Seven Things to Consider Before Buying a New Car

Buying a new car is obviously a complex decision  for most people to make - it can lead to an expensive mistake! There is an enormously diverse range of cars on the market at any given time and our buying decisions are heavily influenced by the marketers who bombard our brains with carefully tailored advertisements and offers in the hope of directing us towards the car they're trying to sell.

In order to make a wise buying decision, it helps to define the type of car that you want to buy based on several factors: price, efficiency, capacity, engine type, power, style and drivelines. Knowing a bit about these factors in advance can go a long way in helping you make a decision. Let’s look at these factors one by one.

1. Price: Of course price should be at the top of your list. Go for the car you can afford to buy and maintain. There's no point buying a Monaro HRT if you can’t afford to get it serviced. Remember that insurance costs go up with a more expensive car as well - and if you're buying in the higher range, you'll definitely want insurance! Get some good advice about insurance here.
2. Fuel efficiency: Your car’s mileage is very important - the price of petrol is constantly increasing. Efficiency can range from 15 Km/litre up to 45 Km/litre. When you've narrowed your choices down by price, do some research online and compare the mileage figures for the models you're interested in.
3. Seating capacity: Your choice of seating capacity will probably be based on your families needs - or perhaps your circle of friends. This will be a simple decision to make, but shouldn't be overlooked - the last thing you want to do is get a car your family won't fit in (and don't forget the dog!)
4. Engine type: Engines vary from one car to another for many reasons, including performance, efficiency and adaptability. Petrol engines are still the most common by far. Diesel engines are known to have more torque- the grunt that gets your car moving, but if you're interested in making an low-emission choice, look at hybrid and electric engines. 
5. Horsepower: While torque gets you moving, horsepower keeps you moving. Horsepower in cars ranges from 100HP to well above 500HP. High-speed, high-end cars such as the German made Bugatti Veyron produces 1001 metric horsepower with 1,250 Nm of torque reaching 350 Km/hr.
6. Body style: Another relatively easy decision that depends on your personal preferences. Body styles you might come across include: Convertible, Coupe, Sedan, SUV, Ute, Hatchback, Liftback, Crossover, Track and Wagon. 
7. Drivelines: You have four types of driveline to choose from: 4WD or 4x4 (Four wheel drive), RWD (Rear Wheel Drive), FWD (Front Wheel Drive) and last but not the least, AWD (All Wheel Drive). AWD is a full-time 4-wheel-drive system (all four wheels receive torque from the engine simultaneously) that employs a center differential that allows each tire to rotate at different speeds improving handling and stability.