Deciding on the best car for you is a tricky one. Buying a brand new car has it’s pros and cons, as does buying a used one. So we’ve put together this article to help you make the best decision for you…
Britain’s car market has a wide variety of cars of all ages from manufacturers around the world. As a buyer, you are guaranteed to find something to suit you, regardless of budget. In 2017, there were over 2 million new cars registered on the road. While the first quarter alone saw nearly 2 million used cars change hands!
Buying New
There are many advantages of buying a brand new car. First of all, you get to choose the exact specification and extras that you want. Secondly, you will get the full warranty package and any added deals that are on offer at that time. Finally, and most importantly to some buyers – you don’t need to worry about any unknown history or previous problems with the vehicle.
On top of all of this, newer cars have more advanced technology and the value of that is not to be underestimated! When it comes to fuel efficiency and safety features, these can literally be lifesaving and so, it’s always good to feel that added security.
There are a couple of downsides however. It’s known that most breakdowns in modern cars stem from electrical faults, some of which are not easily cured, especially when standing at the side of the road. And, then of course, there is the problem of depreciation. Unfortunately, around 20% of a new car’s value is wiped out as soon as it drives out of the showroom. Factoring this into account is crucial.
Buying Used
As we said earlier, there are over seven million used cars sold or changing hands each year. This alone, probably steers buyers in the direction of used cars – there’s just so much choice!
Another big bonus is that you avoid taking the financial hit of depreciation – Very few new cars are worth more than half their original price after a few years, while many will have lost anything up to two-thirds of their value.
Longer factory warranties also benefit the used car buyer. This boosts peace of mind for the driver.
Over 50% of used car sales are made by car dealers. The best used cars you can buy are usually those found within manufacturers’ approved used schemes. While you may pay a little extra for this, the customer experience isn’t far removed from buying brand new.
Buying from a non-specialist but reputable dealer will provide you with decent backup should you experience problems after purchase, however this will result in a slightly higher cost than buying privately.
Genuine bargains when buying private can be rare and you have little comeback on sellers should the car present you with problems. That said, if your main priority is keeping costs down, buying privately will always provide the best prices.
The biggest negative of buying used is the uncertainty about a car’s history. ‘Clocking’, or tampering with the recorded mileage can be an issue. Ideally, a car will have a complete service history: but if not, you can always buy some reassurance in the form of a history; check.
Whether your car is new, nearly-new or used, it is important to take the utmost care to maintain the upkeep of your car after purchase. It is essential to ensure your car receives the correct servicing, as and when needed, and also that any repair or maintenance work is provided by a mechanic that you trust. High-quality, reliable work to a car can add value to your vehicle should you ever want to trade it in.
MyCarsNeedA.com can take the hassle out of servicing or repairing you car, no matter what age it is. You no longer need to ring around service providers, checking for the best deal. We do all the hard work for you. All you have to do is enter your registration, tell us what your car needs and then choose the best quote for you. You can choose from one of our +4,000 trusted garages near you!
