Most important factors when buying a car are the top points every buyer should consider before making the final decision to purchase the automobile. It is quite challenging to make decisions today because of the wide variety of brands and makers. Each of them makes a promise to give customers what they expect from the car. Surely, manufacturers and brands speak volumes, but in some cases, it is not only about them. If you hunt for a second-hand car , a bunch of other factors are more relevant when deciding because those cars have gone through many things over time, and it is essential to be informed about that in advance to know what to expect from them.
In the following blog, we will discuss those factors in greater detail, which are more or less relevant, and why it is important to prioritize several aspects correctly when buying a car.
The most important factors when buying a car are budget, fuel efficiency, maintenance expenses, safety, insurance costs, and mileage. Surely, they are not all equal. It depends on different circumstances and situations. Also, your lifestyle and priorities matter when we talk about choosing the right car for you.
Below, we will examine each aspect closely. Let’s dive deeper and prioritize factors smartly for better results.
Budget is the number one factor as long as it acts as a filter when determining what you choose. Setting a budget will make it easier for you to make a smart choice. If you are thinking about a brand-new automobile, you may not care too much about finances. Used vehicles are always budget-friendly; however, their price also differs greatly depending on the maker, mileage, age, and many other reasons.
When we talk about budget, we do not only mean money for purchasing the automobile but also other potential expenses, such as fuel.
Some automobiles are more fuel-efficient, some are less. Fuel economy is the part of Most important factors when buying a car. Fuel expanses greatly affect the expanses. Good MPG ( miles per gallon) can be cost-effective in the long run. It means that you can cover more miles with less fuel.
There are no universal figures that can be considered the perfect MPG. “perfect” MPG doesn’t exist generally; it depends on the condition, maker, and type of the car, the side of the engine. Mpg is measured in different categories: city, Highway, and combined. Undoubtedly, the data is different considering the different road conditions. City mpg will always be lower than the Highway because it takes more energy to drive in the city, you need to slow down, and you need to accelerate or brake often. So, combined MPG gives us the bigger picture as it is an average number. Speaking generally, depending on the type of automobile. According to EPA statistics, the most and least efficient cars, depending on the size and combined mpg, are as follows:
Two-seaters
Compacts:
Large Cars:
One of the most important factors when buying a car is how much you may potentially spend to maintain and repair it. Sometimes, it is as important as the price of the car for many consumers. The reliability of the automobile does not guarantee that it will cost little for the owner. It may not need repair, but maintenance is inevitable. If you are searching for luxury models, you should expect that they will be expensive to maintain over time.
Consumer reports recommend that Americans purchase domestic brands if they are searching for luxury brands. Surprisingly, Tesla’s 10-year maintenance cost is less than Mercedes, BMW, or even Toyota.
Another report by Car Edge lists the most and least expensive models that are worth to purchase. As was expected, nearly 50% of the ranking is occupied by Toyota Models. Regarding the fact that Toyota cars are less expensive to maintain, they are also considered one of the most fuel-efficient. The list includes Mitsubishi, Honda, Nissan, and also even Tesla, which we mentioned before. Tesla Model 3 is the leader with low maintenance costs among electric cars, with a ten-year average cost of only $3,587 and the lowest chance of the repair need.
Safety is one more key aspect that people take into account when considering most important factors when buying a car. Due to the rise of modern technologies, manufacturers produce automobiles with advanced features that promise comfort and convenience for consumers. On the other hand, car theft is widespread nowadays in the same way it was in the previous century. So, safety remains the challenge for manufacturers. Consumers who prioritize safety choose the maker and model that promises advanced safety features. Speaking of safety, we do not only mean protecting from theft; we also mean protection from the potential danger of car crashes. It includes airbags, a Rearview camera, Pedestrian detection, Blind-spot monitoring, a Surround-view parking camera system, Adaptive cruise control, etc.
In 2024, it will not be compulsory to purchase luxury models to obtain advanced safety features. U.S. News & World Report (an American media company publishing news, consumer advice, rankings, and analysis) offers a list of automobiles with the best safety features. They analyze the data from crash test data from the NHTSA and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The ranking is as follows according to model safety score:
Purchasing a second-hand automobile is a long process if it is managed comprehensively. It includes in-depth research of each aspect and most important factors when buying a car. Among other aspects, one of the most important things worth paying attention to is mileage, as it can be a good indicator for buyers to judge a vehicle thoroughly. For example, extremely high mileage can predict that a car doesn’t have a good lifespan. On the other hand, extremely low mileage is the reason for concern.
So, the point is to take the mileage into account but not trust it unquestioningly. When checking mileage, you should consider the following scenarios:
The vehicle has very low mileage, but certain components have already been replaced.
Keep in mind that every vehicle has a maintenance schedule, and the replacement of components greatly depends on the mileage data. For example, Tires are replaced at a minimum of 20,000 miles. So if the seller reports that the 5000 miles and tires have been replaced, it is the subject of suspicion. Surely, it is not always the reason for suspicion. You can take it as one part of the puzzle if you suspect odometer fraud.
The vehicle has genuinely low mileage.
Low mileage is not unequivocally good or bad. The point is that low mileage data tells that the car experiences less wear and tear and is kept well. Undoubtedly, everyone wishes for a used car that looks brand new. However, cars that are stationary for a long time can negatively affect the overall health of the automobile. For example, they suffer from battery drain, tire and fluid deterioration, brake and suspension issues, corrosion, and a lot of other potential problems.
It is not always like that, and it mostly depends on the automobile’s owner. Low mileage doesn’t necessarily mean that it may suffer from these issues.
We all agree that mileage is the key factor in most cases, but we shouldn’t exaggerate its importance while ignoring other aspects.
The short answer is – Yes. You should definitely ask the dealer/seller such a question if you want to avoid future misunderstandings. Some devices, such as odometer data, mess with automobile data. So, it can lead to unforeseen problems with insurance companies or interrupt getting business mileage reimbursement from the company you work for.
Most odometer correction tools are easily detected when illegally used. So, if you are buying a used car, you just need to check the automobile to verify mileage and make sure that there is no trace of rollback tools. However, some dishonest individuals frequently use advanced devices to hide genuine mileage data in a way that seems impossible to detect even with an in-depth investigation.
One of the advanced tools is the Mileage blocker, a recently developed tool designed for testing the auto’s performance in a controlled environment.
The mileage blocker is really the smartest tool for test drives, as it unconditionally halts the mileage recording process from all control units. Compared to mileage correction tools, it is undetectable. The data is not stored in any control unit, and even diagnostic testers can’t trace the mileage that was stopped while using the module. It comes with DIY instructions for installation . You don’t need advanced technical skills. Installation and usage are legal in most countries; it is illegal to lie to potential buyers of your used vehicle. You can purchase and install this module to test the performance of your vehicle in a controlled environment, but we don’t recommend using it for deceitful purposes.
The most important factors when buying a car are the combinations of various aspects that must be considered. It is not a smart decision to overrate some of them and underrate others. Considering and prioritizing them will lead you to the best outcome when it comes to buying an automobile.
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