10 Tips To Find The Right Car For You !

Tip 1: How do you start?
- Buying a car needn't be an ordeal; not if you're properly informed before you begin. Even with the large amount of automotive information available on the Internet, many people still purchase a new car within only a few days of deciding to buy. This leaves a huge opportunity for buyers to be "sold" a car rather than making an informed buying decision.
  
  Remember, as a buyer, you are the one in the "driver's seat" throughout the entire car-buying process. You'll be making many choices along the way before you even step into a dealership. With plenty of reliable information available, "virtual car shopping" can be a lot of fun. So, even if you already have a strong sense about the vehicle you want, take some time to start your search with a "blank slate" and you may be pleasantly surprised by the outcome.
  
  How do you start? It's easy. Take a look at the following types of shoppers and decide which one best describes you. After that, begin your vehicle search by using one of the convenient short cuts shown below or simply follow all 10 steps of Buying by the Book to cover all the bases.
Tip 2: What's the best new car for you?
- A new car that meets your needs, is a pleasure to drive and is reliable, safe and economical. The time has arrived and you are officially in the market for a new car or truck. With all the choices available—over 100 new car makes and models—how do you narrow-down your list? To some extent, your lifestyle can help. Imagine the activities you'll experience in your new car. Car manufacturers actually build cars with "life stages" in mind. For instance, if you have small children, you may desire a larger, safer car. Perhaps you care more about performance or high style.
  
  When considering the purchase of a new car, everything counts: number of seats, number of doors, size, performance color, style, comfort and sometimes even towing capacity. The key is to narrow your search by creating a viable "short list" of new car choices before ever stepping into a dealership. Where to start? Well, with the convenience of the Internet and great sites like ilovecarsnbikes.com, easy-to-use decision guides can help you narrow down your consideration list in a very short time.
  
  Notice that we left out "economical." The price of new cars has risen dramatically in relation to the average person's income. That's the bad news. The good news is there are a variety of ways to finance a new car. And the competition between car companies is red hot. So, in many ways, it's a buyer's market.
  
  This buying guide considers general factors, but you should read-up on the new car make and model you're after. Study the range of new cars available within that model range. Zero to 70 kph acceleration times and top speeds are irrelevant in real life driving, but are good yardsticks for comparing new cars. This, along with fuel consumption figures, should help you to determine the engine size you require.
Tip 3: Diesel or Petrol?
- It used to be a clear-cut decision; diesel for economy, petrol if you wanted to enjoy driving. Nowadays however, things are very different, and thanks to huge advances in diesel technology, there is a viable alternative to the petrol machinery that has dominated for so long. It's all down to what strengths you are after in a car.
  
  What's so great about diesels?
  
  • They're far more economical than petrol engines.
  • They're cleaner, with lower emissions, especially CO2
  • They have better 'pull' in the gears, reducing the need for gear changing.
  
  Diesel technology has come on in leaps and bounds over the past few years. Nowadays, turbo-diesels are common-place, with only small or cheaper old used cars doing without one. It's well worth spending the extra to get a turbo-diesel, as both performance and economy will be better than non-turbo models, and they'll be nicer overall to drive, too.
  
  Modern direct-injection and common-rail systems are also worth looking out for - they improve performance and economy even further, and are often quieter, smoother and less 'smoky' than older, less advanced systems.
  
  We're not saying petrol has had its day. Certainly, superior 0-60mph times mean sporty drivers need not consider anything else, while those after a luxury car may well be disappointed by the extra vibrations and noise under acceleration offered by diesels.
  
  What's so great about petrol?
  
  • Petrol engines are quieter, more responsive and faster revving than diesel engines.
  • They're generally cheaper to service.
  • They're catching up with diesels in the economy stakes.
  
  Diesel technology may be making the headlines, but petrol engine technology advancement has been just as impressive. Outputs, both torque and bhp, have been improving dramatically with subsequent new models - and not to the detriment of fuel consumption.
  
