Car buying can be so agonizing. Luckily, the new chat feature on Quikr makes it easier. I wrote about Quikr NXT! a few days ago and today I am going to talk about how you can leverage this chat feature to buy something as important and Big as a car.

Buying a car is pretty easy in countries like the US. You have your Carfax history that pretty much lists every dent the car ever had. You know what the real mileage is, who the owners have been etc. You can check a report online before actually venturing out in person to check out the car. And then there are things like the blue book value which give a grounded estimate of how much the car is worth based on wear and tear. This arms you with concrete information to haggle over the price.

I have always advocated buying a gently used car in favor of a brand new one. If you love the ‘new car smell’ or the stink of leather, you probably really yearn for a new set of wheels. But I don’t! Don’t like the smell, that is. A new car depreciates at least ten percent the moment you drive it out of the showroom.

A slightly used car gives you the best of everything. That is why, I was determined to buy a used car when I relocated to India. I was apprehensive given the lack of centralized information, and I got duped many times.

How some ‘genius minds’ tried to dupe me –

• Selling a car with registration in someone else’s name – they claim it is a friend’s car
• Giving only 2 hours to make a decision – they have other buyers waiting
• Asking for 100% cash because they are going to leave the country the next day
• Giving false Year, Make, Model etc. just to get you out to the car
• Hiding accident history, rolling back or resetting odometer

Etc. etc. etc.

After traveling the length and breadth of the city in vain, I had a list of questions I wanted answered before I even took a test drive.

The Quikr NXT! feature makes it easier to look for a car and converse with prospective buyers. You can ask for details in real time, ask them to share photos of specific things like the engine, upholstery, gear shaft, tires – whatever is important in your buying decision. The best part is all this can be done without giving a phone number. So if you don’t like the car for whatever reason, there won’t be any ‘followup’ calls to deal with. No sales agents or car owners calling you back, asking you how long you will take to decide or otherwise pressuring you.

That is why I am going to use Quikr NXT! while buying that food truck :).

The most important lesson I have learned while buying several used cars for myself or friends – it has to feel right. If you have the slightest doubt, don’t go ahead. There will always be another car that meets your specifications.