Cars

Tips to consider when choosing your first car

 
Choosing your first car can be a thrilling experience. It can also be exasperating, especially if you aren’t sure what you are looking for. Decide what your budget is and don’t go over it. Don’t even look at cars that are over your budget. If you set your heart on a car that is thousands over your budget, you’ll only be frustrated when you have to start looking at less expensive cars again and they pale in comparison to the expensive car you were eyeing. Avoid buying a car simply because you like the way it looks. Make sure that you know what is under the hood is functional. Take... Read More »

Tread ready for festive season.

 
With those frosty mornings soon approaching and that dreading freezing hand after scraping the ice from your vehicle windows, well that is the least of you worries of you have not prepared your tyres for the icy cold season ahead. Making sure your tyres are ready for those unpredictable icy or snowy conditions. Checking the tread is at least 3mm, as a bold tyre will only cause accidents and reduce the friction needed for breaking. A good tip is to rotate you tyres, helping them to last longer so they get an even wear to them, buying you an extra few miles. If the blistery weather warnings are apparent, getting... Read More »

Buying a used car – What to look out for

 
When you’re buying a used car, it’s important to make sure you do your homework before you let the seller part with your money and here are some quick tips to let you know what to check. Firstly, you’ll want to make sure the overall condition of the car is good, even if it is used. Check underneath for rust and make sure there are no holes in the bodywork or the exhaust. You should also check under the hood to see if everything looks in order. Remember a clean engine can sometimes mean the owner is trying to hide something, so if it looks well used that isn’t necessarily... Read More »

Buying a Used Car on Gumtree

 
Many people around the world use Gumtree to buy used vehicles, and though you can grab yourself a great deal, there are certain things you need to be made aware of beforehand. First things first, you’ll need to make sure that the person behind the advert is a genuine seller and not a scammer. To know whether they’re real, it is best to ring them to arrange a viewing. If they only contact you via email, decline calls and ask for any kind of money up front they’re likely to be scammer so you do need to be careful. You’ll also need to make sure that the car gets thoroughly... Read More »

Why your used car may not be worth as much as you think

 
It’s crazy to think that a new car loses value as soon as you drive off the forecourt and by the end of the first year will have lost around 40% of its value! These are the statistics from the AA and though this is a rough guide, the depreciation rate varies a lot so at best you may lose as little as 10% after your first year. So what about your car then? If you’ve owned your vehicle for three years, you could face a depreciation rate of around 60%. Having a car lose that amount of worth in just three years seems ludicrous but of course it will... Read More »