- Why buying based on your old assumptions may not be the best approach
- Lower the chances of a bad-purchase by getting even clearer about what vehicle is best for you
- Why car buying is not a democracy
- Move with the times
Technology is speeding up, cars are becoming smarter, safer, more fuel efficient and more durable, so buying a car based on the same rules that made you buy your last vehicle may not be the best approach.
You may have bought a car because that brand had a great reputation but because of the ever evolving motor industry cars are better than they were, the brands are much closer together now.
This is great news because it gives you more selection and it opens up to you new features that may not have been available in your last vehicle.
Create a short list of potential vehicles
In the last article I mentioned how you should think about the lifestyle you have so you improve your chances of buying a car that adds to your life instead of being a headache.
Well, once you do that it's important that you do some research online and create a short-list of vehicles that fit into this category.
Write a list of features that you think would be useful. Write down a few features that are ‘must haves' - if you have mobility problems then accessibility will probably take priority over the other features. If you play in a band and you take your equipment everywhere with you during the weekend then boot space will be a priority.
Getting clear about what you want is a fantastic advantage for you when buying and by having a few vehicle options allows you to shop around.
Be wary of the ‘Car Buying Democracy'
Some products you can buy by vote, like when selecting a restaurant or deciding on what movie to watch but a car is a big investment and it will be a huge part of your life so you want a vehicle that will be an addition to your lifestyle.
We once had a person come in who said that they had to buy a certain brand because his son swore by them.
That is not an ideal way to buy a car and can be an expensive mistake.
Here's when you want to listen to others:
Find out what people love and hate about their cars, this will likely give you insights that you'd never considered before.
Again, this ultimately comes back to buying based on your lifestyle. Your lifestyle is different to your family or friends so make sure you buy a car that fits into your lifestyle and budget.
Think about the ongoing ownership cost of the vehicle that your considering, for example and older more expensive vehicle may go down in value along with higher ongoing costs which may make the price of a more modern Japanese vehicle more desirable.
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Also if you'd like to see our online channel that we're updating weekly with various car information you can see it here
If you missed 'How To Buy A Car Part 1' you can read it here
Gilmour Motors Suzuki website: www.gilmourmotors.co.nz