Moot Question: Which Car to Buy? Mileage per Liter should be a decision parameter…?

Every youth encounters this question and remains in dilemma on which car to buy? What features to choose and how to decide which car would be best. I also had same dilemma in 2017 when I decided to select one. I’d discuss my priorities later and why I decided to go for Baleno, but here is the statistics of Baleno fuel intake and mileage. Data is self-explanatory and do not resonate with tall claim of 21-23 Km/L. (Best in-class mileage as claimed by Manufacturers)

Input: This is for regular city driving in Bangalore from Arekere to Hosur Road – and mind it, it doesn’t include the (in-)famous Silk Board Junction traffic – I avoided that completely.

60-70% of time AC is ON while on drive.

Petrol filled was normal one – I avoid high-octane fuel (money making game of Petrol bunks and companies)

I ask the bunk staff to fill it in ‘Auto Cut’ and move out of nozzle while the filling is ON in Auto mode.

Baleno Alpha (1.2) Petrol 2018 model.
Date	Petrol (L)	Reading (Km)	Distance	Mileage (Km/L)
15.12.21	28.84	8848	352	12.21
17.01.22	27.69	9200	364	13.15
17.02.22	27.42	9564	184	6.71
07.03.22	19.91	9748	428	21.50
04.04.22	29.25	10176	302	10.32
17.05.22	28.06	10478	309	11.01
09.06.22	27.97	10787
Total	161.17		1939	12.03

 

Insights from above table for reference:

Ø  The data be read as, fuel filled (L) and meter reading (Km) on that day. Distance = Distance travelled between two refuels. Mileage is Distance/Petrol filled on the day.

Ø  Data of 7^th March is misleading here, since I went to grab as much fuel as I could, on the day after the state elections news was Out – in anticipation that government has to increase fuel prices by INR 15/L

Ø  The MAXIMUM Mileage I have achieved is 13.15 Km/L.

Ø  My Car so far has an average of 12 Km/L.

Ø  I hope that the mileage go up if I go out on Long/Highway drive – but I am confident that it shall never touch 21Km/L.

With that above insight, now my story of selection and followed by Advise to millennials, and young Turks looking for some suggestion!

When I started my journey of decisions – first I looked on budget part. What is the maximum I can go for? Set the target of INR 100,000 below that – as selection criteria. Some names appeared in my list: They were:

Tata Nexon, MSIL – Dzire, Baleno, VW Ameo, Ford Figo-sedan and Hyundai i-20

i-20 got discarded since many cars were running on road as TAXI

Figo got out of list since one of my colleague had that car and WIFE didn’t like that.

VW Ameo was discounted since it did not had features compared to other cars!

Tata Nexon was my favorite when I did the test drive – but WIFE gave her Veto against it!

So I had to choose from Baleno and new Dzire.

Wife decided the color and the brand and we zeroed on BALENO (Nexa experience, guys thanks for free coffee and cold drinks! And bunch of chocolates to my toddler:)

One of the deciding factor (apart from others mentioned above) was fuel efficiency per Liter.

Now my advise for people:

1.       Don’t go by mileage or fuel efficiency.

2.       Don’t go by color or design – you need car to drive and comfort and safety. They are inside and not outside.

3.       Check your wallet size and maximum stretch you can go for. Don’t overstretch.

4.       Since Vehicles are depreciating assets – do not buy them on EMIs (unless it is between 0-4 percent)

5.       Check for NCAP safety ratings of Car. It matters a lot. Life is more precious than anything else. I lost my mother-in-law and a severe injury to sister-in-law in road accident. Nexon has 4 ratings in NCAP. Baleno still has 2+

6.       If you have wife or fiancée or girlfriend (whom you intend to get married to) – take her advice seriously and act on it. Vice Versa is not applicable for girls/ladies.

7.       Remember buying car is an emotional decision and sales reps shall sell you dreams and ensure you like the other ‘Costlier Car’ – I ended up buying top-end car without any discount.

8.       Doesn’t matter which car you buy – city drive mileage shall at max give you 15Km/L, and hence all cars are equally good (or equally bad)

9.       Follow your heart and take decision – and love your driving.

Finally yet importantly – please do not go overboard when you are handling Steering Wheel. Your one wrong decision shall kill someone either in your car or in your passerby’s car/bike. Please be a sensible driver.