Four Fab Tips For First Time Car Buyers
Life has many milestones and one of its biggest is passing a driving test and buying a car. The total freedom that comes with owning your own set of wheels and going wherever you want, whenever you want can fill you with excitement. This excitement then overshadows the fact that it takes more than showing up at a car showroom to buy a car. It doesn’t matter whether you’re still in high school and have passed your test, or you’re buying a car for work later in life, buying a car for the first time is confusing!
First time buyers of anything – houses, boats, cars, – often need some solid advice beyond what looks pretty and shiny. There are hundreds of websites like these out there that can give you step by step guidance on how to buy a car and what technical things to look for when you go for it. There’s so much more to it than that! Check out our tips below and you’ll feel confident with being able to find the right first car for you.
- Sort Your Budget: You cannot buy or browse cars without knowing what you realistically can spend. You also need to ensure that the figure you have in your head is for just the car; insurance, tax and other car expenses are all separate from the physical car. Ideally, you’ve spent time saving to buy your car outright, but if not, make sure you have the monthly figure covered in your usual outgoings.
- Old Or New?: Of course, any car you buy is going to be new to you, but you need to decide whether you want a first car that is brand-new with no miles on the clock, or something preloved. You can go online and visit Paul Moak Subaru for details on preowned vehicles and find out what your options are. First time buyers usually prefer to buy a preloved car, as it’s a practice car that won’t feel so painful if you bump or scratch it!
- Always Test: Buying a first car is daunting, so always bring an experienced driver and car buyer with you when you go for that first purchase. They’ll encourage you to test drive the car and ask the harder questions that you may be a little clueless about; such as the engine! You need to get a feel for the car and its handling to know if it’s truly for you, so don’t be shy about asking to test it out!
- Research: Get some reviews on the types of car you’re looking for. Ask people you know how the model you want handles and whether they’ve had any issues with them. Don’t be afraid to ask awkward questions and get a good idea if the car model you’ve been hoping for is the one for you!
Buying a car can be a confusing experience, but as long as you’re smart and keep your feet on the floor about it, you can have an enjoyable experience as a first time buyer.