  Emissions too, have dropped significantly and petrol engines don't need the additional soot filters that are fitted to diesel powered cars.
Tip 4: How Much Can You Afford ?
- This is the first and most important step. You must know how much you can spend before you can determine what you can afford. Affordability is a multi-faceted issue because the car buying process can consist of more than one transaction. The key to simplifying the purchase process is to negotiate each step separately:
  
  Dealing With Your Current Car: Trading-in your current car to a dealer or selling it to a private party
  Obtaining a price of your new vehicle
  
  The new car buying process is greatly simplified when you discover the bottom line vehicle price you can afford ahead of time. Here's an example of the kind of details you'll need to know:
  
  1. "The trade-in value of the vehicle I currently own is Rs. 250000"
  2. "I owe Rs. 50000 on it"
  3. "I've got Rs. 00000 in savings I want to put down"
  4. "I want to pay under 6000 Rs per month for 60 months on a new car"
  
  This means the same as:
  "I can afford to buy a Rs. 500000 vehicle."
  
  If your current car is in extremely good condition and you have impeccable service records, it may be well worth your while to sell it on your own. On the other hand, if your car needs a lot of work, you may end up putting more money into it than you can recover—so take a realistic look before you decide.
  
  Your decision to stick to a budget will help provide peace-of-mind in the car-buying process. With these principles in place, you should have a monthly budget estimate in place. This is very easy to calculate. Add up all of your fixed monthly expenses, such as your rent, phone bill, etc. Subtract that from your net income. Then subtract your estimated extraneous expenses, such as food, fuel, and entertainment, whatever. The result should be an amount of money you have to play with.
  
  From that, you need to remember that buying a car involves more than a down payment and monthly payments. In your budget you will need to include licensing, registration and other hidden costs, as well as insurance costs, fuel and maintenance.
  
  Once you have all of this worked out, you should have a ballpark figure of the budgeted amount you can use for car payments. A good rule of thumb is roughly 20 to 25 percent of your net income can be used for a car payment. Once you determine that figure, stay with it.
Tip 5: Do Your Car Research Online
- Think about different factors, such as:
  
  • How many passengers will be riding in the car with you?
  • How much car driving will you be doing?
  • What kind of car driving will you be doing?
  • How important is car fuel mileage to you?
  
  Car Research:
  When trying to decide what car best suits your needs, fanatical research is going to pay off. Next, start your car search online. With the incredible amount of car data available, what specifically should you research? Of course other important facts to discover include information about safety, quality, and 5-year cost of ownership of a car. These ratings can help you achieve some needed peace-of-mind.
  
  Car Safety:
  There are also car safety features you may want to consider. Even though most of today's cars come standard with airbags, there are other safety features to consider. There are two general types of safety features: features that protect the occupants and features that assist in collision avoidance.
  
  • Occupant Protection - Occupant protection features are designed to protect the driver and passengers in the event of a collision. Such features include variations in size, shape, frame design and interior devices. A common misconception is that bigger cars are safer. This isn't always the case. While generally this may be true, some of the larger vehicles--including some newer SUVs-have a tendency to roll when making sharp turns. This heightened rollover propensity decreases the overall safety of a car. Also, some of today's SUVs aren't held to as stringent a set of crash test regulations as other passenger cars. However, many of the smaller compact cars on the road offer little crash resistance. Check out car crash test results on the internet for a more detailed look. Other forms of occupant protection include variations in design. These are designed specifically for a model to either offer more strength or to allow for crumple zones. Crumple zones are strategically designed areas of the body or the frame that buckle under extreme stress, absorbing more of the impact than other parts of the vehicle. More and more vehicles are integrating interior safety features. While the seatbelt has become standard, airbags are becoming more common as well. Other manufacturers are also offering such features as collapsible steering columns to minimize injury risk, side-impact restraints and even extra interior padding.
  • Collision Avoidance - Design aspects including the brake system, visibility, and speed and acceleration capabilities influence crash avoidance. Anti-lock brakes are a very beneficial feature to have in avoiding a collision, for they not only allow your car to stop quicker without skidding, but they allow you to maintain the integrity of your steering while braking. This can be highly effective in ensuring your safety while driving, especially in wet or slippery conditions. However, they can also be a hindrance if not used properly.
  
