Sunday, 12 January 2014

Top 5 Selling Used Cars


Because of the downturn in the economy, most people cannot afford new cars. Adding woes to misery is the high rate of taxes applicable on a new car. The used car market is doing brisk business as the number of buyers and sellers have increased manifold. Used cars can be a good purchase if they are relatively new and less driven.

Out of the numerous car models available in the country, these are some of the best ones, not only in terms of their first hand but also secondhand car sale.

Hyundai Santro Xing - Santro Xing is one of the most popular hatchbacks in the country. The headspace and legroom provided in the car is ample. The fuel efficiency is quite high- 14 kmpl within city limits. Spare parts of the car are quite easily available and after sales service of the car is next best to Maruti’s. The drawbacks of the car are the uncomfortable back seat and imperfectly smooth ride. Nevertheless, the overall performance of the car is quite highly rated which is why it is one of the best selling cars even in the pre-owned market.

Selling Used Cars
Hyundai Santro Xing

Hyundai i10 - The i10 is a Hyundai model that is manufactured in India to cater to global demands. The car’s design is slicker compared to its counterpart, Santro Xing, and it has a lot of accessories built in. The car’s engine is quite fuel efficient, the Kappa being 16 kmpl within the city and 1.1 iRDE being 14kmpl. Spare parts are available easily and the after sales service is as good as that of Santro Xing. The suspension of the car is commendable which smoothens out bumpy rides.

Maruti Swift - Even though it was launched 8 years ago, the demand for the car has not ebbed in these years. Maruti’s star performer in the big hatchback bracket, the car is a viable option to be bought second hand. The mileage offered is 12 kmpl within city limits in the petrol version while the diesel engine offers 16 kmpl. Getting the car serviced is no hassle and neither is it difficult to find spare parts for it. The car offers a smooth drive although rear seat passengers might find it a little cramped to fit in. It is advisable to steer clear of this model if it has been modified because it can have a lot of problems.

Maruti Alto - One of the most popular hatchbacks within city limits, the car offers a very impressive mileage of 18 kmpl. Being compact, it lessens all forms of parking hassles which are faced by drivers in the city. However, the seating can be quite cramped as there is no ample head or leg space. This car should be an option if you want your car to be full efficient and without frills. 

Chevrolet Spark - A revamped version of the Daewoo Matiz, the car offers healthy mileage of 15 kmpl. The drive is a smooth one and if you buy a recent version then you can avail the three year free maintenance contract. Inadequate space for rear seat passengers is the only drawback of the car, launched in 2007.

Saturday, 11 January 2014

Tips To Sell Your Car



There may be several reasons why you would want to sell your car. Your car might be too old and polluting for the road, you might be relocating to another city, state or country and hence shipping the car across would be quite expensive, or you might not need a car anymore. There are several methods through which you can sell your car. However, before selling your car, you need to make sure of certain things.

The first thing that you should ensure is that your car is in top working condition. If there is a bit of paint bruised in any part or a broken tail light, make sure you get it repaired. Torn seat covers, broken mirrors and sticky gears should be repaired immediately as well. Most buyers bring car mechanics with them or read up enough on cars in order to judge your car. If your car is not in a good condition, buyers would not be willing to pay much for it.

Keep your cars registration, tax and insurance papers in order because these are essential for transferring the name of ownership from yours to the buyers.

Once you have made sure of these things, you can contact dealers of cars. The dealer will put your car up for sale. Once a buyer is found, the transaction will be made and you will be paid the money. You can also contact the showroom from where you bought the car. Sometimes, car showrooms buy back old cars from their old customers. However, you might not get a good deal on your car.


Selling Used Cars
Mahindra Scorpio


The best way to go about selling your old car is by selling it by yourself. You will not have to pay a significant amount of the deal as brokerage fees. You will also avoid any sort of problems in communication with a potential buyer. You can directly talk to a buyer and clarify his or her doubts. You can put up an advertisement in the classifieds of a newspaper or on online classifieds. The trick to selling off your car quick is by giving as much details as possible. Hence, you can put in the make of the car, the colour, the year of manufacture, the number of kilometres that a car has ran, the period for which taxes have been paid, the kind of fuel that your car uses.

You will attract better buyers by putting in a photograph of your car. Photographs provide buyers with additional insight and help to build the trust on the seller. It has been seen that sellers who put up photographs get better response compared to those who do not put them up.

There are many online classifieds that you can sign up with. Most of them allow you to post free classifieds. However, if you sign up with the paid advertisement scheme, then your advertisement will be given the highest priority and will be the first advertisement to appear on the search page of the catalogue. This way, your advertisement will get better exposure compared to the ads posted for free.




Friday, 10 January 2014

Used Cars Made Easier

Used Cars in Mumbai

Most people are often jittery and anxious about buying used cars. Agreed used car purchases can be a little confusing and frightening for first time car buyers. There are commonly held perceptions of used cars being terrible investments, white elephants and so on. It all depends on a little bit of luck and careful planning and decision making. It all rests in your hands at the end of the day. If chosen carefully, a used car can make for a terrific investment, one that gives you tremendous value at a substantially lower price. Does this sound too good to be true?

