Gone are the days when a car was supposed to be a luxury commodity. As the overall standard of living improves and families have more than one earning member, the propensity to spend too is on the rise. Families, especially the small ones like DINK (Double Income No Kids) or DISK (you’re smart!) find buying a car to be pretty useful in many ways.

All said and done we are living in a liberalized environment where “Consumerism” is the mantra. Buying a brand new car may still be a pocket-burning experience to most middle class families. That’s where second hand cars come in. Contrary to what most people think, the second hand market can give much better value for money than a new car – but only if one has a seasoned eye and knows what to look for.

Budget and Intention
How much “moolah” are you willing to shell out for a new vehicle? What amount can you set aside for buying a car and more importantly, what’s the intention with which you are buying it? This is dependent on how much you (and your spouse) earn in a year. Secondly, will you and your family be using it on a daily basis or is it going to be kept in the garage for daily worship and adoration only?

Market Research
Once you decide the budget, do some research to see what kind of cars your bagful of greenbacks can afford. There are many sources to garner such information – friends and relatives, the Internet (www.automartindia.com), colleagues at office and lastly specialized agents who deal in such cars. Always take a second and third opinion, it’s extremely helpful and gives the right idea of what to expect and what not to.

Iska baap kaun hai?
No, don’t really ask someone that! It’s always better to purchase a car that has been used (or abused) by a single-owner because the chances of wear and tear are minimal as compared to one which has been used by 2-3 owners before. If you can convince (not coerce) a doctor, a lady or a Parsee gentleman to sell you his beauty, there’s nothing like it because they maintain it with such love and care that the car is as good as new.

As with other things in life, Timing is important
One can claim a depreciation benefit of 10% if the car is purchased before March and 20% if it’s before September in the calendar year. Another important consideration is the value that the car commands when one wants to sell it. A car bought in the beginning of the year can fetch you more value than one bought in the latter part of the year.

Engine, engine under the hood…
Apart from the cursory “look-good, feel-good” glance, pay attention in particular to the condition of the battery, the carburetor, oil and the radiator. These are the most important parts and a small error of omission might make you regret it later at a huge financial loss. Turn on the ignition and listen to the engine sound for sometime…keep an ear out for cranky, creaky noises or unusual vibrations. Take the car out for a spin and test the acceleration, braking prowess, clutch and other important organs.

Appearances can be deceptive
Most owners try to cover up severe damages to the body of the car by applying a fresh coat of paint just prior to selling it. Look for uniformity in the paint all over the body and the alignment of the fenders, door panels and windows. The doors should open and close perfectly and the windshields should be set well into their gaskets.

The chassis and suspension need special treatment because they are like the backbone of the car and you surely don’t want to buy an “arthritic” car and spend a fortune on overhauling it later. Observe the suspension of the car from a distance of about 15 feet (from all sides) to see if it sags to any side. Check the tyres to see how worn out they are. Are all the bolts in place? How are the disk/hydraulic brakes functioning? Also check the wheel alignment and test the efficacy of the shock absorbers. If the exhaust pipe spews out too much smoke, it could mean that the piston rings/valves need to be replaced or that the car has not been used for as long time. Check when the car was last serviced and when major parts were last replaced.

Interiors
The seats should not be too low which could indicate that they have been overused and the springs inside have exhausted their lifeline. Apart from the normal things like the rear view mirror and upholstery, also check out the glove compartment and the instrument panel. Are all the indicators, head lights and side indicators, wipers and the Air Conditioner in working condition?

The Final Act
There’s nothing like a test drive to get the complete feel of the car. In case you’re not sure about the engine and other factors, ask someone well-versed (or a mechanic) to come over and have a look. Once that’s over, sit across the table and bargain your price. If you feel the offer is reasonable and within the budget, go ahead and close the deal. If you feel it’s over priced, explain to the owner why you think so and make him see reason. Potential bargaining points could be the condition of the spare tyre, upholstery, and the availability and functioning of accessories like the stereo and the A/c.

Paperwork
Relax, it’s not as tedious as applying for a ration card at the local municipal office. The most important documents are the RC Book (with an endorsement for lifetime tax paid), a statement of mileage, Insurance papers, PUC Certificate, Owner’s Manual and a receipt or acknowledgement from the seller on a stamped paper that he has received the sale proceeds from you. A critical thing here is to be doubly sure of the identity of the seller. God forbid if you buy a car that has been stolen and sold to you with forged documents! The last thing you want is to have cops flagging you down and confiscating the vehicle.

So, which car have YOU set your sights on?