Are you thinking of buying a car in Nepal?

There are many things to consider before buying a car in Nepal. But if you spare some time doing research about the car, you can get the best deal. Also, your hard earned money can be efficiently utilised. Here, we enlist some important guidelines that you need to know before buying a car in Nepal.

 

Decide your budget

At first, decide on how much you’re willing to pay for your next car? The price range may vary among the car models and brands, so you need to research well and compare the prices in order to get the best deal. For instance, small and medium saloons and hatchbacks are easier to maintain and generally priced cheaper in comparison to convertibles and luxury cars.

When deciding the budget, do not forget to include operating cost of a vehicle such as fuels, servicing, taxes and insurance expenses. Another major consideration for you when buying a car in Nepal is the availability of the automotive parts, as well as their repair and maintenance cost. As a car owner, routine maintenance or change of spare parts is essential to keep your vehicle in good condition. These additional and unforeseen maintenance cost can cause unwanted stress for many car owners. So, when thinking about buying a car, you need to carefully consider the repair cost and how readily available are the spare parts.

Did you know that  Maruti Suzuki manufactured cars are well built and reliable at an affordable price.  Furthermore, the car is produced in India, which is our next door neighbour therefore, spare parts are easily available and the maintenance cost is more affordable than other brands. In contrast, luxury car brands such as Mercedez Benz and BMW are not only expensive to repair and maintain , but also the spare parts are not easily available everywhere.

Similarly, you need to figure out whether you’re going to pay by cash or in monthly installments on an EMI basis. Many car sellers offer a financing scheme for customers that make the buying process easier. If you’re choosing EMI, make sure you understand financing process that includes interest rates, loan period and other necessary requirements.

 

Figure out your specific driving needs

Different cars have their own unique features and they serve various purposes, so it’s better to figure out your specific driving needs.

For instance, if you have children or an elderly member in your family, your choice of car include safety features, spacious interior and properly fitted seat to accommodate your family. On the other hand, for a single person who commutes within the city and drives a lot, a hatchback might be a right choice as it is great with its mileage and the petite size is perfect for the narrow roads of Kathmandu.

Your individual needs may differ to ones of others and might change with time, therefore,  you need to plan accordingly to your needs . Suppose, if you want to use your vehicle for commercial purposes, you can buy multi-utility vehicles (MUV) that can be used for carrying passengers as well as for your personal use. They can accommodate 7-8 people and generally are more spacious and has better carrying capacity.

 

Safety features

A report by Nepal Police says “nearly 2,000 people lose their lives to road accidents annually. About 9000 people had lost their lives in the last five years”. And report further states that improved safety features in a vehicle can lower the road accident and the risk of injury.

Safety should be a major consideration when buying a new car. The safety features should serve major three purposes: crash avoidance (lowering risk of accident), offer protection during a crash and add driving comfort (making driving easier and comfortable).

Make sure the car has safety features that lower risks of injury during accidents as well protect you in case of a crash. Modern cars including Maruti Suzuki come with extra safety features like Anti Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Automatic Emergency Braking(AEB), dual airbags, ECR seatbelt and many more features that minimise the risk of accidents. The Anti Braking System prevents wheel locks and keeps you in control when applying emergency brakes. The AEB feature in a car recognizes potential collision ahead and applies brakes for you in an emergency situation. Whereas, the other features like dual airbags, ECR seatbelt keeps you safe during a crash.

 

Go for a test drive

Test drive is a process of finding the right car that suits your driving needs. When you go on a test drive, check out the overall mentioned features in the car: comfort level, ergonomics, safety features, engine responsiveness and driving comfortability of the vehicle.

It’s prudent to go with your friend or professional mechanic who has better driving skills and better understanding of the vehicle.

It’s important to look for ground clearance of the vehicle based on the kind of road you drive. What is the condition of the road in your locality? Where do you drive your vehicle mostly? In general, the roads in Nepal are in poor condition, as you drive, you deal with several rough patches and potholes. So it is recommended to look for the ground clearance of at least 160 mm in Nepal. For instance, Maruti Suzuki Swift comes up with a ground clearance of 163 mm that helps this hatchback to deal in bumpy roads of Nepal.

Another major consideration in test drive is checking the blind spot of your vehicle. Blind spot refers to areas around a vehicle that are not visible through a rear view or side mirrors when properly adjusted. When driving you must pay attention and detect the blind spot of your car.

Drive in different terrains: uphills, downhills, different kinds of roads from pitch to unpaved roads and sand to muddy. While driving, check how the vehicle accelerates up to speed in uphill and downhill. Only if you feel comfortable and enjoy driving the car, you can decide to buy it. If you don’t, you can test drive other cars and find the right car for you.

 

Petrol or diesel car

One of the first questions that come in the mind of Nepalese car buyers is “Kati mileage dincha?” (How much mileage does the car give?).

There’s no denying that buyers emphasize fuel efficient car that gives good mileage. This makes more sense in Nepal as the fuel crisis is common sited problem here. The cost price of diesel is cheaper in comparison to petrol. However, diesel car produces more carbon emission compared to the petrol car.

Both types of car have their own specialities, and your choice may depend upon your priorities and budget. For instance, if you frequently drive in and around the city, a petrol car might suit as it delivers quick acceleration. Similarly, if you drive long distances, go off roads frequently; diesel car is a good choice for you as it has better torque.

 

Looking for a car dealership in Pokhara?

Many customers face problems while servicing their vehicle if they drive away from cities. Always look for a car dealership that has easy access to sales and service outlets all over the country. For instance, Maruti Suzuki cars have 30 sales outlets in 26 cities and 20 after-sales service center  all over Nepal. Maruti Suzuki provides the best services for customers so that they can easily access sales and services after buying a car.

BATAS Brothers Private Limited is an automobile dealership in Pokhara. We are renowned for selling a wide range of Maruti Suzuki cars, spare parts, Mahindra Scorpio and Bolero vehicles and TVS bikes in Nepal. The Maruti Suzuki car ranges from economy to city cars and midrange to utility vehicles. One major benefit of buying from us is you get easy financing and after-sales services.

For more information, contact us 061-530028, 9856035410, 9856024795 or visit our showroom at Nayabazar, Pokhara.