Re: Which hatchback in the 6 - 7 lakh budget? Hello BHPians,
I have been looking for a new car within 6 lakhs (can't stretch much further) and since this will be the first car for my family, it's been a difficult couple of days to weigh in the pros and cons of the choices.
Note : I have been taking driving classes and I am still a beginner. No one in my family knows driving and I will be the one taking the car around once we buy it.
Also this is a pretty long post.
My key criteria :
1- Manual transmission ( Being first time car buyer, I would want to go through basics)
2- Budget of around 6 lakhs (preferably below 6 Lakhs)
3- Hassle free maintenance, reliability and safety
4- Usage : Being a beginner, I will mostly be try to learn well and rides will be limited to City mostly. Will try to venture out to highways once I am pretty confident
5- Basic bluetooth enabled Music System
Options that were considered (In no order of preference)
- Maruti WagonR - VXi (o)
- Hyundai Santro - Magna
- Tata Tiago - XE (with additional Music system and remote locking as accessories)
- Renault Triber - RXE (This was a budget stretch, but my dad was attracted by the extra 2 seats)
Due to lockdown, most of my initial research was online to and finally we got out to take a look at the options in person
Thoughts on the choices :
Maruti WagonR (VXi(O))
- Was quite spacious
- Offered decent features for the money
- Tall boy design made it look bigger when we were seated inside
- 2 front airbags and power windows and ABS
- Basic bluetooth music system with 2 speakers
We loved WagonR when we checked it out and this was definitely a contender
Hyundai Santro (Magna)
We felt this was a bit smaller than WagonR and offered lesser boot space
Interiors were great and price was equivalent to WagonR; hence we thought we will take this off the list
Tata Tiago (XE)
-Dual airbags with ABS
-Pretty good interiors
-4* NCAP (the most widely advertised feature)
-Very good looks
This was also smaller than WagonR. The SA offered us Sony TouchScreen Music System with 4 Speakers, Rear Parking camera and Remote Locking as additional accessories and matched the price of WagonR.
Renault Triber RXE
Bare minimum features
Unavailability of AC vents in second/third [summer rides will be very difficult]
No discounts at all - 6.95 was the final price
We still felt WagonR was spacious and checked all our requirements. and budget.
I did my due diligence of enquiring with 2-3 Maruti Showrooms (Chennai), negotiated with all Insurance coverage ( Zero Dep, RTI, EP ) and got the best quote for 5.85L (Say Dealer A), 5.9L(Dealer B) and 5.93L (Dealer C).
Dealer A and B quoted max 30-40 days waiting but assured car within 15-20 days since WagonR was best-selling and VXI(O) won't be affected by the Semiconductor shortage.
Dealer C had the vehicle and assured delivery in 1 week but gave 5.93L as their best price.
I went ahead and booked WagonR on 29th July 2021 with Dealer A for 5.85L [With basic accessories, Extended Warranty and all insurance coverage]
Note : In hindsight, I feel I should have gone with Dealer C
Since the SA assured delivery within 15-20 days, we shopped around and got the loan approvals and were ready with everything from our end.
After around 20 days, I gave a call to the SA and asked about the allotment status. No reply from the SA. He replied with a whatsapp message the next day mentioning that the allotment hasn't been done since Maruti production has been cut down but I can expect allotment in that week.
I followed up again by the end of that week and still the same response. I was aware of the semiconductor shortage and hence waited out.
Around 30 days, I get mail from Dealer regarding Delay with no estimated time. I follow up with SA and he forwards my call to his Lead - same reply from him as well, but mentions that allotment will be done soon.
On September 1, I get mail from Dealer mentioning that the discount they offered has been cut down and I have to pay an additional 5k. I also read the news that Maruti is planning to hike prices for all vehicles from 1 September.
I followed up with SA and his lead; no news on allotment or updated price. He is also unsure whether prices of all models will be hiked.
I also read news that MSIL might hike the prices by 3-4%, which means I will have to shell out extra 15-20k. This approx brings the price of my booked WagonR to 6.05-6.1L (considering the discount cut as well). During the same time was the Insurance hike court order which then got stayed for 90 days (as per news)
This made me think of Tiago which I could get for a lesser price than the WagonR (after hike). I made enquiries and I was able to get a deal for 5.93L for Tiago XE variant with Sony Touch Screen System with 4 Speakers, Rear parking camera and Remote Locking system. Extended Warranty was offered for one additional year only and I excluded it.
Delivery Period was given as 20 days assured.
Coming to my question : I would really like the suggestions and opinions of fellow experienced BHPians on which one I should go with - WagonR or Tiago
WagonR - Expected Price hike but quantum of hike not known; delivery period not known
Tiago - my next best option with assured delivery period
Both the cars have their own pros and cons, but given the budget and current scenario of Insurance hike possibility+WagonR price hike, I am a bit confused on which car to lean.
Not sure if this idea is stupid, but I thought of booking Tiago as well and keep whichever gets allotted to me first and cancel the other.
Which car holds good VFM ,reliability and easy maintenance for a beginner given the price hike scenario as well.
Though price point is important to me, I really want to settle for a car that will live with me for at least 5-6 years and should offer a decent resale value as well
Mods : I found this topic apt for getting suggestions . Please do move if there is any other thread that this should belong to. |