Suggest Cheapest Possible Used Beater Car


Thread Starter #1
Joined
Jan 16, 2013
Messages
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Lucknow
  • Your Budget: 30k (dont laugh)
  • New or Used: Used
  • Your Location: Lucknow
  • Top 5 Priorities: Cheap, reliable. Optional: AC?
  • Monthly Running: Less than 50-100 KMs. (Yes, monthly running)
  • Fuel Type: Petrol
  • Purpose Type: Written below
  • Seating Capacity: atleast 2?
  • Segment Type: Any segment

Details: With Work from home becoming a new norm. I have to hop between my hometown and my current place of residence (300KMs one way) more frequently that i used to before. I need a car that can carry some cargo (TVs, storage boxes etc) during these trips with only me as a driver. I already own a Ford freestyle which was fulfilling this duty but its now being used by my wife so i can't use it anymore.
Please note that i have kept budget at bare minimum as the vehicle will be used VERY VERY less. Apart from these 300+300 KMs trip every 4 months. It'll be used only to keep it in running condition. Probably once every 10 days. (running may increase if its equipped with AC of course). I have considered three options.

1. Maruti Omni :
Likes: Storage space (I get really creative here, after removing rear seats what else i can do, tons and tons of space),
Dislikes: No AC. (But then again. my usage will be very less), Taxi image + old van means harassment from traffic police maybe, will be getting really old van 2006-07 model most probably

2. Tata nano AC (not considering non AC variants)
Likes: AC option is there, 2011-12 models are in my budget
dislikes: Cramped interiors. Only storage space i can find is rear seats, Don't know if it will be sufficient, My ford freestyle easily carried all my stuff in its hatch and rear seats if that helps.

3. Maruti 800 AC (not considering non AC variants)
Likes: AC option is there, Somehow feels better than a tata nano.
Dislikes: Getting really old models some as old as from late 90s. Seems like it still holds its value well.

I wanted to increase my budget and get something better like, santro, wagon R, redigo etc. but unfortunately, I already have to pay for maintenance and insurance of 1 car and 3 bikes (another coming soon probably). So don't want to increase my budget.
 
Joined
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Increase your budget a little bit and go for:

1. Maruti Omni: If its usage is only to load cargo then find a used Maruti Omni Cargo.
2. TATA Indica: 1st or 2nd gen petrol Indica if you could find a good one.
3. Maruti WagonR: Will be a little bit costlier.
4. Maruti Eeco: Go for the cargo version. This will be cheaper like Maruti Omni.
 

deville_56

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Option 1 & 3, cars are pretty old and might end up spending more for retest and all. Lucky to get one which just passed the test.

Option 2, a maintained example might be a bit out of budget, but a good runabout and best in class AC, and after all a comparatively newer car.
 
Thread Starter #4
Joined
Jan 16, 2013
Messages
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Location
Lucknow
Increase your budget a little bit and go for:

1. Maruti Omni: If its usage is only to load cargo then find a used Maruti Omni Cargo.
2. TATA Indica: 1st or 2nd gen petrol Indica if you could find a good one.
3. Maruti WagonR: Will be a little bit costlier.
4. Maruti Eeco: Go for the cargo version. This will be cheaper like Maruti Omni.
Cargo variants have commercial plates right? Its a big no no for me. I have read a lot of horror stories of tata indica/indigo. Need something reliable. Wagon R is almost twice my budget.

Option 1 & 3, cars are pretty old and might end up spending more for retest and all. Lucky to get one which just passed the test.

Option 2, a maintained example might be a bit out of budget, but a good runabout and best in class AC, and after all a comparatively newer car.
What about parts availability of nano? Even though all 3 vehicles i quoted in OP are discontinued, finding parts isn't difficult for marutis.
 

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