  Total Car Cost of Ownership:
  Total Cost of Car Ownership values are based upon a 5-year average. The factors you may need to consider is depreciation, financing, insurance, registration fees, repairs, maintenance and other applicable fees to calculate the total cost to own the car over a 5-year period. Ownership costs can differ greatly.
  The cost to own and operate two different car with equal purchase prices can differ by thousands. Of course when evaluating ownership cost for used cars and trucks, a car's condition and mileage will greatly impact ownership costs, therefore it's important to compare similar cars in similar condition for an accurate picture.
  
  Car Expert Opinions:
  Another way to gain confidence in your purchase is to spend some time reading what the experts have to say about your new car. Reading the opinion of experts before the test drive serves many purposes; you can discover the strengths of the car's performance; see how the car compares in its class; and discover things like how the car does on longer trips and more.
  
  Car Owner Opinions:
  The opinion of car owners is also a valuable resource. With this tool you can discover how recent new car owners rate their new cars. A short visit to the owner review section of ilovecarsnbikes.com will give you access to a searchable database with personal ratings and comments. After you purchase your car, you can submit a review of your own car to help others make an informed decision.
  
  Side-By-Side Car Comparisons:
  Finally, don't forget to run a side-by-side comparison of the car you are considering and you will get another level of insight you may have otherwise missed. Seeing horsepower, mileage, seating capacity, headroom, legroom and other specs side-by-side helps you quickly identify which cars meet your specific needs.
Tip 6: Old Car - Trade-in vs. Private sale
- There are two basic choices when deciding what to do with your old vehicle: sell it privately or trade it in.
  Selling it privately :
  You may receive a higher price but like most things, it will require additional work. First you must establish a value for your vehicle. Watch automotive internet advertising section for similar vehicles. It will help you set a fair price based on your local market.
  
  Be honest about the price and condition of your vehicle. You don't want to scare away potential buyers with an unrealistic price.
  
  Advertise your vehicle online at www.ilovecarsnbikes.com. Be sure to list the make, model and options, along with other pluses. Low mileage and certain features will raise the price of your vehicle.
  
  Prepare your vehicle for resale by having the car cleaned and detailed by a professional automotive shop. Having your car cleaned gives you an edge over other vehicles in the market. An attractive car can justify a higher selling price.
Tip 7: Where to buy- Choosing a Dealer?
- The most obvious answer to the question of where to buy your new car is at a main dealer.
  
  The simplest way to shop for a new car is to call or use the Internet.
  
  • Call dealership in your area that offers your choice of car, talk to the Fleet Manager or sales person, and ask for a quote over the phone.
  
  • The information superhighway has become a viable option for finding your new car.
  
  However, some dealers may not take the phone-in order seriously. Or, they may claim that they require you to come down to the dealership. By requiring your presence, the dealer hopes to gain a greater leverage in terms of carrying through their soft sell act.
  
  You could also try the fax route. For starters, you may need to call a dealership to discover its fax number but once you begin the communication via fax let them know that you handle all of your business this way.
  
  Meeting up with a Fleet Manager rather than a sales person offers several distinct advantages. Please make sure that you are carrying all the quotes you have received from dealers.
  
  • When negotiating, it’s always best to reach a meaningful agreement with the person with whom you’re negotiating. In traditional sales, the salesperson will almost always need to get the deal "okayed" by his or her boss — say the sales-manager. So even if you’re a superb negotiator who has just agreed to buy a car at the dealer’s cost, the deal has to get a green signal from the third-party sales manager. And that can be frustrating. On the other hand, A Fleet Manager can use his discretion and is completely capable of closing the deal without conferring with the sales manager.
  
  • The Fleet Manager is used to providing customers with discounts. He will be willing to negotiate readily, and will not expect the customer to pay the MRP.
Tip 8: Pricing the car
- Once you know the car you want and select the model, options and color, it's time to get serious about price. Preparation is the key; only begin negotiations when you know exactly what you want, and do not allow yourself to be swayed once you've made up your mind.
  
