Buying the car that’ll make you feel good in Holiday traffic

Text and photos by Tessa R. Salazar

WHAT? After spending countless hours stuck in Christmas “carmageddon” in our country’s capital, you still want to give yourself that gift of wheels?

Well, what can we say, desire knows no bounds, or in this case, cannot be stalled in traffic like the millions of new car owners out there who have found out the hard way that driving requires an expansive amount of real estate—an essential ingredient that our roadways are fast running short of nowadays.

We at Inquirer Motoring can at least help you make a wise decision in your purchase. But once you roll out of the dealership in your brand spanking new ride, don’t tell us we didn’t warn you.

Here goes.

1. Consult reliable people who own the car you’re eyeing. “You must avoid all myths and misconceptions based on hearsay or product misuse. Talk to people who own what you are considering (note: people who are knowledgeable about that particular vehicle) and decide for yourself what is best for your needs. A car must be chosen and driven according to its limitations and capabilities,” said former car salesman James R. Ross, author of “How to Buy A Car.”

2. Know the “on-road” price of the car; and depreciation cost. These includes the price of the car itself, with any optional extras that you’ve chosen, and the cost of registering the car for use on the road, etc.

Car expert Steve Rendle also cited the biggest cost involved in car ownership, which is depreciation. It’s not until you decide to sell your car, or trade it in for a newer model, that you find out just how much money you’ve lost through depreciation since you bought it.

“The greatest depreciation usually take place in the first year of a car’s life, so bear this in mind if you’re thinking of buying a new car. If you buy a year-old car from a reputable dealer, it will have a similar guarantee to a brand-new model, but someone else will have paid for that first year’s depreciation,” said Rendle.

3. Compute the real cost of owning and running a car. Know that the expenses do not stop after you write the check during purchase.

The more important cost consideration is the cost of owning or operating the vehicle for the next three to five years. An estimated cost of periodic maintenance service is available in dealerships.

Remember, spending for a car doesn’t stop at the purchase level, it continues throughout its useful life.

4. Check the presses for the latest deals and promos. Many manufacturers run special deals on certain models—

and these can be very competitive—which often include items that are normally regarded as optional extras, and even sometimes a free year’s insurance, in the price.

5. Test the salesman. Salesmen are trained on the knowledge and capabilities of the models within the car brand’s product lineup (or even the comparison of competing brands). However, sometimes, there is a catch.

According to Ross, salesmen are trained to sell what they have in stock. “When a salesman’s advice seems contrary to what you ask for, test him. Does he have what you want in stock? Is he trying to sell you something only because it is all he has to offer?”

6. Choose a dealer that you trust. The expenses don’t end after buying a car. You’ll have to have it serviced by an authorized dealer for the full period of the warranty.

So it is important that you choose a dealer that you trust, meaning a dealer with a good track record, recommended by colleagues, friends and family members who have a long-term relationship with the dealer.

So if you’re set on buying a brand-new car, then you will have to go through a dealer. And there is only one way to take the guesswork out of choosing a dealer: Talk to people who have bought from the dealer you plan to do business with.

7. Diesel or gasoline. Ross said that the major considerations for this choice are economic: initial investment, cost of fuel, cost of maintenance, cost of repairs and depreciated market trade value. Start to think about which model of car is going to suit your needs best.

“Diesel engines are generally more economical than gasoline engines, and modern diesel engines are every bit as powerful as their gasoline counterparts, if not more powerful in some cases. Diesel engines are also considered to be less harmful to the environment because they produce less harmful exhaust emissions,” said Rendle.

He added that overall, fuel costs would be lower for a diesel-engined vehicle, but the initial purchase price would likely be higher (though this isn’t always the case).

In the end, you won’t be making the right or wrong decisions here. It just comes down to your personal preference.

8. Automatic or manual transmission. Anyone living in the metropolis would choose automatic transmission anytime. Another great advantage to an automatic is that anyone who can drive a car can drive one, but anyone who has two functional hands and feet can learn the manual transmission.

Ross indicated an advantage of MT over AT: the cost of repairing or replacing an automatic is dramatically higher than the comparable cost for a manual shift.

9. Choosing special categories matter, too. There are luxury automobiles, station wagons vs utility vehicles, people carriers, estate cars, SUVs, 4x4s, sports cars, hatchbacks and saloons, etc.

By doing a little research, and setting yourself a budget, you’ll be able to narrow the choice down to a few models, or maybe even a single model that fits your needs.

It all boils down to your preference. “Before buying a car, do as much research as you can into the models that you’re keen to look at. There are plenty of car magazines that will provide road-test information, often comparing similar models, and there are also a number of websites offering information and advice,” said Rendle.

10. Always test-drive first and visit not just one dealership. And this is probably our most important advice. Ideally, bring your family members with you during the test drive to see how the car “fits” the other family members.

There are many dealerships willing to take your money on your terms. Just because a dealer has a popular car doesn’t mean you have to make that purchase with them.