Choosing a new car

It sounds so easy, but can go so wrong. Buying a car is an emotive decision, and that’s the first hurdle. Never buy a car on impulse, consider what you need first, and then decide what you want. Most people are governed by looks, but much like the old adage about not judging a book by it’s cover, a car does not handle according to it’s styling or colour.

Google common faults, and what it takes – or more importantly costs – to fix them. Test drive, test drive, test drive, for as long as you can. Most cars are set up to at least make a good first impression, but it’s only when you’ve driven 100 miles that you realise that you can never quite depress the handbrake button properly and the clutch makes your knee ache.

Consider that the cost of a car is about more than just what you pay for it – it’s about maintenance, depreciation, and fuel consumption. They say ‘buy cheap, buy twice’ about so many things, and it’s equally true about cars.