  Always start with the on-the-road price of the car. Once you have settled that, it's time to move on to discussing the possibility of trading in your old car. Salesmen will always ask about the trade-in first, so that they can factor it into the deal - so try to keep it out of the equation as long as you can. Remember it is often better to sell the car privately - you may get a better price for it - and use the cash towards your purchase.
  
  A cash buyer is usually in a better position. Even if your savings don't cover the purchase price, it may be wiser to seek a bank or building society loan instead of dealer financing. Salesmen who arranges finance for you is likely to be making a commission out of the deal. However, do consider manufacturer-backed low-interest finance options, but check out the conditions.
  
  Sometimes dealers will add 'free' options and extras to make the deal seem more attractive. Is he trying to shift unsold stock that he's keen to get rid of simply by promising you a few mats or mud flaps?
  
  Visit dealers at the end of the month when they may be keener to sell cars in order to meet their sales targets. Keep an eye on market trends and watch out for models that are about to be replaced or are slow sellers, as dealers will be more willing to negotiate.
  
  Shop around before entering final negotiations. Once you've settled on a car and its specification, ring around different dealerships to see if you can get a better price. It's possible some dealers may have a special offer on that model, or already have the car in stock. If you do get a lower quote the dealer you are buying from may be able to match or better it.
  
  The research you've done so far will give you a comfort level on what the right price of your next vehicle should be. A knowledgeable and reputable dealer will be able to negotiate a fair deal with you and try their best to convert you into a loyal return customer.
Tip 9: Trying it out – Test Drive
- It's lovely, it's shiny and it's got that new car smell. You know it's the car for you, and all you want to do is sign wherever the salesman tells you to and take it home.
  
  Trouble is, on that first drive home you may find that the steering is too heavy, that you can't adjust your seat enough, and your head touches the roof lining. But by then it's too late!
  
  That's why it's vital to thoroughly road test a new car before buying it. Make sure you are comfortable, and that you find it easy to drive and also satisfy yourself that its performance and handling meet your expectations.
  
  In the showroom
  Make sure the car is right for you. Check there is enough space — if you are tall legroom may be cramped, your knees may touch the steering wheel, and your head could be touching the roof-lining. If you're short, you may find you're sitting too low to see around you.
  
  Take the family along and make sure they all fit and are comfortable. Check boot and/or luggage space; do the rear seats fold down to make more space? Is there enough storage space in the cabin itself —parcel shelf, cubby holes, cup holders etc?
  
  In the driver's seat
  Make sure...
  
  • It's easy to get in and out of. On a two-door or three-door model, make sure access to the rear seats isn't too difficult, especially if there are elderly members of your family, or if you intend to use child seats.
  
  • The seats are firm and supportive without being hard and uncomfortable. How much adjustment do they offer? (fore/aft, up/down, tilting backrest, lumber support, adjustable headrests etc.) Can you tailor a good driving position for yourself?
  
  • All the controls make sense to you and that they are easy to see, reach and use.
  
  • All-round visibility is reasonable; are there any blind spots; will lane-changing, parking and reversing be a problem; is rearward vision affected by headrests, thick rear pillars, small rear screen etc?
  
  Sit in the driver's seat with the door shut. Are the pedals and steering column offset? If so, do you find this awkward? Can the steering column be adjusted for reach and rake?
  
  The road test
  Try to take in a mixture of driving conditions from city traffic to motorway cruising. Depending on where the dealership is and the amount of time you have, this may not be realistic, but it is important to assess the car in as many different situations as possible.
  It may be smooth at speed but cumbersome around town, or easy to park in tight spaces, but hopelessly under-powered when you need to overtake.
  
  • Get the 'feel' of the car
  Take a few minutes at the beginning of your road test to get the feel of it — the gear change or steering weight might not seem 'right' immediately. You should be confident enough to commence the test properly after a mile or two. Make sure you know which stalk operates the indicators and which one works the wipers!
  
