I would need to spend Rs 60-70K to get the car back in shape but that is around 50% of its current resale value.
BHPian Cooltronics recently shared this with other enthusiasts.
Dear All,
We are running a major dilemma for the past few months and thought of putting it here on the forum to get some ideas and bounce some thoughts.
Currently, we have a 2009 SX4 VXi at my parent’s place in Ahmedabad which has been driven just 54K km and in general is in quite good health except for routine wear & tear. In addition, we have a 2018 Grand i10 AT, which has run 14k and is used for city travel and daily errands.
SX4 is mainly used for Airport trips roughly 6 times a year due to its boot capacity which the other car cannot handle. In addition, I have been driving it for inter-city and long drives lately owing to WFH (which will end soon) benefits.
The car still drives like a charm but requires some expenses e.g.
- Tyre change – Current Yokohama tyres are 6 years old and have hardened
- Steering rack assembly repair or replacement
- Suspension overhaul
- Over coat of paint on few panels – few minor rust spots are noticed
I am expecting expenses in the range of 60k-70k if I have to get all this done and the car is back in good shape BUT the following are my worries:
- It’s ageing, a part or two failures cannot be ruled out and worst-case during highway drives in future
- Safety – no ABS! no airbags! We usually drive with 2 kids latched in their car seats though, but this worries us
- Expenses are 50% of its current resale value
Our considerations for the replacement
- Must be an Automatic and no AMT!
- Crossovers preferred over Sedans – Sub 4-meter crossovers are again not having enough boot space which has been the reason why this car exists
- Peace of mind & reasonable service cost
- Safety of passengers and kids is most important
Cars we drove and considered
- Honda City – Top end AT was touching 17L without offers and it offers everything except the Ground Clearance. Honda interiors are quite outdated and basic.
- Kia Seltos – The car was packed with features and gizmos, but we found the ride quality too stiff.
- Hyundai Creta – We still can’t come over its ugly design but with a balanced ride as compared to KIA, this came out to be the winner.
- Kia Sonnet – Rear space issue was a compromise.
- Skoda Kushaq & VW Taigun – Haven’t driven it and somehow feel this could be the best intermediate ground for us and also now it has a GNCAP rating of 5.0 but service costs and DCT worries are too glaring to ignore if the car is not going to clock miles for foreseeable future, especially after 6th year as we keep our cars for a long time.
- Maruti XL6: The car lacked punch and regenerative breaking was quite uncomfortable
- Maruti Grand Vitara – Pricey but the deal breaker was the lack of a thick headliner over the Sunroof. For a city which stays on the hotter side of 40C most part of the year, the car is surely going to get roasted.
All the above cars touch the once unimaginable 20L territory which we are fine to shell out in addition to routine service costs and also insurance costs but worried that the car would be parked most of the time until we come and drive around the city and take long drive trips from here maybe once a year.
Financially, it is beyond comparison here between the 2 options, but the concern is mainly from deriving value out of the money being spent on something extremely beautiful.
Would love to know your thoughts and feedback on this critical decision between Replace OR Retain.
Here’s what BHPian Aakash118 had to say about the matter:
Replacement is the way to go. You surely need a safer car for highway usage. Choice is simple, if you like fast cars, go for Kushaq/Taigun 1.0 AT, it’s not a DCT and is more reliable. If you can live with a not-so-fast car, go for XL6, you also get a lot more space in it. Not suggesting the sedans here as you’ve been driving one for the past 13 years and I think you will like to try something new.
Here’s what BHPian Nissan1180 had to say about the matter:
If it were me, I’d retain the SX4. It is mechanically an accomplished vehicle even by today’s standards.
If you can use this car reliably for the next few years, then you’d be able to upgrade to hybrid or electric powertrains from Maruti later without suffering any losses.
Unless the cabin is compromised and NVH is high, it is likely that the SX4 will be more silent inside than many of the present Marutis.
Here’s what BHPian shancz had to say about the matter:
So the usage for the car is 6 airport trips and 1-2 long drives per year.
I don’t find it reasonable to buy a new car and let it sit idle and depreciate. Worst is to not use a fine piece of machinery.
My vote is to retain. I think you have the car for the job. Get the important repairs done, maybe a detailing session too? Renew its registration when it expires.
But if the safety factor nags you then sell it and get a used S-Cross facelift. SX4’s successor, with ABS and airbags, Zeta won’t pinch your wallet much.
Keyword: Keep & repair my ageing Maruti SX4 or sell it & buy a new car