New or used? Petrol or diesel? City car or sedan? Choosing a new car can quickly approach a real obstacle course. What are the right questions to ask yourself when buying a car and what should you watch out for?
If for some people the purchase of a car is a particular pleasure (for example when it is a collector vehicle or even a sports car), for most motorists it is above all a means of transport that meets their requirements while being as inexpensive as possible, both for purchase and maintenance. So, whether it is a question of changing a vehicle or buying a first car, it is relevant to take into account the use you will have of it daily in order to find a car really suited to your needs as well as to your budget.
Buy a Car Adapted to your Needs
One of the first things to take into account when buying a car is the use you can have of it daily, more precisely the nature of the trips you will have to make. If you only take small daily trips, for example to get to work, it is often unnecessary to pay dearly for a powerful or imposing car. Opt for a small city car whose purchase price will be reasonable and with which it will be easy to get around, especially in town. For city dwellers, opting for an automatic gearbox can also be beneficial for more comfortable driving.
Conversely, if you regularly make long journeys, check the consumption of the car you want to buy, which can quickly become expensive when the kilometers pass by. It will also be wise to think about certain options at the time of purchase such as the presence of a GPS or a cruise control, which can prove to be invaluable for these long journeys.
A car for the whole family
When buying a car it is often necessary to take into account the needs of all people who will travel regularly inside and not only those of the main driver. For a family with children, it will be reasonable to opt for a spacious car like a people carrier, taking advantage of more space to comfortably accommodate the little ones while having the volume necessary to carry the necessary luggage when the holidays come.
A very trendy segment since the 1990s, compact people carriers (Renault Sénic, Volkswagen Tourna, etc) are among the cars best suited to families, often available in 5 or 7 seats. For young couples, city minivans (Citroën C3 Picasso, Toyota Verso, etc.) or mini-spaces can prove to be an attractive, less expensive alternative.
Choosing your first car
Once the driver’s license credential has been obtained, it’s time to buy your first car. For many young people, it is not always easy to find their way among the many models offered and the budget, often reduced, requires some sacrifices.
Therefore, young drivers will be advised to opt for a used car, which is generally cheaper to buy, although care must be taken when choosing the vehicle so as not to lose this advantage in terms of repair costs. Avoid cars that are too old or rare models. When buying your first car, it is wise to anticipate the cost of auto insurance that it will be mandatory to take out so that it can circulate. You should know that the premium of a young driver is automatically increased, costing much more than that of a normal driver. Thus, opting for a new car or a powerful car can be a bad idea since it will be both expensive to buy and to insure.
