How to choose a car

5 July, 2008 (10:33) | tips, Cars, insurance | By: admin

1.SET YOUR BUDGET AND MAKE SURE YOU STICK TO IT
It’s easy to spend more than you really should. Avoid this temptation by thinking carefully about how much you can really afford long before you step through the showroom door.
Take a realistic look at your monthly incomings and outgoings. How much is left for the car? Remember, this will have to cover all your motoring costs - there are fuel bills, insurance and servicing costs to take account of, too.

2.THINK ABOUT WHAT KIND OF CAR WILL SUIT YOU BEST
It’s easy enough to work out that a two-seat drop-top isn’t going to suit a growing family and an MPV isn’t ideal if you’re young, free and single. But not every choice you’ll make about the kind of car to buy is quite so clear cut.

Take choosing between petrol and diesel. For a similar level of performance, a petrol model is likely to be cheaper to buy, but the diesel will cost less in fuel bills. Which will work out cheapest in the long run largely depends on how many miles you cover: the more you drive, the more likely it is that you’ll be better off filling up at the black pumps.

How long do you plan to keep the car? A supermini might have room in the back for small children, but as your kids grow will there still be enough space for them?
Think about the biggest loads you ever carry. Is a hatchback big enough?

Could you see yourself travelling with more than four passengers? If so, your choice will narrow to MPVs and a handful of 4X4S which have extra seats.
You’ll need to balance the space you need on the inside with the driving environment on the outside. If you spend a lot of time in town, a smaller car will be easier. However, if long motorway journeys are more typical of your driving, a larger car with greater cabin space will make more sense.

3. DO YOU REALLY NEED A BRAND NEW CAR?
If the budget will stretch, we’d all prefer to run a brand new car. But you should consider the advantages of buying used before you shell out for that gleaming new model.

Cars lose value most quickly during their first few months. A new car which costs $15,000 today could be worth more than $5000 less this time next year. Thereafter the rate at which the pounds are shed slows. By its second birthday, the value may have fallen by another $2000 or so. So if you choose a year-old car, it will be cheaper to buy and will depreciate more slowly.

There are sound reasons to go for a new car, however. Haggle hard and you’ll save a big chunk of that first year’s depreciation. Special offers such as interest-free finance are also far more common on new cars, and can tip the balance back towards a new machine. You’ll enjoy the benefits of the full manufacturer’s warranty, too.

4. FIND OUT WHAT’S SUITABLE IN THE MARKET
Use What Car?’s road tests and data tables to help draw up a list of cars. Even if one model appeals to you above all others put a couple of rivals on the list - they may surprise you when you get behind the wheel, and it will be easier to secure a discount if the dealer knows you’re looking at other models as well.

5. BOOK A TEST DRIVE AND TAKE YOUR FAMILY ALONG
A test drive is vital. However well a car might suit your needs on paper there’s no substitute for getting behind the wheel. If someone else will regularly drive the car, or if you’ve children, take them along, too.

Try to take at least an hour’s drive on a variety of roads. Ideally, they should be roads you know, as this will make it easier to concentrate on the car.
If you do lots of motorway miles, include such a drive in your test. Listen for wind and road noise, and think about seat comfort. Would you be happy to spend long hours behind the wheel?

Don’t just test the car from the driver’s seat. If you’re shopping for an MPV then make sure you’re familiar with the way the seats fold, tilt and remove.
Is the boot as big as it looked in the brochure? Don’t be afraid to take an awkward load to make sure.

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