How long can a new car remain brand new? Those who can answer this, get a huge shutout from us!
But for those of you who don’t have an answer, we’re here to help. The enthusiasm and excitement of a brand-new car fades in a couple of months of buying the car. What remains after that is the stress of every new dent, scratch, color fading and regular upkeep of the car.

We are no magicians, but we sure can help with a few tips that will keep your car in the best shape. Some of those are listed below;

1) Check the tire pressure.

2) Change the oil.

3) Fill the engine coolant.

4) Read the owner’s manual.

5) Rotate the tires.

6) Fix your driving habits if required.

7) Change batteries regularly.

8) Get regular services done.

While these are some basic tips, we also have a few more solutions that will make sure your car is as good as new, for as long as you can keep it that way.
A few of those are;

1) To keep the exterior looking like you it has just been brought home from the showroom, make sure to keep your car covered when not in use, clean it regularly and get regular wax polishes done or do them yourself. Make sure to fix each dent as soon as possible. This will make your car look brand new at all times.

2) Maintain the belts and brakes. These are the prime safety features in a car. So, make sure they are in the best form.

3) ALWAYS use original spare parts and reputed mechanics only because you never know much of a negative impact fake machinery can have on a car and just how dangerous it is too.

4) Make sure that the interiors are always clean and the windows are functioning properly and absolutely clear. This makes the car feel newer and the driver as well as the travelers feel welcomed.

5) Checking the tire pressure not only helps in ensuring that the tires have a longer life span, but also is a very important safety measure.

How we treat our vehicle is solely in our hands, literally. Going that one extra mile to make sure that your car is in the best shape is more than just a necessity. Investing in a car is one thing. But to ensure a longer life for the car is how the correct use of the investment is made. Especially for those looking to sell their car car in the pre-owned category, these tips will come in handy because this will help fetch a higher amount got their car, compared to the others in the market.

Irrespective of what the future of your car is, the present must be well taken care of. Apply these easy tips to keep your car as grand as always.  

Buying a pre-owned/used car can sound so simple, but in actuality it is a process that needs to be thoroughly followed. Not only does it make it sense for the buyer for the sake of security, but also helps in getting a loan, insurance, etc.

Some of the basic steps to follow before buying a pre-owned car in India are;

1) First and foremost, it needs to be determined who you buy the car from. Whether it’s a pre-owned car dealership, someone known to you, used car broker, etc. Each of these options come with their own pros and cons. You have to determine what works best for you after doing a thorough research.

2) Figure out your budget and check out all the cars that are available and that suit your budget. Do your background check on the car you want to purchase and understand how satisfied the other buyers are with the said car. This will give you an idea how your pre-owned car will perform after you have purchased it from someone else. It will also help understand what to look out for in the future.

3) Test drive the car of your choice and check the condition of the car inside and out. If you’re unable to decipher by yourself, seek help from someone who would be able to guide you. Negotiate based on what you see and how the car drives. Mechanical problems and the likes must not be ignored. Also, try to stick to buying a pre-owned car that is not older than 2-3 years. This will ensure that the car has a few more years to pull through without extensive repairs and the depreciation value is also higher, thus ensuring a good rate. Try to buy a car that hasn’t been discontinued as repair work and spare parts would be difficult to find if bought otherwise.

4) Bargain based on what and how the condition of the car is. Whoever the seller might be will obviously want a higher value, close to the value he bought the car for. But you need to stand firm on what you understand, want, and what suits your budget perfectly.  

5) Paperwork cannot be stressed on enough when buying a pre-owned car. Give adequate time in sorting the paperwork before jumping the wagon. A few of the papers that you must get in order are –
– Transfer the RC (Registration Certificate) to your name.
– The car insurance must be now made in your name.
– Buy a new insurance in your name if required or if the previous owner doesn’t have one.
– Transfer the NCB (No Claim Bonus) to your name.

Right before you get on to making this car your own, clean the interiors, exterior,  change the fluids, fix the small evident damages and other basic but important fixes.
And here you have it, Your brand new pre-owned car, that not only you deserve but are also so proud of!

Some of you who might be looking out to buy a new car know exactly how tempting it can be to just get a pre-owned/used/old car. While the others may feel that there are more than one reasons to get a brand-new car instead. There have been a few debates on whether it would be a better bet to buy a new or old car and both sides are justified.

Some of the major differences that can help make your life easy when it comes to deciding which way to go, are listed below;

1) Budget is one of the factors that helps decide what decision needs to be made. Once that is set it becomes easier on what needs to be done. So, cost of a new car vs cost of a pre-owned car is considered when one decides.

2) Dependability is another factor. It is true that new cars are way more dependable and reliable because they are fresh out for use. There is a very very slim chance that there would be kind of defect. While a pre-owned car comes with its complications. But it is also important to mention that with changing trends and higher service quality, pre-owned cars don’t face as many complications if maintained properly.

