Thinking of buying a new car? Yes? Well, you’ve come to the right place. Buying a car sounds easy enough, and when you’ve been scouring the internet for days, you can begin to feel like an experienced professional, analysing price tags and pictures for minute scratches. This is all well and good, but what about the engine, its performance, the cost of running it and how reliable it will be? These are things you need to consider, and if you’re not a mechanic you could soon find yourself taking a wrong turn, and trying to do a U-turn without success.
This guide will take you on a car-buying journey which, fingers crossed, will direct you to the perfect car.
“Turn Right” for D.O.M (Date of Manufacture)
Age is important to us, and while many of us associate years with wisdom, in this case age is not always better. There are many problems with buying an older car – they are prone to rust, consumable parts will need replacing and the reliability may be a bit hit and miss depending on how the previous owner cared for the car. This isn’t to say you can’t get a car which is ten years old and never breaks down – but the probability is increased.
Therefore, you need to assess your funds (it’s wise to consider tax and insurance on top of the initial cost of the car) and by looking online you can get a good understanding of the age of car you can comfortably afford.
“Keep Right” for Optimum Mileage
It can be easy to overlook the mileage, but even if you’ve got the option of buying a 2011 car which has a mileage of 120,000 miles– I would steer clear. Mileage is very important, and you can see how far the car has travelled. For a first car, a mileage of approx. 50,000 – 70,000 miles is a good starting point. Once you start going any higher than this, you can begin to run into problems with the engine, especially if it’s petrol; diesel cars however do allow you more flexibility and you could go up to 85,000 miles quite comfortably.
“At The Roundabout” Consider Other Costs
It’s very easy to get carried away when you’ve spotted a car you like in the price range you were looking in, but before you buy – consider your other costs. Have a look online and ask the previous owner/dealer to find out how much tax should be, what you should expect to pay for your insurance and the average MPG.
Once you’re in the car, you’ll be glad that these were on your list, because without you could end up with a car that you struggle to run.
“Just Before The A420-Purchase- Research Make & Model”
There are some makes and models which are notorious for breaking down, so before you go on the looks of the car, do some research. You’ll quickly get an idea of the cars to avoid, and the ones that are more reliable. Typically you’ll find the makes and models with a good reputation hold their value a lot more than those which don’t.
“You have reached your destination”
This article was written by Gayle Brown on behalf of The Leden Group who specialise in car leasing; perfect for those looking for a new car who don’t want the expense of maintaining one.