These days, investing in a private car is quickly becoming a necessity. People live in a fast-changing world where personal and professional lives start to get busier than before. And if they don’t have their own personal mode of transportation, life can get even worse. Simply because people hate relying on public transportation for daily commutes. As much as possible, they would prefer something else, something more convenient.
In general, cars make our lives easier in so many ways. To name a few, we use it whenever and wherever we want as we have the full control and access to it. We enjoy our liberty to take the fastest routes and avoid heavy traffics. And we won’t have to catch the bus early in the morning just to find out that it’s already full and then wait for another one to pass by.
Looking closely at these benefits, there is no surprise that most people think of getting their own wheels one day. Just like in most cases, after you purchase a house for your family, buying a car is most likely the next biggest purchase you’ll make. Cars are too costly so purchasing should be very careful and wise especially when it comes to choosing the right one for you.
However, some people make mistakes when purchasing for the first time. So, if purchasing a vehicle is a new thing to you, better be guided by the following tips to avoid having regrets in the long run.
1. Do not purchase a car on the initial visit
First things first you need to do some research. Locate the best and most trusted car dealers around you and look for reviews about them. And never ever purchase a car on your first visit. There are plenty of shops and you don’t just stick to one of them because there’s probably more that can offer better. Selecting the best type of vehicle also matters, decide if it’s a truck, a sedan, or an SUV you need to buy. Then compare prices, features, and stick to your budget.
2. Bring an automotive expert with you.
One thing’s for sure, sales agents will disclose only the best things about their products. So I strongly suggest that you don’t rely too much on these agents alone. If you have a friend whose expertise is in automotive, try to take him with you, especially if you’re visiting a store for the first time. An automotive expert knows a good engine as well as the bad. He also knows how to ask tough questions and spot certain problems from the interior and exterior auto parts to the vehicle’s engine.
3. Do a test drive.
Doing a test drive is one of the most important stages of the purchasing process. It lets you determine the things you like and didn’t like about the driving experience. Remember, you’re about to spend too much for this vehicle so it’s fair enough to evaluate whether the vehicle can cross your expectations and demands or not. Ask for a 30 to 60-minute test drive before you decide to take the keys at home.
4. Do not fall into added feature traps.
Most agents will give you an extended offering of additional features like installing some car seat covers or adding some slick navigation features. Regardless of how cool and attractive these features are, it’s important that you don’t fall into financing traps like this, especially if you’re sticking tightly to your budget.
5. Focus on the price, not on the payment.
One of the common mistakes that you should avoid is getting attracted to smaller prices that are brought by a long-term payment mode. Taking advantage of car loans is not always a good idea. Let’s say it won’t be such tight to pay the vehicle little by little but if you try to do the Math, you’re actually paying more than its total cost due to additional fees/interest rates. And it would take more or less 6 years, in general, to accumulate the full payment and by that time, do you think your vehicle would still look brand new?
That’s one major reason why some people ditch those brand new cars for slightly used ones. Taking advantage of used cars can often make a good financial sense. Just try to look for those with low mileage and minimal wear and tear so you can ride just as nice as a new car while incredibly spending less.
