Car Hunting? Here’s How to Get What You Want

Chances are, if you’re reading this, you’re interested in investing in a vehicle. Chances are, you’re not alone either. Desire and demand for cars has significantly increased over the past year and for good reason. While public transport in many areas is great and tends to be more environmentally friendly, the coronavirus and Covid-19 pandemic has meant that many people want to avoid public transport as much as possible in a bid to stay apart from strangers or individuals who do not live in the same house. This can reduce your chances of contracting or spreading the virus. On top of this, you have the general benefits of a car, which include being able to go where you want, when you want. You don’t have to rely on rigid public transport timetables. Instead, you can simply step out of your house, get into your car and drive to place you want at any time of day and night. You can also go directly from door to door, rather than having to settle on the nearest stop and walk the rest. Of course, buying a car is a pretty big decision. For most of us, a set of wheels is the second biggest investment we’ll make in our lives. Often, the only more expensive outgoing we have is our home. So, you need to make sure that you put plenty of thought into the process and invest in the right vehicle the first time round. Hopefully, some of the information we provide below will help you to achieve this!

Settling on Your Budget

Of course, the first area you should focus on when you decide to buy a car is figuring out what you can and cannot afford. All too many people start car hunting before setting up a budget and this can simply lead to disappointment or irresponsible financial choices. You need to make sure that you can definitely afford the vehicles you’re looking at. While cars are an asset and investment, so spending money on them is generally a good thing, they also depreciate in value pretty quickly, so if you decide the car isn’t right for you within a few days of leaving the forecourt with it, chances are you won’t get all of your money back when you return or sell it for something more suitable. So, take a look at your disposable income and determine how much of this can be contributed towards a car. It’s extremely important that you remember that the actual cost of the car itself isn’t the only factor you need to take into consideration. Cars can be expensive to run, with plenty of additional costs. Remember that you will also have to pay for tax on the car. You’re going to find that you need to take out a car insurance policy, paying on either an annual or monthly basis. If you buy a used car, or a few years after buying a new car, you’re going to have to start paying for relatively regular services and MOTs. On top of this, over the years, chances are you’re going to have to fork out for a number of maintenance costs. Another obvious cost? Fuel. This could include repairing scratches and dents, putting oil and screenwash in the vehicle, replacing tyres and more. So, consider all car related costs when figuring out your budget. Also be sensible when coming up with your budget. You don’t want to spend your entire disposable income on your vehicle. This can prevent you from buying anything nice or having a good social life in a bid to maintain driving.

Choosing the Right Vehicle

Setting a budget can feel difficult, but eventually, you’ll get there. Once this task is complete, you can get to the fun part of buying a car – choosing the make and model that falls within your budget and best ticks all of your boxes. Now, all too many people will choose a car based entirely on aesthetics and how it looks. This is understandable. Certain vehicles just look great. But you need to remember that practicality should reign supreme when it comes to running a vehicle. Why? Well, a car can look great, but if it inconveniences you every time you use it, chances are you’re going to get pretty sick of it pretty quickly. Before you go car hunting, you should make a checklist of all of the things you’re looking for in a vehicle so you can find something that suits you down to a tee. Sure, you can do your research into best cars for people like you – the best cars for students, the best cars for new drivers, the best cars for families, etc – but, at the end of the day, you need to remember that there is no one “best” car. Instead, you are completely unique and will have to find something that is absolutely ideal for you. Here are some things you may want to consider when creating your list of requirements. 

• Size – size can prove to be an extremely important factor when it comes to choosing a car. Some people need large vehicles. Some people prefer much smaller vehicles. Some questions to ask yourself include: how big do you want your car to be? Do you need a certain number of seats?  Will it just be you using the vehicle? Will you ever have passengers? Do you need room for car seats or booster seats for children? Do you carry a lot of luggage? Does this mean you need a lot of boot space or is boot space not quite so important?

• Can the car be modified? – sometimes, car hunting can be easier if you are able to modify your chosen vehicle. This means you can find something close to what you want and then make it perfect with Auto Detailing Supplies.

• Fuel type –  different people have different preferences when it comes to different fuel types. Nowadays, more people are searching for electric or hybrid vehicles to be environmentally friendly. Some people prefer cheaper fuels. Check that the vehicle you want is available in the fuel type you want.

Of course, there are all sorts of other factors you might want to take into account when choosing a car, but some of the advice above should help you to get the ball rolling in the right direction!