BUYING TIPS FOR FINDING THE RIGHT CAR
WHICH CAR FIT MY NEEDS?
Before you begin your car-buying process, you might want to answer the following questions:
- What type of car do i need? Sedan? Coupe or sport car? Estate or SUV?
- Do i need manual or automatic transmission? What's the difference?
- Do i need a lot of cargo-carrying capacity?
- Two-wheel drive or all-wheel drive? Which one fits my needs?
- What about safety features? I need to feel protected when i drive!
- Will my car fit in my garage or parking area? Isn't it too big?
In most of the cases, people choose their car because it's eye-catching or it's a trendy one. If you go in this direction, you might spend a lot of money or you will have to buy another one soon.
So, you better let your needs choose the right car, not your wants. If you check your needs rather than your wants, you will discover the right car for you immediately. Think about why you need a car for.
DETERMINE YOUR BUDGET
Either you decide to lease or buy your next car, make sure you determine a realistic monthly payment that you can handle. This is an important first step and you need to decide how much this should be. But in our opinion, this shouldn't exceed 20%-30% of your monthly income.
Take your time and estimate the numbers before you go shopping. Make sure you write them down, because it could help when you will negotiate the price with the seller, either a car dealer or an individual.
CHECK ALL THE VEHICLES IN THE SAME CLASS
The auto market for new or used cars in Cyprus it is filled with many great car brands and models. Most buyers don't have time to keep up with all the new cars introduced and all the changes made to older vehicles. That's why you need to do some research first. You can easily use iCars to research all your choices before you visit the auto parks.
You can search cars by brand, model or price range. Then, when you choose the car you think it's right for you, and you access the car details page, on the right side you have a section called "Similar car ads". Check there for competitive vehicles or, if you want to stick with your favorite manufacturer, there is a link which will guide you to all car models from that manufacturer.
If you have no idea where to start, you can check the hot cars section. Most of the cars are coming with a huge discount or, the seller is forced to sell it fast. Consider that an advantage.
CONSIDER ALL COSTS
Some cars might be cheaper to buy, but more expensive to maintain. Before buying a car, you should estimate all the costs for long-term ownership. Consider depreciation, insurance, maintenance and fuel costs.
GET READY FOR A DRIVE TEST
We think it's a good idea to contact the seller - Cyprus car dealers or individuals - by phone before going to the meeting. Call the sales department or the person in charge and ask if the car you want to buy (the right color and specifications) is really available.
Make sure you tell them you want to set up a drive test, but you won't purchase the car right away. However, assure them that you will buy your next car from that car dealer if they can offer the vehicle at a fair price.
A few minutes taken to call and set up a meeting with the person in charge can save you both time and money.