Choosing the right car
A big
part of the process of choosing your car is asking the right people
the right questions, starting with yourself.
Work out what you need from your car – rather than simply what
you want – and prioritise the essentials.
What size car should I get? How many doors and seats
should it have?
These should be pretty simple questions to answer. If you don’t
have loads of people or equipment to cart around, a hatchback will
probably do the job, otherwise you’ll need to invest in something
larger.
Hatchbacks are small - with two rows of seats and a small load
space at the back – so they’re generally cheap to run and easy to
park. Three-door hatchbacks are more sporty-looking, but five-door
models are easier to load and more comfortable for passengers.
Sedans – larger cars, with four doors and roomy storage boot –
are a good option if you’re going to be regularly carrying multiple
passengers.
If you want to be able to carry an especially big load, you
might consider a “people mover” or SUV, with three rows of seats,
five doors and heaps of storage space.
Is the car primarily for country or city driving?
Those driving mostly in urban areas – with narrow winding
streets, small parking spaces and traffic jams – should ideally
look for comfortable, compact cars that offer good driver
visibility and a tight turning circle.
If you do a lot of driving on country highways, reliability
should be at the top of your list – you don’t want to be breaking
down in the middle of nowhere. Consider also the car’s fuel economy
to avoid paying a fortune for petrol on long journeys.
Drivers who need to tackle difficult dirt or gravel country
roads should probably invest in a sturdy vehicle with off-road
capability.
Does fuel type make a difference?
The main fuel types all have advantages and drawbacks.
Petrol
As the most readily-available fuel
– at least for now – petrol is the most convenient. However, petrol
produces more greenhouse gases than LPG and diesel, and is becoming
more expensive as oil reserves dry up.
Diesel
Diesel creates a higher level of carbon emissions than petrol, but
it’s also 30% more fuel efficient - because your car uses a smaller
amount, it’s less of a contributor to global warming. On the
negative side, diesel is a major source of particle matter
emissions - which have been linked to cancer and respiratory
disease – and diesel cars tend to be more expensive than their
petrol equivalents.
LPG
Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG), has a lot of positives – it generates
around 10-15% less greenhouse gas emissions than petrol and diesel,
is less expensive and Australia has a lot of it. The drawbacks? LPG
engines are generally more expensive and less responsive than
petrol and diesel engines.
What safety features should I get?
Basically, you should get the safest car you can afford. We
don’t have to tell you that statistics around road injuries and
deaths are shocking – protect yourself as best you can.
The Australasian New Car Assessment Program provides a rating
system, so it’s easy to find out which cars are the safest.
To get a better idea of the various safety features that are
available, have a look at our Car Safety Technology glossary.
What ongoing costs can I expect?
You might be able to afford the car, but can you afford to get
it on the road and keep it there?
Owning a car is expensive – you’ll need to be prepared for the
demands of standing costs (such as registration, insurance,
roadside assistance, depreciation and finance) and running costs
(like fuel, tyres, servicing and repairs).
To get an up-to-date indication of how much a particular car
will cost you each week, you’ll need to do some research. The
internet can help you here; many websites offer tools that will
give you a pretty accurate evaluation.
The costs around running a car are ever-changing, but to give
you a very rough guide – a recent RACV survey found that ongoing
expenses ranged from just over $100 for a small hatchback, to over
$300 for big SUVs.
How much should I be paying?
No matter who is selling the car you’re looking at – whether
they’re a fast-talking dealer or a first-time private seller –
they’ll be looking to make as much profit from you as they can. You
need to know when you’re being asked to pay too much.
Again, the internet is a handy tool here. If you’re planning to
buy a new car from a dealership, look online to find out the car’s
invoice price – the amount the dealer actually pays for the car –
before you go. Knowing the dealer’s profit margin will give you a
good starting point for negotiating.
If you’re buying a used car, search websites and newspaper
classifieds to compare prices of models that are a similar make,
age, condition and mileage.
When you’ve done the research, decide on a price limit and stick
to it.
