CAR CHECKLIST
Decision Time Choosing the right car can be a daunting decision. There are so many considerations, from style and colour, to average MPG and boot space. How do you know that you are making the right decision for you? Here are some pointers to keep in mind when you are choosing your next set of wheels.
Style
Finance
It is important to remember that you don’t want to choose style over substance. However, we all want to drive a car that we like the look of and enjoy cruising around town in, and if it turns the occasional head that’s a bonus. You probably have an idea of the style of car you want, whether that be a compact city car or a chunky SUV, but make sure you look at all the options in your preferred category. You may have to compromise on style in some aspects but hopefully this will be the best option in the long run. Colour and interior can be a big deciding factor, not many of us are drawn to a lime green car but maybe it’s your bag? Bright colours certainly help you stand out from the crowd if that’s the impact you are looking for. Don’t undervalue the importance of the interior, you want to enjoy getting into your car and driving it, especially if you spend a lot of time in it. Look for cars that use higher quality materials on the dash that won’t damage or mark easily, this will help maintain that ‘new car’ feel.
A major factor in choosing a car is affordability. You may aspire to own a top-of-the-range Tesla or dream of the day you are cruising around in a Bentley without a care in the world, but until then you will probably have to put a more realistic budget in place. Once you have identified what your Motability Scheme allowance is, you can factor in other costs too. Are you willing to pay an advance payment for a higher end vehicle? If so, how much? Have you considered how much driving you will be doing in your new car? Fuel consumption can vary vastly between cars and with so many electric vehicles on the market nowadays, you may find the electric route the most financially viable for your needs.
Practicality Think about who is going to be travelling in your car regularly. Is it just you or do you have a family to accommodate? Perhaps you need to consider adaptations to allow you to safely drive your vehicle or maybe you need to look at wheelchair accessible vehicles? Whatever your needs, make sure you take everything into account when choosing the right vehicle for you. Consider things like boot space; do you need to store a wheelchair, pram, equipment or luggage? Would it help if the seats folded down in a certain way, or do you require decent-sized cubby holes near the driver’s seat so you can access them easily? Make a list of all the attributes you would like your car to have and check them off when considering your options.
Choosing a car is a big decision, it is considered an essential item for many and can offer independence and freedom like no other form of transport. Take your time, decide what is important to you and don’t overstretch your budget, it’s not worth worrying over how you will pay your rent each month just because you splurged on a really nice car.
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