The process of buying a car can be intimidating but if you have it clear in your mind what you want and what you can get then it may be quite enjoyable.
After all, these are the wheels that are going to cart you around for the foreseeable future – unless you are one of those lucky people who change their car all the time – and you will no doubt develop an attachment to the vehicle no matter what it looks like. From the fourth-hand old banger to the brand new sports car, the bond between man and machine is magical in its own way.
But first of all you need to pick out your new partner; below are four steps to help you get it right:
What you need
People will often confuse what they need with what they want and this is no different when it comes to cars; there is a vast chasm between the bare minimum that would transport motorists from A to B and the vehicle they end up buying. You don’t have to get the bare bones, but it is good to have cleared Updating in your mind what is absolutely essential.
The sort of things you may need include four-wheel drive if you live deep in the countryside where poor roads can be a problem (particularly in winter), or a small Turun vehicle if you often have to battle for small parking spaces in urban areas.
What you can afford
You need to think realistically about your car choice as there is no point bankrupting yourself for the sake of a nice set of wheels. Look at your savings and current earnings to see what you can spare, but don’t forget to factor in any other major expenditures, such as paying for a child’s schooling or a home move. There is always the option of taking out a car loan if you feel you can comfortably afford the repayments.
What you want
Now things get more fun – what do you want? This can be anything as inconsequential as the colour of the car to something more important such as its carbon footprint. You may be the sort of person who doesn’t mind what their car looks like but wants it to have a bit of bite; on the other hand, you might just want your car journeys to be as cheap as possible, so fuel efficiency and maintenance costs could be the priority.
Making a choice
Now that you have all the facts in front of you – if you can call them facts – it is just a case of scouring the markets for something within your price range that meets your minimum requirements and allows you one or more of your desired perks. Some extra things to bear in mind are resell value and potential repairs – if a car is going for a bargain rate then the owner may know something you don’t and a hefty mechanic’s bill could be looming on the horizon. For that reason a full service history is useful.