As for used cars, check its vehicle history; if it has made a more than usual number of trips to the workshop,
there may be performance issues.

TO BUY a new car is always a major investment that should merit serious financial consideration, especially if it’s your first time. We can all be somewhat idealistic when thinking of driving around in our dream set of wheels. But one really has to face the reality that a vehicle is a very big purchase. So don’t just go to the showroom or walk into that car dealership blindly.

Make sure you’ve done your research and thought out in terms of dollars and cents just how much you can afford to buy a new car. Your cost should include the downpayment and monthly installments, COE, insurance, road tax, maintenance and petrol costs.

From there you can strike off certain models and, having narrowed down your search, you can now deduce which car best suits your needs and fits well within your budget.

Different car dealerships have differing pricing, loan and re-payment schemes so check out which one offers the best deal.

Car dealers will want to make as much commission as they can so they may try to talk you out of that model you’ve had your eyes on and persuade you to buy a more expensive one. But if you’ve decided beforehand, stay firm no matter how enticing his sales pitch may be!

When you buy a new car, think of the future too.

You don’t want to get a car that’s going to dramatically depreciate in value. This is because sometime in the future you might want to sell your existing one for a newer model. As for used cars, check its vehicle history; if it has made a more than usual number of trips to the workshop, there may be performance issues.

Always ask the car dealer if you can test-drive the model you intend to purchase.

It may be ideal for your needs on paper but until you’ve actually driven it, you won’t know if it’s going to be a good fit. Familiarise yourself with its handling and performance.

Check its room space, whether it’s the right comfort level for you, and do look out for any odd noises when cruising on the roads. Test out everything, from the doors to the wipers to the paint job to under the hood.