[amitayu]

I think a large part of the problem is the gap between ex-showroom price and or-road price.
A study on the gap will give us a a better picture of how 'expensive' buying cars have become.

Earlier we had a lot of action in the 5-8 lakh price bracket. But nowadays most car maufacturers have left that segment to Maruti. Only Tata is still a considerable player at that price point, with Hyundai having some presence.

Much of the battle has now shifted to the 10 lakhs plkus market. But wheneven we do these comparisons we only look at ex-showroom price. A buyer has to pay considerable extra to finally get the car on-road.

For the middle-class, that is a critical factor.

[glovins2004]

Yesterday, I went to fill petrol for my wife’s Brio at a nearby petrol bunk, I’m a regular customer there for the past 10+ years. So, most of the dispensing staff knows me and our car. As usually one of the staff members approached and started to dispense, while he was filling, I noticed him gazing through the car and he said, “How long you drive the same car, isn’t time to change?”

Well, I just gave a gentle smile and moved on, but the truth is, it did prick a bit.

[anandhsub]

Originally Posted by John Jacob13128

For some perspective China has less than half the road fatalities with close to 5X the vehicular penetration.

India has about 2-2.5x the annual vehicle sales of China. Total vehicles on road would be even higher.

[Cliff9091]

Car prices have gotten way out of hand and are rising alarmingly whereas companies are still paying the same salaries like they did. Look at the compact SUV space, almost 20 lakhs for a couple of jacked up hatchbacks, no thank you. The XUV 3XO is the only true crossover in that segment but for what it offers I'd pass. One car in that segment I find priced alright is the Hyundai Venue.

I'm a college student, the first big purchase for anyone who got out of college would be a set of wheels. With the new car prices in the market now even some reliable used car prices have shot up. I was scouting for a 2nd Gen Swift diesel, came across absurd prices and the dealers say "new car is 12 lakhs, that is why this 8 year old car is 5 lakhs". Ridiculous.

I'm better off sticking to the metro and BMTC buses. I've got to appreciate the govt in that aspect, at least from my perspective in Bangalore.

[John Jacob13128]

Originally Posted by anandhsub

India has about 2-2.5x the annual vehicle sales of China. Total vehicles on road would be even higher.

Nope. China sold 30 Million PV in 2023 compared to 4.1 Mil in India (That's a massive 7X)

Even at total motor vehicles on road China is approx 440 Mil, and India is probably north of 320 Mil (higher mix of 2W)

[pritanshchandra]

Bought the 2013 3rd Gen Honda City AVN 2 months back. It was through a known contact, was owned by an ex judge. Just 60k on the ODO, mint condition. I paid 3L all in including insurance and transfer. I needed a car for office commute and weekend getaways in Gurgaon & my parents needed the Tiago back home. Since it has been only 10 months since I started my first job at a Big4, I was not looking to take any loans or anything. I am in love with this car day in and day out. People look back at their cars when they lock it, I look back stand and admire it for a good 5 minutes, everytime.