A lot of advice around here, but let me tell you something else.
There are a LOT of second hand cars out there. But where you buy from is pretty much more important than which car you end up buying. Because you just can't tell what kind of abuse a second hand car has been through. Whatever you buy, get it from a trusted source. Preferably from someone known. Don't hesitate to pay a little more if you ever happen to find such a deal. If you are unsure what to pay, ask the seller to get the car evaluated through a second hand dealer and that's a good ballpark to bargain on.
For the record, I sold my 2005 model Santro Xing XG for 2.5L in Bangalore earlier this month. I was the second owner. It was a well maintained car and the buyer was someone known. Buyer happy, I am happy. I purchased a second hand Swift Vxi from someone known. Again, seller happy, I am happy.
I would suggest sticking to a Maruti because of cheaper after sales. Santros are pretty reliable as well, but can get expensive to maintain (if you ever need to replace anything - which in my experience is infrequent). Also, small cars (hatch backs) are easier to drive around in the city.
There are a LOT of second hand cars out there. But where you buy from is pretty much more important than which car you end up buying. Because you just can't tell what kind of abuse a second hand car has been through. Whatever you buy, get it from a trusted source. Preferably from someone known. Don't hesitate to pay a little more if you ever happen to find such a deal. If you are unsure what to pay, ask the seller to get the car evaluated through a second hand dealer and that's a good ballpark to bargain on.
For the record, I sold my 2005 model Santro Xing XG for 2.5L in Bangalore earlier this month. I was the second owner. It was a well maintained car and the buyer was someone known. Buyer happy, I am happy. I purchased a second hand Swift Vxi from someone known. Again, seller happy, I am happy.
I would suggest sticking to a Maruti because of cheaper after sales. Santros are pretty reliable as well, but can get expensive to maintain (if you ever need to replace anything - which in my experience is infrequent). Also, small cars (hatch backs) are easier to drive around in the city.