Tips on Buying a New Car

What to buy

Sounds simple and you probably have a good idea of what car suits your needs, but consider this list to make sure the car of your dreams measures up.
• You may be able to afford the sticker price, but what about insurance, running costs, depreciation and servicing. Ask about these and even speak to owners of the type of car you're considering to get the fuller picture. There's no point scraping to buy a Porsche if you can't afford run it.
• Be honest with yourself and consider the sort of driving you do, how often you carry passengers and luggage. For example, an off-roader can double as an MPV, while small hatchbacks offer almost as much space as a full-size family car
• If you've got kids, can they all fit in the back in child seats or strapped in by a three-point seat belt. If in doubt, take them along, and if the salesman isn't happy there's always another dealer around the corner. Match the car to your lifestyle, not the other way around
• Shop around for finance before buying. Loans, finance and insurance are all negotiable, and don't be railroaded by a salesman who sees the glint in your eye.
• Study the options list. Air conditioning is a must, as is a CD player. These items make life more pleasurable for you and the car easier to sell on.
• Colour is vital. If you can't live without a pink Mini, you'll be hard pushed to shift it when you come to sell. But silver with the right extras will have 'em queuing up. Blue is the most popular colour choice in the UK, followed by red and then silver. The more individual you make a new car, the fewer potential buyers.

Where to buy

There are a surprising number of options when buying new. All have their advantages and drawbacks, so weigh 'em up with our guide.

• Franchised dealers, or main dealers, are the most common place to buy a new car. Appointed by the manufacturer, they provide a one-stop shop for buying, servicing and repairs. Ease of use is the big draw, but bear in mind they work to tightly controlled targets and will resist dropping the price as much as possible.
• Importing a car from abroad was seen as the way to beat Rip-off Britain a few years ago, but UK car prices have fallen into line with the rest of Europe. There are still savings to be had, but this is balanced out by the hassle of doing the paperwork in a foreign language and the risk that the car will not be to the UK spec.
• A good way to avoid the pitfalls of importing is to use a broker. A broker charges a fee for arranging your new car purchase, but they are usually cheaper than franchised dealers. Check the small print, though, because you may have to collect the car yourself.
• Buying a car online is now as simple as any other mouse-clicking purchase. Shop around, study the small print, and ask for referrals from satisfied customers. Your statutory rights are just the same as when buying from any dealer.
• Car supermarkets may not offer the Bauhaus-inspired architecture of a franchised dealer's showroom, but they take the sting out of haggling. The price you see is the price you pay. These guys live by stacking 'em high, selling 'em a bit cheaper than a main dealer. The downside is there's little room for negotiation.

When to buy

September is the most popular month for new cars - a hangover from the old annual registration change. Now car registrations change twice a year; it gives the canny buyer two bites at the discount cherry. The reason is simple: dealers want to rid themselves of any old or pre-registered stock before the new reg arrives, which means 24 hours can make the difference between discount and disappointment. But if you buy just before the latest registration mark arrives, your new car will still be regarded as six months older when you come to sell than your neighbour's with the newer reg. If you can't wait until then, the end of the month is the best time to talk tough on new car. Dealers are keen to boost their monthly sales figures and this is the time they will be most generous.

Holiday times are another good bet for securing a deal. While the rest of the country is busy spending money elsewhere, July and August are quiet for car dealers, so make the most of it because they need your business. The same applies to January, when most people have a financial hangover from Christmas.

The test drive

Next comes the all-important test drive - and there's more to this than a simple spin around the block. Follow these steps to make sure the car is as suitable for you as the salesman wants it to be.

STEP 1 :- Before you even park your posterior, a few checks are in order. Is your garage wide enough to accommodate the car you're looking at. Tale a few moments to sit in the back, too, especially if you intend to carry passengers on a regular basis.
STEP 2 :- Take the time to adjust the seat properly and get comfortable. The salesman will be giving you the hard sell, but ignore him and check the main controls are within easy reach.
STEP 3 :- When you're happy and comfortable, it's time to get going. Choose a test route that takes in the sorts of roads you will use the car on. If you spend most of your life in treacle-like town traffic, is that heavy clutch going to leave you walking with a limp. Think about the way the car rides - you may enjoy sporty handling, but if your local roads are full of potholes can you stand the firm set-up.
STEP 4 :- If you're a knight of the motorway, go for a decent stretch on a multi-laner and listen out for a rumpus from the engine and any wind noise creeping into the cabin.
STEP 5 :- When you get back to the showroom, try out reverse gear and check out rear visibility. Also try out a three-point or u-turn - if you do lots of in-town driving, maneuverability is important.
STEP 6 :- Don't be hurried, and aim to spend an hour driving the car.

If all's well at the end, there's a final test, and that's finding out if you can get out of the car without slipping a disc.

Trading in

The time has come to say goodbye to the old motor. Its final faithful act is to help finance the next jewel in your driveway's crown, but do you risk tyre-kickers by selling privately or a lower, but hassle-free, trade-in from a dealer.

Follow these tips to get the best deal:

• Depreciation is the biggest single cost of new car ownership, so getting the best deal offsets the cost of buying the next new one. The difference between what you paid for the car new and what you get when you sell is the amount of money you have lost in depreciation. The aim here is the make the gap as small as possible.
• It's simple and cheap to advertise a car for sale privately, either in one of the many magazines or on the internet. The upside is you will recoup more money selling the car yourself. The downside is you expose yourself to the great unwashed wanting to test drive your pride and joy.
• If you choose to sell privately and agree a deal, make sure the money is resting in your bank account before handing over the keys and documents. Genuine buyers will be happy to agree to this.

Collecting the car

You've been calm and collected up to now, but hang in there for a few more minutes. Check the paintwork is flawless, the bodywork perfect and the wheels ding-free. Get your fine-tooth comb out and run it through the interior. This done, you can throw off the sensible shackles and revel in your new car. It may be dull small print, but the Sale of Goods Act is on your side. If you find a problem with your new car, most dealers will fall over themselves to sort it out. If a serious fault occurs, you have two weeks to reject the car and either ask for a replacement or your money back. You can do this if the car is not of 'satisfactory quality'. Put your complaint in writing to the dealer, explaining the problem in full. Be reasonable, but be firm and clear about what you want done to resolve the problem.

Reference :

www.topgear.com