Buying a new car in Nigeria is always a thing of joy and a necessity but 5 deadly mistakes can be made when buying new cars that may turn this otherwise sweet experience into a sour one. Your friends and family will surely help you celebrate this feat but before that, they might try to warn you about the mistakes they made when buying their car, Surely, they will warn you to stay away from the mechanic by the roadside but that is like taking medicine after an illness. Before you buy a car, you should know some big mistakes to avoid.
Here are 5 big mistakes to avoid when buying your next car
1. Avoid waiving the test drive:
The test drive is a super important part of buying a new car. To avoid making a big mistake, never waive the test drive. Test driving exposes the car to the average everyday use on the road and any deficiencies you see while on the test drive can only get worse. Some problems like overheating, clutch problems, and brake pad issues can only be seen on a test drive. Always make sure to push the car to its limits during the test drive. Go on a test drive for about half an hour or as recommended. For first-time drivers, driving as many as 7 cars will suffice before making a choice.
2. Checking only one dealership:
Dealers make you feel like they are giving you the best deal while ripping you off. Always have a car in mind and check out multiple dealerships to see what best suits your needs and the best offer you can get. Settling for checking only one dealership is one of the deadly mistakes you must avoid.
3. Focus on the price:
When buying a new car, the focus should be more on the deal than on the price. A number of features determine the price of a car. Features like mileage, condition (Foreign used or locally used), the year of production, the interior of the car, the model, the trim of the car (base model, sport, luxury, etc) all contribute to the overall price of the car, so the focus should be on the deal and not on the price. If you focus only on the price, you will most likely get a problematic car which would cost you a fortune trying to bring it to a comfortable level.
4. Incomplete research:
Many people are always in a rush to get a new car, and as such, they do not give their due diligence to researching the details of the car they want to get. They do not research the fuel economy, availability of parts and mechanics to fix it, specifications, major pain points, and so on. Needless to say, this is one of the deadly mistakes you will certainly regret later on.
5. Buying based on sentiments:
Buying based on sentiments can be very detrimental to the whole idea of buying used cars. This could include buying a particular color even though it’s not what you want or patronizing a particular dealer because you have something in common, even when he doesn’t have the best deal. Buying based on looks is also a part of being sentimental.
There are other big mistakes people make when trying to buy their next car, but we will focus on these 5 for now so you will avoid them when getting yours. These mistakes may seem really minor, but in the long run, they would end up leaving you frustrated, wishing you never bought it in the first place.
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