Mum’s Guide to Buying a New Car

Is your car just not cutting it anymore? Then you are probably already checking out the new models of vehicles on the market to see what is out there and what will suit your family and your lifestyle.

Do You Buy New or Second Hand?

There are several pros to buying brand spanking new. You know exactly what you are getting and you get to be the one to break the car in. You can choose to add extras onto the car and spice it up exactly the way you like it. And, you can enjoy that new car smell (until someone pukes in the back of course!).

However, even new cars come with plenty of faults. You don’t know how they will fair in five, ten or fifteen years, especially if the engine is a new model. You also don’t know how they will drive and, while there is often an indication of the fuel consumption, you never really know this until you are the one fuelling up every 400 to 800 km.

Is it a Practical Vehicle for Your Situation?

Whether you are looking for a seven seater 4 wheel-drive to take camping in the bush or whether you are in the market for a sleek and sophisticated sedan that steers through the city with ease, it is important to do your research and compare what’s out there. Below are some things to keep in mind when buying a brand new car.

Test Drive To See if You Like It

The most important thing when buying a new car is that you feel comfortable driving it. There is no point buying a huge monster of a vehicle if you feel too afraid to drive it down the driveway. So, ask to take the vehicle for a test run so you get the feel of how it works. Many dealerships will even allow you to take the car home for the night so you can test it up your driveway and drive it at night before committing to it.

Don’t Completely Rule Out a Second-hand Vehicle

there is a big difference between buying an old bomb and buying a barely used vehicle. If you have your heart set on a new car then you can still get something that is fairly new but can cost several thousands of dollars less than the brand new car price. Look into demo cars, which are still brand new but used as test drive cars for the dealership. There will most likely be less than 20,000 km on the car and it will still be the latest model, just not as pricey.

Research and Negotiate

Car Dealerships are willing to negotiate on a price. But how do you know if you are getting a good deal or not? One way is to look into the new car prices across the state and country, not just the different makes and models of similar vehicles. You may find that it is actually cheaper to buy elsewhere and then drive down to pick up the new car or to put it on a truck and ship it up to you.

When you do look into new (and slightly used) prices you will know what to go in with and what you can expect to walk away with. How much you actually pay for your car should be less than what is first offered and will depend on factors such as what extras and accessories you choose, the colour (metallic paint will cost more), the transmission (auto is more expensive than manual) and what type of finance is on offer.

Use the internet as well as visiting the various dealerships in your area. The more research you do the better chances of getting a great deal on your new car.