Shopping for your first car can be a daunting experience. There are so many things to think about, and that’s not including what kind of car you want. While it can take time until you buy your first set of wheels, and you might be frustrated at times, here are some tips to help you with your car shopping.
First things first: know what you want. This might sound like dumb advice and is a given, but knowing what kind of car you want is imperative, as this will help you eliminate the cars you don’t want, so you can focus your time on looking at the cars you do want. This means knowing whether you want a hatchback or sedan, a five door or three door car, or whether if you want an AUX output to connect your iPod.
Once you know what kind of car you want, you can then actually start car shopping; in this case window shopping. You can do this by going onto the Internet and search up car sales websites, or the websites of car dealerships. Once there, you can filter according to your specifications, and see what they have on offer. You can also go to the dealerships – whether it’s to a Toyota or Mazda dealership or one that is full of used cars – and ask the salespeople. It’s also good to go to several dealerships and shop around, as you can compare prices. Remember, you’re not pressured to buy the car from a dealership from the get go, but sometimes it is good to ask questions to the people who are selling.
When you’re car shopping and you are interested in a particular car, it’s also good to read reviews on the car. Salespeople want to make money, so sometimes it can feel as if they’re pushing you to the buy the car you’re inquiring about. However, reading reviews from people who have bought the car you’re interested in or from review websites will help you make a well-informed decision about your potential first car.
This is another given tip, but it pays to set a budget when you are car shopping. Setting a limit of much you are willing to spend will help you focus on looking at the cars that do meet your budget, and not get sidetracked by more expensive cars. Moreover, if you want to buy a brand new car, it’s worth it if you start saving.
If you are keen on a particular car, always test drive the car before making the final deal. Test driving the car will help you familarise yourself with your potential new car, especially with the brakes and gear shift, and any new accessories that come with the car (Bluetooth, touch screen, reverse camera etc). Furthermore, when you’re test driving the car, you can actually come to the conclusion that the car isn’t the right one for you. Remember, comfort is key.
Now, people might wrinkle their nose at the thought of buying a car that had a previous owner, but don’t discount this if you are tight on budget and buying a brand new car isn’t feasible. You can look at used cars on the Internet or at car dealerships. Moreover, you should test drive the used car and get a mechanic to check out the car and see if it is considered road-worthy.
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