Nov 10, 2003 06:03 PM
9227 Views
(Updated Nov 10, 2003 06:04 PM)
A friend of mine called me one evening and said “I want to buy a car. I am looking at a 14/15lac range car. I am debating between a Honda Accord and Toyota Corolla. While on Honda Accord, I will end up spending a little more than what I want to whereas on Toyota Corolla, I will end up saving some. I can’t decide, and I feel I will look like a fool if I go and ask this to either Toyota agents or Honda agents. How can you compare the two cars of separate “Class”. Please come with me, lets go check both out and help me make up my mind”
Happy at the prospect of getting the opportunity to step into a fancy car, I gladly accepted his request. First we went to Shinrai Toyota at worli. It was almost 6.30pm (which was almost their closing time). We were promptly seated at a table with a sales-girl who started explaining the various features and different models of Toyota Corolla and the prices. After that, we had a close look at the car. Feature packed, (extremely comfortable front as well rear seating, plush design, adjustable seats, 6 CD, 6 Speaker audio system, central locking, power windows, Tilt-adjustable power steering, automatic air-conditioning, big boot, crumple zones in the boot as well as the bonnet) Toyota Corolla was immensely impressive. She took close to 45 minutes (in spite of our having reached barely before their closing time), first to explain verbally, and then, to SHOW us all the features of the car.
The next day we decided to go check out the Honda Accord at Ichibaan Honda, also, at worli. There was only one receptionist attending calls at the reception. We literally had to get her attention in between calls to ask her for a Honda Accord Brochure, which, by the way, she was too busy to hand out to us, but pointed to the rack just beside us from where we could pick one for up ourselves. We stood there waiting for some sales person to attend to us. No one did, instead, after about 4 or 5 minutes, a peon pointed out a car at the far corner of the showroom saying the Honda Accord was there, and that we could have a look at it, and soon a sales-person would come and attend to us. We checked out the interior of the car. There was absolutely nothing in addition to what Toyota Corolla had, except the leather Upholstery. After having a good look at the interior, we waited, standing beside the car for at least 10 minutes, and yet there was no sales-person turned up to attend to us. A little annoyed, we again went to the reception and asked, whether there was anybody free to attend to us, or they just didn’t care about selling a car? This is when they FAVOURED us, us, lowly little customers that we were, with a grand snobbish salesman who merely escorted us back to the car, and simply stood there waiting for us to ask questions rather than say anything at all about the car. No features explained, No price lists given, nothing. I thought to myself, “What the heck, we have already seen the interiors thoroughly, and there is hardly anything new this guy is going to be able to point out, so might as well get my friend’s doubt cleared”. I asked him as to why anyone would be prepared to spend that much more, when apparently, there was nothing extra, except the more powerful engine. The difference, as we were TOLD in precisely two sentences, was leather upholstery against the “Fabric B” (though Toyota Corolla HAS a model that comes with leather upholstery, we were contemplating a lower model), a 2.4litre I-VTEC engine as against a 1.8litre VVT-I engine and electrically adjustable seats against manual ones. We asked for a price-list of spares, that would be required during the course of the next 4 or 5 years after buying the car, meaning prices of spares like, fuel filter, oil filter, brake assemblies, shock absorbers etc. He told us that they had no such price-list and that they would not have one before 2 to 3 months. We asked for a test drive, and were informed that they only gave test drives on Wednesdays and Saturdays. But, on the next day, being a Saturday, no cars were free for a test drive (WOW, I thought, people in Bombay sure seem to have made, millions and millions, a car of the value of 16lacs, and none available for a test-drive?). We waited for a moment waiting for him to suggest as to how a test-drive could be arranged, again, nothing, absolute silence, he did not even bother to ask for our contact numbers and fix up a test-drive at a later date. In fact it was my friend who thrust his visiting card in his hands and requested him to get in touch with him if and when they were ready to give a test-drive. We walked out of the showroom with an extremely sour taste in our mouths.
Outside, my friend asked me “So what do you think?” I told him “Look, first of all, if what we experienced is the kind treatment they meat out BEFORE selling a car, what will happen AFTER you buy one? What if, god forbid, something goes wrong in your car, what if there are some repairs required, what about the free services, what if you have to claim anything at all under warranty period, are you confident that they will behave “well” with you? What the heck is a more powerful engine of use to you, you rarely drive out of Bombay. If you read the brochure of both cars, it explains a VVT-I engine as Variable Valve Timing – Intelligent whereas a I-VTEC engine as Variable Valve Timing – Lift Electric Control. If YOU can understand that, please translate that into “English” for me, because to me, its purely an alien language. I am not an automible engineer, I would look for comfort, features, smooth ride, economical mileage, “looks”, a car that handles well. There is absolutely nothing in terms of USER-FEATURES that Honda Accord has and Toyota Corolla doesn’t. Yet if you want spend 4.5lacs extra and yet be treated like dirt, go ahead.”
As for myself, may be, one day if I make enough, I might consider buying a “HONDA” provided they have another, friendlier agent in “propper-bombay” BUT, one thing is certain, NOT even a bicycle (Honda, if I am not mistaken, upgraded itself from a motor-cycle company to a automobile one, they might just venture at bicycles.) from Ichibaan Honda.
