Skip to content

Buying a car- things to look out for

A lot of people may not see it as such but buying a car is a big deal. This is as it relates to the financial implications of getting one and also the regrets and distress that might come with making a bad purchase.

When we talk about buying a car, it could either be a brand new car or a used car but which ever it is the things you need to consider before making a purchase are pretty much the same.

Things to look out for when buying a car

When it comes to buying a car, there are many and varied things to look out for to ensure that you are making a wise and worthwhile purchase. This heading would be highlighting some of these things.

The type of vehicle you want to buy

Nobody just wakes up and walks into a car dealership or a used car stand and just goes to pick a car and walk away. Doing this would be the literal meaning of “if you fail to plan you will plan to fail” this is because certainly confusion is going to set in having seen a lot of vehicles which you might think suit you and you’ll most likely end up buying a car that might not serve you adequately.

 So it is important that before you leave your house to go to buy a car, you should have an idea about the type of vehicle you want to buy. This includes the brand name, specification and the manufacturers suggested retail price (MSRP) if it is a brand new car and then the price range for used vehicles.

Budget

When buying a car one needs to have a budget this is to enable them buy a vehicle within their means. The fact that a person has the money to buy a vehicle once might not mean that the person has the money for running costs and maintenance.

 It is no news that some vehicles are more expensive than others and even more expensive to maintain than the others. Therefore it is important that a person buys a car that they can adequately maintain.

Engine capacity

This is very important as they are different engine capacities for different vehicles. And the heavier the engine, the more power and efficiency and by extension, more fuel consumption. We have different types of engines, there is the four cylinder or the v4 engine, v6, v8, v12 with different horsepowers, engine capacity measured in litres and also newton metres of torque.

Purpose of the purchase

Different cars are built for different purposes and a person should have this  in mind when trying to buy a car.

There are:

SUVs

Cross overs

Pick up trucks

Sedans

MPVs etc

In a broader classification of vehicles you can just classify them into Economy, luxury and sport.

It is important for a person to define the purpose for which he wants to put a car into in order to know the car that would be most suitable for him.

Vehicle history

This is mostly applicable when purchasing used vehicles. It is important to know the history of whatever vehicle you’re purchasing in order to make sure that it does not have any issues before buying it. This vehicle history is in the form of a document and it is given to the buyer by the dealer on request. This document contains the information of the previous user and a brief detail of where and how the vehicle has been used.

Inspection

It is very important to inspect the vehicle you want to purchase before paying for it. Inspection must be done physically. It can be done by you but it is better to have your inspection done by a mechanic this is because he would easily detect faults things that you might not know are there and this is because of his expertise.

 This inspection is done for both used and new vehicles but for new vehicles the dealership would have their own personnel check the cay so there won’t be any need for you to come with yours.

Test drive

Before buying a car from a dealer, it is important that you take the car out for a spin to see how the car drives and to also check for issues that might only show up when the car is in motion.

Knowing how to negotiate

Applies mostly to used cars because for new cars there’s already a MSRP. Whenever you’ve decided on a vehicle, now is the time to start haggling. Prepare your work ahead of time so you can arrive at the car dealership armed with knowledge and the greatest offer.

Examine a variety of automobiles from that year, make, model, and mileage range, and consider the retail price of the vehicle you like best at multiple dealerships.

When you want to negotiate or bargain the price of the vehicle, it is important to set sentiments and emotions aside and focus on the price you intend to pay for the vehicle or at least get a good deal at the end of the day.

When it comes to buying a car, a little thorough research and preparation can help you make the best selection and receive a good deal on your new ride.

1 thought on “Buying a car- things to look out for”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *