Tips for buying a new car
February 27, 2019
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Buying a vehicle rates as one of life’s big purchases. Here are some things to think about before you take the first step of your car buying journey.
After a home, a car is the second most expensive purchase that most people make in their lives. So it’s worth putting some time into choosing the right car in Darwin for your lifestyle and budget, as well as the best finance option for you.
The information contained in this guide will help you make a final purchase with confidence, knowing that you’ve covered off the most important considerations, plus a few that are important just to you. So whether you’re looking to buy your first car, second car or tenth car, we hope this guide will assist you on your car buying journey.
It all starts here
You may already have an idea of the car you’d like. But before you start looking, there are a few things you’ll need to consider:
- The type of car that will best suit your needs
- How much you can realistically afford
- On Going Costs
- New, Used or Demonstrator
- Stay up to date with the latest specials
What will you use the car for?
Think about why you need a car and where and how far you will be driving it.
Do you drive mostly short distances, parking mainly in the city, with the occassional trip to Berry Springs or Litchefield. Then a smaller car might work for you.
Or do you live in Palmerston, Howard Springs or Humpty Doo and require a commute on the Stuart Hwy to and from Darwin everyday? In this case, a sedan could be the better option.
Do you expect to have more than one passenger on a regular basis and will you need space for equipment or sports gear? A four-door, or perhaps a hatch or small SUV may be the answer.
Also consider if there’s likely to be a baby or small children on board in the near future. If you have a young family or are planning one, then you’ll need a boot big enough for a pram and room for capsules and/or baby seats.
It’s important you take everything into consideration when deciding on your vehicle needs and whilst you can spend hours on the internet doing your research, it always pays to ask an expert.
“Our friendly sales consultants will assist you in narrowing down your options to help with choosing the right vehicle for your needs.”
– Tegan Blockey, Sales Manager
Set a realistic budget
Whether you’re looking at buying your first car, second car for work or recreational use, it’s important to work out what you can realistically afford.
Be sure in the long term, you will need to allow for fuel and running costs such as servicing, tyres and vehicle registration.Servicing costs can also mount up, so it’s worth checking whether capped price servicing is available.
When you buy a new Toyota from Bridge Toyota Darwin and Palmerston, you don’t have to worry about unexpected and astronomical service costs. Every Toyota across the range comes with a low capped price service cost for a set number of years/kilometres. To find out more about Toyota’s Capped Price Servicing and Terms and Conditions click here.
Finance Options
If you decide to use finance to pay for your car, there are various options open to you.
With so many different lenders out there, it’s hard to know who to pick. Some people choose to go to their bank thinking their bank has their best interests at heart. Sure it may seem like an advantage to keep everything with your bank, but at Bridge Toyota we specialise in financing motor vehicles allowing us to offer flexible packages.
We offer a variety of great loan options to get you into your new car sooner than you think and we offer options for both personal and business finance. Some financial institutions can take up to 2 weeks before approval, however in most cases we can have you approved and ready to drive away in 24 hours.
We also have access to an easy and flexible way to put you in complete control when you’re buying a new Toyota called Toyota Access. The great thing about Toyota Access is it enables you to choose the car you really want today and still keep your options open tomorrow. Whatever stage you’re at in life – going off to university, starting out on a career, settling down with a family or getting your life back as the kids leave home – you can have confidence about what’s ahead.
To read more about Toyota Access click here. (Will open in new window)
At Bridge Toyota we only specialise in financing motor vehicles allowing us to offer flexible packages.
– Mike Sproule, F&I Manager
New, Used or Demonstrator
New
One of the most appealing parts about buying a new car is that you can buy precisely the make, model, grade and colour that you want.
It will have the benefit of all the latest technology and safety research. In addition Bridge Toyota also offers competitive interest rates on new cars which can help make them more affordable for the average buyer. For many people a new car is simply about peace of mind.
Used Car
A used car can make sense if your budget doesn’t stretch to a new car or you want to get a higher grade of car for your money.
The downside to buying a used car is the difficulty in making sure you get what you pay for. Nobody wants to buy a lemon. So it’s important to check the history of the car and get independent advice.
All Bridge Toyota Used Cars come with Bridge Toyota’s 7 Day Money Back Guarantee, 120 safety checks and background checks so you can buy with peace of mind.
Demonstrator
If you’re still undecided about whether to buy new or used, you could consider a demonstrator. We refer to them as demo for short. There is the opportunity to save and potentially a lot of value.
A demonstrator is the car that customers take for test drives. It will have some kilometres on the clock. Expect a lower price based on the age of the car and the kilometres driven. A demonstrator is likely to be the current model and have a few options and accessories over the standard equipment but they aren’t always available, so you may have to compromise on colour & grade.
As a demonstrator is already registered, it will have a balance of registration and new car warranty. Each car will be different.
Stay in the loop
Whether you’re looking for a car next week or next year, one thing is certain. No one likes to miss out on a great deal! One of the best ways to keep in the loop is by subscribing to our email newsletter. It contains the latest Bridge Toyota offers, motoring tips and news.
Fear not. We won’t use your details for anything else and you can unsubscribe at any time!
