If you are buying a used car, you probably want to save some money. This means that you need to prioritize what is most important to you in a car. This article will help you assess your needs and your wants, so that you can find a car that suits you perfectly.
Cost
Look at the cost of a car. There is no point in window shopping at fully-loaded $40,000 trucks if you will only be able to afford a $4,000 truck in the first place. When you are establishing your budget for your car, be sure to account for how much the insurance will likely be, how much gas you will be spending (although this figure does change, it is best to go in having at least an idea), and regular maintenance. To budget for maintenance, you will need estimate the costs of 4 oil changes a year, plus some extra money just in case. Used cars are, well, used: they arent new are generally not under warranty. If you want a warranty, consider buying a used car from the dealership, who can often offer warranties even on used vehicles.
Suitability
What kind of driving do you do? You probably dont need a four-wheel drive behemoth of an SUV if you do mostly city driving. Conversely, if you live on a gravel road, you might feel more comfortable driving in winter if you have something larger than a neon. For most drivers, the way that you drive a car will mean that you are open to many options. However, if this is a limiting factor, it is important to take into consideration.
If you are a commuter, then you will have to take other factors into consideration. You might not want to buy a car with a very high mileage, because you will be adding the miles to that odometer. You might want to find a car that has very comfortable seats to make your ride go better. Things that could be less important, like the stereo, become much more important when you spend a lot of time in your car each day.
Look
Some people would rather have a car that looks good or prestigious. Its okay to admit that you are one of those people. For instance, for $3,500 you might be able to buy a 6 year old Honda civic; this same money could also buy you a much older BMW. If you value appearances, dont lie to yourself when you are shopping. You want to get a car that you will love, and theres no point looking at Ford Focuses if the only thing that will spark your delight is a Ford Mustang.
Load
How many people do you normally travel with? What is the most number of people that you have taken in your current car at once? If you dont already have a car, estimate the number of people you will have with you on a regular basis. If you only drive around 7 people during the hockey tournament once a year, you can probably skip buying a minivan. However, if you normally drive three people around, it might be a pain to get a two door vehicle. For truck drivers, you will want to consider the amount of load that you generally put in the back of your truck to help you judge your purchase.
Your Loan
Not only do you want to get the right car, you want to get the right car loan. It is wiser to have your financing lined up before you go to a dealership. You can set up used car loans at any bank: but one often overlooked type of used car loan is to go to a credit union, where you can generally get lower interest than at a major bank. For more information on loans, (and we wont even try to sell you a loan!) visit www.theguideto-carloans.com.
In the End
You will be the one driving. Make the decisions based on your needs and what you feel is right. Though it is great to get lots of advice (and sometimes it helps to take someone savvy about mechanics along with you to check out the car), considering these facts will help make you capable of choosing the right car.
Tags: Assessing Your Needs, Behemoth, Budget Car, Buying A Used Car, Car Mileage, Extra Money, Four Wheel Drive, Gravel Road, High Mileage, Limiting Factor, Mileage, Neon, Odometer, Oil Changes, Suitability, Suits, Warranties, Warranty, Wheel, Window ShoppingRelated posts
Buying a car can be hard enough; do I want a hatchback, saloon, 4-door, 2-door, convertible, four-wheel drive? How much can I afford to pay for insurance? Furthermore, being given the hard sell in the dealership showroom can add more pressure. However, do we need the hard sell or have we already subconsciously made a decision on the car we would like to buy?
Studies have shown that many customers do not need the hard sell, but instead just a picture to show off the features of the car. Weve all probably seen an advert on television or a picture in a magazine or newspaper, which has made us look at the car and want to have one on the spot! Obviously, it aids the customer if the picture is of something sleek and stylish rather than a rust-bucket, which is why the desirability of vehicles such as a sporty hatchback is high.
