Re: ARTICLE: How to buy a *NEW* car in India My ordeal with Honda and Ford dealers at Kolkata. Team Bhp Saved the day!
We wanted to change our 2013 December Maruti Alto k10 with 12,000kms on the odometer with a slightly more spacious and more comfortable hatchback. Our direct choice was the Honda Brio. We were sure that our next car will be a Brio. But at the end its a Figo Tdci! How?
1) At First we visited Eastern Honda on Nh6 near Alampur. The sales guy showed us a red Brio. Gave us the quotation. Plus he told he will give a good exchange value for my existing Alto K10. We asked for a test drive. They do not have a test drive car. They told they will arrange it on a later date. Apart from that they offered me free seat cover, rear parking sensor , floor mat and steering cover. Sounds good. Took my K10 for valuation and they told maximum they can offer is rs 2 lacks. I was not satisfied with the offer as True value was giving me around 2.5 lacks if i opt for a Swift.
2) Next visit was to Pinacle Honda. The sales guy was okay. He promptly gave me a test drive too. When the evaluator came he gave a quote of rs 1.75 lacks for my K10! I told my expectation is minimum 2.30 lacks. He started telling me his heroic stories like he picked up a 2012 K10 for 1.60 lacks etc etc. I asked the sales guy what freebies will he offer with the Brio? He was like Sir, its a Honda and we do not offer anything but still we will give you floor mats. I asked him about seat covers and after insisting for some time he agreed to give 50% off on the seat covers!
3) Visited Shree Honda at Rajarhat. The sales guy told that red is a metallic color for the Brio so we have to pay 4k more! Where as red is non metallic! Here the evaluator for the old car offered me 1.80 lacks for the k10.
4) Visited Eastern Honda Lee road. This time at the very beginning i cleared to the sales guy that i do not want any test drive and no need to explain me the features of the car. My requirement is i want free seat covers, rear parking sensors, floor mat, steering cover and rs 2.30 lacks minimum for my K10. He told he will try his best and he could manage till 2.10 lacks. The guy was honest but his seniors did not agree to this so he cant help. Well fair enough.
5) Again i got a call back from Eastern Honda on Nh6 near Alampur. I cleared them my requirements over the phone. The sales guy told me that he will match my requirements so i should come up to his showroom with the cheque book and my k10. I reached the showroom at the scheduled time. The lady at the reception told me that the concerned person has gone for lunch and he will be back in 5 mins. After 20 minutes of waiting, another guy came and told that the guy who called me got an emergency call from his home so he left the showroom. Now this guy again evaluated my k10 and told max he can offer is 2.10 lacks! This time i was pissed off! I already had the quotation of 2.10 lacks, then why call me to the showroom! He told he will some how adjust the remaining rs 20,000. On asking how his reply was he will give me free seat cover, floor mats, steering cover and rear parking sensor! I told him that the sales executive offered me all these on the very first day itself! He called up that guy and told me he has not promised me anything like that! I took his phone put on the loud speaker and asked that guy whether he had promised or not. He was like let me explain you sir but i was firm on a yes/no reply and he told yes! Now this guy started few baseless talks like sir you are using a Maruti so you can pay 20k extra for a Honda and all!
I was so dejected with Honda that i decided i will go for any car but not a Honda !
In the mean while Toyota offered me 2.30 lacks if i go for a Liva and Maruti offered me 2.50lacks if i go for a Swift. Both are tried and tested cars. But i already use a petrol Etios so i was not much inclined towards the Liva as both will be nearly same! And after using a Maruti i wanted a different brand. I was like if any other brands do not click i will pick the Liva as first preference and swift as the second choice.
Then i came to know about the heavy discount on the existing Ford Figo. So we walked to kaikan Ford on Nh6 Alampur.
The sales guy was nice. He offered me a prompt test drive and gave all the discounts as mentioned on the newspaper. Plus i got 2.40lacks for the K10. I booked the Figo on the spot. Told them i will do a PDI before the full payment. On the date of payment the Ford guys came to my home and told the Exi Tdci which i booked met with an accident so they were offering me a Zxi at another 25k extra. The deal was good but when i did the PDI it was a 2014 model! In the mean time i called up Arav Da (Teambhp handle- AjgotBhp) to check up with Ganges Ford as he has some very good contacts over there. He immediately called me back and told Ganges ford do have a ready 2015 Exi tdci Figo at there stock yard. I told the same to the Kaikan guys but they wanted a day from me. I told them i cant give them a full day, i can hardly give them that day till 6-30pm. By 6-30pm they called me back and told they can give me a 2015 white Figo Exi Tdci. That was fine for me. So next day i went and did Pdi for the white Figo. The car was absolutely fine and i paid them the rest of the amount.
Last edited by Samba : 16th July 2015 at 20:56.
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