Buying your first car

Buying your first a car can be great fun and exciting, but it can also be overwhelming.

Here are a few tips that will assist you with your life changing purchase.

It's your first car, don’t buy with your heart, rather buy with your brain.

Look for something cheap and affordable to maintain. There are so many car blogs and car owners club sites out there. Do proper homework on running costs and common problems of the car you are interested in.Do you buy cash or finance your vehicle? Well that depends on affordability. You might not have the cash but you can spend x amount per month, then financing might be a better option for you. Note that banks/finance houses have certain terms and conditions when financing so take note of that.Don’t forget about insurance, you don’t want to lose all your hard-earned cash when your vehicle is stolen or in an accident. As a rule if you are interested in a specific car, get a few insurance quotes before buying to make sure that the total ownership cost fits your budget.If you buy a car without a Service or Maintenance plan, save up for servicing your vehicle. You can call the Franchise Dealership or RMI approved service center to give you quotes on what future services might cost.Tyres are not cheap and is of critical importance for your safety. Budget for that as well, a set of tyres can last for many kilometers depending on driving style and conditions, but importantly tyre age is also a factor. If you don’t drive many kilometers change your tyres at least every 5 years, they can degrade with age and can burst easily when old.Budget for your fuel costs and get a car that is not heavy on fuel. Again, there are many sites and blogs on fuel consumption. Calculate how much you are going to travel and use the info to give you an estimation on how much fuel is going to cost you.Look after your car, regularly clean it and keep it tidy, it is after all an extension of yourself. Clean and well-kept cars also sell easier and you might even get a better price for your car when you sell it.When visiting the petrol station, regularly check oil, coolant and water levels as well as tyre pressure. If any of these are neglected, you could be in for a surprise. Low fluid levels can cause engine damage, low or very high tyre pressure can cause tyre damage and premature wear.Lastly be careful where you buy your car from, there are 1000’s of scammers out there. Buying from a reputable dealer is normally the best way to go. Remember, if a deal seems too good to be true, it normally is.

Murray On Cars