Buying a car is an exciting experience, especially when it is your first one. But, one of the most common mistakes people make while buying a car is believing in their fantasy and being influenced by others. Everyone has a different lifestyle, varying beliefs, and diverse choices. Would a luxurious sedan be able to go up a mountain with rough terrain? Would the journey do justice to the car?
Most people easily get drawn to the style, popularity, status, and various other factors that influence our minds. As a result, they buy a car that is nothing but wrong for their lifestyle.
A car is an investment, and far too many people buy one beyond their budget. The well-strategized car dealership marketing results in a purchase that is impractical as buyers do not assess the long-term cost they would incur. It would be a lot more sensible and practical to find a car that is more suitable for your lifestyle than that appeals to others. Here is how you can match your car to your lifestyle.
Define your lifestyle and personality
Every person is born differently and lives a life different from others. Would you buy a minivan if you are a sports enthusiast? The secret to buying a car is understanding who you are, what your likes and dislikes are, and what makes you happy. Instead of being influenced by modern car dealership marketing trends and your fantasy, define your personality and lifestyle, and understand which car suits you best.
Define why you need a car?
Are you buying a 4WD because all your friends have a 4WD or because it serves the purpose you are looking for? You may be spending a lot of money on something you don’t need, and additional cost of maintenance as well. Before you head out to your nearest dealer, define why you need a car; that will help save a lot of money.
Look for the right ones for you
Spend some time on the internet and do your research. There are a lot of choices in the market that can boggle your mind. List out the best choice for you based on your needs and your personality. Learn about the engine capacity, tire dimension and ability, torque, luggage capacity, for-child restraints, and various safety features before you shortlist.
Define your budget
What is the amount you are willing to spend? Setting a budget is vital as it defines your lifestyle and helps you understand whether you will be able to pay the cost of buying the car you choose.
Shortlist it!
Based on the cars that you have chosen to be the right fit for you, list out those that are under your budget. Remember, you have shortlisted the cars based on your personality and lifestyle, rather than being influenced by others.
Decide if you must modify
The last step is to decide whether you want to modify and make certain changes to the car that you have shortlisted. After-market modifications can be a temptation, but is it necessary? Larger exhaust systems, lowered suspension, turbo tuning, added power are among the popular modifications. But remember, these modifications must pass an engineering signatories inspection, and it can cause a dent in the resale value of your car as well.
Before you buy a car, make sure to investigate its pros and cons; and before you invest in one, don’t forget to judge its safety.
