The following information may help you make your decision:
New Cars
Are sold with a warranty, so if anything goes wrong the car will be fixed free of charge. When you have a warranty, you only have to pay for regular servicing. Some new cars are also sold with free servicing for a certain period.
If you’re thinking about buying a new car, ask the following questions:
- What is the best price I can get?
- Are there any sales on?
- What is the safety rating?
- What is the on-road cost?
- What is available as standard and what is extra?
- What is the warranty period? Can I sign up for a longer warranty period?
Used Cars
They are significantly cheaper than the new cars. But you won’t know about any problems with the car, so make sure you have it inspected. Unless you know the history of the car it’s hard to know how it’s been treated in the past.
If you’re thinking about buying a used car, ask the seller the following questions:
- Why are you selling the car?
- Does it have a current roadworthy certificate?
- How many kilometers have it run?
- How many owners has it had?
- Does it have a completed service book?
- Has it even been in an accident?
- Is there any debt on the car?
- Can I have it inspected?
Whether you choose to buy a new or used car, it’s also worth checking a car’s safety rating. You can check safety ratings at www.howsafeisyourcar.com.au
Some key safety features to look for when you’re shopping for a car include:
- Curtain airbags
- Antilock braking system
- Electronic stability control
- Traction control