• Investment World
• eWorld
• Catalyst
• Mentor
• Life
• Canvas
• Praxis
• Urban Pulse
• Brand Quest

S. Muralidhar

Look the used car in the bonnet.

I plan to buy a car and my budget is Rs lakh. Can you suggest which car I should opt for? Should it be new or second-hand? Also, what finance options can I expect to find? The car is for family trips, and emergencies only. I commute to work by a two-wheeler.

Ramesh Babu

As far as new cars are concerned, within the Rs 3-lakh price range, the options are limited to the Maruti 800 and Omni van, the base variant of the Suzuki Alto and the Fiat Uno. Going by your planned usage of the car, tight budget and because this is your first car, it may be better to scout for a good bargain in the used-car market.

That way you may also be able to upgrade to the premium small car segment while continuing to be within the confines of your budget. You should be able to easily locate a Hyundai Santro or a Maruti Zen in the pre-owned car market. Try for a car no more than three years old. The `Auto Focus' column -- on how to shop for used-cars may give you some tips.

It is advisable to take the help of a professional car mechanic or better still to shop for a used-car at a manufacturer-sponsored outlet. However, if you do intend to personally scout for and buy that used-car, key points that need to be looked at while inspecting the car are:

* Always buy the used car from the original owner and not from someone who is masquerading as his cousin, uncle or friend. In all likelihood that will be a broker or an agent, who may not necessarily give you all the information that you need.

* Avoid cars that have been running on LPG/CNG, in addition to petrol, for an extended period of time. The possibility of engine damage is higher in such cars and extended clutch driving is often inevitable due to the drop in power and torque.

* For checking the exterior of the vehicle, look how straight are the car's body lines. Look for uneven gaps between and along the length of body panels. Check if the car has been repainted. Check the gap between the front and back bumpers and the bonnet and boot panels respectively. Abnormal gaps give away accidents the car may have met with.

* Drive the car and look out for excessive knocking or abnormal engine noise. Check the car's steering for response and excessive play. Check for any delay in accelerator and braking response. Check to see if the gear shift is smooth and verify if the gear box has undergone any repairs. Look out for unusual gearbox whining noise and after the drive check if the earbox is unusually hot.

* Open the bonnet and check the engine for any oil or fuel leakages. If there is oil leakage, the gasket may be damaged. Pull out the dipstick and check engine oil for dirt. Check the `A' pillar for cracks or damage from a possible previous accident.

* Are any of the shock absorbers oily or have broken boots? Check if the car drags to the right or the left while driving. This may be due to damaged shocks or if wheel alignment has not been done. The latter may also show up in uneven tyre wear.

* Switch on the air-conditioner and check if its cooling efficiency is good. Look out for warning lights that may flash on in the instrument panel. Remove the foot mats and carpet and check the car's floor for excessive rusting, perforation and/or damage.

* Check the car's spare wheel, toolkit, wheel rims (for damage) and all the lights (indicators, brake, rear and front lights).

* Check all the paper work and documents of the car. If the car has been in another State and re-registered in the State it is being sold, check if the road tax has been paid.

* Check if the car has the latest PUC (pollution under control) certificate and check if the premium on a comprehensive insurance policy has been paid.

Readers may send queries related to the world of automobiles to: E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication

Stories in this Section
Quiz

Copyright © 2004, The Hindu Business Line. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu Business Line