If you have decided that it is time to buy a car, then there are some things you need to know. Buying a car is not a quick and simple process unless you know exactly what you want, exactly how much you are willing to pay for it and this price is the new price. However, this is very rarely going to be the case, and that means that you’re instead going to have to search through other cars to be able to find the one that fits you. If you don’t know what kind of things you should be looking at when you’re ready to buy a car, then it’s a good thing that you have come across this article as this is what we’re going to be talking about. Keep reading if you would like to find out more.
COST OF THE CAR
The first thing that you are going to want to think about is the cost of the car. This is going to make or break a lot of purchases, because even though there are options when it comes to finance and cars, people are looking for what they deem to be reasonable and manageable. Nobody is going to pay an excessive amount of money for something that they either don’t want that much, or something that they don’t believe is worth it.
Cars are likely going to be one of the most expensive purchases that you are going to make throughout your lifetime, which is why you have to look at all of your options. The first is the most obvious and that is to buy outright, however this isn’t a common option. Then, you can look into a range of different financing options such as lease hire and many others. Find the one that works for you, and then take it from there.
When you are searching for a new car, make sure that you know how much most people pay for the vehicle you are looking at. You don’t want to end up paying more than the car is worth. For example, you might want to look up the cost of a Subaru extended warranty if this is what you are interested in.
NEW OR USED
There are many pros and cons for both new and used cars, so in the end it is all going to come down to what you believe suits you best at the time. A lot of people choose used cars because they are cheaper, and even if you do need to get car finance, it’s often for a shorter period of time, and significantly less money. But, if you can afford it, and you want to buy new, then head to showrooms and start looking.
The benefits of a new car include the mileage being zero so you know that the car isn’t going to give up on you for this reason any time soon, it being new and squeaky clean, as well as having no history. However, it is significantly more expensive than buying a used car. Used cars are a lot cheaper, and tend to run well, but there is always increased risk of something going wrong with a used car.
ASSOCIATED COSTS
The money doesn’t stop being spent just because you have purchased a car. You are going to have to pay for many more things for the car now that you have purchased it. For example, you are going to need to pay for the insurance, the vehicle tax, the gas that it is going to constantly need, any repairs that it requires, all the checks that it needs on a regular basis and so on. There are so many things that it needs and you have got to ensure that you have enough money to cover all of this, rather than just spending it all on the purchase itself.
Make sure that you go through these one by one and get the best deals you can, where you can. For insurance, get a number of quotes from a few different sources to ensure that you are getting the best cover at the lowest price. When it comes to getting your car fixed, go for the same method. Speak to a few different garages, and see who can do what, for how much. Check out reviews though before you choose a company. Just because they offer you a lower price, doesn’t make them the right service.
MILEAGE FOR USED CARS
If you are going to be choosing a used car, then you must check the mileage before you purchase it. You will find that the more miles the car already has on it, the cheaper it is going to be. That is because most cars have an amount of miles in which they work well until. The majority of modern cars are built to last at least 150,000 miles, but this can be around doubled if the vehicle has been well maintained, looked after and regularly serviced. However, the higher the mileage, the more dangerous your purchase becomes and ideally you want to try and stick with something that is below 100,000 if you can.
HOW MUCH SPACE THERE IS
When you decided to purchase a vehicle, you must have had some kind of thoughts as to how much space you are going to need. For example, if you have a rather large family, then you need something that everyone can fit in comfortably so that you’re not all squashed every single time you get in the car together. Choosing a sports car isn’t going to be practical here, so make sure that you think with your head, not with your heart that is hurtling towards that two seater sports car over there.
You should also check the trunk space while you are looking into space. Everyone has things that they need to transport every now and then. If you have enough space, you won’t need to sit there and try to play tetris in order to get everything that you need in the car. This saves you a lot of time and stress when it comes time.
WHAT TERRAIN IT COVERS
Are you someone who often travels off road or drives your car in risky conditions? If the answer is yes, then ideally you want a car that covers all terrain. It’s true to say that this narrows it down considerably, but it’s also true to say that the amount of people who require this kind of vehicle is particularly small. Most people just stick to the road all of the time, so they won’t need a car that can handle the rougher surfaces such as sand and mud. If you’re not sure about something surrounding this, then you can always speak to the dealer and get their opinion on the matter.
HOW MUCH DRIVING DO YOU EXPECT TO DO?
You should really think about how much driving you are expecting to do, and from there make sure that you are comfortable when you are sitting in the car. As you are the one who is going to be driving the car, it is more important that you are comfortable than most other things. You have got to make sure that the car handles well when you drive it, and that you are comfortable sitting in the driver’s seat for potentially hours at a time. Or, if you are only ever going to be driving short distances, then it’s not a necessity, but still nice.
HOW TO NEGOTIATE
The final thing that we are going to say is that you should learn how to negotiate. Again, this is only going to be relevant for those people who are purchasing a used car, but a lot of dealers are willing to negotiate on price. Decide on a price that you think is reasonable after having done research into this by looking at the cost of the car new, looking at the condition and the mileage and so much more. From there, negotiate with the salesperson until you can reach a number that you both agree on. If this can’t happen, then find somewhere else selling the car that you want and negotiate with them based on the new information for the new car.
We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now see some of the things that you need to know when you’re ready to buy a car. You should never just pick the first one that you see that is somewhat decent, as you could miss out on a fantastic car because of this. Take your time, and choose the car that you think is going to be the best fit for you, and all of your requirements. You can use all of the advice that we have given you above to help you make this decision. We wish you the very best of luck, and hope that you end up with a car that you love.
Photo Credit: Lexus
