I am frequently asked by students having lessons for the restricted driver’s licence, what should I buy for my first car?
There is a great deal of choice when selecting a car, so this is something best not rushed into and is a major purchase, a vehicle you may be owning for several years.
- What are your needs? This might be determined by the intended use of your vehicle, such
as a tradesperson – needing space for tools and materials, possibly a station wagon, van or
ute. A mother needing to transport children, in which case you could be travelling often and
the fuel economy is a major factor, so possibly a smaller car or hatchback car. Smaller
vehicles are also easier to park and generally cost less for tyres and maintenance. - What is your budget? So, you have your restricted driver’s licence and are keen to explore Christchurch and further afield. It is a good idea, particularly for your first car to buy a used vehicle and decide how much you can reasonably afford. I suggest, if possible, saving at least 50% of the purchase price and setting your repayments at a level you can comfortably meet, allowing for all your living expenses and the costs associated with owning a car. Having a plan to pay off a car is a goal to work towards and then you may consider using the value of that car to step -up to something else. Maybe now is a good time to move from your restricted driver’s licence, to your full driver’s licence.
- Where do I look for a car? Some buyers choose to buy through a vehicle dealer, and others
choose to buy a car privately, often for less cost than through a car dealer. Trade-me is very
popular – used by buyers and sellers of cars. You can set your search criteria, such as price
range, region in NZ, make and model of car and search by the year or age of the car. - Buying through a dealer has certain advantages, such as a warranty (depending on the age
of the car,) and usually the vehicle will be serviced and the car dealer should stand by the vehicle they are selling, as the good name of the business relies on happy customers. However, do be aware that they rely on commission and will be keen to make a sale. - If buying a used car through a dealer, or a private seller, it is a good idea to request a
mechanical check of the car through your local garage (sometimes the seller will request
that you pay for this, often around $100) - Also read reviews on the car you are considering and owner’s forums.
- Car serving costs and maintenance can vary significantly between car brands. Some older European brands can involve major costs for major servicing, such as cam belts and other car parts. Most Japanese brands tend to be reasonably priced for servicing and the cost of car parts.
- If buying a used car, be sure to find out if the car has a chain-driven engine or a cambelt
engine. A chain-driven motor will only need the usual oil changes but a cambelt motor will
require a new cambelt normally every 100000 km (some brands more frequently). This is
quite a major expense, and some owners will advertise their car for sale not long before a
cambelt needs replacing. - Car Safety Rating – All manufacturers have a safety rating of up to 5 stars for their vehicles.
The more stars, the more safety features, such as multiple airbags, ABS brakes, stability
control, and lane departure warning. Older cars, particularly around pre-2000, tend to have
few of these safety features. - General maintenance records. If possible, buy a vehicle will a history of any servicing and
available receipts. This often provides peace of mind knowing previous owners have regularly serviced the car. Japanese imports are often sold with no servicing history and any records are in Japanese. If you are buying a recently imported Japanese vehicle then have a major service carried out, including the automatic transmission.