It is always best to do plenty of research when it is time for a new car. Finding the right car isn’t very easy, and with modern purchasing contracts, you could be stuck with a vehicle you might not like or a bill you cannot afford for up to five years. Asking the right questions is one of the best ways to ensure that you get the right vehicle is by asking the right questions.
Here is a quick look at some of the top questions to ask if you want to find the right car.
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What is the Total Cost of the Vehicle?
The total cost of a vehicle is very different from the price that is often marketed. Ask the car seller for a full breakdown of stamp duty, GST taxes, registration fees,Transfer fees, dealer delivery fees, and optional extras.
Now, before you sign, go to your vehicle insurance company and ask them what the insurance fee will be. The cost of the insurance may vary depending on a number of factors. These include the excess you nominate, insurance extras such as windscreen damage, roadside assistance, car rental hire and nominated kilometres driven in a year. Your previous claim history, age and location may also affect your premium on the car.
All of these expenses should be calculated since they are all part of the total cost of the vehicle ownership and amount to what you will be paying monthly or overall purchase costs.
With all of this information present, you can finally see if you can realistically afford the vehicle.
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Can I See the Full Service History?
If you are buying used, then ask about the vehicle’s servicing history. This should be detailed in the vehicle logbook.
Were the services completed as per schedule timing as recommended by the car manufacturer? When you are viewing the logbook, you should pay attention to where services were done. Were they carried out by an authorised Dealer or 3rd party mechanic? Were genuine factory parts used in servicing and repairs. Are there any gaps in the service history and why? This is important since some mechanics are not as proficient with their work and might have affected the vehicle negatively.
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What is the Warranty Coverage of the Car?
New or relatively new vehicles usually come with a warranty. It is best to find out if the warranty is still in place and to learn all about the warranty details. What is the warranty duration? Is there a driving distance limit on the warranty? Exactly what is included in the vehicle warranty? Is it valid anywhere in Australia? Is it a genuine full factory manufacturers warranty or a Dealership warranty which may not be as extensive and have some exclusions and restrictions?
If it is a used car, is the balance of the eligible factory warranty still valid? Has the previous owner nullified it through some modifications. Is the Roadside Assistance still applicable that commonly is associated with factory warranties. Some may become inactive due to skipping or delaying scheduled services.
Some manufacturers are now offering extensive 10 year factory warranties conditional on every service being conducted at the factory dealership. Do the service records of the car you want to purchase show any non-dealership / third party services that may break that chain and revert to lower warranty cover or no cover at all?
All of these are important if you want to make the best possible outlay or want a little bit of extra assurance on the vehicle’s performance.
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Can I Take the Car for Inspections?
Getting a third party to come and do the inspection for you is always a good idea. Professionals like car buying agents are usually unbiased and will give you a much more realistic report on the condition of the vehicle. With this inspection, you will know exactly what you are dealing with, and there is no risk of hidden flaws or damages. Typical third party Pre-purchase inspection providers also include RACV, NMRA, Redbook, REPCO, VACC etc….
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What is The Real Fuel Efficiency?
True fuel efficiency can be very different from what you see on paper. Most of the astonishingly low fuel prices you see online or at dealership offices are not very realistic because these vehicles were tested at slow driving speeds without any load-bearing capacity. Once a vehicle is put to the test, its true colours can start shining through.
Ask a previous owner or others who might be driving the same vehicle brand or make about the fuel efficiency. You will get a much better idea of the true potential of the vehicle.
Check the trip data information on the used car you intend to purchase to give a real world indication of fuel usage during previous ownership. Read expert test/ car reviews on the model car you intend to buy as often road testers will provide real word fuel economy usage figures against manufacturers claims in a variety of driving conditions.
Hire Buying Agents Who Ask All the Right Questions
If you want to find a great car that ticks off all of the boxes, then we welcome you to contact our car buying agents at My Next Car Buying Agency. Our car buying advocate will hunt down the perfect vehicle for you and will help you narrow down the search until you find a vehicle that suits your lifestyle needs perfectly – and for the right price within your budget!
Contact My Next Car Buying Agency now to find out more about our services.
