Performance Car Reviews, News and Parts for the Car Enthusiast

It’s fun to drive a new car, but buying that new car can be a major pain. Add in the credit crunch due to today’s economic crisis, and you can find buying a new car you like that won’t break your budget really frustrating.

But you can get a car you’ll love for payments you can afford. First of all, be sure you know how much you can afford. This is where you have to start. Take a long, hard look at your budget, making sure you include insurance premiums, taxes, gas maintenance, license, and registration in your calculations. Once you know how much you can pay, the move on to the second step.

The second step in buying a new car on a budget is to consider how you will use it. Do you drive mostly on city streets? Do you have a long commute down a highway? Do you need to carry passengers, or is hauling equipment and luggage your first priority? Your budget and your driving needs determine the kind of car you should buy.

Next, decide on whether you want to purchase a new car or a used car. In the past, many people would buy new cars because used cars were considered unreliable. However, with improvements in technology, cars are better and lasting longer, making used cars a worthy choice. If you do decide to go the used car route, make sure you have access to the vehicle?s repair and maintenance history. You don?t want to purchase a used car that has had major repairs that have not been disclosed.

You have two options for budget car shopping. You can either buy a car or lease a car, and that is a decision you need to make before you start shopping. Leasing a car tends to be cheaper because the monthly payments are lower, a smaller down payment is required, and it?s a good option if you trade cars every two or three years. But if you tend to keep cars for longer than three years and can afford a down payment, buying is your better option in the long run. High mileage drivers should also consider buying over leasing because leases have restrictions on the amount of miles you can drive in a given period, and if you go over your allotted miles, then you have to pay extra fees on the lease, which will eat up any savings you may have gained from the lease in the first place.

Whether you decide to buy or lease, be ready to negotiate. Get bids on the model you want from several dealers. Especially at the end of the sales year, look for specials. Dealers want to get rid of cars at the end of the sales year to make room for the new models. Look on the net to find even more sales and to shop around for good deals.

Finally, if you plan to finance, have your loan approved even before you go to the dealer. Having that preapproval makes you a much more attractive customer to the dealership, and makes it much more likely they will negotiate with you and give you the best deal.

Tom Martens is the content syndication coordinator for Carinsurancesa.co.za. South Arica?s leading car insurance portal.