BHPian V0rtex recently shared this with other enthusiasts: As someone that has never owned a used vehicle but has been tempted to purchase one, I want to know why my fellow BHPians have decided not to opt for a used car or bike. The 15-25 lakh segment is, in my opinion, the segment that offers the most value for money cars currently, you have VAG 1.0 and 1.5 cars, Thar, Scorpio, XUV 700 and so on. But if one were to spend similar money in the used market, you could get a car from a higher segment. Instead of a Virtus, you could purchase an entry level German luxury car or a slightly older executive sedan. Also, the depreciation is much less on a used car compared to a brand new car. The lack of quality cars and the marginal difference in price between used and new cars has stopped me from going the pre-owned route, but I’m more curious about those from metropolitan cities, as people often change cars and you have a better used market with competitive pricing. Another factor is the better loan options available for brand new vehicles. Here’s what GTO replied:Four Reasons: 1. Once you buy a great car, you don’t tire of it. An upgrade to my ’13 530d has been on the anvil since 2 years now, but the car itself has aged so well, it’s still very enjoyable to drive & own. Fast, safe, luxurious, handsome, even by current standards. 2. Once you already have a great car, you feel like investing the replacement car money elsewhere. Investments, lifestyle, home and other equally important stuff. 3. The cars in my own garage & all the new test-drive cars I drive couple of times each month take care of all my wants & needs as a petrol-head. In fact, I’d rather be driving 2 – 3 freshly launched cars each month than the same sports car day in and day out. 4. What’s further holding me back are the potential price drops in luxury cars . India just gave UK a massive reduction in custom duties on CBUs; give it to one country and you can bet all our other trade partner countries will ask for the same. I expect the prices of CBUs and indirectly (some) CKDs also to fall noticeably. When new car prices get rationalised, it immediately affects the pre-worshipped market as well.Here’s what BHPian Samba replied:Let me jot down few reasons to choose a new car over a pre-owned car – 1. In petrol the ethanol compatibility and for diesels we never know what is the future of bs4 diesels. 2. The rate of interest while taking a loan for a new car is always lower than a preowned car. 3. A new car comes with factory warranty. Peace of mind for at least 5 years. 4. I always say, if you can afford a new premium car only then you should consider a pre-owned premium car. You can buy a 7-8 years old premium car for the price of a C-segment sedan but the maintenance cost will be not at par with the c-segment sedan, it will be much higher. 5. For many old cars the parts availability is becoming an issue. 6. It is difficult to know how the previous owner treated the car. 7. Even if we get a thorough checkup done before purchasing a pre-owned car, some hidden issue may surprise you after 3-4 months of ownership. 8. An old car can never match the feel of a new car. That tautness and rattle free driving experience. 9. From day one you know all the details of your car, which is never possible in a pre-owned car. 10. The new car smell. As this thread is about mentioning the positives of buying a new car. Am skipping writing about the advantages of buying a pre-owned car. Eg, An informed buyer can always find out a pre-owned car in mint condition and enjoy the car.Here’s what BHPian antz.bin replied:The only thing holding me back is ethanol and biodiesel blending. My father’s last car was the 2007 Honda Civic AT. He bought it used in 2012 on my recommendation and had it till his last breath last year. The only reason why we had to let it go early this year (apart from the fact that there was nobody to drive it) was because of all sorts of trouble the car would give just due to these incompatible ethanol blends. I had tears in my eyes the day that car was sold off. It was 17 yrs old but the interior, ride, handling, gearbox, suspension, steering even all the buttons inside the car, all its features, including the 6 CD changer worked immaculately. The only issues it had apart from the constant engine trouble and wierd noises and vibration despite getting the engine mounts changed multiple times were with the exteriors and that bit was easily fixable. At the time of buying my motorcycle (in the DP), I knew I will use it very less so I really wanted to buy a used KTM 390. Found a couple of used ones, run 3-4k km in 2 yrs for 40% off sticker price. Proper steal deals. But everything was E10. In the age of E20, I didnt want the bike to suffer the same fate as my old 2009 Pulsar 220 did with ethanol beyond design capacity. Now with the advent of EVs, ICE vehicles are getting less and less desirable everyday. Govt. has been doing it’s bit to make sure nobody can maintain their old ICE cars for too long. There are plenty of cars that I used to constantly ogle at and wanted to buy used someday, but this E20/27/30/50/85/100 fiasco has broken all such desires. Pre COVID, I wanted to own another Civic or a Hyundai Elantra 2.0 as my next car. Or go bigger and get a Honda CRV. Looking for used cars, TDing them, evaluating them, was one of my hobby of sorts. But after COVID ended, I had no commute and has to watch my beloved Pulsar 220 die. There was still life left in it, I would have kept it for my nephew who turned 18 and joined college this year. Everything else on that bike worked too till the day it was sold. But E20 just wouldn’t let it live. The only thing I look at nowadays are Electrics. There is no blending possible in electricity. I have no interest in buying anything ICE, new / used so long as it is not flex fuel capable. Unfortunately, nothing on the market currently supports flex fuel apart from the Honda CB300F and maybe I would have bought it had I not purchased the Triumph Speed 400 only months prior. With the advent of blended fuels and the absence of choice to the customers, all older vehicles are slowly dying. All of them will reach the scrappage centers sooner or later. And the art of keeping a vehicle in mint condition for 20+ years will die with all these scrapped vehicles. It’s not that these vehicles couldn’t have lived that long, they are being mercilessly killed, and with it, the desire to buy used cars is also being killed.Here’s what BHPian SSD2122 replied:Having been there and finally opting for a new car purchased this month, here’s what I feel about it. 1. A new car is like the refreshing smell of a new book, fresh cover and the anticipation of what all it holds makes you want it. 2. Old beautiful cars like the ones I had Linea T-jet and nano twist for 11 years, both amazing are like “Classics”. Keep them well and enjoy them for a long time till the bind comes off many times and then it’s heartache to remove them. 3. The changes in fuel norms, safety norms, newer engines, newer technology and features etc. 4. Price rise – for me it was time to move on before the price rise makes any new purchase unjustifiable. For me now was the time that I had to go in for a new one; knowing there would hardly any exchange value for my current ones. 4. No good options in the old car market which fits your current budget and requirements. 5. Obsolete or discontinued models as was in my case with both Linea T-jet and Nano being discontinued. It was getting difficult to get spare parts, get good servicing for them. On the whole I enjoyed them both quite a lot, maintained them to the best of what I could and gave them a fitting farewell. At the same time welcomed a new one!Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.
