Tips for Buying the Right Car for Your Needs

If you think it’s about time you replaced your current vehicle, you’re likely inundated with ideas of makes and models to consider and all sorts of information about them. It can be tough trying to narrow down the choices and ensure you find the right car for your needs. Here are some tips to keep in mind as you get ready to purchase your new set of wheels.

Determine Your Needs

Before you start shopping for a car, determine your specific needs. Everyone has different goals and requirements for a vehicle purchase, after all. For instance, how many passengers do you need to fit into the car, and do you need space for a dog or other pet? Do you drive primarily around town, on the highway, off-road, or other terrains? 

Is it important to you to have plenty of horsepower and a roaring engine or that you buy an eco-friendly model, a cool-looking set of wheels, or something with the most comfortable seats you’ve even tried? Consider fuel economy and if you need all-wheel or four-wheel drive plus the ability to tow a trailer or caravan, too. Not to mention your work, student, or social needs.

Think about the parking space you have available and which safety features are top of mind for you. Look at cargo capacity, too, and other features like leather seats, Apple CarPlay or other audio functionality, a built-in reversing camera and GPS, etc. List all the items most essential to you so you can narrow down your search to makes and models that can deliver on those needs as closely as possible. 

Create a Budget

However, how many of your “must-haves” you get versus “nice-to-haves” depends in large part on your budget. With so many great vehicles to choose from and often convincing salespeople to navigate during your search, it’s wise to set a budget you feel comfortable spending early on. 

When you know what you can afford before you start shopping, you’re less likely to get excited by too-expensive cars or pushy salespeople. As you set your budget, keep in mind not just the initial cost of the vehicle itself but also factors such as extras you may want like new fitted seat covers and a dashcam, gas, delivery and finance charges, insurance, and the like. 

Buy or Lease the Car

Next, decide if you want to buy the car outright (whether with cash funds or finance) or lease one instead. There are pros and cons of each, so it all depends on your situation. With a lease, you don’t need to have much money ready to outlay, and you’ll have lower monthly payments. This can be a way to get a more expensive car for less money and keep upgrading vehicles to enjoy the latest technological and safety features every few years. 

Plus, you don’t have to stress about trying to trade in a vehicle down the track. However, the money you spend doesn’t buy you the car, and when your lease is up, you don’t own a vehicle and have to go shopping for one again. Alternatively, when buying a car, you need the funds to do so, which is more expensive initially, but once you pay off a loan, you’ll own a car that you can keep driving for as long as it continues to work. 

When you buy your vehicle, you can sell it whenever you need or want to so you’re less locked into something, and you can modify the car according to your wishes, too. There aren’t any worries about mileage, either, apart from the resale value you’ll get if you sell. Weigh up all these details to see which option might be the right car for your needs. 

Do Some Comprehensive Test Drives

Some people get so excited about getting a new car that they rush the process. However, this isn’t the most strategic way to do things. Instead, take your time and complete some comprehensive test drives of the vehicles on your shortlist. Each set of four wheels can seem great until you spend more time driving them and sitting in them, alerting you to issues. 

You may need to test drive each car a few times to truly get a feel for how it runs and how comfortable and fuel-efficient it is. Some people find that a great solution to ensure they pick the best vehicle is to rent the make and model they’re most interested in from a hire car company. 

Search for a business near you that can help with this and get a quote for a few days’ hire. For instance, look online for places where you can rent a car from LAX or another airport or city center near you. The cost of doing this may seem a waste, but it will save you plenty if it helps you avoid getting the wrong vehicle. 

The Right Car for Your Needs No Matter What!

Other tips for buying the right car include checking dealer and vehicle reviews, negotiating on price and extras, asking about delivery timeframes, and understanding your finance options. Take your time with the vehicle buying process, and you’re much more likely to be satisfied with your purchase.