Be practical when buying a student car

“Before any decision on a new or used vehicle is made, buyers must do thorough research on the make and model of the vehicle. It is important to stick to budgets while at the same time factoring in extra costs, such as registration and licence fees, and, importantly, the future maintenance costs of the vehicle,” said the Automobile Association (AA).

It suggests it a good idea to browse car-sales websites and visiting the showrooms of local dealers. “This is a good first step in narrowing the options. But buyers must be careful not to place the looks and ‘optional extras’ above more important features such as safety, fuel consumption and maintenance costs.”

It may well be a good idea to, once you have decided on a shortlist of potential options, test drive them back-to-back on the same day.
“A student’s vehicle doesn’t need off-road capabilities, nor does it need the speed of a racing car. Be practical about the one you are buying and think about who will be driving it. A car with a solid safety rating is a better option for a student, than one which has many optional extras but offers less safety,” said the AA.

To support buyers in terms of the latter, the AA, in partnership with Global NCAP, launched #SaferCarsforAfrica which outlined the safety ratings of cars available in the country.

“The key message from these results is that affordable and safe vehicles are available locally. This is important because many people wrongly believe safer cars are more expensive. This is not the case. We want to urge anyone buying a vehicle, new or used, to research the make and model as much as they can to ascertain the safety of the vehicle.”

The AA offers these valuable suggestions: 
• Set up a budget and stick to it
• Check the safety options available on a car and, if possible, check its safety rating
• Consider buying a good, safe demo model or used vehicle rather than a bad, unsafe new one
• Check the fuel consumption on the vehicle
• Consider future maintenance and service costs (including replacement costs of items such as tyres and brake pads)
• In the case of a used vehicle, check the service history
• Ensure it is right for the purpose it will be used for
• Always think ahead to the resale value of the car you are buying, and keep it well maintained (both aesthetically and mechanically) to ensure its value
• Factor in the cost of insurance
• Consider AA membership to assist you in the case of a breakdown or emergency. For more information visit www.aa.co.za.

Further to the aforementioned, the AA also suggests that inexperienced and older drivers consider the following: 
• Accessibility of the vehicle (i.e. how easy is it getting in and out of the car)
• Driver aids such as park control or rear-view cameras
• Safety features such as anti-lock brakes (ABS), electronic stability control (ESC) and the number of airbags.

“As our country’s road fatality statistics mount, it is important that motorists not only consider their driving behaviour, but also the safety of the vehicle they are driving in,” the AA concluded.

Source: AA