What You Should Ask When Buying a New Car

Buying a New Car? Here are some questions you should be asking...

Buying a New Car? Here are some questions you should be asking…

Buying a new car is exciting – I mean, who doesn’t like that new car smell, the shiny exterior and stylish designs. While it may not be as important as buying a house, it’s still a challenging process and there is more to it than you might think. Getting it wrong could result in an expensive mistake and you’ll end up with a little thing called buyer’s remorse.

Price is certainly not the only aspect to consider either; also keep in mind your lifestyle and current circumstances. This could include your financial status, how often you drive, the distance you travel and if fuel economy will play a part.

To help you cut to the chase when buying a new car, here are 8 important questions you should keep in mind.

1. What are the payment terms?

Find out if the interest rates are fixed or linked. As far as possible, try to avoid balloon payments and choose the shortest possible terms. The more you put in, the sooner your car is paid and you’ll be debt-free.

2. Are there any additional costs involved?

Before signing on the dotted line and driving off in the excitement, consider any additional costs. This rings especially true when buying a new car. Maintenance or service plans, tyre, window or paint insurance are among the usual suspects. Make sure your budget allows for any extras.

3. Am I buying for now or with the future in mind?

Buying a new car can be an exhilarating experience but you need to be smart and practical. You might be single now but what if you decide to start a family in the next 5 years. Choosing a sporty, two-door hatchback might seem like a great idea at the time but it’s not a family car. Consider something in-between like a four-door model at least. But if you’re set on a sporty model, don’t spend too much as trading it in could leave you in a pickle. You don’t want to owe more money on the car than the current value.

4. What safety features are included?

Most new cars come standard with fairly good safety features but they’re not always easily identifiable. It’s important to ask the salesperson about the number of airbags, ABS, EBD, impact and crumple zones for example. If you have children or planning to start a family, consider safety features like child-locks and airbags that can be disabled if you’re using a rear-facing baby seat.

5. Does it drive well and can I park it easily?

Whether you’re buying a new or used car, test driving is essential. Get a sense of the interior, how everything feels while you drive. Are the controls easy to use and is everything within reach? Does it handle corners well and what about hill climbs? It’s always about the comfort, power and the overall feel once you’re in the driver seat. A picture may tell a thousand words but firsthand experience is priceless.

Driving is one thing; you also need to determine if you can park it. Don’t only try easy parking spots either as in real life, you will find yourself in small spaces at some point. Try parallel parking and alley docking to see how your new baby handles it.

6. What am I going to use the car for?

This is quite possibly one of the most important questions. If you’re looking for a workhorse, you need to ask the maximum payload, towing capacity and the necessary connections when towing a trailer or caravan.

If you’re buying a new car for the family, there are other factors to take into consideration. Such factors include safety features, comfort level, fuel economy and storage capacity which brings us to the next point.

7. Does it have sufficient storage space?

More often than not, people don’t always check the storage capacity. You need to look at all the storage space such as the cubbyhole, boot space and legroom. If there’s barely enough space for a suitcase, you may want to reconsider. And don’t forget the cup holders; no-one likes spilling their latte all over the car.

8. What about the interior?

This may not be a deciding factor like safety features or space but it’s important to check everything.

  • Check that the air conditioning works well for both the front and rear passengers.
  • Test the sound quality for the passengers as well.
  • See if you can easily operate the displays on the dashboard and check that everything is working. If you don’t know something, ask the salesperson to show you.
  • Check that the Bluetooth and WiFi connections are compatible with your device. If you need assistance with the setup, ask the salesperson or request additional supporting documentation.
  • Get into the backseat and get a sense of how passengers will experience the car. This is especially useful if the car will be used on long holiday drives.

These questions are designed to help just about anyone buying a new car. If you’ve done your homework and research well, you should feel confident about your purchase. To help you make this important decision, do not hesitate to speak to one of our consultant at a Group1 Nissan dealership near you.


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