Buying a car isn’t a decision which should be made at the snap of your fingers. Instead, you should take time to consider what you need from your car, your budget and any other features you’ll need.
To make sure you’ve covered all bases, we’ve put together this list of questions you should ask yourself before buying a car. Evaluating the costs which will be involved and the quality of car you’re looking for will help you make a decision on a car which suits you.
1. What Do You Need It For?
It may seem like a simple and relatively obvious question, but there are such a vast number of options that it can be easy to lose sight of what you need. People spend on average 4.5 years in a car during their lifetime – that’s a long time to be in a car that doesn’t fulfil your needs. The core things you need to know about your car is how much it’s going to cost to run, is it capable of getting me from A to B and is it easy/comfortable to drive.
Other factors you’ll need to consider are whether you’ll be sharing the car with your family or if it will be your own pride and joy. If you’re in the market to indulge for yourself, a nippy little roadster is more likely to satisfy your appetite but if you need a family wagon, an SUV will make sure that you’ve got plenty of room for your young ones.
2. What Price Bracket Can You Afford?
This is the big question that really decides whether it’s yay or nay on that brand-new Audi TT. A car is an investment, emotionally and financially. It’s a roller-coaster deciding what you want – and how far you’ll stretch the purse strings to get it. If you can’t afford the upfront cost of your dream car, though, there are other options which could make it a reality…
The modern motor trade offers plenty of options for buying a new or used car. With such a wide range of funding options, you need to decide which is right for you – it’s much easier for car buyers to purchase a higher-spec car with payment options such as hire purchase and personal contract hire.
You shouldn’t ever feel like you’re alone when car shopping either, as most dealerships will have a sales rep to help inform your choices. That’s something we take seriously at JCT600 and pride ourselves on being able to offer not only excellent customer service, but friendly and helpful advice that can help you choose the perfect vehicle.
3. Is It In Good Condition?
When buying a used car, you want to make sure that it’s still in good enough condition to last as long as you need it to. If you’re looking for a long-term solution to help you commute a few hours a day, a car with over 100,000 miles, for example, may not be able to deliver on what you’re demanding from it.
We’re not necessarily saying that a vehicle with this many miles on the clock will give up on you halfway down the motorway, but it is likely to cost you more in repairs and replacement parts over a much shorter period of time. Instead, if consistency and distance driving is important for you then you should turn your attention to low-mileage used or brand-new cars.
4. Have You Checked Out The Insurance?
It’s no use stretching for your all-new, kitted-out Golf GTI to find out the monthly insurance is just as much as the monthly car payments. To make sure you’re comfortable with the costs you may be faced with when running a new car, research what sort of prices you might be looking at for your particular make/model.
You should always shop around for your insurance prior to making any commitment as most companies will offer competitive prices to try and secure your business. This will also make sure that you’re able to find the best price, rather than rolling with the first option you see and being caught out further down the line. There are other precautions you can take too and protect your car with a warranty, cosmetic protection and more. Find out all of the ways you can protect your car with JCT600.
5. Are You Sitting Comfortably?
If you work a 9-5 it’s likely that you’ll be commuting in your car at least twice a day, and that’s excluding any weekend trips you take too. Factor in the time you’re sitting in traffic or even tucking into a McDonald's in the passenger seat and realise you spend an awful lot of time sitting in your car, so you want to feel at home.
Ask yourself, does your car cater to your needs? Do you need a cutting-edge infotainment system? A Sat-Nav? Indulging in these features can make your new car purchase that bit sweeter.
Let’s not forget long weekends and family holidays. Your holiday really starts when you get into your car and hit the road, so why not make sure you’re relaxed from the off? Heated and cushioned seats with ergonomic positioning will go a long way to making your trip as enjoyable as possible.
6. New or Used Car?
In today’s market, it is much easier for the average motorist to buy a brand-new car. What this means, however, is that the standard of used cars that can be picked up is far higher than it once was. It may be a financial decision, or you may sacrifice having a brand-new car for a higher specification used model.
If you’ve got your heart set on a brand-new model, we’re confident that you’ll be able to find a finance option which works for you. If you’d like to buy a car outright and are working with a lower budget, the Volkswagen Polo, could be the perfect fit. With that in mind, don’t count out a high-end model, such as an Audi Q8 e-tron, as there are plenty of ways we can help you secure your dream ride.
Buy Your Car at JCT600
When buying a car from JCT600, you’ll be treated to a range of choices, with many brands to choose from and different options for a variety of budgets. We also take customer satisfaction extremely seriously and will ensure that we do everything possible to make your purchasing process as seamless as possible.
To keep an eye on the latest updates from the automotive industry, check out our news page which features everything from insights to step-by-step guides. If you have any questions you’d like to ask us directly, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.