Buying a new car can be a daunting experience, especially if you have little to no knowledge on them!
Here are a few of our top tips on how to buy a car, the right way.
Establish a Budget
The first step in choosing a new car would be for you to decide how much you are happy to spend. This will save you a lot of time in the long run and it will also make it easy for you to rule out cars that do not fit within your financial bill. If you think that you are in a position where you can pay for a car in cash then this is great, but you also need to take into account things like road tax, routine maintenance and even insurance too. If you do not think about things like this then you will find it hard to come out on top and you may even find that you have unexpected costs later down the line. If you are using some form of credit, then make sure that you give the agreement a check-over to begin with. This will help you to find out how much you can afford to repay every single month. When you have established how much you are going to spend, you are then in the best position to try and find out what deals your bank can offer. Your dealer isn’t your only source of credit remember, and it’s entirely possible that you can get a better rate by going elsewhere.
Resale Value
It really does pay for you to be realistic about how long you are going to keep your car for. If you know that you want to keep it for a couple of years before you sell it on, then it’s worth choosing a car that is going to be worth as much as humanly possible. Some cars tend to hold their value way better than others, and there are so many variables that you need to take into account as well. A car which has an average level of specification will hold its value much more when compared to a high-value car.
Optional Extras
The specification of your new car will have a huge impact on how much it is going to be worth in a couple of years. You should be careful when you are trying to choose optional extras though. You may be adding cost to your car, but you might not be increasing the value. There are some options that owners will expect your car to have. If you want to make your car worth more then you need to try and opt for a tasteful metallic paint colour. It’s always a good idea for you to think about where your car is positioned in the market too. If you choose to add some very expensive leather to your car which is only a standard model, then you might not get much back. Buyers don’t tend to expect smaller, or budget cars to come with leather. If you don’t get the leather option on a more expensive car on the other hand then this may end up knocking money off, so make sure that you take all of this into account if you can. If you are buying an expensive car then look into domestic carport builders as they can give you all the protection you need.
Suitability
Thinking carefully about the car you want and the purpose you have will almost certainly guide you with your selection. If you have family, then you need to chat with them about everything because if you don’t then you may find that you end up overlooking certain things and this is the last thing that you need. You also need to think about car seats if possible too. If you want to find out whether your child’s car seat is going to fit, then this is very easy to do if you check the manufacturer’s website. If you carry a lot of bulky items with you to work or school, such as musical instruments then you need to think about how easy the boot is to load so you can check for practicality.
Diesel or Petrol?
It’s vital that you think about whether you should be buying a diesel engine or a petrol engine. Diesels are much more expensive to buy but at the same time, they tend to have a better fuel economy when compared to petrol. If you happen to do a lot of miles then you may be better off buying a diesel as this is a more sensible option. If you have a very active lifestyle then you may find that you need to have a four-wheel drive as this will help you to tackle some of the poorer road surfaces. If you are driving through central London or any city which has a congestion charge, then it may be wise for you to find a car that is exempt from the charge. Electric eco-friendly cars are also very popular.
Where to Buy your Car
There are so many places that you can buy your new car. Buying a new car online might be a growing trend but you might be better off trying to buy from a dealer. If you want a certain specification or even colour, then you need to make sure that you look into the delivery times. It might be a while before the car arrives, but the end result will be worth it.
Dealers
Franchised dealers tend to have a lot of staff working with them and they can also offer you strong after-sales support too. Franchised dealers can give you the chance to see the car that you want up close and personal. They can also give you a comparison between the various models and the specifications too. This can be very helpful if you need some help choosing. You also need to be aware that dealers tend to have sales targets which they need to meet, and they also have targets for optional extras too. This means that they might pressure you to buy things which you don’t need, so look out for that.
