To Sell or Repair: The Dilemma Over My 2012 Maruti Suzuki Ertiga ZDI

For over a decade, our 2012 Maruti Suzuki Ertiga ZDI, in its charming Serene Blue, has been a steadfast companion through the various milestones of my life. From my 10th and 12th exams to NEET and even my first MBBS final exam, this car has never let us down, carrying us across distances and through countless memories. But now, at 1,50,000 kilometres, this faithful vehicle seems to have reached the end of its road — at least in my father’s eyes.

While the Ertiga still serves the household well, performing tasks like taking my mother to work, running errands, and even ferrying our dog to the vet, the reality of its wear and tear is becoming impossible to ignore. The car, once a reliable and fun-to-drive manual, now shows its age, and my dad is suggesting it might be time to sell.

The Current State of the Ertiga

Our Ertiga ZDI has seen better days. It’s covered a lot of ground, literally and figuratively, but is now plagued by several issues that make it a challenge to maintain. Here’s a list of the major problems:

• Crack in the front bumper from a mishap involving our driver and a dog.
• Chipped paint on the hood after a fender-bender, with the repair done hastily at a local tinkering shop.
• Pigmented alloys that are beyond cleaning, requiring complete refurbishment.
• Destroyed suspension, making the ride feel uncomfortable and harsh.
• A dying clutch, causing the car to shake, especially on inclines.
• Blue smoke on startup, indicating a potential issue with the intercooler or oil.
• Numerous dents and scratches from various incidents, including a notable dent in the left-side rocker panel.

While my dad sees the car as a “jalopy,” it still does most of the heavy lifting in our home. The problem is finding a reliable place to get these issues fixed. The MASS (Maruti Authorized Service Station) hasn’t been up to the task, and while a nearby garage has done some work for us, we don’t trust them with more complicated fixes.

The Big Question: Keep or Sell?

The dilemma now is whether to keep the Ertiga and invest in repairs or sell it off while it can still fetch a decent price — somewhere between ₹3-4 lakh. My father is willing to provide a budget of ₹25,000-30,000 for repairs, which could address some of the more pressing issues like the clutch, suspension, and maybe even a new bumper. However, the challenge lies in finding a trustworthy service centre that can deliver quality repairs.

Repair or Replace? The Considerations

1. Cost of Repairs vs. Selling Price: With the car’s age and condition, the cost of repairing everything might exceed the value of the car. But, if we can get it fixed properly, it may still serve us well for a few more years. The question is, will the repairs make it as good as new, or are we just prolonging the inevitable?
2. Sentimental Value: This car holds immense sentimental value for me. It has been with me through some of the most important events of my life, and parting with it feels like losing a piece of my history. The car is still functional, and with some TLC, it could regain a lot of its former glory.
3. Finding the Right Service Centre: One of the key obstacles to keeping the Ertiga is finding a reliable garage that can handle more complicated repairs. The local garage we’ve used in the past has done minor fixes, but for more intricate work like suspension repairs, clutch replacement, and bodywork, we need a service centre that we can trust to do the job right. After all, we don’t want to pour money into repairs that don’t last.
4. Future Plans: My father’s suggestion to sell the car is based on practicality. With newer cars offering better features, fuel efficiency, and reliability, selling the Ertiga could free up funds for something more modern. However, we’ll also need to consider the costs of purchasing a replacement vehicle, which could be more expensive than investing in repairs.

The Road Ahead: What Should We Do?

As we face this tough decision, the solution may lie somewhere in between. Perhaps it’s possible to keep the Ertiga and repair only the most urgent issues, preserving its functionality while addressing its flaws. On the other hand, the cost of repairs may not justify keeping the car, especially if we can find a good deal on a newer model.

Ultimately, finding the right service centre for repairs is critical. We need a place that can handle the work professionally, ensuring the car doesn’t just run, but runs well. If we can find such a centre, we might just give the Ertiga a second life and continue creating memories with her for a few more years.

In the end, whether we choose to repair or sell the car, it’s clear that the Ertiga has served us well and continues to hold a special place in our hearts.