Top tips for buying a new or used car
Buying a car can sometimes be an intense and stressful process. However, there are a few simple steps you can follow to make buying a car almost seem easy.
The first step is to look at the reasons as to why you need a car. This should help to determine what type of car you should buy. Many might like to be seen in a sporty little convertible or a big four-wheel drive, but there are few of us who actually need a car like this.
If you need a car to be able to get to and from work in a city, a small hatchback could be ideal. It will be easy to park and low on fuel costs, saving you money in the long run. If you need to do the school run everyday and have a large family, space and safety will be your priority. Therefore, a larger car may be a better choice.
Once you’ve decided on the type, the next step is to do a bit of research online to find out what brands there are and what they cost. Visit manufacturers’ websites where each car’s individual webpage will show a long list of specifications for each model, which you can then use to compare. Most are fairly obvious, such as how many airbags, how many seats and if it has a CD player or not. You should also compare how much fuel the car uses on average. The less fuel it uses the more environmentally — and wallet — friendly it will be. Setting up a spreadsheet of each car’s specifications is one such way to compare.
Don’t worry if you still have two or three cars in mind as the next step is to book in a test drive at your local dealer. It’s important to test drive any car in order to get a feel for the car’s performance and also to spot any potential faults the car may have. If you have more than one car in mind, be sure to test drive them all before making a final decision, and don’t bow to any salesperson pressure! This extra time will help you to compare the test drives objectively and make a less rushed decision. After you’ve had your test drives and decided on the car for you, the next step is to organise finance.
But, is it necessary to get finance for your car? Yes, car finance is needed in most cases, as not everyone has enough savings to cover the full cost of a car. Car finance deals are easily found, both online and offline, making for easy comparison between providers.
Despite the associated stress with buying a car, a bit of thought, research and testing, will mean you too can find a car to suit your needs and your budget.
