Buying A Car - Getting It Right

9 months ago 06th Apr 12:34

Features

The features and accessories a car has to offer are further considerations to take into account - do you want a car with a heated windscreen, seven seats and a 2-litre engine, or just something simple which will get you from A to B?

Consider the following car features to help narrow your search:

* Amount of seats

Most cars offer five seats - a good amount if you have occasional friends or family members sit in your car. If you have a larger family, you might want to consider a seven or eight-seater MPV or people carrier. Single or sportier motorists sometimes opt for two or four-seater vehicles.

* Boot and luggage space

Ask yourself how often you’ll use the boot and how big it should be. If your job requires lots of equipment to be transported, or you have a huge shopping load, think about going for a family hatchback with roof rack or a van for extra room.

* Size of the car

If you’ve decided you want great luggage space and many seats, then you’ll need a bigger vehicle. Consider fitting into parking spaces and turning circles when deciding on the size of a vehicle.
If you drive by yourself around town, a smaller, zippier vehicle may be the one for you.

* Appearance

The shape, design and feel of a vehicle’s exterior is what everyone else will see - so choose wisely. Do you want something bright, curvy and small, or long, sleek and dark?

Don’t forget extras like metallic paint, colour and modified body kits can make a large impact on how your car looks.

You’ll also want an interior you feel comfortable in - take the time to browse dealer brochures and view pictures from inside the car you’re after.

* Safety features

Probably the single most important factor to take in when considering a car is how safe it is - even more so if you have a family.

Measure how many airbags it has and always check the Euro NCAP’s star ratings for each car before you buy.

* Performance and engine

How well a car performs is an important factor - the acceleration time from 0 to 60mph may be important if you use the motorways a lot, as will the brake horse power.

The engine size is another important factor to consider. Remember the higher the performance, the higher your insurance cost is likely to be.

* Fuel type

The most popular fuel types are petrol, which performs well, and diesel, which has lower CO2 emissions. More environmentally friendly motorists may opt for electric, bioethanol or hybrid vehicles.

Remember the more CO2 the car emits, the higher the tax will be. It’s also a good idea to find out how many miles to the gallon your car burns.