ARTICLE: How to buy a *NEW* car in India

[GTO]

Brilliant suggestion backseatdriver. If new to driving, buy a cheap used 800 or something. As they say, "haath saaf kar le". Once you are comfortable with driving (controls, road conditions, other factors) put your money down for a brand new car.

[k2_4_u]

Extremely useful!

I just have a few more questions. What is the standard procedure & sequence of the entire sale? I mean, when & how much should we pay the booking amount, what should be finalized during booking, and after booking when should we pay the remaining amount (before or after registration) etc.

Though dealer is going to explain about these, it is better to know the standard procedure before itself.

Thanks much!

[GTO - Touring]

when & how much should we pay the booking amount, what should be finalized during booking, and after booking when should we pay the remaining amount (before or after registration) etc.

The booking amount really varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. Some may accept a part / small payment, while others require a full payment.

At the time of booking, take all commitments on paper. Variant, colour etc. of the car. Verbal promises have zero value in the real world. Might also be a good idea to have him put the approximate delivery date on paper, since there are some malpractices taking place for cars that have a waiting period (e.g. Swift diesel).

But in all circumstances, the full payment must be made before RTO registration of your car.

[ram_hyundai]

GTO brilliant thought process.you have covered it all from the customer point of view.this is sure to help all out there to decide on the right set of wheels for themselves.backseatdriver got a point to discuss too.
ram

[crazyforspeed]

this will be really helpful for neone goin to buy a new car...thanks for all the details as I am also plannin to buy a new car and keep a check of all the items in the list....

[Spinnerr]

Originally Posted by GTO

Step Three : Sealing the Deal

• Extended warranties: Extended coverage for your new car is always a good idea. Even the most reliable cars have occasional defects and parts for modern cars can be tremendously expensive to replace. Click HERE (ARTICLE: Extended Warranties. Yes or No?) for the Team-BHP guide to extended warranties.

Originally Posted by GTO

Step Four : Post-delivery

• Upsizing tyres: If you want to install better tyres on your car for safety or performance reasons, do so as soon as possible. Drive straight into a reliable tyre shop to buy performance tyres and get the best possible exchange price for your unused standard tyres. Click HERE (ARTICLE: Choosing The Right Set Of Tyres for your Car) to view the Team-BHP article on tyre upsizes.

GTO,
What I have seen is, the moment i say, 'I want to upsize', dealer says 'No warranty applicable'. From his point of view, he says, any changes to the original specification, invalidates the warranty.

But then again, I do remember reading in this forum, that unless other wise proved, that the tire upsize caused 'a' particular problem, the dealer is bound to cover it under the warranty.

My question is it worth the trouble? Would I have to haggle with the dealer if something does go wrong with the new vehicle and he says you changed the original spec, so it is not covered under warranty?

[GTO]

What I have seen is, the moment i say, 'I want to upsize', dealer says 'No warranty applicable'. From his point of view, he says, any changes to the original specification, invalidates the warranty.

Hmmmm, always a tricky situation. Yes, as long as its proven that the wider rubber had no effect on the part failure (potential?), there should not be a problem. Most service stations are pretty cool about it, and I havent had a problem with the warranty on any of my tyre-upsized cars. That said, it is definitely a grey area. If you must stick by the rules, dont upsize. Just go for better quality rubber in the same size.

+1 upsize is the safest, while balloon tyres almost guarantee no warranty work on your suspension .

[apachelongbow]

Originally Posted by crazyforspeed

this will be really helpful for neone goin to buy a new car...thanks for all the details as I am also plannin to buy a new car and keep a check of all the items in the list....

Also keep in mind (from a commuter/regular user's perspective), a popular, well selling car, almost always guarantees peace of mind, which is most important in the years you spend with your car.