Buying a car is probably the biggest purchase you will ever make in your lifetime. Most people will pour their life savings into the purchase, and others will even take a loan to make their dreams come true. With so much at stake, you can’t afford to make the wrong choice.
Here’s everything you need to know before buying a car.
New or Used?
New cars are generally what everybody wants until they see the price tags. They came packing the latest designs, cutting edge infotainment systems, and inviting interiors. But none of that is cheap. If you go down this route, you might have to settle for a smaller car, which is not always ideal. For example, a new Honda Jazz goes for £12,000, which is around the same price as a used 2018 Honda Civic. See the difference?
Petrol, Diesel, or Electric?
Once you get into the car market, you’ll find diesel, petrol, and electric-powered cars. All of them are great, but EVs tend to have lower ownership costs compared to petrol-powered vehicles. But these savings don’t come cheap. You have to dig deep to buy a brand new electric car.
Diesel cars are cheaper to fuel than petrol cars, but they usually bigger. Think SUVs, vans, and trucks.
Body Style
Depending on where you are in life, you might want to go with an SUV, hatchback, or a saloon. SUVs are bigger and best suited for families and executives. They also come with beefier engines, higher petrol per-mile rates, and bigger cargo space.
If you are looking for a low-cost daily driver, a hatchback or saloon can do the job. The main difference is cargo real estate. Hatchbacks have more room for cargo than saloon cars. So, if you are going to move things around, you might want to go with a hatchback.
Sedans are a great choice for people who need to get to work and also go on a few road trips around the country.