Buying another car? Read this first

Maybe it’s your son or daughter going off to university who needs a reliable set of wheels.

Maybe it’s your mom who needs a more dependable ride. Maybe it’s your family getting a second car for the first time.

Whatever the reason, there are thousands of new and used cars being sold at this time of the year.

But buying a new or used car can be tricky.

There are many options available, and the wants may not always match the budget.

And, in today’s tough economic climate, buying a new car may not be an option as consumers re-look at their spending patterns.

Used vehicles

While buying a used vehicle is an increasingly popular proposition for many, there are pitfalls that consumers need to be aware of.

There may be mechanical problems with the vehicle, or even body damage.

For this reason thorough research is needed before deciding on a final product.

Start with your budget, look at your cash flow, and, if you need finance, determine how much you can afford to repay.

Be honest about this because repayment schedules may be long.

From there, look at the cost of the car that you can afford, and how much debt you are willing to take on and do not deviate from this.

Another important tip is to look at the car in daylight. Inspect every inch of it, and take it for a test drive.

If possible, have someone with mechanical know-how, give it a once over.

For even more peace of mind, buyers can take the car to the nearest AA Quality Assured specialist or Dekra centre for a bumper-to-bumper inspection before they make their final decision.

Buying a car- new or used – remains a time consuming endeavour and should not be done on the spur of the moment.

As a good starting point here are some tips to help you along your way:

• For true peace of mind, deal with a franchised car dealer or an AA Quality Assured car dealer.
• If you can stretch your budget, look at a low mileage demo model from a reputable dealer; these cars are usually well priced, almost new, and have often been well looked after.
• When test driving, check handling, and brakes, and look for any signs of mechanical problems such as overheating.
• Check the interior for any obvious faults such as ripped material or leather. The wear on the rubber of the brake, clutch and accelerator should be consistent with the age of the car.
• Turn off the radio while you test drive, check that there are no extra-ordinary knocking or rumbling sounds when you start it up.
• Check that the battery terminals are clear of any build-up.
• Check for smoke from the exhaust – this may mean some sort of engine damage.
• Check that the body colour is even throughout the car, a change (even slight) may mean replacement body work has been done, and may indicate that the car was involved in a crash.
• Look for overspray on the inside of body panels, this may also indicate body work has been done.
• Check that the tyres are in a good condition, and if not, that replacements are both available and reasonably priced. Replacement tyres may be expensive, check prices beforehand to ensure that, if necessary, your budget will cover this.
• Tyres with uneven wear may indicate bigger problems, not easily resolved with tyre alignment machines. Have this checked out with the rest of the car before you buy.
• In the case that the vehicle has been in a crash, this need not always be terminal to the deal, a basic bumper-bashing may not indicate any structural damage, but make sure that you are happy that the damage is not significant AND that you are comfortable with the price / value for the transaction.
• Does the vehicle have a service or maintenance plan, and how much extra will this cost? Read the fine print to ensure you know exactly what you are getting, and at what cost.

Also remember that a roadworthy certificate (RWC) is not a guarantee that the car is problem-free. It is a document that simply states that the vehicle meets the minimum statutory requirements in terms of safety, such as brakes, suspension and lights.

A car could have a RWC and still have a mechanical problem.

Finally, remember that a deal that sounds too good to be true, usually is.

New vehicles

When buying a new car, one may not necessarily scrutinise the vehicle in the same way.

This decision may be motivated more by other factors than solely price.

However, a big selling feature should be the car’s safety.

Research is again key to making this decision; remember your children, spouse or other family members may be driving, or be passengers, in this vehicle, so safety is paramount.

Part of your research should be to revisit the findings of the Automobile Association’s (AA) first annual Entry Level Vehicle Safety Report.

This report considered the safety of 24 vehicles available in South Africa currently priced under R150 000.

The purpose of the research was to highlight the importance of safety features in new cars, understand how these features can save lives, and encourage new car buyers to consider safety in their decisions, and not only price.

For anyone buying a new car under R150 000 this is invaluable information and provides buyers an objective snapshot of how their potential vehicle stacks up, safety wise, against vehicles.

With some planning, research, and a determination to stick to a budget, buying a car, whether it is new or used, should be a little easier.

>>> Need some ideas for things to do? Check out Holiday Vibes.

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