Thinking of a New Car?

It is often not easy to decide when it comes to buying a new car. There are loads of things to be taken into consideration for that unmatched synchronisation of a perfect drive and comfort. Tough the Indian car market is growing on healthy rate yet we do miss on certain key aspects when it comes to purchasing a new car.

Here are a few ways in which this big question becomes easier.

Your Requirements

• Your purpose behind buying the car, eg, family car, car for personal use, etc 
• Secondly, the budget or the money you are comfortable to spend on the on-road price of the car.
• Any key features that your are looking for, eg, better mileage, more power,etc

Selecting The Car

• The type of Segment depending upon your requirements and needs.
• This is a major point, buying a diesel or petrol variant. Although many owners opt for a diesel variant for obvious reasons they need to understand that a diesel variant costs around Rs 60,000 to 1 Lac more than its petrol counterpart,moreover using the car for 30-40 thousand km will not help recover the extra moolah spent at the time of buying a diesel ans the running cost difference is around Rs 1-2 per km. (depending upon the car and its mileage)
• Choosing the right car is very important as there is a healthy variety of cars available in each segment.

(TGM tip: take some time out for a test drive and check all the features offered before deciding as its a matter of a pleasurable drive.)

Sealing The Deal

This is a key aspect when it comes to purchasing.

• Always get quotations from 2 or more dealers, if possible.
• Ask for the break-up of the on-road price offered by the dealers.
• Cash discount is available on purchases through loans which varies up to 3% of the loan amount.

(TGM tip: try and opt for 3yrs loan payout as you can save money on the interest to be paid as compared to 5yrs loan payout.)

• In case you already own a car and are selling it for anew one, you can use the no claim bonus, if any to get a discount on the insurance amount for the new car.
• If you are buying at the end of year, insist the dealer for added discount as you are likely to loose a good amount in the re-sale value of the car.
•  Remember, if buying a car in Jan 2011 then the registration will be of 2011 but the car manufacturing will be of 2010, its only by the month of Feb that you will get a 2011 manufactured model.

Once all these are worked out you can set those wheels rolling & drive your way with a new car.

Send us your reviews.

- Nitesh Bansal

  TGM Blog team

Das Boot!

'Das Boot' or the boot is a major benchmark in the Indian market. Having a boot directly escalades the car to the realm of 'Badi Gaadi'...So naturally this segment has been exploited by the manufactures, and how! Yes, I am referring to the trend of simply adding a boot to a hatchback. Though this trend has been prevalent since long (remember the Fiat Petra!), I have recently started noticing it and sort of analysing.
So let's take a look what this segment has to offer...

• Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Dzire is one of the highest selling cars from this segment. And it isn't hard to see why...The car is really very well engineered by the guys at Maruti. And at some level I do feel proud of this car, because the entire process of adding the boot to the Swift has been done by the Indian engineers at Maruti. Kudos. Handling wise it is almost identical to the Swift, just the rear has been softened for more comfort as many cars in this category are chauffer driven. But, and this is a big one, the car is horribly let down by its looks. It does grow on you; well mostly because the owner would be inside the car. But why make other humanity suffer! So buy this if you hate your neighbour and park it in front of his window every day. But jokes apart, it a very logical car and brilliant in all aspects, looks are subjective.
  
  
  
• Tata Indigo Manza
  
  
  
  
  
  This too is right up there when it comes to the sales figures. Like every Tata product to date, it is a very frugal, logical and spacious; more car per car. Tata like Maruti understands our market very well, and Manza is just what the doctor ordered! The car is huge, I mean colossally huge. It would easily put a car two segments above it to shame. The downside is that it is a Tata and the quality levels are not up to standard, handling and performance wise do expect everything as in the Vista. Now I come to the looks, like the Dzire the job of attaching a boot though from the engineering point of view has been done perfectly, it doesn't score much on aesthetics. The rear overhang is just too large and completely out of proportions. But still I don't find it as preposterous as the Maruti, some do, but an option that has to be considered.
  
  
  
• Fiat Linea
  
  
  
  
  
  Some may not agree, but I have come across people who don't know that the Linea is actually based on the Punto, it's the Punto with a boot-job! And this says a lot doesn't it...the Italians have done this so perfectly that at first glance it is not evident at all. This is a really gorgeous, pretty and attractive car, I doubt someone may disagree. Earlier it had been let down by the lack of outright power, but the recent launch of the turbocharged petrol variant has given this Italian beauty a shot in the arm. It now has the power which compliments its brilliant chassis and handling. But the picture isn't so rosy here either, rear headroom is at a premium and overall fit and finish isn't that amazing. And then there's the Fiat brand image which isn't so remarkable. A product I would say that can be appreciated by a true fan, just like expensive scotch or wine. The car for a Connoisseur.
  
  
  
• Volkswagen Vento
  
  
  
  
  
  Vento is the new kid on the block. It's packed with legendary German engineering and has incredible looks. If Linea is the Italian beauty, Vento is the Hollywood hunk. Its chiseled looks are attractive, but I wish they would have done something to the front so that the Polo lineage wouldn't be so obvious. Sales as of now are good, it is a good product. Brilliant engine options and seemingly reliable operation are a few of the plus points. Handling and ride wise, it is satisfactory but not for the enthusiasts. Interior quality is up to the international standards et al. When buying in this segment, not considering this is a sin!
  
