Youngsters rent luxe on wheels this Diwali

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A chauffeur indulges a young hirer of a luxury car

Sandeep Burmi, a 20-something, worked hard as an intern and saved up some money. During this Durga Puja, he decided to impress his date. Post-lunch, she found a limousine and an uniformed chauffeur waiting right at her doorstep.

She just couldn’t believe her eyes! Says Sandeep, “I thought we will go pandal-hopping in style and booked the car for half a day. I had to shell out about `10,000 for it. But it managed to create a lasting impression. It was worth it.”
Similarly, Abhishek Gupta, a 20-year-old student, decided to surprise his girlfriend on her birthday with a ride in a Mercedes E class. “We went around town to some fancy restaurants, pubs and partied hard. She was super happy and will always remember the special day.”
Sandeep and Abhishek are not the only ones. Youngsters in the city are using luxury cars on hire to create a lasting impression this festive season.
“Since last year we are witnessing a unique trend in the demand of luxury cars during Navratra, Durga Puja and Diwali as well as wedding season. There is 25 per cent hike in booking. The age group availing this service is mostly in the age group of 20-35,” says Sakshi Vij, vice president, marketing, Carzonrent.
Parul Chopra, a 26-year-old MNC executive, recently got hitched. She recalls her hens’ party, a week prior to her wedding day. “I decided to hire a BMW for a day, picked up my girlfriends and went for a spa session, followed by lunch and a movie. My friends loved the idea. Most of them had never even imagined that they would get to ride a BMW,” smiles Parul.
A ride in the high-end cars could leave you short by `5,000-`15,000. “The festive season brings with it a demand for more cars. We are seeing a demand increase by 20 per cent per month. We are offering a discount of 25%, for all our luxury cars,” says Aman Naagar, chief operating officer, Avis India.