3 most important factors when buying a first car
We look at the 3 most important factors one needs to consider when buying their first car. These include affordability, reliability, and safety and what it means to you, the potential new owner. Follow these tips to ensure you get the right car for you.
Buying your first car is a special occasion. In South Africa, public transport solutions are less than ideal and unreliable at best. Becoming the master of your own destiny and captain of your own journey opens a world of opportunity that very few will get to experience. If you choose right, you will form a bond with your first car, create memories and experience things like you never have before. Buying your first car is the proverbial key to your freedom.
Related: Which cars are the most reliable – South African Ipsos Quality Survey
You've scrimped and saved, got that new job, or are finally old enough to experience the joys of owning your first car. It's a responsibility that is all yours and to make the process a little easier and less daunting, we've narrowed down the hundreds of factors that you should be considering down to the three most important, whether you're looking at buying a new car or a used one.
1. Affordability
This is a big one. If your new car is taking a big chunk of your money every month and stopping you from doing the basic things like pay rent or eat, then you will end up resenting it. Owning a car is an expensive exercise and the costs extend past the purchase price alone. Running costs, insurance costs, repairs and maintenance all need to be factored in. There's no point in having a shiny new car in your driveway if you can't afford the fuel for it.
Skimping on maintenance and insurance is also not smart. The only person you're cheating is yourself. In time, you will need to spend even more money to repair the car when it breaks or is involved in an accident; instances where maintenance and insurance start to pay for themselves. It's all about planning ahead.
Don't
- Buy a fancier car if you can't afford it
- Neglect maintenance
- Forget about insurance
Do
- Research the fuel consumption
- Choose a car with a decent dealer network
- Service your car regularly
2. Reliability
In line with the maintenance aspect of point #1, a reliable car is a car that brings you joy and relieves unnecessary stress. Knowing that you can climb into your car and drive across the country is a wonderful feeling and will ensure that you don't have unnecessary worries when on the road. For this reason, maintaining and servicing your car helps keep it reliable and in top working condition.
That said, not all cars are created equal. Some are more prone to failures than others and the older the car, the higher the chances of it going wrong. Do some research into the reliability and common problems with the car you have in mind before you part with your money. If buying a used car, check for a service history as well to make sure that the previous owner maintained it right.
Don't
- Buy a problematic car with known issues
- Fall for a "deal of the century" offer
- Neglect the maintenance
Do
- Research for known faults or issues
- Check the service history
- Keep your car maintained
3. Safety
Too often we overlook the safety of a car or worse yet, knowingly buy an unsafe model only to regret it later. This is literally a life or death situation and you are the one that has control over the outcomes. Modern technology has made cars faster, but it has made them safer too so be sure to check the safety rating and safety features of the car you intend on buying before making a decision.
Just because a car is new doesn't mean that it's safe. There are several models on offer today with questionable safety standards. At a minimum, you will want ABS and at least two airbags. A quick search for "Make Model NCAP" will bring up the results of the vehicle's crash tests and let you know how it scored. The higher the score, the safer the car. If there's a missing report, ask yourself why.
Don't
- Knowingly buy an unsafe car
- Forget to ask about the safety features
- forget to use the safety features
Do
- Thorough research into the car's safety ratings and features
- Learn how to use the car's safety features
- Look for a newer car if possible
