Mujeeb
Rahman K talks about his experiences in dealing with pre-owned luxury
cars
Photos by TP Sooraj
By
Shevlin Sebastian
One
day, Mujeeb Rahman K, the chairman and managing director of Royal
Drive, which deals in pre-owned luxury cars, stood outside the gate
of a bungalow in Kozhikode. The watchman said that there was a dog
which was roaming around the compound. “I cannot control it,”
said the watchman. “Only Madam can.”
So
Mujeeb informed the absent owner, who called the wife. But for some
reason, the woman did not come out. In fact, it took her an hour to
put the dog back in its cage. “If I was a buyer, I would have
walked away without waiting,” he says. “But since this is my
business, I have learnt to be patient.”
When
he went to the garage, he saw that it was a Mercedes Benz.
“Eventually, the deal was done for Rs 60 lakh,” says Mujeeb,
while on a recent visit to Kochi.
He
says that there are two types of owners. Those who are humble,
polite, and hospitable, and those who are arrogant. “In both cases,
they might have started from zero and made a lot of money,” says
Mujeeb. “But it is mostly individual character traits that
determine their behaviour when they become very rich. Whatever be the
case, I have to be careful about my behaviour.”
And
he needs their patronage as he has just opened a 15,000 sq. ft.
showroom in Kozhikode on April 2 to showcase pre-used luxury cars.
Asked
about the vehicles on display, he says, “We have the Jaguar, Mini
Cooper, Range Rover, Volvo, Porsche, Mercedes Benz, Audi, BMW and the
Lexus,” says Mujeeb. “The prices range from Rs 15 lakh to Rs 2
crore.”
The
buyers are mostly businessmen, doctors, architects, and Malayali
NRIs.
The
problem with buying luxury cars is that the depreciation is very
high. “So it is always better to sell it off after a couple of
years and go for an upgradation,” says Mujeeb.
As
for the cars, most are in very good condition. “When the price of
the vehicle is very high, people take a lot of care of it,” he
says. Mujeeb usually tries to buy a car within three years of the
purchase, because it comes within the warranty period and so,
servicing and other repairs can be done for free.
To
ensure there are no legal or other issues, Mujeeb inspects the
Registration Certificate. Then he double-checks it with the Regional
Transport Authority, the car company and the insurance firm. “If
everything is okay, only then will I take the car, he says.
Asked
whether he can detect whether the car has an accident, Mujeeb nods
his head. “For example, if the headlight is broken in a 2015 car,
usually the date on the new headlight will be a later date, which
means, it has been replaced,” he says.
Usually,
Mujeeb does not buy cars which have had an accident. “There is a
tendency for the car to have another accident because the balance is
not there,” he says. “I don't want to pass this problem to the
new buyer.”
Hot
Bikes
Mujeeb
also deals with expensive bikes like Harley Davidson, Triumph,
Ducati, and Kawasaki. It ranges from Rs 3.5 lakh to Rs 20 lakh.
Harley Davidson's Fat Boy, at Rs 20 lakh and 1750 cc, is one of the
most popular. “These bikes have great power,” he says. “But
they have been made for temperate climates like America and Europe
and not the tropical weather of India.”
The
heat from the engine is very hot. “That is why the companies
provide a jacket for the rider to wear,” says Mujeeb. “It is very
difficult to drive in hot weather. Plus, we don't have good highways
in Kerala. Most of the people ride after midnight so that they can
have a smooth ride. That is why superbikes are not very popular.”
Customers
are usually from the age group of 30 to 50 because only they can
afford it. “All of them are in it for the joy of riding,” he
says.
It
is clear that for Mujeeb bikes and cars are a passion. And he
developed this fascination from his childhood. When he was studying
in Class 9, in East Koder, Malappuram, his neighbour Dr KT Rabiulla
bought a Tata Sierra. “At that time, the Sierra was the first car
to have power steering and windows,” says the 39-year-old. “Since
Rabiulla Sir knew I had a passion for cars, he called me over. As
soon as I entered the house, he gave me the keys and told me to go
for a drive in the compound. I was 14 years old. This was a turning
point. I loved the feel of the luxury car. And this love remains as
strong as ever within me.”
Most
Popular Vehicles
Audi
Q3 (Rs 20-30 lakh)
(Reason:
It is a small car)
Mercedes
Benz GLE350 (Rs 50-60 lakh)
(A
SUV, the ride is smooth on Kerala's difficult roads)
Jaguar
XF (Rs 25-45 lakh)
(Reason:
This is a sedan and the design looks good)
Porsche
Cayenne (Rs 80 lakhs to Rs 1 crore)
(Reason:
High brand value)
(The
New Indian Express, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode)
A lot of people having an incorrect image about the cash advance loans or sometimes refer it as bad credit payday loans. Luxury transportation Charlotte
ReplyDeleteYou write always great. it’s fantastic I always love to read your article thank you so much for providing us with this type of article. stay blessed. Well, the hire cars platform provides the best luxurious cars for rent. you must know about our luxurious cars like Lamborghini, Ferrari, BMW, and sports cars. You can get your favorite car for one day well, we can contact us anytime.
ReplyDeleteluxury car rental dubai
Nice Post. It provide such a nice information about the luxurious cars, visit my page and find more information about the Limousine Services.
ReplyDeleteoff white
ReplyDeleteoff white jordan
off white hoodie
off white clothing
paul george shoes
jordans
bape shirt
cheap jordans
off white jordan 1
Golden Goose Deluxe Brand