan at the price of the Tata Zest in the used car market. When it comes to sedans, at the price of a Zest, you may chance upon some fabulous models like the Volkswagen Vento and the Honda Civic if you are really lucky! There are multiple other sedans that are available at this price point including the Maruti Suzuki SX4, Honda City, Hyundai Verna and even the Skoda Rapid in some cases. If you are really lucky you might land models like the Honda Accord and Skoda Octavia within 6 lakhs as well if you are willing to stretch that far!
The Honda City is one of the most popular models in the used market for sedans in India with models usually available between 2.5 lakhs to 5 lakhs or a little more. The Verna is another stylish sedan that always finds takers in metropolitan cities. If it is a rugged sports utility vehicle that you want, you can find options like the Mahindra Xylo or even the Toyota Innova at a budget of 5-6 lakhs. The Xylo and Innova are tried and tested SUVs and will give you fabulous value for money on your investment. Ideal for large families, these vehicles can be yours at jaw dropping prices online!
Alongside, you can also take a look at the Mahindra Scorpio or Bolero. Both are fantastic vehicles and immensely popular in India. They are used on almost all terrains and this makes them fantastic bets for true blue SUV lovers. If you are really fortunate, you might also find the Renault Duster at the price point mentioned above in addition to vehicles like the Ford Eco Sport and the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga. These vehicles are almost akin to new cars and will give you years of countless service. They will be loved by your family members as well and will also help you enjoy countless driving trips with friends and family!
A decent used car will always be a better investment as compared to the Zest. The amount of money you spend for the Zest can always be invested in a vehicle that ranks at least two to three categories higher in comparison. You can indulge your love for a luxury sedan or rugged SUV without breaking the bank! This is the biggest benefit offered to you by online classifieds portals. These portals are a boon for customers looking for quality options at decent prices all over India. You are sure to find fabulous choices on classifieds portals and that too, in your nearest city location! You should go through the posted advertisements and pick the ones you find best. Get hold of the contact details of sellers and negotiate with them directly. You do not have to face any harassment on account of brokers or dealers in this case. You can also put up your own advertisement detailing your own requirements and ideal budget. Do not forget to mention your contact details as well. This will help you find your ideal vehicle without any hassles. Without buying an all new Tata Zest, you can actually spend on a luxury, premium vehicle that will definitely fulfil your long standing aspirations and delight your family immensely in the bargain. You can also get further discounts on asking prices if you negotiate wisely with used car sellers. Check out your car before finalizing the deal in question.
Honda is a highly trusted brand in the Indian market because of its high fuel efficiency, attractive looks and performance on road. Honda is known for its iconic sedan, the Honda City although it has introduced cars in almost all segments now- hatchback, MPV and SUV. The hatchbacks available from the house of Honda are the Honda Jazz and the Brio. Both cars are quite popular among buyers because of the assurance of Honda that they bring to the table.
The Honda Jazz was introduced in the country in the second edition in the year 2009. It has a petrol engine which was 1.2L in capacity and ofi-VTEC type. The car did quite well the first year of its launch. However, rising price of petrol slowed down the sales of this car and then Honda had to reduce the price of the car for tackling rapid dieselisation. The Jazz was discontinued to make room for the compact sedan, Honda Amaze, which has been made available in both petrol and diesel versions.
The Jazz was always an appreciated car because of the space available within the cabin and the large boot space which was ideal for weekends away. The Jazz showed the refinement that Honda is so famous for. If you have wanted to buy the Jazz but were unable to for the steep price, then a pleasant surprise awaits you in the form of the Honda Jazz with diesel engine. The sixth edition of the vehicle shall be launched in India and its position would be just below the Honda Amaze.
The latest Honda Jazz has been put through a makeover and it now has an aggressive designing language. It has a completely remodelled facia which is along the design patterns of other Honda vehicles although the grille design is completely new. The bumpers and sides have a chiselled appearance while boldly defined creases wrap the car. The D pillar is wedge shaped which has been carried from the older editions of the Jazz whereas the tail part has a more compact and focussed design.
The latest Honda Jazz shall be a little longer compared to the previous editions to make it more comfortable and spacious. The length of the new car is expected to be around 3.96m which is almost 60mm more than the older edition. The boost space is also being bumped up to the leading 390L one and the wheelbase shall also be expanded to 2.58m. The handling and ride of the car should better with the revision in suspension along with a steering which shall be re-calibrated.
