Things to consider before buying a new car


This article gives an overview of things you should keep in mind while buying a new car. This article talks about buying criteria like maintenance, brand power, resale value, fuel type, etc. Follow these cars buying tips.

Few years ago, a car was a status symbol but currently it is not. Competition between many manufacturers like Honda, Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai and Tata has made car affordable to buy for middle as well. Follow these car buying tips:
Things to consider before buying a new car

Car buying Tips


Budget


First and foremost, one should first decide the budget for a new first car. This makes things clear before you choose brand names. So, the budget is the first deciding factor.

Brand and Resale Value


Brand name and associated resale value play a key role in the buying decision. Different brands have different resale values. So, first, keep in mind, how much time you are going to spend with your first new car. This will decide its resale value considering the brand name. This is one of the important points.

Maintenance and availability of OEM parts


Maintenance costs you more than its initial price. This will add more depreciation as well and ultimately lower the resale value of it. Sometimes, it is difficult to get OEM parts of a car you bought and have to look for a service centre outside of your city. A company warranty will also be an important deciding factor for new car owners. Try to buy a car with more brand value and ask for the maintenance history of a given branded car before buying. So, the market investigation is important.

Fuel and Fuel Economy


Which fuel-powered car you are going to buy? Diesel, Petrol or CNG? This will decide the cost of the car as well as the amount of money you are going to spend on running a car. If you choose a diesel car, you will pay more initially and it will be beneficial for you on long term use of the car because the price of diesel is lower compared to petrol. These days, there is a very small price difference between diesel and petrol. So, if you don't drive long-distance every day, it may not be worth spending a lot of money on diesel cars. Petrol cars are cheaper but will cost more in terms of fuel prices. On the other side, CNG powered cars are economical but the availability of CNG is a problem in some states. Another aspect is the quantity of CNG you are going to carry with your car is very limited as compared to petrol and diesel. You need frequent refilling in the case of CNG.

Second hand or used car


If you are not able to go for car loan and not having enough budget for a new car, you can always have an option of used a car. You can compare and ask for used cars by doing market surveys online like cardekho.com or carwale.com. One should be ready to pay high maintenance charges if you are going to buy a second-hand car.

Other factors


You should also consider these factors while buying a new car.

1. Color - color makes difference to car value.

2. Insurance - Make sure about the terms and conditions of insurance and the amount of money one has to pay each year.

3. On-road price/City RTO charge - On-road price and city RTO charge for a car can be different for different cities for the same model car.

4. Version and/or Model- Once you decide the brand, you should choose the model which considers the extra features you are going to have with a car. If you do not want some features that you are not expected to use, better not to buy that model and switch to lower-cost models, considering an economical point of view.


Article by Paresh Gujarati
The author is a mechanical engineer with the Ph.D. degree and has the passion for writing the technical article including mechanical and information technology.

Follow Paresh Gujarati or read 43 articles authored by Paresh Gujarati

Comments

Author: Timmappa Kamat20 Feb 2015 Member Level: Gold   Points : 2

For most of the middle class families, buying a car is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Or one can say a dream come true. So knowing that, your tips on selecting a better model is of utmost important.



  • Do not include your name, "with regards" etc in the comment. Write detailed comment, relevant to the topic.
  • No HTML formatting and links to other web sites are allowed.
  • This is a strictly moderated site. Absolutely no spam allowed.
  • Name:
    Email: