What you should think about when buying your first car; Suzanne Keane has some advice
If you’ve never driven before choosing your first car can be a nightmare. Of course, it’s important to take driving lessons from a professional but if you want plenty of practice before your test it’s always useful to have your own set of wheels.
1 – Don’t Supersize it
Unless you’re planning on travelling long distance on a regular basis it will be much easier to learn how to drive in a smaller car – especially if your parking skills aren’t quite up to scratch yet.
2 – Basic is best
If you can drive a manual car with no power steering the world is your oyster. That doesn’t mean you have to ignore all of the little luxurious options – just don’t pick something that’s too easy! Parking sensors are a big no if you ever want to be able to drive a car without them.
3 – Bump in the night
Unpainted bumpers, mirrors and steel wheels will be much more forgiving if you accidentally hit off of lamp posts or kerbs when you’re learning. Once you’ve figured out a 3 point turn and reverse parking you can upgrade to some shiny paintwork.
4 – Engine size
Insurance isn’t cheap, especially for learners so a smaller engine size will generally be cheaper to insure. Keep well away from “sporty” models until you’ve passed your test.
5 – Maintenance
Make sure to learn how to change a wheel, check oil and coolant levels and how to check your tyre pressure before you ever make it out on the road!
Before you splash out check our guide to buying a used car and Once you’ve purchased be sure to let us know.
Suzanne Keane
22 June 2020