The engine powering the Indian edition of the Jazz is supposed to be the same as the one powering the Honda Amaze and it will be available in 2 different fuel options- the 1.5L diesel engine and the 1.2L petrol one. The engine that is fitted currently in the car produces a torque of 109Nm and 86PS in the petrol engine while the diesel engine produces power of 100PS and torque of 200Nm. Honda may detune this model’s diesel engine to be at the 90PS rating for extracting higher fuel efficiency and remain at part with competitors. The vehicle may also have the 5 speed automatic transmission gear box that is currently installed in the Brio and Amaze’s petrol version.
The Honda Jazz has been placed below the Honda Amaze as it is a hatchback and Honda Jazz price would begin from Rs 4.7 lakhs for the petrol version while the Honda Jazz price for the diesel engine would be around Rs 6.5 lakhs for the diesel model. The Honda Jazz price positioning would certainly make it a worthwhile competitor for the Volkswagen Polo and the Hyundai i20. The maintenance and ownership costs of the car would also be more economical compared to the European models which would make it a high value for money purchase.
If you need a car urgently, the Honda Jazz is not a bad option at all. For a budget of Rs 4 lakhs or so, you can buy a used Honda Jazz which is a good enough proposition as the car has been made available again and you can get spare parts quite easily in case there are some repair works that need to be undertaken. The used cars market abounds in Honda Jazz models and you can get them in a variety of colours. The used Honda Jazz price is around Rs 4.5 lakhs to Rs 5 lakhs, for a car which is around 3 years or so old. You can find models which have covered less than 20,000kms which ensures fuel efficient performance of the car without any damage to the engine.
You can enquire at the certified used Honda car dealerships for this model. Buying a car from a certified used car dealership is a good idea because you get a warranty of one year or 20,000kms (whichever is earlier) and also two free servicing. You can also try looking up the car in the online market as many individual sellers advertise to sell their cars directly without having to go through a dealer. You can read up the specifications of the car such as the type of ownership, whether it was a first-hand vehicle, the numbers of kilometres driven and the year of make. You can also find out whether the vehicle was a manual or automatic GT one.
Before you buy the Honda Jazz, you should inspect it thoroughly for dents, scratches and other damages to the car. Check the engine to see if any part was newly fitted in the car. Test drive the car it on a stretch which is both within city limits and outside it. Observe whether the car starts up instantly or takes time to warm up. Alternate between different gears and speeds to see how the vehicle performs. Make sure the bottom of the car does not touch the surface of the road or speed breakers as it would indicate damage in the suspension. Finally, go over the papers to check their authenticity before making a deposit.
Used cars are one of the best buys currently in India especially with the economic downturn, high rates of interest on car loans and elevating price levels. With the increase in the standard deduction of the income tax slabs, it has become easier for people to stretch their budgets to buy their favourite cars. Most companies have reported that their sales of used cars is rising every year and they are selling second hand cars mostly to first time buyers. Earlier, the trend was that people who needed a second car for their families would resort to buying second hand cars. However, a lot of people are choosing to buy used cars because it is cheaper and also allows them to skip segments. For instance, if a person could afford an entry level hatchback for Rs 4 lakhs as budget, he could afford a good quality sedan for the same amount in the used cars in India market. This is making many first time buyers turn to the used cars market.
Like the new cars market, the used cars market also exhibits some trends. For example, the more popular cars in the market are available more in the used car market and they would fit into most buyers’ budgets seamlessly. The used cars in India market also have a large stock of those kinds of cars which are no more available in the new car market. These cars are mostly those that car manufacturers have withdrawn from the market. The cost of these cars may be very low, but buying them could mean trouble for you as you would not get original parts to fit them with when there is some problem with the car. Some of these cars as the Maruti 800, Honda Civic and Accord, Chevrolet Optra, Opel Astra etc. These cars are quite inexpensive although getting them repaired would be very expensive.
A reliable car to buy in the used car market would be one which is fuel efficient, offers a good drive, and is well in circulation in the new car market such that you get a good value when you sell the car. Second hand cars may also be termed to be reliable if they come up with minimum problems per 100 vehicles. Currently, the number of cars available in the Indian market have gone up and the competition between car manufacturers is so intense that makers are bringing down the price of cars to match each other’s’ volume of sales. However, the quality of manufacturing is going down for these cars. Earlier, the problems found per 100 vehicles were around 220 while it has become 280 per 100 vehicles. Therefore, you should choose a model which is reliable in terms of production values as well.
Here are the top reliable cars to buy in 2014.