Buying a new car will set you back by a far distance. You should be prepared to shell out close to 20-25% of the original car price on additional charges and duties. This is mainly charged in the form of duties, import duties, taxes, registration charges, governmental fees and other charges. You will also have to shell out a fat amount of money on car insurance. Also, new car prices have increased to a huge extent nowadays. This is mainly due to increases in costs of manufacturing parts. Alongside, governmental regulations stipulate the imposition of higher taxes on cars exceeding a certain height and length. If you are buying any SUV or some sedans, be prepared to shell out even extra. What transpires is that you end up paying way beyond your original budget.

Loan delays and paperwork further add to the frustration and always keep you on tenterhooks. Alongside, there are long waiting periods to endure as well in most cases. Why go through all these hassles? You are better off buying any secondhand car instead of taking all this trouble. You just have to rely on your own wisdom and employ some common strategies to land a good investment.

While buying any used car, you have to be careful of the asking price. Often, used car sellers inflate prices to a great extent. Always try to do your research beforehand by checking out online car classifieds. These portals will also give you an idea of the prevailing market prices for the particular model or car type you desire. You should buy your used car from these classifieds websites as they give you great deals in any other city of your choice. You will find dozens of advertisements which you have to browse through. Once you have chosen a few prospective models, contact sellers directly if details are provided or reply to the advertisements in a jiffy.

Negotiate your prices carefully with the seller. You do not want to set a price that is outrageously low or end up buying the car for a much higher price. Always set a bottom line price that is about 40% lower than the original asking price. Even if the seller scales up the price above this figure, you will still get a far lower price than before. This strategy has often been seen to work. Online classifieds portals can give you fabulous deals on used cars. Use them wisely and reap the benefits.



Thursday, 9 January 2014

Best-Selling Used Cars In Pune


The market for used cars is doing brisk business due to the downturn of the economy. There are a large number of buyers and sellers in the market who are willing to negotiate a good deal. If you want to buy a used car, then it would be best to scan the market a bit. Go through the used car classifieds that come out every day in the newspapers or the online classifieds that have special catalogues dedicated to cars and bikes.

While doing your research, you will notice that there are certain models that outperform the others in the secondhand car market. If fuel efficiency, smooth drive and ease of parking are your prime concerns, then you should definitely consider the options discussed below:

  • Tata Indica - The car was first showcased in the auto expo 1998 and has undergone several changes since then. The car has a Turbo version, which has a turbo powered engine, aimed at providing better performance. The fuel efficiency of the car is quite good with the Turbo version offering 13 kmpl, the Xeta version offering 11 kmpl and the diesel version offering 16 kmpl within city limits. The ride is a smooth one and seating is also quite comfortable. However, the car makes a whirring noise while running because of the diesel engine and the appearance is also not very impressive. The Tata Indica is quite light on the pocket especially when it comes to the diesel engine version. 
  • Honda City - The car is one of the most comfortable sedans in the Indian market and the Honda brand is respected internationally for its reliability, durability and fuel efficiency. The car offers a mileage of 12kmpl within city limits and 17 kmpl on the highway. The plastic used is of a good quality and the engine is quite smooth. The boot space provided is 500 litres and the car is quite spacious. If you commute more than 100 kms in a day, it is better to go for the diesel powered version of this car. 
  • Mahindra Scorpio - One of the best SUVs in the Indian market, the car is one of the best for long drives and seating 7-8 people. The diesel engine offers a modest 7 kmpl while the mHawk hybrid engine offers a slightly better mileage of 8 kmpl on city roads. The drive is quite smooth and an automatic gear box can be fitted into the car. However, finding one may be an issue. The mHawk version of the car costs a bit more than the regular diesel engine one.

    Selling Used Cars
    Mahindra Scorpio
     
  • Maruti Swift - One of Maruti’s best-selling cars, right from its inception in 2005, is a big hit in the used cars market. The mileage offered is around 12 kmpl within the city while on highways it increases to 17kmpl. The drive is quite smooth although the seating may be a little cramped for the rear passengers. It would be better for a buyer to go for the diesel engine version if the commute is more than 100kms in a day.



Wednesday, 8 January 2014

Best Hatchbacks To Buy In The Used Car Market


Most people want to buy used cars nowadays because of the economic slump. With real wages at an all-time low, there is a large demand and supply of used cars. Most Indians want a car that is fuel efficient, is easy to park and offers a comfortable drive. The type of car that best fits these parameters is hatchbacks. These cars are compact with powerful engines which offer comfort and a smooth drive at the same time. The compactness of the car ensures that parking is not a hassle as manoeuvring it will be quite easy. Even in the used cars market, hatchbacks are the hot picks of the season.

