Buying a new car is something that most of us will have to do at some point in our lives. It becomes a big decision because of the money that will be spent; in reality it will be the second most expensive purchase we make after buying a house. To make sure that you choose wisely we have put together some fantastic tips to help you along the way! I recently became the proud owner of a BMW M5 Saloon, the advice below certainly helped me make an informed decision and I’m sure it will do the same for you. If you have recently bought a car then please let us all know your essential buying tips, all you have to do is pop your tips in the comment section below. I think it’s brilliant when we can all come together to help each other out!
Remember that it’s your choice
The first thing that you need to do is recognise you are the boss; by this I mean that you are the one who must make the final decision. Do not be swayed by any excellent sales techniques and make sure that you buy the right car for the right reasons. Think about what type of car it is that you really need, if you have a large family then that fantastic looking sports convertible may not be the best option. Sit down and make a list of everything that you need your car to have.
Narrow down the list of choices
Once you have decided the type of car you need it is now time to make a shortlist of the cars that you like the look of. At first you may have a list of your top ten cars, but you need to bring this down to a maximum of five. Having a small list will make your decision easier and mean that you avoid wasting time looking at cars that you will not be truly happy with.
Decide on your budget
Whenever we buy anything it is good to stick to a fixed budget, when you are spending a large amount on a car then you need to be extra careful with your budget. Decide how much it is you can afford; will you pay for the car upfront or pay in installments? You need to stick to your budget as much as possible, some cars may have add ons that you can purchase that may drive up the price so make sure you are strict with yourself!
Do your research
There is a wealth of information online and in publications that will help you to research the car you like. The research will also give you a very clear idea of the best price you can get for each of the cars on your list. You may not want to buy a car online but there is definitely no harm in becoming more familiar with prices and specifications of each car, this will arm you with enough knowledge when you are ready to head down to the garage.
Talk to your friends and family
These are the best people to talk to about their experiences, they will give you unbiased advice and tell you what mistakes they made, if any, during the buying process. If you have a member of the family that is a car expert then it is a real bonus, make sure that you bring them along to the garage before you make a decision.