Getting your license and your first car is a huge life changer for you. It opens up a whole new world because now you can drive and have the freedom to come and go as you please. When I was buying my first car I didn’t really care what it looked like, I was just happy to have a car. And with that in mind, I’d like to point out a few things to consider when buying your first car.
First of all, don’t feel bad if your first car isn’t a new 2008 Mustang GT, but rather a 1990 Chevy Lumina. A car that’s reliable but still has a few small issues. It’s not the kind of issues that prevent it from working, but small issues (like the cup holders don’t work anymore). Once the driver gets a job and starts making money, he can easily troubleshoot and learn how to do a little car maintenance to boot. It’s all worth it in the end.
Now when you search for that first, you need to know a few things. As I mentioned earlier, it doesn’t have to be a 2008 Mustang GT. Look for something you can afford without having to worry about it. Another thing you should do is ask a lot of questions. Even if you are buying the car from a friend, by law he has to tell you everything known to be wrong with the vehicle. Ask questions and you can find out if the car is worth buying. Also, don’t forget to check the car’s mileage. Many cars made a long time ago don’t run as well as newer cars if maintenance (such as tune-ups) is done regularly.
Another thing to consider is gas. The first thing you may notice is that gas prices are high. So getting a car that can get a lot of miles per gallon (MPG) will allow you to take more trips for less money. If the driver is the type who likes to hang out with many friends at once, then a four-door economy car is ideal. However, if you and your guy (or gal) are frequent riders, then a two-door car (which tends to run fine on gas) is a great start.
The last advice I would like to give you is that you know who you are going to buy the car from. He’s a friend? If so, is this friend trustworthy and honest? Do you get it from a used car dealer? Find out if the dealership has had problems with previous vehicles – ask around with friends and family. Also, before you buy a car, you should request a car history report. A historical report is exactly what it sounds like. It is a report of anything that has ever happened to the vehicle. If the vehicle crashed or was thrown into a lake, this report will let you know. Note that the car history report only contains the case if incidents are reported, so minor things may not be listed. Otherwise, this report will provide very useful information for anyone looking to buy a car, especially a first car.