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Originally Posted by tsk1979 3 years ago I bought the Tata Indica, which has just the opposite of what I want in a car. The budget took precedence. This is not just my story. We all hang on to VFM. |
Very true IMO too. The upfront cost of the car (not necessarily cost of ownership over a period of time - don't think too many people calculate that) does have a major influence in the 4-wheeler purchase decision for a large chunk of the market.
IMO, for the majority of purchasers, these are what matters
Cost of car
The upfront cost, discounts (oooo don't we love it), depreciation benefits for those buying in their companies name.
F.E.
It would matter somewhat if the usage is high, but again IMO people go by perceived FE/word of mouth, not necessarily from people who measure FE diligently and accurately. Also subsequent to the purchase, how many actually calculate their FE properly ? It's more peace of mind, believing that your car must be giving more FE than your neighbours.
Image/Looks/Status etc
This is very personal. It would be car (within a price range) that would give a person maximum pride/social acceptance.
Good AC
And then they keep it switched off to save fuel.
Features
Differs from person to person, but there are lots of people who fall prey to marketing gimmicks.
A/S/S and Maintenance costs
And then they don't bother to service the car properly on schedule, oblivious to the fact that in the long run, it will increase the cost of ownership.
I know a person who has logged 20K kms in 1 yr (100% city driving) and is yet to have any sort of servicing done (after the first free service) - Alto LX
Resale
This is a country where you can get your lunch from Rs. 10 to Rs. god-knows-what. There are options available across the board. One has the lunch one can afford.
Regarding over pricing. It's probably partly government policy and partly what one pays for image. A Skoda RS will charge a premium here since it falls in the premium segment. It does not in europe, so people wont pay a premium there.