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Things to know when buying a car

Setting a budget

Buying a car is like buying any other item, so one needs to start with a budget which will not strangle you financially. First you must determine how much you have available for a car and also find out about its running costs such as fuel consumption, tire prices and exhaust replacement costs. All this will let you have an insight if your income flow will allow for proper maintenance of such a vehicle.

Cars have a tendency to drain more money in ways you weren't expecting. So set your maximum budget and stick to it no matter what. Cars look very appealing when you do not own them yet, but after a few days or weeks you will find out that most cars always end up as just a means of transportation. So always try to be logical when setting your budget.

So remember;

Which car is right for your needs

A saying goes like this: 'When you want a sports car you are too young to afford it, but when you can afford it, you are too old to drive it .' This is true about many things in life. Need is different from want. This is not foreclosing the need to let go and give ourself a treat, what is being advocated is discretion both in making purchases and in determining what type of automobile is to be purchased to eliminate disappointments. Determine objectively the need for the vehicle: Is the vehicle primarily for transport to and from work? Or are other exigencies like dropping children in school included? How large the family is and how large will it likely get? Can the vehicle seat children safely i.e. is it spacious enough or is the load carrying capacity enough? Will it also be useful as a business delivery car? Averagely how many people will need to travel together? Are speed and performance the only consideration or image? These questions are very pertinent in order to make a wise and expedient choice.

The demands, requirements and constraints of ones life need to be considered when choosing an automobile model to purchase. In all objectivity and practicality is the most important virtue to have at such times. Will the car be of service to you or you will be of service to the car?

Below are basic description of automobile types;

Saloons - These are mainly four-door family cars with front engines and rear boots. They come in different sizes: small saloons, medium saloons and large saloons. For example Honda variations include Civic, Accord and Legend, while Toyota has Corolla, Avensis and Camry.

Estates or Station wagons - These are five-door cars with an extra load carrying capacity in the extended rear boot, this maximises the car back space and the rear gate door opens into the car, this why the vehicle is referred to as five-door car. They sometimes come with an extra row of seats to seat up to seven passengers in all.

Coupes - These are two-door cars which usually have a bias for speed and performance.

4 X 4 or Four wheel drive 4WD - These types of automobiles usually have very high ground clearance and all the engine power can be transmitted to all four wheels. They are sometimes referred to as off-road vehicles. They can seat as many as seven passengers or more.

MPVs - These are vehicles which became very fashionable for families because of their ability to accomodate much more passengers and their suitability for long distance travels. They are an amalgamation, a blend, a fusion of the Estate and Mini bus. Loved by children and parents alike.

Which optional extras would you need in the car

Extras, extras, we all want something extra. Extras are value added items that come with automobiles which usually gives them edges over other automobiles. Car profiles have changed over the years so much that manufacturers list both vehicle trivia, basics,essentials and innovations as extras. Looking through a car model extra list, one will be amazed at available extras on any modern 21st century car. With fierce competition constantly raging amongst automobile manufacturers for consumers' positive bias towards their products, consumers will only the better for it and the best service to oneself is to be careful and meticulous in our choice of cars; our choice will define our eventual comfort.

Basically Japanese cars come with the most numbers of extras which are sold with the car as standard equipment. Knowing ones needs and preferences will make choosing easier and prevent one making a choice of an automobile with a lot of extras that are not useful to the consumer yet it has been paid for with the car. Extras include things like factory-fitted air conditioners, electric windows and sunroofs, air bags etc. You can see a detailed list of extra equipment on our selling form page.

The more extras a car has the easier and more financially rewarding it will be when it is to be resold.

Picking the right colour

This is very important because when a car is to be resold, colour is always a major factor in the car's value determination. Some colours do not sell well, for example white. The quality and type of paint on the car determines much, insistence on buying auto base painted or metallic painted cars is always worth the trouble. Avoidance of colours used by official agencies such as the army, police and even commercial automobiles is strongly advised. Also advised against are odd or boring colours such as green, brown and special colour schemes [sectionally painted] that are almost impossible to repaint unless it is totally repainted. They however go in and out of fashion fairly quickly.

Where should I buy the car?

You can buy a car in any of the following place:

Authorised dealers - These are dealers who sell automobiles with the support of the parent manufacturing company. They usually get latest models first into the market directly from the parent company. They offer warrantees on sale and sometimes offer free service within the warrantee period. They mainly sell new cars. They usually have a plush, professional-looking buying environment, they are usually known to sell a brand of car.

Independent dealers - These types of dealers are not affiliated to any manufacturer, they sell any car they wish to sell, new or/and used. They tend to have a wide range of choices to select from.