  
  
  So this sums it all up I guess, 'Das Boot' concept works!!! Now some smarty pants out there might point out that the SX4 is too a hatchback originally and the boot has been added for our market. Yes, I agree but without the hatchback here, I doubt it would have fit in. These smarty pants would say then, what about the City, it too is a Jazz with a boot. The city has been engineered separately internationally since very long and our market was introduced with the hatch much later, so just didn't feel like it..! And heres one amusing fact...the 1st three cars use the same diesel engine, the Fiat 1.3 Multi-jet in some form or the other!! 

-Gaurav Singh

Simple tips that can help you save loads on fuel bills!

If you are reading this, I think I can assume correctly that you are an automobile enthusiast and/or enjoy driving. Yes, I know revving the engine so hard that it feels like its gonna explode is fun..nothing can beat the happiness the upper end of the rev band can give you. But the down side is, under such horrific conditions, your engine might be giving an economy of barely 4-5 kmpl. Some of you must be having a smug smile on your face right now thinking 'ha -ha-ha , suckers! I drive a Maruti/Hyundai...'. Am sorry to say, the same figures apply to you too sir! So here are a few simple tips to avoid this...

• Don’t start and stop engine needlessly. Idling your engine for one minute consumes the gas amount equivalent to when you start the engine.

• Avoid "revving" the engine, especially just before you switch the engine off; this wastes fuel needlessly and washes oil down from the inside cylinder walls, owing to loss of oil pressure.

• Eliminate jack-rabbit starts. Accelerate slowly when starting from dead stop. Don’t push pedal down more than 1/4 of the total foot travel.

• Travelling at fast rates in low gears can consume up to 45% more fuel than is needed.

• Manual shift driven cars allow you to change to highest gear as soon as possible, thereby letting you save gas if you "nurse it along". However, if you cause the engine to "bog down"(KNOCK), premature wearing of engine parts occurs.

• Keep windows closed when travelling at highway speeds. Open windows cause air drag, reducing your mileage by 10%.

• Drive steadily. Slowing down or speeding up wastes fuel. Also avoid tailgating - the driver in front of you is unpredictable. Not only is it unsafe, but if affects your economy, if he slows down unexpectedly.

• The best way to save FUEL is to ‘THINK AHEAD’ while driving. Do not accelerate unnecessarily.

• Do not rest left foot on floor board pedals while driving. The slightest pressure puts "mechanical drag" on components, wearing them down prematurely. This "dragging" also demands additional fuel usage.

• Avoid rough roads whenever possible, because dirt or gravel robs you of up to 30% of your gas mileage.

• Use alternate roads that are safer, shorter and straighter. Compare travelling distance differences - remember that corners, curves and lane jumping require extra gas. The shortest distance between two points is always straight.

• Signals are usually timed for your motoring advantage. By travelling steadily at the legal speed limit you boost your chances of having the "green light" all the way.

• Automatic transmissions should be allowed to cool down when your car is idling at a standstill, e.g. railroad crossings, long traffic lights, etc. Place gear into neutral position. This reduces transmission strain and allows transmission to cool.

• Park car so that you can later begin to travel in forward gear; avoid reverse-forward maneuvering while exiting, to save fuel.

• Regular tune-ups ensure best economy; check owner’s manual for recommended maintenance intervals. Special attention should be given to maintaining clean air filters... diminished air flow increases gas waste.

• Inspect suspension and chassis parts for occasional misalignment. Bent wheels, axels, bad shocks, broken springs, etc. create engine drag and are unsafe at high travelling speeds.

• Inflate all tires to maximum limit. Each tire should be, balanced and checked for out-of-round. Radial designs are the recognized fuel-savers; check manufacturer’s specifications for maximum tire pressures.

• Auto air conditioners can reduce fuel economy by 10% to 20%. Heater fan, power windows and seats increase engine load; the more load on your engine, the less kilometres per litre.

• Remove excess weight from trunk or inside of car - extra tires, back seats, unnecessary heavy parts.

• Distribute passenger weight evenly throughout car.

• While each vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at a different speed (or range of speeds), gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 100 kph.

• Keep your Engine properly tuned.

• Fixing a car that is noticeably out of tune or has failed an emission test,can improve its fuel mileage by 4 percent.Though results vary based on the kind of repair and how well it is done. Fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve your mileage by as much as 40 percent.

• Check replace Air Filters regularly.Replacing a clogged air filter can improve your car’s gas mileage by as much as 10 percent. Your car’s air filter keeps impurities from damaging the inside of your engine. Not only will replacing a dirty air filter save gas, it will protect your engine.

....So there you go, chances are you might already be knowing many of these points, and chances are when you will see the tank half full, you will say screw you economical driving I am going bonkers! But trust me, when you know that you are really low on fuel, efficient driving will take you places you wouldn't have ever imagined, literally.

Wishing you a Safe and Green Drive

The Grease Monkey Team