Before just springing up at the look of your would-be beauty on wheels, consider these points. New and used cars have advantages and disadvantages of their own. Read on to know which automobile can be the best for you. New cars v/s old cars – let the battle begin!

ADVANTAGES OF A NEW CAR

Unlimited options and wide choice: The choice is abundant when it comes to the make, model, body colour, seat fabric and accessories that you would want in your new car. Many cars these days come with complete customization options which reflect the real you.

That ‘new car’ feeling: You know it’s an unused new car that has come to you directly off the assembly line. Nobody else has used the car. It can never be the same when you’re buying an used car.

Peace of mind: Manufacturer warranties always come along with new cars. There’s nothing hidden about the car. You have the car reviews written online. There are no worries or hidden secrets about the car having met with an accident in the past. You can expect what you were looking for with transparency in the deal regarding price and features.

DISADVANTAGES OF A NEW CAR

Depreciation depression: Drive a new car out of the showroom and expect a depreciation of 30 per cent. In the first year alone, the car is likely to lose 40 per cent of its value. The truth is that the loss of value slows down as the vehicle gets older.

Money, money, money: You certainly get to enjoy the new car feel, but that comes at a cost. There’s more money going out of your pocket for insurance, registration, taxes and accessories. To add to the irony, none of these extra payments are going to be accounted for while selling the same automobile.

ADVANTAGES OF A USED CAR

Cheaper to buy: There’s no doubt that a pre-owned automobile is going to cost you lesser than its new counterpart. Getting an almost new vehicle or a well-maintained one for less can be a great deal. How about getting a Honda City for just Rs 6 Lakh? Plus pre-owned automobiles don’t come with registration and taxation costs attached.

Cheaper to own: The value that the new vehicle had to lose has already been lost while you purchased it. So, there are very less chances of losing a big chunk while re-selling it. Depreciate will be much slower in the next few years. That has a positive impact on the cost of ownership, and you lose far less over the three years that you will own the car, as compared to a new automobile.

No additional expenses: You pay for a used car on an as-is-where-is basis. You will not be spending any extra amount on accessories like seat-covers, fog lamps or a music system. Almost every time, the first owner will have made the necessary additions. However, the additional cost can be avoided only in case of well-maintained cars.

DISADVANTAGES OF A USED CAR

Perceived risk: For all you know, you can end up getting deceived by the words of a stranger you have met once or twice. The records containing the car’s accident history can be tampered and you do not know for sure how the car had been driven and on what roads it ran. You are investing a significant amount of your savings on that car. So, get it inspected and certified by an independent authority before the purchase.

Possible expenses on the car: The car isn’t brand new and you may have to shell out some money on getting the car serviced and repaired. Do take a trusted mechanic or someone who knows cars inside and out while visiting your new used car. It is advisable to choose a car that has been lovingly treated over one that has been used roughly or even over one that comes with a few extra accessories.

Limited choice: You may not really get the car the way you want it to be. You may get it in different colour, or it may not have all the features you expected the car to have. Customization is limited when you choose a used automobile. You may have to make yourself happy about finding a blue Hyundai i10 even though you dreamt of owning the golden one.

Deepthi Alvares

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