So, you’ve finally passed that nerve-wracking ordeal of a driving test. Now, with your driver’s license in hand, you’re more than ready to start the search for your very own vehicle. There are a variety of automobile options available on the market nowadays to cater towards the individual needs and preferences of a range of drivers. Be it the family man, the single student, the off-road adventurer- there is almost always certain to be a vehicle make or model which exists to suit your unique lifestyle requirements.
The process of buying your first car can very well make for an exciting task. However, it can also be quite stressful at times. With so many options available to you, and so many other factors such as your budget, living conditions and forecasted driving habits to consider, it can be quite overwhelming to narrow all the possibilities down to a single choice. Luckily, there are some simple tips you can follow to help guide you through the process of buying your very first car. Here are some of the most worthwhile ones to consider:
Set Your Budget
Before you dive into dealerships and the world of Gumtree, set a clear budget that you can refer to when out and about discovering all the various options available to you. Of course, it’s worthwhile making your budget flexible- after all, you may find a car that you really like that’s just a little bit out of your price range. What’s also important to consider is if you want to spend your money on a completely new car or a pre-owned one. Keep in mind that the resale value of a newly bought car depreciates drastically as soon as you drive it out of the dealership.
In addition to this, you should also remember that luxury cars are no one off investment. For example, if you’ve chosen to spend a significant initial amount on some prestigious European vehicle such as an Audi or Mercedes-Benz, you can expect your servicing and repair costs to reflect the vehicle model which you’ve chosen.
Don’t Rush
Perhaps you’re simply itching to get out onto the road and drive around to your favourite places unsupervised. Unfortunately, this eagerness to get on the road as soon as possible can sometimes compel us to make fast and spontaneous decisions when it comes to choosing our first car. The key is to take your time with the selection process instead of rushing into a choice that you may or may not change your mind about later on down the track. Your license isn’t going to run away anytime soon, so take as much time as you need to weigh up all your options and only sign the contract on a vehicle that you’re sure is the right one for your needs.
Check Out the Safety Star Rating
As a new driver, you may be a little more prone to accidents on the road as compared to more experienced drivers. Needless to say, it’s important to ensure that you’re guaranteed safety and security whenever you’re at the wheel. First car buyers are always recommended to choose a vehicle that features a higher ANCAP safety star rating, so that they can rest assured knowing that harm will be minimized in the event of an unfortunate accident, and both them and their passengers have sufficient protection.
Avoid Tunnel Vision
Think you’ve found the car of your dreams? Maybe you have, maybe you haven’t. When we finally find an option that we really like, we sometimes tend to forget about all the other possibilities available to us and essentially idolize the option we’ve had our hearts set upon. The trick is to avoid this common mistake by keeping an open mind, and instead of dismissing all other options when you think you’ve found ‘the one’, keep yourself open to alternatives.
Have the Car Inspected
If you’re buying the vehicle second hand, it’s important to have it inspected so that you can be assured of its advertised condition. In addition to this, make sure that you always ask questions when buying a vehicle from a private seller, and don’t be afraid to ask if it’s ever experienced any major problems or has ever been in an accident. You deserve transparency and honesty from all sellers, and if someone or something seems like it’s off, don’t be hesitant to disregard the option.
Test Drive
You won’t know if it’s really for you until you’ve felt what it’s like to be behind the wheel yourself. So, before buying any vehicle, you should conduct a test drive so that you can get a feel for how the vehicle moves, how it steers, how the brakes work, and all other aspects which make a vehicle differentiate from another. If you have your test drive and decide the vehicle isn’t for you, worry not! The experience will have most likely provided you with new information on what you like in a car and what you don’t.
Guest Author Bio:
Nicole Aldrich is a content writer for European Prestige Auto Service. She works to provide helpful tips and information revolving around European vehicles to both vehicle enthusiasts and average drivers alike. Nicole enjoys keeping up with all the latest news when it comes to prestigious vehicle brands such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi and more. Moreover, she strives to provide readers with content that proves both interesting and insightful.
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