  • Too light or too heavy?
  The first thing you are likely to notice is the weighting of the controls, particularly if they are different to what you are used to. The steering, pedals and gear-lever all vary from car to car. Are they too light or too heavy for your taste?
  
  •Power steering
  If the car doesn’t have power steering it may feel very heavy at low speeds or when parking. It may be better to go for a model equipped with power assistance (PAS). On the other hand, some power steering systems are over-light — although many tend to firm up at speed — and give you less 'feel' for how the car is behaving.
  
  •Changing gears
  On a manual car the sensitivity of the clutch is usually another thing that is immediately apparent — which is why drivers often immediately stall a car that's new to them. How much or how little effort does it require; and is the biting point too high or too low?
  Does the gear lever slot in and out of ratios easily and smoothly? With an automatic transmission pay attention to how smoothly it changes gear. Are the changes almost undetectable or does it lurch or hesitate between gears? How smooth is it on 'kickdown' (accelerating hard so that it has to change down a gear)? Does it 'hunt' for the gear ratio?
  
  •Brakes
  Some modern braking systems are over-sensitive and take some getting used to. And while we’re down in the foot well, is there enough space for your feet, and is there room beside the clutch to rest your left foot when cruising?
  
  • Other controls
  Try out the heater, air conditioning, climate control (if fitted), the radio/stereo/CD player, and the electric windows, mirrors, sunroof etc. Ideally, everything should be within comfortable reach, easy to use, and not distract you while driving.
Tip 10: Closing the deal and signing the paper work
- Arranging finance
  Ideally, you should find a loan when you start looking for your new car. This will help in speeding up the delivery of the car to your home. Much like the best bargain being around the corner, there is scope for reducing your loan costs further, if you spend some time shopping around for them. Please Refer the Loan section for more details:
  
  Registration & Insurance
  
  By law you need to insure your car. Please Refer the Insurance section for more details:
  
  When you buy a car you have to register it with the Regional Transport Office (RTO). Despite taking a loan from a bank, you personally are liable for the registration charges. Every car has its own Certificate of Registration (RC) book that keeps track of the history of the car.
  
  As a buyer of a car you need to ensure that all the legal forms should be filled in completely and submitted to the right authorities. Say, you live in Mumbai and bought a new car. You need to submit the relevant documents to the RTO under whose jurisdiction your address falls. If the new car is from another state, you will need to obtain a certificate of temporary registration from the RTO. In most places, this certificate is valid only for a very short period, after which a permanent registration number has to be obtained. While heading with the new car to the RTO, take the following with you:
  
  • Application for new car registration or Form 20
  • Photocopy of the invoice, insurance policy, ration card or telephone bill as proof of address.
  • Original Sale Certificate or Form No 23, Sales Tax Receipt,
  • Octroi Receipt Pollution Under Control Certificate from the manufacturer or Form No 22
  • Letter from the financier, in case you have taken a loan to purchase a car, addressed to the RTO
  • asking them to endorse their lien on your car registration certificate book or Form No 34
  • Your PAN number
  • Imprint of your cars Chassis Number
  
  Paper Work
  
  Before you drive off in that new car of yours, there are just a few papers that need to be signed. Example: The power of attorney that allows the dealership to go to the RTO and register the vehicle for you, the transfer of title if you're trading in a vehicle, are just some of them. Read each document carefully for errors. Once you sign on the dotted line, the deal is clinched. If something doesn't feel right, don't sign. And do not feel pressured or obligated to sign just because of the amount of time invested by the salesperson.
  Most dealerships detail the car and provide enough fuel to drive you home. You will have one more chance to inspect the car before you take possession of it. Make sure you walk around the car and look for scratches in the paint and wheels or dents and dings on the body. If you are paying for floor mats make sure they are included. If anything is missing, or if any work needs to be done, ask for a "Due Bill" that puts it in writing. You will then be able to come back and get the work done later.
  As you drive away inhaling that new-car smell, there is only one more thing to be done: enjoy your new car.