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I’ve had my fair share of purchasing new and used cars, and I’m talking about my own car not something my parents purchased. I’m breaking down my post into two (2), one will be for tips on buying a used car and the other for a new car.
Tips on Buying a Used Car
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- Be patient when it comes to searching online – it took me almost a month to finally nail down the car that I’ll be purchasing. I weighed in the pros and cons, the location of the seller, car’s details (last registered, last maintenance, how many owners has it had, etc.), and will I have money left to purchase the necessities and pay for a general checkup.
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- Bring your trusted mechanic – this is a no brainer. Since you’re purchasing a used car, chances are, there will be components that’s in need of urgent fix. Even though you’re purchasing from a trusted seller or maybe your friend, it’s still better to check it yourself because there’s still instances that they won’t be honest with the car’s issues.The usual (major) things you would want to check are signs of flooding, oil leaks, smoke’s color (if it’s blue or white, then there’s something wrong with the engine and might need an overhaul)
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- Test drive the car – have the seller drive it first so you get to see his driving habits and you get to feel the car’s comfortability level. If you feel that his driving habits are okay, then most likely the car’s running well and you can go ahead and take it for a spin. If it’s not and you see him struggling at times, it’s your choice if you still want to continue with the deal or back out.
- (Once you’re purchased your car) Schedule a visit with your mechanic – immediately after purchasing your (used) car, schedule a visit to your trusted mechanic. This is to ensure that any components that needs to be change immediately will be replaced before you go for a long drive. Have them do a change oil as well and conduct the usual maintenance work to ensure that you’ll have a smooth sailing drive.
Planning to get a new car instead? Let’s proceed to that!
Here are Tips on Buying a New Car
I’ve already purchased 2 new cars so I would say I pretty much have a good idea on what’s involved plus some tips that I can share to first time buyers. The first one I got was a 2017 Suzuki Celerio which I later on returned and got myself a 2017 Mistubishi Mirage Hatchback instead.
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- Decide which car to get – it can get pretty overwhelming on what car you’d like to get especially with low down payment promos that almost all dealers are offering. Do some research and weigh in the pros and cons. The usual list that I have are as follows:
- How much is the down payment and what’s included?
- How much will my monthly amortization be?
- For this specific (car) brand, how much does each component cost in case it breaks? Is it easily available or do I have to purchase it overseas?
- How much will its maintenance cost?
- What are its safety features?
- How’s the handling? Car engine, fuel consumption, etc.
- Decide which bank to go for – usually, your chosen dealer’s sales agent will be the one to process the application with the banks they’re affiliated with. But if you have a preferred bank, they can prioritize that over other banks. Do your part as well and research on what each bank offers when it comes to auto loan. They usually have an auto loan calculator available online so you get to see how much their interest rate is per month.However, if you do decide to buy it in cash, then this wouldn’t be something you should worry about.
- Decide which car to get – it can get pretty overwhelming on what car you’d like to get especially with low down payment promos that almost all dealers are offering. Do some research and weigh in the pros and cons. The usual list that I have are as follows:
- (After the unit’s release) Take note of schedules – Take note of the dates of your car’s maintenance service, next car registration, insurance renewal, auto-debit for car payment (if you decide to loan your car), etc. It is important for you not to miss these especially the payment for your car!
Congratulations! Keep in mind that owning a car is a privilege and is something that must not be abused. Be a good driver on the road and do your part in keeping the streets safe.
Drive safely!
Hi April! Love these tips! Any reason why you returned your Celerio and switched to the Mirage? I’m looking to buy my own car this year too and I’m choosing between the small cars we have here including the Wigo. Any way, thank you for the tips! That auto loan calculator looks really helpful.
Hi Erika! Thanks for visiting the blog. I returned my Celerio for a couple of reasons but mainly it’s because of 2 things – it’s too small for me (compartment and leg room) PLUS conflict of interest since my ex and I both owned it and we decided that it’s unethical if one of us kept it.
I opted for a Mirage for its safety features, its built, its size. It’s bigger than Wigo and Celerio and its handling is WAAAAAAY better than those 2. The engine is bigger too which for me is a plus. Also, the people who works in the casa where we purchased our Mirage are people we personally know so we can fully entrust them with everything in case we need something done right away.
Lastly, I would suggest you check loan calculators of the bank you opt to apply to. I know PS Bank and BDO has one online.
Good luck! Feel free to message me if you need any more help! 🙂
Useful info. Lucky me I found your web site by chance, and I’m stunned why this twist of fate didn’t took place earlier! I bookmarked it.
Great tips. This article gives good information about used car. Thanks for sharing this information. You can check my site.
May I just say what a comfort to uncover somebody that genuinely knows what they are talking about over the internet. You certainly understand how to bring a problem to light and make it important. A lot more people need to read this and understand this side of the story. I was surprised that you’re not more popular since you most certainly have the gift.
You should always remember those tips. You need to have all those things if you’re planning to go far far away from the city. CJ Holmskovec
Your post is very helpful! I have been looking for tips about purchasing a car. I’ve been planning to buy my own car and I will definitely remember your tips. Thank you so much for sharing this!
Thanks for sharing this information with us. This information is really helpful and useful for us. keep sharing this types of articles.
i will keeP in mind your tips about cars. great information
Thank you for telling me that I need to bring a trusted mechanic to check for components that are in need of an urgent fix. I’m currently looking for pre-owned cars for sale for my son. Since he’s just about to enroll himself in driving school and isn’t really a skilled driver as of this moment, I think I should just buy a used car for him that he could use for practice. I appreciate the tips and will definitely look for signs of flooding and oil leaks.