In a 2006
episode of the animated sitcom Family Guy
(which is of course beloved the world over by college
students and 14 year old boys), Peter Griffin, the father of the family in
question, takes his teenage daughter Meg to buy a car. While Meg is rather
sensibly interested in a used sedan, her father becomes distracted by an old
tank that happens to be on the sales lot, and ultimately chooses it over the
sedan; won over by its ability to protect from short-range missile attacks…
something the sedan is sadly not able to do. Many first time drivers will make
the trip to the sales lot with their parents, since a large part of the
vehicles financing will come straight from the Bank of Mom and Dad. While the
newly passed driver and their parents might disagree on which car to buy, there
are a number of things that should be mandatory, although protection from
short-range missile attacks probably isn’t one of them.
The Money Side of Things (Now)
Whether
you’re getting financial assistance from your family or if you’ve saved the
money yourself, it’s important to keep to a budget. Remember that there’s often
some flexibility when it comes to a cars sticker price, so you can often
negotiate a reasonable discount. Don’t be tempted to borrow money from a
financial provider, since many companies that offer easy credit to those
without much of a credit history also charge hefty fees and have a high
percentage rate on repayments- you’ll often end up paying back many times more
than what you borrowed.
The Money Side of Things (In The Future)
Once you’ve
checked out a few different sales lots and websites and narrowed the field,
it’s a good idea to do a bit of research on the models of car that are the
front-runners. What’s the cars safety record like? Is it competitive when it
comes to fuel efficiency? You need to be careful not to end up with a
gas-guzzler that’s prone to breaking down a lot, since it will be a constant
financial drain. The history of a vehicles make might not be so obvious when
choosing a new car (as opposed to one that’s been on the road for a few years),
so this is something to mindful about. It’s also a good idea to stay away from
obscure manufacturers, since any car parts you might need in the future will be
difficult to track down, as well as expensive.
You Can Never Be Too Careful
While most
dealers are reputable, it’s a great idea to be extra careful before making an
offer on a used vehicle. When your car search is down to the final couple of
contenders, you might want to consider having them inspected by a certified
mechanic. While the car in question might have an impeccable safety record, the
previous owner might not have looked after it as well as you plan to, and so
getting a professional to identify any issues can be very reassuring.
Whether
you’re looking for new cars in Cincinnati, or a used tank in Rhode Island,
there are many options available for the newly passed driver. The important
thing is to do your homework, so you can end up with a great car that will
serve you well in the years to come.
___________________________________________________________________________
About The Author :
This guest post was
written by George Watts. He is a freelance writer who shares his lifestyle tips
on various blogs.
___________________________________________________________________________
Tags
Lifestyle