| Deciding which kind of vehicle you want can often be | | | | passenger room (if any) do you need? How much |
| the most enjoyable part of buying a new vehicle. | | | | luggage room? |
| However, it's important to be able to draw the | | | | 4. What kind of fuel do you need? Although diesel |
| distinction between what you would like and what you | | | | engines are more frugal than petrol ones, they can be |
| need, as they can be two completely different things. | | | | more expensive to produce and so you will have to |
| For instance, it's all very well hankering after a stylish | | | | fork out a premium for them. You'll normally have to |
| little two-seater, but if you're searching for a car to | | | | cover tens of thousands of kilometers before you get |
| ferry the kids to school, then you'll probably have to | | | | that premium back, so if you do not drive very far, or |
| settle for something a bit more practical. So before | | | | are buying an economical town car or supermini, then |
| you get too seduced by slick car literature, check out | | | | a diesel may simply not be worth your while. However, |
| the following tips to help you pick the vehicle which will | | | | having a diesel engine usually increases a car's resale |
| fulfill all of your requirements and that will maximise its | | | | value, so you need to look at the difference in fuel |
| potential resale value. | | | | economy, the number of miles a year you typically |
| | | | drive and how long you'll keep the vehicle before |
| 1. When looking at how much you are able to afford, | | | | making a choice between petrol and diesel. |
| don't just examine the purchase price of the vehicle; | | | | 5. Would you like an automatic or a manual gearbox? |
| you must also look at how much it will cost to fuel, tax | | | | If you spend a long time sitting in traffic, then it may be |
| and insure. It's also worth determining the level of | | | | worth thinking about buying an automatic. However, |
| depreciation for that car, particularly if you are planning | | | | you need to keep in mind that cars with an automatic |
| to sell within a few years. | | | | gearbox use more gas than an equivalent manual. |
| 2. What kind of size and shape car would you like? | | | | 6. Think about what colour you would like, but try and |
| Two, three, four or five door? Saloon, coupe, sports, | | | | choose one that will not go out of fashion. Black, red |
| estate, roadster, SUV (sports utility vehicle) or MPV | | | | and silver cars hold their resale value well, whilst bright |
| (multi-purpose vehicle)? Does it fit into your garage? | | | | colors such as yellow or orange are not usually such a |
| 3. What do you need the car for? How much | | | | good idea. |