Car supermarkets - These are car dealers who assemble together in an area, each with their own cars, it is usually very rowdy as they all try to attract prospective buyers interest. This does not necessarily indicate cheaper purchases but bargains can be got if if one is decisive and has a very good idea of what one needs.

Private sales - This probably is where one can get the best bargains but also the worst of cars. Private owners park their car anywhere with a 'for sale' sign on it. These cars are not well prepared and usually untidy and unkempt. These people are not professional dealers of course and their prices are subject to their immediate needs.

Classified adverts - These are corporate listings of cars in magazines or websites like ours. They provide general information about a car. Viewing may still be needed to ascertain the authenticity of the claims made by the seller. Through this medium, the widest range of cars are exhibited for buyers to choose from.

How to haggle

Now that you have found that car you want, it has been inspected and found satisfactory, and all that is needed to do is pay. Do not be afraid to haggle and remember it is a buyers market. Dealers/sellers want your money more than you want the car, you will always get a car anyway, so they perfer you get it from them because it is a very competitive market. Always approach buying a car with the right frame of mind, do not be too enthusiastic, stay calm and be reasonable. Do not search for a car all day because tiredness will set in and your negotiating skilled will have been severely weakened. Do not take haggling personal, it is just business, everyone wants an extra naira saved or earned, and remember you will not buy if it is too high-priced and they will not sell if you price too low. Be very realistic about your price, knowing the average market price for the model you want helps a lot. Do not pay too much for extras but note them. Let the seller first set his price and do not be afraid to give a low initial bid, remember the worst a seller can say is 'no' and you will still have your money saved to purchase the same model in other markets.

Try to justify your bid, point out things on the car that may need fixing and let the seller know that his car is not in the best of conditions: dents, broken lamps, faulty electrical system, leaking exhaust are some items that can be highlighted, this tends to make sellers more realistic about the value of their cars and give positive consideration on the price.

Always be prepared to walk away, believe me there is always another car out there. Do not feel this car is the only one for you, if the price unreasonable, please move on.

Getting a professional assessment

This is probably the best decision a buyere can make when buying any car, new or used. Seek professional evaluation of any model you wish to buy. Your trusted mechanic if you have one should do. He will be able to inform you about known tendencies and problems of any particular model new or used. He should able to inspect the car visually and test the car before money changes hands. Any seller that gives you any reasons why the car can not be tested or inspected has something to hide, the best policy: Walk away. Some dealers/sellers tempt mechanics with cuts and offerings to sway their judgement, foreclose that possibility by making sure your trusted evaluator is checking the car for you.

There are some basic checks anyone can do by themselves: Always inspect a potential car in daylight and preferably in the dry, artificial lighting. Rainwater on paint jobs make it harder to spot potential faults. Do not allow yourself to be rushed or put under pressure by the seller and stress that you what to make a thorough examination. Getting to the carshop early is advised so that the buyer can start up the car from cold. Cold start is one of the quickest ways of knowing the condition of any car. Wear your old cloths when going for inspections because you may need to poke under the car and in some very untidy places so it would not matter if they get dirty. Give about one hour at least for a proper inspection for a car and do not be in a hurry.

Engine bay - Check for any sign of accident damage, rust or welding discolouration on the inside body of the engine bay. Check the fluid levels, make sure it is correct, these include the coolant, brake oil, engine oil, power transmission fluids, windscreen washers. Check if the engine is clean and free of oil leakage any where or if it is too clean. Check the oil cover for thick deposits of oil called sludge or a whitish mix which could indicate overheating. Does the engine run smoothly on idle speed? Any strangle noise? Let the car idle for about 10mins, if the seller says there is not enough fuel in it offer to pay for a gallon.It is never too expensive to be prudent and thorough.

Bodywork - What is your first impression? It is usually the most objective about the state of the car. Are the colours on every panel of the car the same? Check for rust, some may be very expensive to fix. Are the mirrors intact? Shake the bumpers do they feel together or they rattle? Check if the doors close and open well.

Electrics - Test all the electrical devices from headlamps to the windscreen washer; make sure the electric glass winder is working well and also the air conditioner. A usual excuse for the air conditioner is that there is no gas in it, do not accept such excuses. Check the lens on the car for cracks. An electrical problem is one you do not want to have.

Interior - Check the leg room in front and back seats. Make sure the seats adjust well. Check how clean the car is and check the mileage, does it match the interior, check the brake and clutch pedals are there rubbers on them or are the rubbers on them worn? Compare it with the age of the car.

Always trust your instincts and walk away when in doubt. Good luck and happy motoring!.