Buying a new car can be a tricky affair. When you let emotion rule the roost, it’s all too easy to find yourself attracted to a car that stands out but perhaps doesn’t fulfill every need you’re likely to have when driving. As such, it’s important to stop, take the time to ask yourself the following three questions, and make sure that you’re taking care of all of your needs, not just your need for something new and shiny to drive.
Do you need to go new?
One of the key things you should bear in mind when buying a car is that you don’t necessarily need to buy a brand-new car. Whether you buy new or used is going to change how, exactly, you buy, too, such as which dealerships are best suited to your needs, as well as what other methods you can use to find private car sellers.
Of course, each option has its pros and cons. With a brand-new car, you’re paying a lot more but you’re also assured that there will have been no prior wear or tear before you get behind the wheel, and you’re protected by a strong warranty. With used cars, you can expect it to have seen a little more use, but you’re also paying a lot less for them. You might be able to get more car for less money sticking to the used market.
What are your needs, really?
You have to take the time to really think about what your needs are to ensure you’re buying cars that fit them. Flash and fast cars might be oh-so-attractive, but are they going to have the seating and storage space to suit your whole family? Is the car going to run reliably enough for your daily commute without any hiccups? To that end, sites like Edmunds can be particularly helpful for taking a deep dive. Detail reviews of the pros, cons, and specific suitability of different cars can help you make a more informed decision.
You may even want to write your needs down when you’re heading out to the dealership. It can be easy to forget your priorities when you’re faced with all of those new and shiny options, after all.
How much does it cost?
Of course, you’re not going to get a car for free. Aside from thinking about how much car you can afford to buy right now, you should also think about how much it’s going to cost you in the long run with your running costs. There are running cost calculators from sites like Financial Mentor that can give you a better idea of how much it will sting your bank account to own your car per year. You need to consider any loan repayments you’re making, fuel costs, insurance, not to mention the average cost of repairs. A little research can help you work out all of these to get a true cost of ownership.
Take the time to ask the three questions above and you can avoid the majority of bad car buying decisions.
