Mercedes Benz India Expects To Unveil 8 New Cars In 2014

Mercedes, which entered the Indian market in 1995, is all set to have its 50,000th car on the Indian roads later this month. 2013 being the most successful year for Mercedes Benz in India with total sales of 9,003 cars, the company aims at double digit growth in 2014.

This year Mercedes Benz plans to launch about eight new products in India. The company also expands network presence in smaller cities in different parts of the country. 

Read it at : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Expect-to-launch-8-new-cars-in-2014-Mercedes-Benz-India/articleshow/28702110.cms

Five things to know while buying a used car

Auto manufacturers and dealers are promising fabulous discounts and freebies for those planning to make a purchase of new or used cars in India. Go through the following pointers before you avail of them.

1. New year, old model

Car companies usually offer big discounts in December to clear their inventories before they hike prices and launch new models in January. If you buy now, your vehicle will bear the registration date of December 2013, and in a few days, it will be last year's model.

This should not matter if you are planning to use the car for at least 7-8 years. However, if you plan to change the car in 3-4 years, the registration date will matter. A 2013 model will fetch a lower resale price four years down the line.

Hence, it will be prudent to wait till January to buy it. Remember that a new car should be used for at least 8 years to get a full return on investment. Sell it earlier and you could lose out on its value.

2. Buy within your means
The bigger the car, the fatter the discounts being offered. However, don't let the freebies entice you into making a purchase you can't afford. The golden rule is that the price of a car should not be more than 60% of your annual takehome income.

3. Consider the offers closely

While you should not look a gift horse in the mouth, when it comes to freebies from car dealers, a closer look is necessary.

4. Transfer the no-claim bonus

All car owners know that if you don't make a claim in a year, the next year's premium fetches a discount. However, few know that a noclaim bonus can be transferred to another vehicle, bringing down the insurance cost of a new car.

5. Petrol, diesel or CNG?

Petrol is the costliest car fuel, but petrol cars are the cheapest. Diesel is inexpensive, but the diesel variants of cars are costlier by Rs 75,000-1 lakh. They also require higher maintenance.

Read more at:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/27725870.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

Important factors that affect the resale value of your used car

All the care that you have been doing for your car over the years will actually pay you off at the time when you want to sell off your car. The resale value that you fetch will determine how successful you were at your task. But what are these factors that determine the market price of your car? Here are some that might be of help to you: 

 1. Mileage: The mileage your car delivers is probably one of the most vital aspects that would determine the resale value of your car. Lesser the kilometres recorded in your car, the better the price you will get. On an average, 10,000 – 12,000 kilometres per year is considered to be about average; anything that’s more than that will fetch you a lesser amount. 

2. Condition: All kinds of dents, scratches, chipped paints and holes add to the negative value for your car. A well kept car always pays off well. Apart from the exteriors, the interiors of the car can also make a lot of difference in the resale value of the car. Door panels, seats, headliner, carpet, and console all need to be in a good condition, even if the doors don’t open freely it is likely that this will depreciate the value.   

3. Make and model: Certain make and model like Maruti’s Swift, Alto, Honda’s City and Hyundai’s Accent are more in demand in the used market than others, which means they will definitely fetch you a higher value depending on their year. All imports too have a high demand in the used market. 

4. Accessories: All electric accessories like the power windows and door locks, the interior lights, the radio or CD player and heater or A/C Controls, all need to function properly to add to the total amount.

 5. State of registration: All motorised road vehicles are tagged with a registration or licence number in India. The number is issued by the district-level RTO (Regional Transport Office) of respective states. Different states have different registration values, for example, a car that is registered in Rajasthan will have a higher registration charge than the one registered in Haryana. 

6. Season: Though it’s not that a big factor that would affect the resale value but can surely add to the price. Try and sell your car in a period like Navratras, Diwali or year end, when people are in a mood to splurge in shopping and have a reason to buy a car.  

Read more about used cars in India at: http://www.zigwheels.com/news-features/used-car-guide/factors-that-affect-the-resale-value-of-your-car/8390/1