AN IDIOT’S GUIDE TO BUYING A CAR

Fear not – being utterly flummoxed at this point is natural. Here are the pros and cons of where to begin

Basics. You might want a sporty two-seater, but if you have kids and a dog, it’s going to be either impractical or incredibly illegal. Do you really need an SUV when a more effifficient and fun-to-drive estate would make more sense? Do you have to streetpark regularly and live in town, where having a tiny car would make every day that little bit more relaxing? Do you live up a mountain and need diffff locks? If you do, a secondhand BMW M3 Competition is not going to cut it. Don’t get worried about the two days every three years we have snow and buy an expensive high-spec 4x4 for that ephemeral 48hrs of smug

– it doesn’t make sense. A set of winter tyres will likely see you through more effffectively.

Of course, with car companies slicing sectors into ever more specialised niches, there’s defifinitely a car out there that suits you – you just need to identify your usage pattern, and fifind the one that fifits your budget. And don’t necessarily get swayed by badge prejudice – there are some truly fantastic cars out there that don’t carry traditionally ‘premium’ nameplates, and you’ll get more kit and value for the same cash.

Here, we’ve gathered together a few brand-new – and utterly decent – cars and then gone scouting for something secondhand that’s just that little bit more interesting for similar money, essentially working offff the depreciation for extra cool points. Are they realistic? That’s for you to decide.

It’s the age-old petrolhead dilemma: when looking to replace your wheels, do you go shiny and new or bang-for-your-buck used? TG is here to help allay your car buying worries and woes.

MAIN DEALER

It’s a main dealer, so there’s a big sense of security.

Wide variety of models to choose from, and a salesperson can walk you through an actual car similar to the one you may end up buying.

Test drives. Always take one. In fact, insist on it. Figure out what you’ll be doing in a car and test it on those kinds of roads – if the seats are uncomfortable, they won’t magically get better once you’ve bought it.

You can often manage a trade-in for your old car. Will generally cost a bit more.

WEBSITE

You can compare cars from all over, figure out what you want and use configurators to see exactly the kind of cars you can afford. A site like Carwow aggregates offers from dealers to find you the best price – essentially pitting them against each other for your business. It widens a dealer’s reach, but they’re motivated to offer you a decent deal to secure you as a customer.

Depends on where you’re buying from, but can lack the security of a main dealer.

No test drives, or physical contact with the vehicle.

PRIVATE SELLER

Can be much cheaper, and private sellers will be expecting at least a bit of haggling.

There’s not much backup – if you buy a duffer, there’s not much recourse, and you won’t be able to test drive without organising some form of insurance.

Can be incredibly intimidating at times, and there are plenty of scams that neatly fall under the various versions of ‘buyer beware’. If you’re buying ‘as seen’ then you either need to know what to look for, or take someone with you that does.

Did we mention the cheapness? You might get a bargain.

AUCTION

Bargains to be had. You can buy a duffer and be stuck with it. Tips for buying at an auction: Go to an auction or three with no intention of buying. Figure out how it works. Don’t rush. Read the catalogue, know what kind of car you want and how much you want to pay. Don’t get excited and overbid in the heat of the moment. Inspect the cars you’re interested in, but don’t expect to find your ‘perfect’ car. Listen to the auctioneer – they’ll often note stuff that needs doing. Don’t forget to weave in the associated costs; buyer’s fees, deposits, tax and insurance to get the thing home.