There are many things to be considered when purchasing a new car including car finance availability, second hand cars, engine size, passenger capacity, and the reputation of the manufacturer. However, the colour of the car that you choose can often be just as important, as it is the first thing you and everyone else will notice about your new car. The type of paint is also important.

Metallic paint can sometimes come as an optional extra so, while it has always been popular, it could cost you extra on top of the already considerable expense of buying your car. Although you might have to pay £500 for a metallic paint finish, it could add around £2,000 to the final price when listing your car on Autotrader for resale later.

It might seem trivial but getting the right colour for the type of car you are buying will affect your ability to sell it on later. For example, white works well on sports cars but does not really work with much else and will hinder your ability to sell it.

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The used car market is huge the United Kingdom, with the industry turning over some £24 billion every year. For a great number of people, after buying a house, a car is the second most costly purchase they will make during their lifetime, so it is one that should be considered very carefully. When looking for very cheap cars the majority of prospective purchasers turn away from the new car market and instead look for better deals on used cars.

When searching for a used Mercedes or Audi A3 for sale there is a range of different places one can look. These vary from private and franchised car dealerships, auction sales and of course private sales.

There are a number of different sources to look for private sales, whether it is the local newspaper or on the internet. With the development and accessibility of the internet having increased so much in recent years, there are many more sites on which to buy used cars than ever before.

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Carcraft provides all kinds of services for people looking for a used car, or those who simply love cars.  Along with guides on various types of cars, Carcraft can also assist with financing a new or used car for a buyer.

Carcraft car finance offers a range of options to suit any car buyer’s budget.  These options are designed to fit a variety of situations so that everyone can find the financing option that is right for them.

Carcraft even has its own finance team working with customers.  This allows Carcraft to design a finance package that is tailored to each driver.  Regardless of their budget or other concerns of the buyer, Carcraft car finance can customise financing to each individual person.  Carcraft does this by working with many different finance companies.  This allows them to offer a wide range of finance options to fit any person’s situation.   

Carcraft also allows people to spread their payments over several years to make repaying their loan easier.  People can choose to pay for two, three, four or even five years.  This allows some flexibility in the financing of the new or used car.  The initial deposit is also flexible; it can start at as low a price as £99, or go up to whatever the person can afford or wants to pay.  In addition, Carcraft offers to adjust the APR on the loan to fit an individual’s needs and personal circumstances.

Carcraft can also offer a bespoke car finance package to suit each individual.  Car buyers simply need to talk to a Carcraft representative about what they can afford to put down and pay.  Then Carcraft will work with the person to craft a financing package that works for them, bearing in mind the kind of car they want.

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Buying a brand new car is a major financial investment.  The buyer has to make the best decisions they can about which car, where to buy it, and how to pay for it.

Research various types of cars in order to choose the one that best suits your needs.  For example, a parent will need to bear in mind the practicalities of any car: if it is big enough for all the family; if it is important to have five doors rather than three; and if a large amount of boot space is necessary.  Consider what type of journeys you will use the car for; if mainly short journeys round town, a small runabout may be ideal.  If you travel long distances regularly, it may be worth investing in something slightly larger and more comfortable.  Be aware of the fuel efficiency of the car.  If you regularly make long journeys, you should research and compare which models provide more miles to the gallon.

Once you have decided what type of car you want, for example a small three-door hatchback, have a look at models from different manufacturers.  It is useful to do this either on manufacturer’s website or in brochures.  However, the best way of knowing if the car is exactly what you want is by visiting showrooms and test-driving the vehicles.  Salespeople will do their best to encourage you to buy, but keep an open mind and visit as many manufacturers as possible to find your perfect car.

Before going to a showroom to buy your chosen vehicle, look into car finance options.  Work out how much you can afford to pay each month and how long it will take to pay for the car in full.  Also look out for special deals that manufacturers may have, for example low interest rates, and do not be afraid to haggle with a salesperson for a good deal.  If you are unsure of exactly what you are signing for, do not sign.  Feel free to ask for all the information on paper, then take it home and study the information until you are completely sure that you are making a sound and valuable investment.

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There are many online companies offering car credit so it is essential that the buyer shop around to secure the best deal. Car credit online has the advantage of being easily comparable with other companies that may have been approached. It is possible to apply provisionally for car credit even before seeing the car wanted for purchase, because in that way one has definite repayment figures and a set APR which makes it really easy to stay within the parameters of the initial loan amount without being seduced into spending more than can comfortably be afforded.

Online car credit companies usually gives an on the spot decision and the loan can be held good for a certain amount of time, giving the buyer time to beetle off and secure the vehicle itself. The same is true of High Street lenders; car credit can be applied for and obtained provisionally with a shelf-life of, for example, two weeks so that a prospective buyer can car shop with confidence knowing the finance has already been secured.

Always be sure that any company offering car credit is regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). The final agreement for car credit should always be in writing and signed by a representative of the finance company and the buyer. UK law states there is always a cooling off period for credit agreements during which an individual can decide not to go through with the loan without incurring penalties.