Manufacturers are clever in the way that theyll do this. Youll notice on more occasions than not with car adverts that the price provided is not for the car you are seeing. The picture of the car will be the top of the range version with all of the possible extras, but in fact the price youll be told is the starting from price for the lowest car in its range. The price for the actual car you are viewing will usually be in small print at the bottom of the advert.
Do, however, the roles of celebrities come into play in persuading us to purchase a certain make or type of car? I believe that they do.
Take a look at the BMW X5 for example. Since the release of this car, every celebrity and their dog have one. I believe as a consequence of this, the amount of non-celebrities driving this car has risen dramatically. The same can be said for a few cars, which brings the assumption that we, to some extent, base our lifestyles on celebrities, who influence us to purchase cars that are deemed fashionable and popular by them.
The bases for buying a certain car by many will be will my friends laugh at me? and will I look cool in it?. After all, the technological strides of manufacturers recently have meant that the reliability and performance of vehicles is very good, and certainly more than adequate for most drivers using city and country roads. So what else can there be to influence the decision of car buyers other than the cool factor?
Maybe, the running costs and fuel consumption is prominent somewhat; especially for the four-wheel drive and high performance vehicles. However, the celebrity power has certainly persuaded many in their car buying decisions, and will almost definitely continue to do so.
Tags: Advert, Aids, Assumption, Behaviours, Bmw, Bmw X5, Car Adverts, Car Buying, Car Price, Cars, Celebrities, Celebrity, Consequence, Extent, Four Wheel Drive, Insurance, Lifestyles, Occasions, Rust Bucket, WheelRelated posts
Buying a car needs not just investment but deep thought. The market is overflowing with choices and temptations. Buyers need to think, what kind of car and can I afford it?
Think, what do I need transportation for right now and what will I need two years from now? Do I want a car as a status symbol or as something that makes my life easier? Will the car be a commuter vehicle, or to transport children? Would a van with cargo space and high clearance be more suitable for a growing family? Should the car be a two-wheel or four-wheel drive? What kind of terrain will I be driving in most of the time? Go through auto magazines as well as consumer reports to get a clear picture of the world of cars.
1.Work on your finances and determine what you need to spend each month on transportation. A car should not cost more than 10% of your net pay per month. If it is more, then consider leasing a car instead of buying one.
2.Before you finalize anything, find out what the target price is. Four figure discounts are available with almost every make.
3.Never sign an arbitration clause or blank financial forms. Try and get finance from a separate source, a bank or financial institution.
4.Haggling will get you a good deal apart from shopping around for finance. The market is competitive be sure to check dealer fianc, high street, internet lenders, as well as other options.
5.Try and ensure a large down payment thereby reducing the loan to be paid. Work out your finances and choice of car such that the term of loan is for the shortest period.
6.Find out what buying incentives are on offer. These vary from audio systems to cash back offers, and 0% financing. Ask what extras and add ons will cost in addition to the price of the car.
7.Be sure to evaluate your old car independently if you are considering a trade in. Pay attention to cost to change, the difference between what the new car costs and what the old one is worth.
8.Find out about warranties, taxes, and insurance. These can eat into your budget.
9.Vet the contract well. Read the fine print. Make sure that paying off the loan before time will not carry any penalty.
10.Check out at least 3-4 dealers to gauge what the best offer is.
Test drive the vehicle before you finalize the deal and go through the car booklet page by page to understand all that the manufacturer needs to tell you. Be clear what is under warranty and what is not.
Never choose vehicle based on a picture or dream. It is not how you look in the car thats important but how well the car will fulfill your needs. Be practical and sensible; do not buy a model because the dealership is offering a holiday for two or a low interest scheme. Identify a vehicle that suits your needs before subjecting yourself to an onslaught of marketing.
Tags: Arbitration Clause, Auto Magazines, Car Buyer, Car Costs, Cargo Space, Commuter Vehicle, Consumer Reports, Financial Institution, Four Wheel Drive, Growing Family, Incentives, Internet Lenders, Leasing A Car, New Car, Pay Attention, Status Symbol, Street Internet, Target Price, Temptations, Warranties