Maruti Alto 800 - The Alto 800 is the best selling car in India. Launched only in 2013, the car quickly limbed to the top of the chart for its revamped design, price point and fuel efficiency. It is one of the easiest cars to drive on both city roads and highways. The car has a 796cc engine which is hooked to a manual transmission gearbox. It has a small turning radius and hence you can manoeuvre the car through narrow bylanes of the city. In 2013, Maruti Suzuki had sold almost 1,70,000 units of the car and it expects to maintain the same kind of sales this year too. Alto 800 second hand cars are usually available for less than Rs 2.5 lakhs. You can also get some of the older models of the Alto for less than Rs 2 lakhs.
Hyundai Eon - Hyundai is the second best car maker in the country and its popularity is increasing every day. The Eon has been introduced as an entry level hatchback and it is the cheapest car available from the house of Hyundai. The car was especially designed for the Indian car buyers keeping in mind their demands. The car has an 800cc engine and it is available in various trims whose price range from Rs 2.8 lakhs to Rs 3.8 lakhs. The Hyundai Eon’s engine is a 3 cylinder one and produces a peak power of 88bhp. The car is powered mostly by petrol and LPG. A dual kit has been introduced for the car. However, the only thing that the vehicle is lacking is a CNG engine.
To buy a used Hyundai Eon, you would have to spend around Rs 2.25 lakhs. It would be quite profitable for you to opt for this car because it has been launched only a couple of years ago in the market and hence would be available in mint condition, even in the used cars market.
Maruti Wagon R -The Wagon R follows the tall boy design principle and is much unique in India. It was given a facelift in the year 2012 and its diesel version will be launched in the latter half of the year. The design of the car was borrowed from a vehicle which Suzuki manufactures and sells in Japan. The car has a 996cc engine and is mated to a 5 speed manual transmission gearbox. It comes in a duo engine which uses both petrol and LPG to run. It also has a CNG and only petrol engine. The car produces a mileage of around 20kmpl when running on petrol.
To buy a used Wagon R which is around 5 years old, you would have to set aside a budget of Rs 2.5 lakhs or so. For a more recent model, you would have to spend more.
Hyundai i10 - One of the best-selling hatchbacks from the house of Hyundai, the i10 may soon be phased out as the Grand i10 has been introduced in the market. It has a 1.2L Kappa engine and seats 5 people comfortably. The car has a 5 speed manual transmission gear box and it is mated to a petrol engine. It is a good city car, meant for young working couples.
You can buy an i10 which is around 5 years old for as low as Rs 2.25 lakhs. The price could go lower depending on the number of kilometres that the car has been driven.
Do you need a car to commute to college and other places? Is your father refusing to buy you a car? Most parents are worried about their children crashing their cars into walls and trees and injuring themselves and their precious cars. You can now convince your father of your safe driving skills and buying you a used car. Used cars are cheaper than first hand cars and hence will pinch your father’s pocket a little less. If you comb through the market a little carefully, then you can find a car that is as good as a new one.
There are certain parameters that you should consider while thinking of buying a used car.
Age of the car- Do not buy a very old car because it might have a lot of internal problems that won’t be apparent when you buy the car but will crop up once you start driving it. There may be a problem with the clutch or brake plate, you might have to get the brake fluid replaced etc.
Even if there is no problem with the essential parts of the car, there may be problems with the body of the car like faulty doors.
It would be better if you buy a car that was driven by the owner himself and not a chauffeur because owners take more care while driving a car. It is for this reason too that you should consider buying a car that was personally owned and not used commercially.
Number of Miles driven- Even if a car is relatively new, you must consider the number of miles the car has been driven. Tyres usually need to be replaced once a car has been driven for 40,000km. If you buy a hatchback, then you will have to spend Rs 3000 or so to get each tyre replaced. Hence, to get 4 tyres replaced, you will have to spend Rs 12000! The more a car has been driven the more the engine will be worn out.
However, do not buy a used car that has hardly been driven either because it would lead to rusting of different internal parts and dying out of the car battery.
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Tax and Insurance Papers- Do not buy a car with who insurance papers you find fault as they could have been tampered with. You should also not buy a car for which you would have to pay road tax very soon. Road taxes could cost you between Rs 10,000 and Rs 20,000 which is an expense that you would not want to incur right after buying your car.
Try to find a car within your own RTO because it would make the process of getting the ownership title transferred faster.
Make sure you take a car mechanic or someone who understands cars well with you in order to understand the true condition of a car.
If you do not know where to begin looking for secondhand car, then you can go online. Websites dedicated to classifieds have advertisements listed by individuals who are selling their old car and companies dealing in old cars.