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Some used car dealers are more specialised than others. While most sell all types of used cars, there are others that only concentrate on a single type of vehicle. For example, Exeter Small Automatics has only small used automatic cars for sale. They are aware of their customers’ concerns for the environment and so give them what they want; small used automatic cars. This may sound very limiting, but with around a hundred automatic cars for sale, they clearly do not find such specialisation to be overly constraining for them. 

The company’s website has detailed information on driving an automatic car, as there are clearly concerns that many of their customers will have only driven manual cars in the past, and may be worried about the prospect of changing to an automatic. The website reassures the reader that an automatic is much easier to drive than a manual car. Exeter Small Automatics also provide access to financing from Black Horse, making it possible to arrange a loan and buy a car on the same site.

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There are many car sales forecourts and dealerships that have a wide cross section of automatic cars for sale, depending on the individual’s requirements and budget. Both diesel and petrol automatic cars are widely available.

The prospective purchaser has to decide whether they are looking for a small city car, a model that will be suitable for long distance driving or a high-performance sports car. Whatever the reason for choosing to buy an automatic car, you will be assured of a smooth and effortless drive to your destination; short or long journeys become a pleasure.

If you have a particular make of car and model in mind you can look at various websites to find out what is currently available. Bearing in mind this could involve you having to travel some distance it is essential to make a firm appointment for a test drive, so that you do not have a wasted journey. 

Once a suitable automatic car has been found, a decision has to be made regarding whether a part exchange deal is preferred, if it is to be an outright purchase or if car finance will be required to complete the deal.

The car will most probably have a warranty and you should be able to take it to a dealer in your own area, should there any repair work be required.

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Buying a new, used or part exchange car from a dealership can be a difficult process and while most aim to give a good and honest deal, a few are known to use underhand tactics to get more money from a customer. Some unscrupulous practices by car dealerships include:

•    Spot Delivery – This is when dealer tells you the cost of your car and then after taking a deposit, lets you drive home even though the deal is not finalised. You then receive a call from the dealer telling you that as a result of the credit check, they can no longer offer this and either you have to return the car, or pay more for the vehicle. Make sure the contract is complete before you give over any money and look for the words, “subject to financing,” which will tell you the contract is not, in fact, complete.

•    Additional Dealer Mark-ups (ADM) – ADM can include any number of extra costs such as rust proofing, undercoating and dealer preparation to name but a few. These charges are often pre-printed on the form to give the impression they are fixed. However all ADM charges tend to be for things that take no more than two hours work in total so do not be afraid to negotiate.

•    Credit Reports when Paying Cash – If you’re not going to finance with a dealership, then do not allow them to run a credit check as every time this happens your credit score may decrease slightly.

•    Check the Final Costs – Do not trust a dealer to get the maths right, do it yourself. Whether an honest mistake or something more sinister, totals don’t always match so make sure any down payments, money from part exchanged cars and any rebates are factored into the equation.

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There are many places where it is possible to find used cars for sale. This article looks at some of the most popular options.

On the Web

Motors.co.uk is a popular used cars website run by Northcliffe Media, which owns the Daily Mail and a large percentage of Britain’s local newspapers. Another popular site is autotrader.co.uk, the website of the best-selling magazine. Both sites ask you to select a make and model and provide your postcode, so that you can find suitable used cars for sale in your area. If you do not have a specific make and model in mind, you can enter other features, such as price range, mileage, colour etc.

In Print

Since not everyone has access to the web, print media, as a source of used Mercedes adverts, is not entirely dead yet. Both the websites mentioned above are offshoots of print media, while Motors.co.uk is the brand name used by the car ad supplement in many of the Northcliffe Group’s local papers. Whilst it takes longer to search through ads if you are looking for something specific, it can actually be quicker to browse a print publication if you are not quite sure what you are looking for.

At a Dealership

Another way to find used cars for sale is through good old-fashioned shoe leather; visiting local used car dealers to see what is on offer. The advantage of this method is that you can actually see the cars for yourself, rather than relying on photographs and lists of features. If one takes your fancy, you can always take it for a test drive. Visiting dealerships yourself ensures that you only see cars that are local to you, so you know you will not have travel 50 miles if you see a great ad in the paper or on the web.

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When purchasing a new car, there are several steps that can be taken to ensure that the vehicle is suited to the buyer’s needs. There are several factors that the buyer should look for, which may affect their very ability to drive the car.

There are a number of practical considerations to be met. For example, if the driver is especially short, they should look into seats that are height adjustable or at least a car with a high driver’s seat.

Another major consideration is annual mileage. If the purchaser expects to record a high mileage on their new vehicle, they should look into a fuel-efficient car, whereas those who are not travelling consistently far may not need to worry about the efficiency of their vehicle quite so much.

There are several avenues through which buyers can shop for their car. The simplest is still to go down to a dealership and take a look around. This is especially helpful if the buyer knows the brand of car they would like to purchase, as dealerships are often manufacturer specific. Buying the car in person is also the best way to get a good deal and helps to ensure that the purchaser gets exactly what they want.

Even if the driver is not sure what actual model of vehicle they want, knowing the general specifications they are looking for is crucial when approaching car sales. If the buyer is planning on taking regular holidays with the family, they may want a sports utility vehicle; if they are looking for something a little more interesting, they may decide to go for a sports car.

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