1. Used car Vs New car..
To put it in Sasa's words, I need a car just as a safe cube to get me point A to point B. My preference is definitely going places and flying to vacations than splurging on a new car. A thousand bucks saved on a car is equivalent to 2 vacations. US is a huge country and 90% of nice spots are out of Deepika's car range ( because she will still think about whether it is justificable to drive and waste fuel+harm earth than spend more money but fly there, that plane is going to be scheduled irrespective of whether Dee flies on it or not. )
My recent vacations in the past 2 months were Seattle, Atlanta and Dallas, and I would fly of course. Other top spots on my wish list are New York, a cruise in Alaska, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon and Smokies. )
2. Used car..
In search of a "आखूड शिंगी बहू दुधी गाय" medium mileage/ relatively not so old, and a price tag that goes with both these qualities. But looks like I can only find 1 quality at a time. If there's a car that matches both qualities, It will have a "Call for price" written in the online ad. Yeah right, all people going for a used car are going to be so jobless that they have no other work but to call all the dealers for their "potential shortlist?" cars.
3. Features
Yet another group of cars will satisfy both qualities but lacks ABS/ Cruise control. I dont give a damn to whether AC works or not, or whether it has power windows - my parents car had neither and yet was comfortable. One dealer called me back to say there was no ABS but there was a Satellite Radio.
Quoting Shashank: Satellite Radio वर गंधर्व गाणार आहेत का? (Translates- Do I get to hear celestial singers if there's a satellite radio.)
4. Dealer fees
Either I completely lack negotiation skills or whatever. There was only 1 dealer who included dealer fees in the cost listed online, and only a couple others who bothered to list their dealer fees on their own website. Again apparently everyone has spare time on hands to call the dealer for the dealer fees (which ranged 249 to 999 in MLB/ MCO) for all potential shortlists.
5. Online price
Most cars will have a better price online, as one dealer said, to get your foot in the door.
6. Mechanic hunt
Most dealers will have a service branch in the same premises. Yet there will be no warranty on the car. You, with all the free time in the world, have to make a few more calls to find a mechanic in the area who charges the least for looking at a used car and giving their opinion about it.
7. Manufacturers warranty
You will find a 2011 rental car with "just" 30k miles on it. Its 5k less than a new car (=10 more vacations for me.) It will still have manufacturer's warranty left on it. If its a Nissan, chances are that the rental car has used it up - easier to reject it on the spot. If its a Certified Nissan/ Honda/ Hyundai, you are better off with the warranty. You call up Hyundai to confirm about it and they will give you a list of exclusions from the warranty.
8. Manual Vs Automatic
You find the purrrfect car, its 2011, still has warranty left, what you ignore to read is that its Manual. 2 yrs out of India I forgot driving anything, leave alone driving a Manual. You still brace yourself and go for a testdrive.. best luck with that!
9. Thanksgiving offers
Some dealers do have specials/ offers. But Mechanics are either booked/ on vacation.
Thus endeth my 2 weeks since I started serious car search. Shortlists:
2003 camry 117k miles 9k usd - ranks 1st bcoz its the only one approved by mechanic so far, mechanic says its really good inside
the cost doesnt justify the miles at all.
3* 2011 rental cars ranging 30-35k miles @12k.
2008 hatchback accent without cruise control - hey if I buy a car which is good enough to be taken for a longer ride, I surely wish for a cruise control and enjoy the drive!
Sasa specializes in sensors and actuators and claims that getting one installed खाउची पेंड नाही आहे! (not a piece of cake - hey this is one of the rare idioms that uses the exact same analogy in both the languages)
To put it in Sasa's words, I need a car just as a safe cube to get me point A to point B. My preference is definitely going places and flying to vacations than splurging on a new car. A thousand bucks saved on a car is equivalent to 2 vacations. US is a huge country and 90% of nice spots are out of Deepika's car range ( because she will still think about whether it is justificable to drive and waste fuel+harm earth than spend more money but fly there, that plane is going to be scheduled irrespective of whether Dee flies on it or not. )
My recent vacations in the past 2 months were Seattle, Atlanta and Dallas, and I would fly of course. Other top spots on my wish list are New York, a cruise in Alaska, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon and Smokies. )
2. Used car..
In search of a "आखूड शिंगी बहू दुधी गाय" medium mileage/ relatively not so old, and a price tag that goes with both these qualities. But looks like I can only find 1 quality at a time. If there's a car that matches both qualities, It will have a "Call for price" written in the online ad. Yeah right, all people going for a used car are going to be so jobless that they have no other work but to call all the dealers for their "potential shortlist?" cars.
3. Features
Yet another group of cars will satisfy both qualities but lacks ABS/ Cruise control. I dont give a damn to whether AC works or not, or whether it has power windows - my parents car had neither and yet was comfortable. One dealer called me back to say there was no ABS but there was a Satellite Radio.
Quoting Shashank: Satellite Radio वर गंधर्व गाणार आहेत का? (Translates- Do I get to hear celestial singers if there's a satellite radio.)
4. Dealer fees
Either I completely lack negotiation skills or whatever. There was only 1 dealer who included dealer fees in the cost listed online, and only a couple others who bothered to list their dealer fees on their own website. Again apparently everyone has spare time on hands to call the dealer for the dealer fees (which ranged 249 to 999 in MLB/ MCO) for all potential shortlists.
5. Online price
Most cars will have a better price online, as one dealer said, to get your foot in the door.
6. Mechanic hunt
Most dealers will have a service branch in the same premises. Yet there will be no warranty on the car. You, with all the free time in the world, have to make a few more calls to find a mechanic in the area who charges the least for looking at a used car and giving their opinion about it.
7. Manufacturers warranty
You will find a 2011 rental car with "just" 30k miles on it. Its 5k less than a new car (=10 more vacations for me.) It will still have manufacturer's warranty left on it. If its a Nissan, chances are that the rental car has used it up - easier to reject it on the spot. If its a Certified Nissan/ Honda/ Hyundai, you are better off with the warranty. You call up Hyundai to confirm about it and they will give you a list of exclusions from the warranty.
8. Manual Vs Automatic
You find the purrrfect car, its 2011, still has warranty left, what you ignore to read is that its Manual. 2 yrs out of India I forgot driving anything, leave alone driving a Manual. You still brace yourself and go for a testdrive.. best luck with that!
9. Thanksgiving offers
Some dealers do have specials/ offers. But Mechanics are either booked/ on vacation.
Thus endeth my 2 weeks since I started serious car search. Shortlists:
2003 camry 117k miles 9k usd - ranks 1st bcoz its the only one approved by mechanic so far, mechanic says its really good inside
the cost doesnt justify the miles at all.
3* 2011 rental cars ranging 30-35k miles @12k.
2008 hatchback accent without cruise control - hey if I buy a car which is good enough to be taken for a longer ride, I surely wish for a cruise control and enjoy the drive!
Sasa specializes in sensors and actuators and claims that getting one installed खाउची पेंड नाही आहे! (not a piece of cake - hey this is one of the rare idioms that uses the exact same analogy in both the languages)
No comments:
Post a Comment