A few car tips

Before you purchase a car – new or used – there are a few questions that you should be asking yourself. How much are you prepared to spend on it monthly? What kind of track record does the manufacturer have? And, what do you need the car for? At Carshop, we believe in making the process of buying a vehicle as easy as possible. This is why we’re offering you a few handy car tips for 2012.

Not only will these tips help you find a model well-suited to your needs and personality, but they’ll also help you get it for a reasonable price. In today’s economy, everyone’s looking for the best car that their money can buy.

3 tips for buying a car in the recession

When the economy is in a dip, you’re more likely to find better deals than when it’s not. You could find yourself saving anywhere between 10% and 70% on the original price. This, of course, depends on where you shop, and the make and model that you buy.

However, it’s always important to be careful about the vehicle deals you consider, even when looking at new cars. Here are some tips to help make sure you’re getting a quality car:

1. Get as much information as possible – Before you buy a car, it’s important to know all you can about the model and make. You need to find out if it’s reliable, if the fuel efficiency is good and if it can meet your driving needs.

You can find a lot of this information by seeing how many of the model you’re considering are on the road. Generally cars that are abundant in parking lots and on the highway beat out the rest.

Another way to research a car is to look online. There are numerous websites with reviews, personal opinions and consumer reports. These will provide you with an overview of your possible purchase.

1. Weigh up the difference between new and used – A new car, while often more expensive than used, will offer you some security. You’ll know the car’s history, it’ll have a warranty and a maintenance plan, and you can get the specifications you want.

With a used car, you’ll be able to get a much better price but you’ll have to do some investigating. It’s important to check whether or not it’s been in any accidents and what kind of distance it’s travelled. Plus, you may have to sacrifice on a trim or feature that you’d prefer. Your decision will ultimately depend on what attributes are more important to you.

1. Determine the purpose of the car you’re looking to buy – This element is true for any car purchase, regardless of whether or not the economy is low. Will you just be driving to and from work? Or is it going to be for fetching and carrying the kids and taking the whole family on holiday?

The answers to these questions will help you to pin point your priorities for a car. If you’re only driving around town, you’ll likely be concerned about manoeuvrability and how easy it is to drive. For a family car, safety is often a main concern.

Browse the Carshop website for more car tips and ensure that you make an informed decision on which vehicle to buy.