No Time Like NOW To Buy A Used Car: Here's Why

It’s hard to imagine we’d go through times like this. Where the skies and seas are as clean as they’ve ever been, the birds and the bees are whirring around with joy; and most humans are locked up indoors for their safety. The need for a space that feels completely safe is paramount. Be it at home, at work or the commute between the two. There are raised eyebrows: after all, a world that was moving rapidly towards ‘shared mobility’ now wants to distance itself from the very idea of it. Do you feel completely safe taking the bus, metro or cab? 

If you were on the fence about getting yourself a set of four-wheels, we’d say: take the plunge! But in these times sane advice would be to look at the used car market first for wallet-friendly options! 

Safe Space a Must!

With coronavirus looming over everyone’s heads: we wouldn’t blame you if you were apprehensive about getting into a crowded train or a bus. The crowd at metro stations is wholly capable of making one sweat under the collar. That most-affordable carpool cab option doesn’t seem worth the risk either, doesn’t it? In fact, a recent survey conducted by CarDekho, over 30 per cent of the respondents felt that a personal vehicle can reduce the chance of an infection. 

In a situation where it’s imperative for everyone to have their individual guards as high up as possible, a car (irrespective of whether it’s brand new or used) gives you that peace of mind. That’s because you are in charge of hygiene yourself. You can get it cleaned thoroughly and sanitised at will. You also get to choose who’s allowed in the car and who isn’t. You don’t have to get uncomfortably close to others either.

Don’t empty the bank! 

For new cars, one-time costs like registration drive up the final on-road price by a considerable amount. Add that insurance is the most expensive in the first few years of a car’s age and you’re looking at a sizeable recurring expense too. Plus, you’d agree that new cars have become quite expensive in the BS6 age. For instance, Rs 5 lakh now gets you a top-spec Maruti Suzuki S-Presso and the likes. Yikes, that used to be Swift money!  

Research points towards most consumers reducing their budget: shifting their focus from high-end vehicles to economical options, in a post-COVID world. With used vehicles, you can have your cake and eat it too. Going the pre-owned route makes the magical concept of depreciation to start tipping the scales in your favour. For the same Rs 5 lakh, it’s reasonable to expect a 5-6-year-old C-segment sedan such as the Honda City. Better build, no compromise on features, a safer and spacious cabin for your family: how does that sound? From a pure value for money standpoint, the bigger car makes a whole lot more sense. 

Proven Track Record  

Another advantage of buying a pre-owned vehicle is that all of the positives and negatives of a particular model are known. With pre-owned vehicles, you have none of the guesswork associated with reliability and longevity of new launches. 

Bringing home a well-kept car can take away any stress of buying used. With more of these cars now being certified, opting for a used vehicle has become easier. Incredibly, some used car programs, like TrustMark by CarDekho Gaadi, are even offering features like a 6-month warranty on the engine and transmission, and a cover for any issues faced within the first 7 days of ownership.  

Surprising Options

The pre-owned car market is a wonder box of unexpected finds. Everything from the most mundane hatchback to that elusive variant of a rare car can be found on sale - at prices that don’t exactly pinch the wallet. With easy and affordable loans, financing that dream car becomes that much more straightforward. 

It’s not just the initial outlay for a used car that’s lower. Depreciation works in your favour yet again, as used cars don’t lose value as much as brand new ones. Even if you plan on using the pre-owned vehicle for three years, you could realistically expect a little more than half of your money back. Weigh the investment and the return, a used car makes more sense yet again.  

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Be Independent! 

Think about the everyday ease of having a vehicle to yourself. Not relying on the cabbie to take you to the shops, never be left without an option after that late evening meeting and being able to hit the road immediately in case of a medical emergency. This sort of independence isn’t something you can put a price on, even though surge pricing tries really hard.  

When it’s alright to meander around this beautiful country again, you wouldn’t have to bother with figuring out pick up points and drop off spots. No taking expensive flights (whilst sharing a cabin with 200 other people) and then waiting forever for your baggage to arrive either. You could simply pick a direction, turn the key and get going. All on your terms. 

So, you could have a bigger, better car for the price of a smaller one. It doesn’t cost a bomb to insure either and has a proven track record. This very car casts a reassuring net of safety around your daily commutes and gives you the licence to go explore at will too. Turns out, times are truly changing. But you still don’t need to reinvent the wheel. You simply need to bring it home.