10 Priorities of an Average Indian Car Buyer | Safety is Not Number One!

What comes to your mind when you are planning to buy a new car? Is it safety? Or is it the price? Well, there are many things that come across as parameters while someone is buying a car. Today, we jot down a list of priorities of an average car buyer. The list goes from the most important to the least important one. Let’s get started!

1. Price | Budget remains at the top

   

   This is for sure a top priority for every car buyer. There is a certain budget for everything and so is for buying a car. Everyone will make sure that they get the best out of their car at the best possible price. And this is the reason that carmakers were struggling to switch to the BS6 emission norms because that led to an increase in price. Companies have to keep in mind their customer’s buying capacity while introducing a car.

2. Brand Value | “Jispe Desh Kare Bharosa”

   

   We Indians are very particular when it comes to brands while buying anything. And so is the case with the cars, Indians have particular choices. This is the reason that Maruti Suzuki has remained at the top of the charts ever since it started operations. And by brand, I mean trust. Some brands like Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai have been able to build this trust due to their strong network of sales and service spread across the country.

3. Fuel Efficiency/Mileage | “Kitna deti hai?”

   

   A question that everyone is aware of! If you ask an average Indian car buyer, he will surely tell you that mileage is the utmost necessity when it comes to cars. There have been cars in history, that were powerful and loaded with best-in-segment features and yet failed miserably due to the low fuel efficiency. Low kilometres per litre is a straight red flag for the Indian consumers.

4. Service/Maintenance Cost | Will it empty my pockets later?

   

   It’s not only the initial cost of the car that a buyer keeps in mind. The regular service costs do add to budget planning. So, the car has to remain low on expenditure afterwards too. This is a reason that brands like Skoda are not preferably the first choice because of their high service costs. Well, if you really want to save on those service costs, you can always look out for GoMechanic, your trusted car care partner. And you’ll end up saving 40% more.

5. Looks & Design | “Jo dikhta hai, vo bikta hai!”

   

   Cars are still a thing of luxury for many Indians. And Indians just love to flaunt their belongings. So, if a car looks ugly, it will not sell, whatsoever be the power specs or the features. A person will not spend his/her money on a car every day. So it is necessary that the money is spent well and there is no regret afterwards. Although there are many preferences in terms of looks, some like it simple and elegant while some like their cars are more exorbitant and bulky. So, in short, looks do matter. Sorry Fellas!

6. Infotainment System | “Grooving while staying Informed”

   

   This was not a very popular thing until last year when all the manufacturers starting equipping their cars with the infotainment system. Initially, there used to be a cassette player or a radio for a very long time. But when the internet prices fell (Thanks to Jio!) and mobile users started increasing, Indians wanted their cars to be well equipped too. So, the infotainment systems picked pace and now, it has become one of the top priorities of car buyers across the country.

   Take a look: The Evolution of the Car Infotainment system through the ages!

7. Cabin/Cargo Space | “Nothing less than Doraemon’s Pocket!”

   

   One thing for sure, Indian families are not small. And while buying a car, a buyer has to keep in mind that it should be able to fit more people. So, cabin space is a real priority for people in India. And the same goes for the cargo. Indians love to pack huge bags while going on a trip to stay ready for everything. And their car must be able to accommodate that baggage. Or else, the car is too small!

8. Engine & Performance | Does it Zip-Zap-Zoom?

   

   Indians do make sure that their cars are fast enough although the performance is not a top priority for most of the car buyers. In recent times, turbocharged engines have started gaining popularity, because people are loving the power specs of such engines. mHawks from Mahindra and Dicor from Tata have been popular in India due to their performance.

9. Transmission Option | The less, The Merrier

   

   In the world of chaos, people want at least their cars are less hectic to drive. And that’s why type of transmission is a priority for car buyers in India. Some prefer it manual as they love the thrill of shifting the gears while some like it automatic which relieves them from the constant gear shifting. Paddle shifters are also becoming a craze in India now with many turbocharged engines paired to an automatic transmission with paddle shifters.

10. Passenger Safety | YODO – You Only Die Once!

    

    You get to live every day. It is really sad that safety is of least concern when it comes to prioritising the need of the hour. Road accidents are a major cause of deaths in India. This is due to the reason that cars are not built to withstand such tremendous abuse. And the ones that are built are not selling enough. We keep on urging the carmakers to build quality cars but want everything to lie in the same budget as before. We need to understand that adding safety will require an increase in the prices of cars. And India is in dire need of stringent rules and regulations. BNVSAP was supposed to make this happen but supposedly, this seems to be at a much slower pace than needed.

The main motive of this article is to tell our readers that we need to get more inclined towards safety and get ready to spend more for that. Applause rings with both hands. Carmakers should focus on making cars safer while customers demand it. What are your views? Let us know in the comments section below.