A Simple Car Buying Guide For New Owners

In case you’re planning to scrap your old vehicle and purchase a new vehicle, then you need to consider several factors before you make the final decision. You have to know about the vehicle’s fuel efficiency, the horsepower, the features you’re getting, the style, the after-sales customer care of the car brand and so on. Furthermore, you also need to consider the carbon emissions and the fuel type when purchasing a new car. 

Therefore, we’ll be sharing a simple purchase guide that you can follow to make your car buying process easier and thereby make the best possible selection.

Types Of Vehicles To Choose From Based On Fuel Type

1. Diesel Or Petrol

According to reliable car wreckers, petrol will always be cheaper compared to diesel. But, for travelling long distances, diesel turns out to be more economical. Furthermore, you also need to remember that diesel cars also cost more to purchase, while petrol vehicles lose their value over time quickly. 

The mileage of your vehicle – whether petrol or diesel – will also matter. In case you’re covering less than 10,000 miles per year, then petrol will prove to be a great choice. However, if you’re covering more than 10,000 miles per year, then obtaining a diesel vehicle will prove to be more economical.

2. Electric

In modern times, electric vehicles have become a very popular choice for lessening the overall carbon footprint. This is because electric vehicles have close to zero carbon emissions and therefore is eco-friendly. Electric vehicles also have low running costs and are pleasant & quiet to drive. Hence, they’re great for city driving. 

But, you should remember that the initial investment for purchasing an electric car will be expensive, compared to diesel or petrol. Moreover, the number of electric vehicle models will also be limited since the technology is still very nascent. Electric cars must be charged regularly since they run on battery and in cold temperatures, specific measures must be taken to reduce the degradation of battery cells.

3. Hybrid

Hybrid vehicles have minimal carbon emissions since they run partly on batteries and partly on fuel. They’re also cheaper to maintain in the long run and are ideal for low-speed driving around the city. Their travelling range is more than electric vehicles because they have two separate sources of fuel. But, they can also be expensive to purchase like electric cars.

4. Hydrogen

Hydrogen vehicles are new to the market because of the technology they use. They’re also expensive to purchase. However, they provide good mileage and tend to have zero emissions. 

Types Of Vehicles Based On The Size

Choose the size of the vehicle that suits your preferences the most.

1. Sedan

The sedan is one of the most traditional configurations for vehicles that you can find and they can fit several different applications. However, they also fall into the cliché of being the master of none but being the jack of all trades.

2. Coupe

A coupe is a modified version of a sedan, where two rear doors & seats are eliminated and only the driver & front passenger seat remains. Most sports cars fall into this category because they tend to promote a sleeker design – with better aerodynamics and performance. Coupes can also be convertible ones, where the roof of the vehicle is retractable.

3. Hatchback

The hatchback is a smaller version of a sedan, where the size of the vehicle is shrunk – both from the front and the rear side. Hatchbacks are easier to manoeuvre and drive compared to coupes & sedans, and also provide much better fuel efficiency in the long run.

4. SUV

Sports Utility Vehicles or SUVs are larger versions of sedans, where there is not only more vertical space but also horizontal space. SUVs are great for family travelling because they sport so much space inside their cabins and they have a certain rugged nature which makes them drivable on uneven terrains.

5. Crossover

Crossover vehicles are a mix between hatchbacks and SUVs. They will maintain the compact form-factor of hatchbacks but will introduce some exclusive SUV features as well. 

Additional Tips & Tricks For Choosing A Vehicle

• Before you decide to purchase any vehicle model, perform your research online. There are multiple resources online where you can compare vehicles and go through their comprehensive specification lists. In that way, you can make your buying decision with the correct amount of knowledge. 

• Whether you’re thinking of leasing a vehicle or buying it outright – the choice depends on your preferences. Buying a vehicle will give you more command over your property. However, leasing will help you cover your vehicle costs over a certain period, especially if you don’t have the funds to purchase your vehicle directly. Leasing also makes it easy to change vehicles after a year or two. 

• Don’t forget to test-drive your vehicle before purchasing.

For more suggestions, contact professional car scrapping experts for how to sell a scrap car if you have one.