3) One big difference is that, newer the car, better the technology. It is essential to mention that newer models are always fighting to up their game in terms of technology. Pre-owned cars don’t have that advantage. It doesn’t matter how recent the manufacturing of the pre-owned car is. A newer car will always be one up when it comes to technology. Newer technology will also mean better mileage and lower emissions.

4) Pre-owned cars help save more money. Yes, it is true! This is because the dip in the depreciation amount in the initial years is already been dealt with by the previous owner. When he removes the car to sell it, you get it at a much lower rate than what they bought it at. It has become so easy to get reviews and consumer reports on cars now, that you can easily decide which pre-owned car will suit you the best based on that. Certified pre-owned cars make for another point to remember before purchasing a pre-owed car.

5) Financing also needs to be given due credit. On a pre-owned car, the interest rates on loans are higher than on new cars. This factor if looked into properly and if correct financing advice is received, the buyer can manage to get a good deal either way. So, it is highly recommended to look into this department correctly.

6) Warranty on the new or pre-owned car is also a point of difference. Once the buyer is aware of the kind of warranty being offered in comparison to either of the two options, it becomes easier to make the decision too.

Here are a few simple differences that can make all the difference to a buyer. Give it a read before making a decision that will stick with you for the next few years atleast!

Lateral Upgrade means upgrading to a better car, but in the form of a used or pre-owned car. This theory basically means that, instead of going vertically up the purchase chain of a car and upgrading to a new car, you go up laterally and upgrade to a latest pre-owned/used car.

Even though this topic is highly debatable because not only are all opinions valuable, but are also valid, but it is also important to mention that Lateral Upgrades come with several advantages.

A few of the advantages of Pocket Friendly Lateral Upgrades are mentioned here;

1) If you have read our article on How can a Pre-Owned car be bought in India, you know exactly how to purchase one and get the maximum out of it. If you follow through that procedure while adding a few points of caution along the way, you will get yourself a very pocket friendly and sensible lateral upgrade.

2) While you’re engaging in research for your lateral upgrade, also make sure to keep in mind to look out for cars that are well maintained and those that offer a lower mileage. Yes, that is correct. Lower mileage cars don’t give way as fast as higher mileage cars do. This in turn also keeps the car well maintained and sturdy.

3) Check how the car maker performs in the market. You will know how good the car is, by understanding more about the manufacturer. You can then decide which car suits you and your budget best.

4) Make sure to research and find cars that don’t offer a very high resale value. This is because some cars have a high resale value even after 3-5 years of purchase. The owners may expect a higher value because of the quality and recognition that car has in the market, thus defeating the whole purpose of a lateral upgrade. Therefore, research before getting yourself a deal.

5) While researching, also try to find cars that have a higher depreciation value. Some of the petrol cars the Indian market do have a higher depreciation value. Even though the car may be in great shape when you go out to purchase it, the value is far lesser than the original price. Once your budget is ascertained, it’ll become easier for you to choose your car.

These are some tips from us to you. But we would also like to mention that lateral upgrades need not be restricted for buying a primary car. Some of you might like to have another car around that doesn’t burn a hole in your pocket. Thus making it another area where a lateral upgrade can come to play.
While we suggest you to go all out and explore this option, we would also like to tell you to try and buy comparatively newer cars, i.e. newer models and also choose cars that aren’t over 3-5 years older. Both of these points will help you retain the car for a longer period of time.

PDI means Pre-Delivery Inspection and in this article, we educate you on the importance of pre delivery inspection and checklist. A few of the very important measures before the car is registered in your name and before the delivery of the vehicle.

Firstly, start by inspecting the car. It is extremely important to inspect the car thoroughly, internally and externally before taking the keys and making the car permanently yours. We suggest you do this in the day time because it’ll be easier to see better and difficult to conceal any kind of damages or repair work. Also make sure to check the VIN, i.e. Manufacturing date of the car. This is important because you’ll know whether or not you’re getting the car you paid for.

Once that is ascertained also check the odometer. Ideally the car should not have been driven for over 100 kms. Check the number plate and make sure it matches what has been promised to you. Also do ask for a demo of the car, to find out about features you may have missed or are not aware about. This will only help you know your car better.  

Before you take the car, look into the other documents also. It is so important to keep the paperwork in order and go through it thoroughly. This is one area where the sellers can easily take you for a ride because most people tend to overlook the documentation if everything looks and feels fine.
Go through the invoice to make sure that chassis and engine number are the same as that on the challan. Make sure you get a sales certificate, insurance documents, original warranty and PUC certificate.
Make sure you have a copy of the sales contact because that becomes proof of the dealer selling the exact same car that you have paid for.

