HOW TO BUY GET THE CAR OF YOUR DREAMS
Buying Guide
SOLD
Out with the old…
D
epending on your point of view, buying a new If you’re looking to get shot of your
car can either be one of life’s most exhilarating
old car, most dealers will offer some
experiences… or simply stress and hassle. Where
kind of part exchange deal. The
dealer will give you a sum of money
some buyers see choices galore, others see a baffl ing for your old car that is off-set against
array of technical hurdles that must be jumped
the price of the new one. Be warned,
before a decision can be made. Here at Auto Trader,
though. A trade-in price is usually below
the market price for your car. You’ll almost
we aim to make your life a little easier – especially
certainly get more for your old car if you
if you fall into the latter category. Buying a new
sell privately, but going for a part-exchange
car should be a pleasure, not a chore, and if you
is quicker and easier.
do your homework before you hit the dealerships,
Budget for the best
you’ll be better placed to make the right decision. Having established what your ideal car is, set
a budget. Stepping onto a new car forecourt
can be like walking into a sweetshop – there’s
Too much research is not enough It’s all about style always the temptation to blow the budget
Thanks to the Internet, the car buying process Life’s too short to drive something dull just on a Sherbet Fountain when you went in for
has never been easier. Use the web to your because it ticks all the right boxes. It’s fair to say penny sweets. Committing to a maximum price
advantage by looking up car-related websites that there aren’t many truly bad cars out there will help you to stay focussed. You should also
such as www.autotrader.co.uk and www. these days – although some are better than
“It’s fair to say
factor in all the extras you want – as these can
autoexpress.co.uk. There you’ll fi nd reviews and others. If you fancy a particular car just because
tests of the latest models, along with advice and it puts a smile on your face, take a test drive that there aren’t
often add thousands to the fi nal price.
information on cars just about to hit the market. and see if the feeling stays with you. Cars are
Read these to fi nd out what the experts think. like clothes – functional, but also an extension
many truly bad
Show me the money
Car fi nance can be something of a minefi eld to
of your personality. So get out there are choose
All sizes and shapes something you’re going to love!
cars out there
the uninitiated – and the recent credit crunch
has done little to improve the situation. If
Unless you’ve got your heart set on a particular
these days – al-
you’re a cash buyer – congratulations – you
model, you’ll need to narrow down your search Take the test have the simplest arrangement of all; write the
down. Ask yourself some obvious questions: If you’ve drawn up a shortlist of potential
though some are
cheque – collect the keys. If you’re looking to
how many seats do I need? How much stuff motors, arrange some test drives. A good dealer
do I need to carry? Am I planning to go off- will always be keen to let you try a car out. If defi nitely better
pay for the car over a period of time, there are
a few options you should consider. The fi rst is a
road? This will help you eliminate some more they’re not – take your custom elsewhere. Make
unsuitable offerings. sure you get a good amount of time in the car.
than others.”
basic bank loan. This allows you to own the car
from day one as the contract is with your bank
– not the dealer. You won’t need a deposit, but
a decent credit rating is essential if you want to
get the best interest rates.
Dealer schemes such as PCPs (Personal
Contract Plan) allow you to pay in
instalments and give you different options
at the end of the contract. Most schemes
allow you to pay off the remaining debt
with a traditional loan, start a new
contract with a new car, or simply hand
the car back and walk away. Many owners
like PCPs as they allow them to get a new
car every few years.
Hire Purchase schemes also allow you to
pay over a set period of time, but unlike
a bank loans, the car isn’t yours until
you’ve paid off the loan in full.
Negotiating
Some people love haggling, others
hate it. Most of us fall into the latter
category, but that doesn’t mean you
can’t drive a good deal. Several factors
will infl uence the price you pay – and
the key is to be realistic. Decide what
you want to pay, make an offer below
that fi gure and negotiate up to a fair
price in a fi rm but polite manner. If
you aren’t satisfi ed, leave your name
and number and walk away.
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