Apart from purchasing a house, the next big purchase any individual would make is that of a vehicle. While numerous purchases are made on an impulse, these two big ticket items definitely need a lot of consideration. The experience of purchasing both these items can be overwhelming and narrowing down the search for the one most suitable for your family and you will be huge financial as well as emotional decision. With our recent experience of getting our new car, I can assure you it is a huge task. My husband and I did a lot of research put in several weeks of showroom visits, test drives and comparing costs to finally arrive at a decision. If you are in a similar situation, ensure you take each step after careful consideration as this purchase is not fully refundable.
The first thing to do when you start the process is research research research! When we first thought about getting a new car, we looked and looked for options that would suit a family of six, that would have plenty of boot space, that would have the features we needed and most importantly that would be in our budget. We spoke to friends, visited showrooms, looked up reviews on automobile sites like Cars.com and went on test drives too, to find the right product for us.
Calculate Budget
With easy access to credit lines, one is often swayed beyond their budgets. An important aspect we kept in mind while looking for a new car was not only the maximum amount we were willing to spend on the vehicle but also insurance, maintenance and other miscellaneous costs associated with it.
Driving Capabilities
Prior to deciding, test drive a car for a minimum of 15-20 minutes through a familiar route. Hubby made me drive both the versions of the car we were planning on purchasing through light and heavy traffic to ensure my comfort. We parked and remarked not only en-route but also in our parking lot for surety.
If you are looking for help choosing your very own new vehicle or you have a great tip that will help make the decision feel free to drop them in the comments below.
Until next time,
~ Heena