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Avoid these mistakes when buying a new car

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When it comes to buying a new car, the two most important words in your vocabulary must be “patience” and “preparation”. Ignoring these will lead to “pain” and “penitence”. But the golden rule will forever remain to balance wants with needs.

After a house, a car is the second-biggest acquisition you’ll ever make. The promise of the sheer number of new models on the market combined with the pressure of keeping up with the Joneses while precariously balancing your budget can be downright daunting. So, what are the most obvious pitfalls to navigate through for prospective tyre kickers?

1. Lack of research

This is 2018, not 1995, so there’s no excuse not to access a wealth of online reviews, statistics and forums before setting foot in a dealership. The internet is what car sales people fear the most, because car shoppers are becoming ever-more informed thanks to Google. You should also check a vehicle’s history at the dealer against its VIN number.

2. Buying the first example you see

Ninety-nine per cent of the time there are several other examples of the same car you are interested in elsewhere, or if you are buying used – with lower mileage, in better condition or selling for less. Take your time; haste makes waste.

3. Skimping on the test drive

This often goes hand-in-hand with the above point – just because you’ve fallen in love with the car you’ve been eyeing at the dealership, doesn’t mean it’s perfect, mechanically sound or even joyful to drive. This is all the more important when buying a used vehicle.

4. Buying the wrong car for your needs

Do you really need a 4x4 SUV if you never go off-road? A convertible roadster is a great car for a Sunday morning blast, but not very useful if you have to ferry kids to school or are into mountain biking. Similarly, two-door cars look cool, but are disastrous for families, for obvious reasons such as practicality. Buy what you need, not what you like.

5. Overspending

In the same way that lust is now and love is forever, buying a car should be a rational decision rather than an emotional one. A rational buyer takes into account future challenges, while an emotional one only considers the present – which almost always leads to his or her remorse further down the line. Would you like a GTI badge on the back of your Golf?  Of course. But do you really need one when a 1.4 TSI will suffice, along with the added monthly responsibilities like a bond, school fees and DSTV if you are already stretched for affordability?

6. Ignoring associated costs

Yes, you nearly broke the bank in getting that German SUV in your driveway, but your woes have not even begun. Have you considered how much fuel, tyres and servicing costs – particularly when buying used and without a maintenance plan? Your monthly premium is not the only factor to consider when buying a vehicle, and is not the total figure you should be budgeting monthly.

7. Trading in your old car instead of selling it privately

The smell of a new car can be irresistible to some, triggering impulsive actions such as immediately wanting to trade in your old car as a deposit before driving off with a new one. Admittedly trading a car in is more convenient than selling it by the roadside with a tear-off sticker on the window, but just remember, the dealer still needs to make a profit on your trade-in when he sells it to the next buyer. The lesson? You’ll make more money by selling it yourself.

8. Not shopping around for finance and insurance

What can be more convenient than a friendly lady on hand at the dealership to offer in-house finance and insurance and a free cappuccino when you’re signing that offer to purchase? This handy time-saving honey trap will ensure you don’t get the best deal, when all you needed to do is some shopping around yourself to score much better interest and insurance rates.

9. Only focusing on the instalment

Beware the honey trap, part two. Stop the press! That Golf GTI can cost only R5000 per month, so yes, you can afford it! But you’ll end up paying it off over 72 months (six long years) and on top of that, be required to pay a residual amount (up to 35% of the vehicle’s new value) that you might not be able to afford. Since you might struggle to afford the instalments, there’s no way you can afford the balloon payment unless you refinance it, meaning you could conceivably pay off your car for 10 years. By which time it will be worth nothing, you would have wasted thousands of Rands in interest, and you would have come to hate it, and not to mention yourself – for making such a poor decision.

10. Buying new when used will do

A car loses anything between 15 and 20% of its value during its first year. You can save big when buying a year-old model that still has the remainder of a factory warranty, and service or maintenance plan in place for peace-of-mind, peace-of-wallet motoring.

11. Not being prepared to walk away

Remember, the dealer is more desperate to sell the car than you are to buy it. Your willingness to walk away (and showing it) strengthens your hand when it comes to haggling over the price and those annoying and useless extras, which you must always do – yes, you can always negotiate a discount when buying new.

Find the best car for your needs on AutoTrader. AutoTrader South Africa has a multitude of new and used vehicles for every possible kind of preference, and has been the leading media marketplace for the past 25 years. Whether you are looking to buy a brand-new car or are in the market for a pre-loved model, AutoTrader has over 71 000 quality cars to choose from! Visit AutoTrader today to find your dream car.

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