When you go to buy your first car, the sheer number of options you have is overwhelming. Millions of cars saturate the market, while more enter it every day. You have tens of makes, hundreds of models, and even variations within these model types. Plus, there’s this sense of folk wisdom surrounding the automobile—everyone has an allegiance to certain manufacturers and enduring criticism for others.
Wading through this mess isn’t simple. For some guidance, read through these four choices you make when buying your first car and advice on making them.
Manual vs. Automatic Transmission
To begin, you need to land on your preferred driving style. An automatic transmission gives a different experience than a manual one. Manual transmissions demand more effort from the driver as they transition to different gears with the use of another pedal—the clutch. That said, these drivers report a unique oneness with their car due to this hands-on interaction. Manuals are often cheaper to buy, too, yet used ones may have damage from previous drivers who shifted poorly.
Meanwhile, an automatic transmission works by, naturally, shifting gears automatically within much driver input. There’s a beautiful simplicity to them, and none of the gear-shifting issues a manual may have. Pick what fits you best.
New vs. Used
Another choice you make when buying your first car is whether to shop at the dealer or the used car lot. When considering risk, it’s always safer to go with a new car. That said, finding a used car with a consistent maintenance history could provide you a greater deal, given used cars’ lower costs.
In general, though, many advise car shoppers to only buy a car valued at 20 percent of their annual income. For some people, this means they need to choose a used vehicle.
Is It a Cash Purchase or Are You Financing?
Also connected to the new vs. used conversation is whether you’ll finance or pay with cash. If you have a substantial chunk for a down payment and a solid credit score, you can afford to finance because the loan you’ll pay back will likely be low interest. This typically pertains to new cars. If you’re looking at used models, cash is wisest. While used car financing is possible, its terms and rates are sometimes aggressive.
What Peripheral Features Will You Prioritize?
To narrow down your search, consider what features mean the most to you. If you don’t know, pay attention to friends’ and family members’ vehicles and test drive a number of vehicles. The number of seats is a big of a feature as fuel efficiency. Beyond these hallmarks, there are a bunch of other features, including:
- Power-Driven Driver’s Seat Adjuster
- Blind Spot Warning
- V6 vs. V4
- Leather vs. Standard
- A Quality Speaker System
When it comes down to choosing, make sure you know what’s a must and what’s more of a want and you’ll make the right decision.
