If cost is your first consideration when choosing your second-hand car, you must consider all the factors involved in your new purchase, not just the basic used car prices .
Factor one, the most obvious, is the price of the car itself. You can keep your costs down by doing internet research. There are several price comparison websites on the internet, and by doing your research carefully, you can be reasonably sure of the keenest price. Even if you finally decide to buy locally, you can use the knowledge to negotiate the price down.
Factor two, any additional costs in necessary repairs must be taken into account into the overall price. There may be no point in buying the cheapest car available if you have to fork out to have the clutch repaired or the paint work touched-up.
Factor three, petrol consumption. This is one of the most important factors, as, obviously, it is an ongoing cost. That gas-guzzler may seem a bargain at the time, but it may end up costing far more in the long run than that more expensive but fuel-efficient model.
Factor four – insurance. Make sure you obtain some insurance quotes before you buy to ensure that the cost of insuring your dream car is not prohibitive.
Factor five, warranty. If you are buying from a private source, you are unlikely to be covered by any sort of warranty. If you are willing to take the risk, you could end up with a bargain, but unless you have a good knowledge of cars, you could end up paying out a fortune for defects that only become apparent after the purchase.