Out of so many models available in the market, only a few are highly demanded hatchbacks. The top 5 have been discussed below:
  • Hyundai Santro Xing - The car is highly spacious and offers ample head and leg space. The mileage is a modest 14 kmpl within city limits. The after sales service of the car is next to Maruti’s network and spare parts are easily available. The only two drawbacks of the car are its uncomfortable back seat and slightly bumpy ride. Nevertheless, it performs quite well on road and hence is much in demand among customers who do not want to own a car by Maruti. 
  • Tata Indica - First launched in the 1998 Auto Expo, the car has undergone several changes since then. A Turbo Version is available which has a turbo powered engine for a smooth drive. The car runs on diesel and offers good mileage- the Xeta version offers 11kmpl, the diesel version offers 16 kmpl and the Turbo version offers 13 kmpl within city limits. The car operates smoothly on the road and the rear seat is quite comfortable. However, the appearance of the car is not much appealing and the engine makes a whirring sound on the road. For people looking to buy diesel cars, this is a viable option. 
  • Hyundai i10 - Compared to the Santro Xing, the car is more compact and filled with accessories. It is manufactured in India and supplied to other countries of the world. The car is quite fuel efficient with the Kappa model offering 16 kmpl and the 1.1 iRDE version offering 14 kmpl. The ride is a smooth one due to the inclusion of good suspension. The after sales service and availability of spare parts is impressive. 

    Buy Used Cars
    Hyundai i10

  • Maruti Alto - For individuals looking for a car with no frills, within a low budget and high fuel efficiency, Maruti Alto is perfect. With a mileage of 18kmpl, the car offers a smooth drive on the road and is easy to park. However, the leg and head space in the secondhand car is not much and the back seat is quite uncomfortable. 
  • Chevrolet Spark - A revamped version of the Daewoo Matiz, Chevrolet Spark was launched in 2007. The car offers a competitive mileage of 15 kmpl within city limits and if you buy a newer version, you can avail the three years long maintenance free contract. The only drawback in the car is the cramped rear seat. 
You can now find the perfect hatchback used car by browsing through online classifieds dedicated to them.



Tuesday, 7 January 2014

Riding Your Way To Your Passion


Most men want to live the dream of zooming down the highway on a very powerful bike. Some manage to fulfil it while others don’t. The Indian market for bikes is the biggest in the world and foreign manufacturers of bikes such as Suzuki, Yamaha, and Royal Enfield etc. are doing brisk business. They have also launched their higher end bikes in the Indian market and these bikes are producing good sales.

Not only are men into biking, but some women also are biking enthusiasts. Some cities have biking clubs which make trips to different parts of the country on their bikes. If you are a biking enthusiast, and want to own a powerful bike without ripping off your pocket, then there are some good options available under Rs 70,000.

Bajaj Pulsar 150cc - One of the most popular bikes in the 150cc segment, the Bajaj Pulsar bike has an engine of 149.01 cc and weighs 143 kgs. It offers a mileage of 45 kmpl within city limits and 62 on the high ways. The engine is a DTSi or Digital Twin Spark ignition one which is air cooled and has 4 strokes. A 5 speed gear box is provided in the bike.

The bike has a commendable torque of 12.5Nm@6500 rpm. For this Bajaj bike, you will have to shell out Rs 69000 approximately ex-showroom.

Suzuki GS150R - Japanese manufacturer Suzuki forayed into the Indian 150 cc bike market with this model in 2008. In 2010, the bike was adjudged the Motorcycle of the Year by NDTV profit.

The model is 149 cc one with an SOHC, air cooled and 4 stroked engine. It has a good mileage of 48 kmpl within city limits and 55 kmpl outside it. The bike is economical if most of your commute is within the city.

The bike’s torque measures at 13.4 Nm@ 6000 rpm. The cost of this bike is Rs 68500 ex-showroom.

Buy Used Motorcycle
Suzuki GS 150R

Honda Unicorn CB - This 149.1 cc bike by Honda offers good speed and high fuel efficiency. The bike can travel 50 kmpl within city limits and 60 kmpl outside it. The engine is a 4 strokes one and offers torque of 12.7Nm @5500 rpm. It looks slick and is available in different colours such as red, yellow, and orange and black. The bike will cost you Rs 65,000 ex showroom.

Yamaha FZ16 - One of the best bikes doing the rounds of the Indian bike market, Yamaha FZ16 has a 153 cc air cooled, 2 valves SOHC engine which offers maximum torque of 14Nm@6000 rpm and maximum output of 14 Bhp @ 7500 rpm. The mileage offered by the bike is around 45-50 kmpl.

It is available in Lava Red, Sports Electric Blue and Midnight Black colours. The cost of the bike is Rs 69,250 ex-showroom. If you want to locate an authorized dealer of Indian bikes or a showroom for used bikes, then you can log into an online classifieds and specify your location to get the best results.



Monday, 6 January 2014

Getting Yourself A Used Car


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.

Buy Used Cars
Buy Used Cars

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.