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Where’s my car?
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Diesel cars are in demand and involve a long waiting period
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Most wanted The Swift diesel
Laying hands on a new set of wheels isn’t easy, particularly if it is a diesel version. The boom in the passenger car market has brought in more choices and along with it an unusually long waiting period. The increase in travel time with more p
eople commuting from suburbs to their places of work has made diesel versions the preferred choice. Unlike petrol versions where dealers come up with attractive loan schemes and discounts, diesel cars come at a premium. Discounts don’t exist here.
“People were hesitant to buy diesel versions earlier because it involved high maintenance. The new cars offer better mileage, are easier to maintain and offer more power. Obviously there’s a lot of demand,” says Shabbir Ali of Talwar Hyundai. The 2008 model of Getz diesel has a waiting period of six to eight weeks and a waiting list of more than 150 customers with Talwar Hyundai alone. The other Hyundai products like Verna, which are equally successful, come with a waiting time of two weeks.
It’s a similar story elsewhere too. Skoda Fabia, much awaited in the Indian market over the last one year, requires a waiting time of one to two months. “Going by the reviews in the European market, people here booked for Fabia even a year ago. Now, all the parts are imported from Czech Republic and assembled at the Aurangabad plant. Any delay in the consignment from Czech Republic invariably delays the delivery of cars,” says Vivek, from Mahavir Auto. The Skoda Fabia Elegance 1.4TDI is the highest priced among the Fabia variants at Rs. 8,96,000. The relative higher price for the small car hasn’t deterred customers. Mahavir Auto alone accounts for nearly 200 customers.
The tried and tested Swift Diesel, meanwhile, is on an overdrive. Maruti dealers unanimously state a waiting time of six months. “Around 250 customers have made bookings. So new customers will have to wait longer,” says a spokesperson of Varun Motors.
The wait is longer if you venture beyond the regular silvers, whites and blacks. Passion red, dynasty red or a blue onyx are hard to come by.
SANGEETHA DEVI DUNDOO
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Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Mangalore
Puducherry
Tiruchirapalli
Thiruvananthapuram
Vijayawada
Visakhapatnam
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