The Car Buyer's Bible

The Car Buyer’s Bible Part 2: The Buyer’s Guide In part 2 of this eBook, we’ve got something for everyone - no matter what type of car you’re looking for, be it a city run-around or an off-roading machine. Simply find the type of car you’re after in our guide for hints and tips when it comes to narrowing down your choices and making decisions. Our featured experts provide their top advice for each type of car – saving you stress and money, safe in the knowledge that you’re making the right decision on your next car. Contents 2.1 The Car About Town: City Hatchbacks 2.2 Homes On Wheels: First-Class Family Cars 2.3 Eco-Friendly Cars for the Green Revolution 2.4 Off-Road Adventures: The World’s Finest 4x4s 2.5 Performance and Luxury Cars: Going Grand on a Budget 2.6 Pre-Loved Perks: Why It Pays to Buy Used Cars 2.7 Accessible Driving: Motors for Mobility 2.1 The Car About Town: City Hatchbacks Whether you need a car to tackle the morning traffic, or to nip to the shops – city living definitely requires a specific type of vehicle. The general consensus is that smaller is better. With narrow streets, squeezing into tight parking spots and bumper-to-bumper traffic part of the everyday city charm, your priorities when buying a city car need to keep these factors in mind. With that said, the small car market is perhaps the biggest in the UK, with super-minis like the popular Ford Fiesta breaking sales records up and down the country. And down-sizing on your car doesn’t mean sacrificing the fun. In fact, many of today’s super-minis are some of the best drives around - offering stylish design, great handling and strong economy figures in one compact package. Featured Expert: Andrew Jervis, co-founder of ClickMechanic.com, shares his recommendations when it comes to choosing a car for city life. With city populations growing and available space shrinking, choosing the right car to get around town can keep money in your pocket and help the environment. Therefore, for me, it has to be a small car every time – and if you’re looking for a sweet little runner and value for money, you'll be hard pushed to match what the Kia Picanto can offer. With being cheaper than most other major city cars but offering some sleek looks, great fuel economy and a 7 year warranty, I’m sure you won't be disappointed. Easy parking With parking at a premium in the city, it may be wise to opt for parking sensors as part of your vehicle’s spec. The vast majority of new cars today offer reverse parking sensors as an additional option – if they’re not already included on the standard model. The vast majority of systems use small radar detectors built into the bumpers of your car which alert the driver through an audible “ping”, increasing in frequency as you get too close to an object – be that another car, curb, bollard or wall. High-spec vehicles may even be available with a reverse parking camera system. This uses a small camera at the rear of the car which feeds directly to a screen on the car’s dashboard when the car is in reverse. The camera is angled in such a way that the driver gets a wide angle view of their car’s rear bumper, allowing them to avoid any bumps or scrapes when manoeuvring in tight spaces. Image source: Michael Gil Made for traffic Most popular super-minis today come with super-efficient engine options – with the likes of the Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa coming with a line-up of economical three-cylinder engines. If you spend a lot of your time in slow moving traffic, avoid diesel engines as these need to run at high speeds regularly in order to maintain efficiency. Petrol, hybrid and electric vehicles are far more efficient at low speeds and on short journeys than their diesel counterparts, saving you money on your daily city commute. If you’re buying new, look for a car with a start-stop system. These systems automatically cut-out the engine when you come to stop and put your car in neutral as soon - as you put your foot on the clutch to get back into gear, the engine will automatically re-start. Surely all that stopping and starting can’t be good for your engine? Modern start-stop systems are specifically designed to efficiently stop and start the engine whenever you come to a stand-still, without draining your cars battery or inflicting any additional wear to the engines components. A start-stop system will save you serious Pounds at the petrol pump in the long-run, especially if you spend most of your time in traffic jams or waiting at the lights. Congestion charges For London based commuters who need a car to get around, paying the Congestion Charge on a daily basis can soon add up. There are, however, numerous workarounds for avoiding paying the toll on your daily journey through Central London. Transport for London offer exemptions or discounts known as ULED (Ultra Low Emissions Discount) for certain vehicle types. If you’re investing in a car in the Big Smoke, it may be worthwhile exploring vehicles which are either exempt or offer a discount on the Congestion Charge. For full details on escaping the expensive charge, check out the TFL website. 2.2 Homes on Wheels: First-Class Family Cars Starting your own family can mean a big lifestyle change, in more ways than one! It can also mean it’s time to trade in your favourite two-seater for something a little more practical. Family considerations Obviously your requirements will depend on the size of your family and the age of your children. However, other factors to consider include usage habits, budget, boot space and any extra capacity you might need for infrequent extra passengers. Five-door vehicles win hands down when it comes to kids - regardless of whether or not your children are young enough to require a car seat, rear doors are a godsend when it comes to getting in and out of the car with ease. There’s a broad range of options when it comes to selecting a family car, with numerous types of vehicles being marketed towards the family market. Hatchbacks, MPVs (Multi-Purpose Vehicles), crossovers and estates all have their own set of benefits. The choice comes down to your requirements and personal preferences. Image source: Toyota Motor Europe Size matters Mid-size hatchbacks like the VW Golf and Ford Focus offer an ideal compromise between space and economy. They’re small enough to drive easily and they’re economical, but they also offer plenty of space for a family of 4 to travel in comfort - with plenty of room for luggage in the boot. If you’ve got a family of 5 or more, a larger MPV, crossover or estate car may be more suitable for your needs. Many of the MPVs and crossovers on the market today offer up to 7 seats, including the funky Citroen Grand Picasso and elegant Ford Grand C-Max offer plenty of interior space without sacrificing style - keeping both the driver and the kids happy. Featured Expert: Becky Goddard-Hill of Family-Budgeting.co.uk shares her expert insights when it comes to finding a practical family car on a budget. When investing in a car, it is important to emphasise practicality, particularly if you are on a budget. Substance over style is important, so it needs to be worth every penny. You also need to think about what is most important to you. Do you really need built in DVD players and a massive boot if you only have one child who already has a portable tablet? Don't be swayed by extras and don't get too fixed on colour or models...keep an open mind - that’s how you get the best bargain. Keeping costs down Family life can get expensive and, with that in mind, it’s important that your choice of car keeps within budget when it comes to running costs. Diesel engines generally offer better economy figures, especially on longer journeys. It may also be worth researching which of your top choices are the most reliable and have the lowest maintenance costs. Check out Cap.co.uk to calculate the expected running costs for your next vehicle. Make sure you budget for your car finance payments, fuel, tax, insurance and leave room to spare for any other unexpected bills. 2.3 Eco-Friendly Cars for the Green Revolution If you’re looking for a new car but want to be sure that it’s eco-friendly, that’s no problem. By going green, you can find the car that’s right for you without sacrificing your environmental concerns. Cost-effectiveness Eco-friendly vehicles are an excellent investment. While electric cars in particular may be more expensive to buy up-front, they are infinitely cheaper to run – meaning the long-term economic benefits are great indeed. Lower emissions In addition to saving you money on running costs, electric and hybrid cars also help you do your part to save the environment. CO2 emissions are much lower for eco-friendly vehicles, with the sweet spot falling below 100g/km of CO2 – meaning you’ll even be exempt from road tax. Super-efficient vehicles which emit 75g/km of CO2 or less are also free of London’s expensive daily Congestion Charge.

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