If you’re not a petrolhead, then finding the right car for you can be difficult. SO, if you’re not clued up on cars, how do you make a decision? Let this guide help you. Here, we look at five steps to finding your perfect car.
- Separate Needs from Wants
When you’re looking to buy a car, it’s easy to get carried away. So, make a separate list of things that you ‘need’ and things that you ‘want’. Functionality is more important than flash technology and, if you limit it to what you need, you’ll also lower the price. So consider:
– How many seats/ doors you need
– How important fuel economy is to your journey
– Whether you require all wheel drive
– Will you require safety features for children
– Do you need a large boot for storage
– Will it be required to tow things
– Will it fit in your car parking space
Once you’ve answered these questions, you’ll have a good idea what you’re looking for.
- What’s Your Budget?
Your budget will be crucial in narrowing down your search. Work out how much money you can get from part-exchanging your old car (if you have one), or how much deposit you have. You can then use this to inform finance agreements and roughly calculate monthly repayments.
If you’re buying cash, then great. You’ll be in a really strong negotiating position.
Crucially, when you’ve decided your budget, stick to it. It’s easy to get carried away with optional extras and stretch yourself, but the best advice is to stick to what you know.
- Search Multiple Brands
Thirdly, don’t be tied down by a certain brand. You may know that you like the look of Audis and VWs, but it pays to look around at different brands – you may like one a lot more in the flesh.
Speak to different dealers, too. For example, you may not know a lot about certain brands like Toyota, but if you pop in an RRG branch, they’ll tell you all about them in minutes.
By seeing different brands, you’ll open up new options and could even find something far cheaper than you planned.
- Go on Multiple Test Drives
Don’t just test drive one car, too. Try 3-5 different ones. This way, you’ll really get a feel for what you do and don’t like with a car. It’s all too easy to buy the first car that you test drive and miss out on something that suits you better.
Top tip: plan ahead. If you’re going to test drive multiple cars at the same dealership, call ahead and book the drives so you know the cars will be free for you. Also make sure you know what you’re looking for when you embark on the test drive.
- Choose the Best One
Finally, choose the car that you liked the best on the test drive. By following steps one to four, you have enough information to make an informed decision. It really is that easy.