6 Hassles Of Owning A Discontinued Car in India
Highlights
Buying a car is a significant investment for anyone. If you have a favourite model that is discontinued or on the verge of it, you might want to think twice before buying it. Even if the car in question is well-maintained, popular and relatively fuss-free in ownership, discontinued cars come with its own share of troubles. Let's dig deeper into the six hassles of owning a discontinued car in India.
Emission Concerns
Discontinued cars usually belong to an older range. Some brands also discontinue car models in order to meet due new emission standards. So, if you own a discontinued car model, there are chances that it might not follow the latest Bharat Stage emission norms.
Your car might be BSIII or BSIV compliant, which means it produces more pollution and is unfit for use. In the case of the latest car model, they are bound to follow BS-VI and are much safer in terms of emissions.
Health Certificate
Even vehicle registration come with an expiry date. However, you can continue to run them after a proper inspection. You must have a health certificate for your car older than 15 years.
Also, in states like Delhi NCR, the law suggests that you cannot drive a petrol vehicle older than 15 years and a diesel vehicle over ten years old.
Safety Problems
One of the pros of owning the latest car is that it comes with the best safety features. On the other hand, a discontinued model might not bear the latest or adequate safety features.
Moreover, EBD and ABD norms were an option for older generation cars. But these norms are mandatory for current-gen vehicles. From the safety angle, a discontinued car indeed looks like a bad deal.
Resale Value
There is no denying that cars currently in production enjoy higher resale value for obvious reasons. The depreciation value for discontinued models declines faster.
So, if you are thinking of buying a discontinued model, make sure you do the calculations!
Troubled Service and Repairs
It might happen that the car brand you own might have withdrawn operations from your state or country. For instance, Ford backed out of the Indian market, leaving thousands of owners worried about the service and repair possibilities.
You might witness extended service and repair turnaround time in such a situation as original parts may not be easily available after a while.
Car Breakdowns
There is always a possibility of things going south with discontinued car models. You might face an unexpected breakdown in the middle of the road. Moreover, there is also a chance that you might not easily find spare service parts for such models.
You must rely on the towing service to drop your car at the nearest service centre. Owing to the possibility of malfunctioning, it is not a great idea to own a discontinued car model.
So when you are considering a discontinued car model, consider these issues before making the decision!