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Should I keep or sell my 9-year-old Maruti Ritz

I primarily use the Honda City (petrol) & my wife sometimes uses the Ritz (diesel) which has clocked 80,000 km on the odo. I also own a Royal Enfield Interceptor 650.

BHPian nTorq recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Fellow BHPians,

Please advise.

I recently bought a Honda City 5th Gen (petrol), and am currently confused about whether or not to sell our 9-year-old Ritz diesel.

The car has run 80k km and is in OK condition. Here is the list of known repairs:

  • Two tyres need to be changed, as they’re worn out.
  • The battery needs a change, as I can see it taking longer cranks to start.
  • General service at 80k km is due.
  • Shock absorbers might be weak.
  • Some paint touch-up here and there, by virtue of being driven largely in Bangalore traffic.

Here are my reasons to sell it

  • I now primarily use the Honda City, and my wife sometimes uses the Ritz. However, she’s currently WFH, which might continue for some more time, and hence, the car isn’t taken out on a daily basis.
  • I have an Interceptor 650 as well, which has run 5k km in 2.5 years, and I am worried that if I keep the Ritz as well, we may not be really using it often.
  • I am getting a reasonable price of INR 3L for it, and if I keep the vehicle and decide to sell it later, this number might go down significantly.
  • If I decide to keep the Ritz, I will need to spend 30-35k on repairs right now.
  • Our apartment has only one car parking allotted, and we’re currently parking it in someone else’s parking with their permission. Although we can continue to do that for quite some time, we’ll not have a permanent parking spot for the Ritz.


Now, here are my reasons to not sell it

  • My 5-year-old daughter is very attached to it! Last night when I told her about giving away the car, she started crying. (But then, of course, I bought the City largely because she liked it, while my heart was with Creta.)
  • If at some point in the near future, we feel the need for a second car (if my wife’s WFH scenario changes), then we may not get anything decent for the same price as I’m giving away the Ritz (3L).
  • I really like the diesel engine in the Ritz, and it would be nice to have a petrol and a diesel available at home. I sometimes miss the pleasure of driving a diesel engine when I drive the City. So, driving the Ritz once in a while will cater to this.
  • If I have the Ritz as an option, I would use it for longer commutes in Bangalore in heavy traffic, allowing me to keep the Honda City newer for longer (lesser wear & tear).
  • The Ritz is certainly more fuel-efficient than the City, and the overall cost of commute might come down if I use both the Ritz and the City.

What should I do?

PS: My daily commute is about 15 km, with a monthly trip to Mysore and back (~350 km).

Here's what BHPian SmartCat had to say about the matter:

  • Sell. We sold our 2011 A-star AT for the same reasons:
  • Not used at all, since there is no school pick up/drop

Excellent price for used small cars (bought pre-owned for Rs. 3.2L in 2015, sold for Rs. 2.2L in 2021)

Before buying the new Honda City and before your wife's WFH, how were you managing with just one car (Ritz)? You will have to do the same now. Perhaps, you should take the bike for the office commute and let your wife take the Honda City.

You can always buy a used car (perhaps, at a lower price) later if it is absolutely needed. I think inflated prices for used cars are temporary. It should normalize eventually when the supply of new cars goes up (after chip shortage is resolved) and people get back to using public transport (once covid fear eases).

Here's what BHPian aargee had to say about the matter:

If sentiments & fantasy outweighs practical & reality, then retain it, otherwise, I see no point.

I was in your shoes, just that it was for a two-wheeler. After all, for any vehicle, emotions are the same. I was reluctant to sell our 20+-year-old Yamaha, 10+-year-old CBR & 16+-year-old Activa for their minimal usage. But then I think I've overcome those sentiments & planning to sell off them in due course on account of accepting reality & the due course is not far future!

PS - My Wife suggested a method & I'm sharing that with you; retain both cars for now, if you don't see Ritz (or City for that matter) being used for 3 months (again, you should not use it for the sake of it), then Ritz probably needs a new owner!

Here's what BHPian condor had to say about the matter:

I would say Keep it.

This is a non-BSVI diesel, hence, lesser complications even if you don't use it much. The Ritz has been under-rated, and newer Marutis won't come close to it - it is simpler, spacious, and reliable.

WFH will have to end sometime or other. Till then running will be low, but when you want a second car then you would either spend on a new one or have to hunt for another used one. Schools here in KA are opening up, and offices are too.

While 3L is a good price, a new car will cost much more later. And a used car can be an unknown angel.

So unless you have parking issues, my suggestion is to keep it.

Here's what BHPian Inquilab28 had to say about the matter:

My vote - Keep

  • That engine is a beauty, it will serve you another 1L km easily as long as you do the bare minimum diligently.
  • You are, clearly, a two-car household (wife's office and kids school, added to your work scenario). No point in selling something that is serving you well.
  • The current maintenance cost for 80K service is less than 10% of the value of the car, so better get it serviced. If it was abnormally high like 25% or more, then it would have been a cause for concern.
  • Perfect Bangalore City car. Doesn't make any sense selling this when you don't have a solid case for ditching it. The Ritz is no white elephant for sure.

I genuinely feel you are just a little bored of the car, as you had it this long, which is causing you to think like this. Just spruce up your car and get some TLC in place.

Get some TBHP stickers, good wax treatment and sort out the mechanicals. I am sure you will appreciate it more and might enjoy it a little longer.

THIS is one of my fav articles on TBHP. Makes a lot of sense, just tagging for your reference.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

 
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