13 Hot Tips For Buying A New Car

A question recently raised by one of our readers prompted the team to list out this 13 Hot Tips For Buying A New Car guide. Through this tips to buy a new car guide we sincerely hope that it will, in a way, help you in making that big decision. So, whether it’s new cars, used cars, trucks, SUVs or just plain curiosity on your part, this guide shortlists the points that you would need to seriously consider, and at the same time avoid getting into any car buying scams that might be out there.

Currently the best and the first option to start this whole process on the move would be to reach pages like this - shop for information! Nowadays, the web is full of information. So get your price quotes, view images, read reviews, and start comparing details.

Next up would be the old conventional method which has been in practice for God knows how long - going to a car dealer to shop! Yes, unfortunately, many people still prefer to actually start it off this way.

Anyway, with the influx of so many new car models (not to mention SUVs, MPVs, and “crossovers”) to choose from, how do you buy a new car that’s right for you?

The normal misconception is - Go on looks alone! That of course, will spell trouble down the road (Like our friend Rob, always likes to say - It’s very much like picking a spouse based entirely on their looks alone).

Another common misbelief - Price is all that matters, cheaper the better! Focusing on the price of your new car solely and excluding other considerations such as safety, comfort or even reliability, would mean that it’s highly unlikely that you’ll be happy with your so-called “bargain buy”.

So, how does one begin the steps on buying a new car?

Well, we at Car Crazy prefer to run through a checklist like this :

1. What is your budget/how much do you intend to spend?

To us, this should be the No.1 checklist question that should be answered honestly by you. Stick to a budget that you’re really comfortable with, because there are many who fall prey to the low monthly payment promises that often gets unsuspecting new car buyers in way over their heads. Also when you’re doing your budget for this, make sure to include your monthly and/or annual - finance charges, interests, road tax, insurance, and everything else that you will need to spend to own and drive the car.

Once you’ve settled on that right figure, you can further narrow down the potential new cars on your list.

2. Should I get a Local branded car or should I get an Imported model? How important is this and will it make a difference?

3. Should I get a Large/Medium/Small sized car? What is my actual need?

4. Should I get a car that can carry cargo? Is this totally a family car or would it be used for both, work and home?

5. Should I get a car that hits 100mph in 60 secs? Is this very important to me - performance & power?

6. What is the petrol consumption for this car? How much of mileage will I get from a full tank? Will this ultimately cost me a bomb?

7. Are parts easily available for this model? Are they costly? How much is a routine service package going for on this model?

8. Does all the technical specifications and safety aspects like - BA, air-bags, crash-tests, stability control, ABS, etc) look acceptable to me? Would I need additional fittings later on?

9. Should I get a car that has front-wheel drive, full time 4×4, rear-wheel drive, etc? Is this highly needed?

10. What is the warranty package for this car? Does it cover parts and labour? Do they give any extensions?

11. What is the trade-in/resale value for this car in the future? Will this brand hold its value better than others in the market?

12. What is current promotion offered, if any? Are there any added benefits to me if I were to trade-in my old car?

13. How long is the delivery period, once an order is placed? Is the delivery time important for me in making a decision?

And finally when you’ve narrowed down to your potential new car choice, it’s now time to make a visit to their nearest showroom. Sit in the car, see and feel the controls around you, and make sure you get a test drive done at the same time. Because if you don’t sit and feel it for yourself, you might just end up buying a car that you would later find to have hard seats, gears that don’t shift smoothly as expected, and worst-still, an engine that could be too noisy to your ears!

So remember, get that test-drive done folks. And probably by then you’ll have a much better idea and understand … this is your “right” new car!