Petrolheads share why they went overboard with their car-buying budget

There are many cases where someone has a set budget, but they tend to extend it and get a higher variant or even jump the segment

BHPian Omkar recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

We recently had a discussion about when you had a bigger budget but settled for a lower-priced car and there were some very interesting answers. Let’s flip the script and look at it the other way around. There are many cases where someone has a set budget, but they tend to extend it and get a higher variant or even jump the segment and get a car from a higher segment. We have so many examples just on our forum.

BHPian androdev's Mercedes S-Class

I set off with in intention to buy a 20L car and ended up buying an S350. It was a gradual and expensive progression to a decision that is borderline crazy but as I have read somewhere - love is like Pi: natural, irrational, and very important (or real?). Within a few seconds into the test drive of the S class, it was clear to me that I was liberated from the analysis-paralysis jinx. It was a tough decision to buy this car in India given its size, price and the burden of being seen in such a rich man's car. One can buy two E220 CDIs plus one Laura for this price. As I was buying from a discounted inventory and petrol at that, I was given a decent discount - so eased the budget a bit. This is just a brief review of the purchase experience and initial ownership so must be taken with a pinch of salt given the usual euphoria surrounding a new car purchase.

BHPian Dodge_Viper's Mahindra Scorpio-N

I had my eyes fixed on the Bolero Neo as my upgrade. My requirement was very simple. A robust go-anywhere body on frame vehicle. Bolero Neo ticked almost all the boxes. A 4x4 was nice to have but given my initial budget of 15 lakhs, I didn't have any option available. Scorpio-N was launched way back in June 2022. It looked promising but I knew by the time I was in a position to buy there would be a couple of price hikes and it would not fit in my budget.

The Scorpio-N Z4 4x4 MT variant was something I could stretch a bit from 15 lakhs.

BHPian krishnadevjs' BMW M340i

All my choices and decision swings are chronicled here thread, but long story short the choice was between the 330i and the C300D. In 2021, when the M340i launched, I had longingly told my wife, “This is the car I wanna buy next. I don’t think I can afford it now, but this is what I want.”

This would probably be the car that saw me into the 40s and beyond. The age – responsibilities – and financials matrix were all aligned for the ultimate YOLO move – I could buy my dream car now or risk the possibility of never buying it.

And that, my friends, is the story of how I met my M340i.

Moderator Aditya's Toyota Corolla

Two cars that were initially on my list were the Fiat Linea (T-Jet) and the (failed?) second-gen Ford Fiesta 1.6. No good example of either of these cars was available in my budget of Rs. 2.5 lakhs and neither was exactly spacious on the inside.

After a good five months of hunting, I came across a 2006 golden Corolla with 42,000 km on the odo at a dealer in Andheri. The asking price was Rs. 3 lakhs, which was well over my budget and I am not a fan of gold, but the car was in very good shape. There was no work needed on the body or the inside. The engine and other running gear were in tip-top condition. It was a 1.8E and had all the equipment that I wanted – alloy wheels, climate control, height-adjustable driver seat, ABS and airbags. Mix that with practicality and the longevity that Toyotas are famous for and you have a perfect family car. Just like the Lancer, I knew this was the car that I had to take home.

These cases are perfect examples of how sometimes spending that extra amount makes a lot of sense. Just like how we spoke about the value-for-money factor in the previous thread, the same applies here. By paying a certain premium if you’re getting a bigger car, better engine/transmission and maybe even better features, it just seems like a no-brainer. Of course, as enthusiasts, if you're getting additional horsepower or a more engaging drive for some extra cash, you are definitely spending it. Life is too short to live with a boring car.

A common trend nowadays is buyers jumping from the hatchback segment to an entry-level sub-4m SUV by spending some more money. The best example of this upgrade is people choosing the Tata Punch or Fronx over hatchbacks like the Maruti Swift, Hyundai Grand i10 or Tata Tiago. Another segment jump is from the top-end variant of cars like Tata Nexon, Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet, etc. to mid variant of compact SUVs like the Tata Harrier, Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, etc.

What are some of the reasons that you decided to extend your budget and get a higher-priced car?

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

Car buying is like deal making...sometimes you go over, sometimes you go under. With the Thar, I was very under budget. But two of my other cars, we did go over budget.

With no regrets at all.

• Superb: Plan was to get a Seltos for my kid brother. He was driving the Sunny everywhere, including highway runs to Pune & Nashik. Needed something better and we'd zeroed in on the Seltos. The crash test results came out and no one felt comfortable getting the Seltos for highway runs. Went 50% higher budget to the Superb.
• 530d: Had loved and almost finalised a 2010 white pre-facelift 530d. It was a beautiful car. Another option was the 2013 530d Facelift which I eventually brought home. The price difference between the two was 12.5 lakhs (30L versus 42.5). But for the additional money, I got an almost brand-new 15-month-old car, the M-Sport body kit that helps the 5 age better, nicer seats, superior equipment all-round, higher ground clearance and more. Akshay1234 really convinced me to go for the facelift as he knew I keep my cars long.
• With used cars, one anyway saves a lot of money, so with time, I have realised that upfront premiums for great cars are well worth it. Even if an immaculate pre-worshipped car is priced 10-15% higher than the market price, I will get it as long as I love it.

Here's what BHPian Love4Cars had to say on the matter:

For my recent purchase, I was looking at Sub-4m Compact SUVs like Nexon, Sonet, and Venue N-line. My budget was around 17L on-road. However, I ended up buying a Grand Vitara Zeta Plus Strong Hybrid.

Reasons for extending budget:

• A good deal on an unsold Hybrid Variant for the price of Non-Hybrid Alpha AT
• Addition of a Panoramic sunroof instead of a smaller sunroof. (Wife's wish)
• A bigger car which actually felt like an upgrade coming from Ecosport
• Heart (Hybrid engine) from Toyota at a reasonable price. Wanted an EV but was discouraged due to range anxiety felt by family members.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.