Some miscellaneous details that you must look into before taking the car would be, getting a duplicate set of keys, warranty details of the batteries, etc, extended warranty details. It is also good to ask for the road side assistance contact details and details of the sales and service staff.

Last but not the least, take the car for a drive with the delivery agent or any authorized sales staff. This is important because you then know you’re getting exactly what you wanted and incase if there is some problem with the way the car drives, you can immediately bring it to their attention. This will no only save a lot of your time, but also help you from having to take accountability without actually having anything to do with you.

You may completely trust the dealership or the seller you buy your car from. But how do you know they’re not lying to you about the manufacturing date of your car? You could be paying a higher amount because you may want the latest manufacturing and they could try to sell you a car that is manufactured in the previous years.

This is why checking the manufacturing date has become important. You would think you will have to believe what the seller says right? Wrong. You can now find the manufacturing date of your car, on your own.

We tell you exactly how and why you need to do that, below;

1) It is important you know that the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) will not tell you the manufacturing date of the car. There are other methods to do that. But the VIN is a unique code that only belongs to your car. This code helps lead to the manufacturing date.

2) The VIN can be found written close to the engine of the car.

3) The VIN has English alphabets that help decipher the month and year of manufacture.
(a) ‘A’ stand for the year 2010 and it goes up to ‘Y’ which stands for the year 2030.
(b) Alphabets ‘I’, ‘O’ and ‘Q’ are not used as codes.
(c) The years are ascertained in the same way, where ‘A’ stands for January and the codes go on till ‘M’ which stands for December.

4) It is important to mention that different manufactures have the letter codes placed differently in the VIN number to ascertain the month and year. But it is easy to research about the manufacturing brand you have chosen to buy your car from and ascertain the manufacturing date of your car, yourself.

This is a basic guideline on how to find the real manufacturing date which is a part of your PDI checklist. It is easy to get duped into getting a car that has an older manufacturing date and checking it out personally will only help you in the future.

Making sure that your car is in the best shape is no longer a necessity. It is a duty. Some people make sure that their vehicle is in the best shape, while some seem to take it for granted. By the time this group of people come to realise it, it is already too late. Which is why it is essential that your vehicle is give the respect and care it deserves. From the very beginning.

Some of the measures that could be adopted in order to ensure your car is in the best shape are given below. Now, some of these measures be slight time consuming, while the other can look like they can be given a miss. But it is important to know that more the effort, more the efficiency, life span and durability of your car. Make sure to go that extra mile to get the best out of your car.

1) Having a service schedule and keeping a service history is one of the biggest favors that you can do to yourself and your car. this ensures that you’re UpToDate when it comes to your car’s health and further help lengthen the life span.  

2) DON’T procrastinate on the mechanical issues. Make sure to get them checked as soon as an inclination arises that something might be wrong with your car. The longer you wait, higher the probability of affecting the other parts and leading to more issues.

3) Make sure that only original spare parts are used in your car. Cheaper alternatives not only damage the health of the car, but also probe as a safety hazard.

4) It can be easier to wait for the petrol/diesel tank to be practically empty than to go to the pump and get a refill. But the smart thing to do would be to refill just when it reaches the 1/4th level. This will make sure that car doesn’t get used to running on an almost empty tank and pushing the dry tank to an extreme till it just gives up.

5) It can be extremely tempting to show off a new car by speeding, or simply giving into the urge of speeding on an empty road. But this habit-forming driving pattern can be too hard on your vehicle. Thus, affecting the mechanics. The potholes on the Indian roads pose as an enemy to your car anyway. Rash driving can further intensify the damage caused.

6) While making sure that only a safe driver drives your car, also ensure that the driver is alert and careful of the condition of the car. Many a times people take for granted how they may be treating somebody else’s vehicle.

7) Don’t load up on the boot or passenger space. It can be unsafe, while also hampering with the strength and unnecessarily pushing the vehicle to its maximum boundaries.

8) Ensure that your car is clean. On the inside and the outside. We don’t realise the importance of keeping our car clean and underestimate the power of a good car wash. Not only is it appealing to the eyes. But the driver also wants to go an extra mile (not literally) to make sure he drives the car well, in order to match the outer cleanliness with the inner mechanism.

9) Basic precautionary measures like slowing on speed breakers, resisting over speeding, dodging the traffic, etc. can take your car a long way.

10) Adopt activities like oil change and checking fuel level for better functioning.

They say ‘You are as happy as you make your mind to be’, but we all know that a happy and well working car can bring the unbeatable kind of happiness.  
Practice these basic measures to ensure your car is in the best shape and thank us later.

India’s most loved car, the Maruti Suzuki Swift is now on its way with a brand-new facelift! It has been one launch that is being eagerly awaited because of the reliability and love that the Maruti Suzuki Swift has received from the very first time that it launched in May 2005, in India.