- Usage/Shape – You need to ask yourself, “what do I need the new car for?” Some people buy it as their first or second car to drop kids at school, buy groceries, commute to the office, etc. Remember, if you try to kill two birds with one arrow, chances are you will buy a car you will regret soon. For example, you need a seven-seater car thinking that you have some guests coming next month or need extra seats occasionally, and at the same time, you need this car to go to the office daily. Yes, it serves both purposes; however, sooner or later, you will hate using that car to go to the office as it is too big or consumes much fuel in traffic, etc. There are many similar scenarios.
- Colour: It sounds like an unconvincing factor, but it is imperative as most car-buying decisions are emotional. I suggest you keep your options open by deciding what colour you would not buy. Yes, you read it right. Eliminating the colours that you do not like will give you a few options to ponder upon, and you will have a better list of cars to choose from
- Fuel consumption: With the rising cost of fuel and the Government’s initiatives to reduce CO2 emissions globally, you need to choose a car that solves the purpose and does not hurt your pocket simultaneously. Remember, the best comfort and luxury come at a price. You will notice that the most comfortable and stylish cars commonly come with a bigger engine. If you compare the prices, they are not much more expensive than most economy cars. The reason is simple: you can buy that high-end luxury car reasonably but keep paying high fuel bills for the following years. I am not demotivating you from buying those cars, but do your maths before committing. Once you have made a choice based on fuel consumption, your list has further narrowed down to a finer selection.
- Safety: Checking the safety rating before buying a car is increasingly crucial. Government charges you less road user charges if your vehicle has better safety ratings as it also reduces the chances of accidents and fatality. Always ask for the car’s safety ratings from the seller or do your research at https://rightcar.govt.nz/ Better safety ratings of the vehicle not only saves you in an accident but avoid accidents altogether. There is no harm in paying a little more for the safety of your family and yourself.
- Budget: Most people will argue that this should be the first criteria for selecting the vehicle. However, if you have followed the first four steps thoroughly, most filtered options will fall into your budget or at least give you an estimate of your budget. Remember, you have to be reasonable at this. Do not expect everything for anything. If you are a cash buyer, your budget will be a figure for the car; however, if you want to finance the car, work out the weekly budget. For more information on financing, keep following my blogs or contact montayfinance.co.nz best car finance
