Automobiles, Do You Really Want A Car?

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AUTOMOBILES

Do you really want a car?

By Vijo Varghese

The Nation

Published on July 18, 2008

It boils down to your real needs, affordability

As an automotive journalist, the most common question I get asked is: "What car should I buy?"

It's like asking a dog breeder what dog you should buy and the breeder would ask what you want the dog for?

So, what do you want a car for?

The answer to buying a car, like the answer to the meaning of life, lies within yourself.

You might not have the tools required to determine the answer yet, but it's there somewhere. Listed below are a few of the important factors to consider, obviously meant for the first-time buyer.

Why do you want to own a car?

This could be the most important question of them all.

What exactly do you plan to use your vehicle for?

If you're buying a 4WD just because you occasionally go camping on weekends, then you know you're headed the wrong way.

The most common example of this is when people buy pickups because of the extra luggage they might carry once in a blue moon.

If you plan to use the vehicle every day, then be sensible and buy a small vehicle that saves fuel and is easy to manoeuvre around the city.

You can rent a 4WD vehicle for the weekend, which would be much cheaper and more feasible than living with one every day of your

life.

If you're a first-time buyer, write down your schedule for the week or month and see at which points you will be using your vehicle and what for.

Then see what kind of vehicle suits you best and fits the majority of your needs.

Ignore the special instances that you'll encounter occasionally. Basically, if 95 per cent of your auto needs would be satisfied with a compact hatchback, don't go and buy a seven-seater SUV.

Actually, sitting back and really thinking about this question could make you reconsider your decision to buy a vehicle at all.

Get an estimate of how much the expenses would be for the car you plan to buy, like monthly instalments, regular check-ups, tyre changes, car washes, parking and other expenses.

Now compare this figure to how much it would cost you to take a taxi and occasionally rent a vehicle when you need one.

At times you'll change your mind completely about buying a car.

Brand new or used?

There are many questions to answer before you get to the answer of this one.

If you're a first-time driver in the Big Mango then you might want to consider buying a used vehicle that you can afford to bang up a little until you get used to driving here.

A new car being dented means higher insurance premiums.

So first, unless you're already a good driver, go for a used car that you can change later when you have mastered Bangkok's roads.

An interesting fact is that almost every new vehicle in Thailand drops in price by 15 to 20 per cent the moment you drive it out of the showroom.

If the vehicle is a European make the fall may be even greater.

So the next question is how long you plan to use the vehicle.

If it's one that you intend to use for the full life of the car, then a new one makes sense as it's less likely to have maintenance problems.

Though there are many other factors that lead to the decision between a new or a used car, the points mentioned above should give you a basic idea of what you need to be looking at.

For those who are worried about reliability, Testcar Thailand - an independent used-car testing facility - provides full reports on all vehicles which allow you to judge the reliability of the vehicle.

The company can be contacted at.... url edited out.

Please go to the Ref url of this article for this information :-

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/07/18...es_30078359.php

The looks

You might as well like what you're going to be driving.

Unless flexibility and a five-member family are your priority, make sure the looks are something you're willing to live with.

If it's something that you look at and shudder when you see it in the morning, then you're already not enjoying the beauty of your home on wheels.

Pick a vehicle that you find pleasing to the eye, unless you're one who does not care one bit about what others think and don't mind driving up to a party in your monstrosity.

The fuel

About three years ago, this question was much easier to answer. There were basically two mainstream fuels - petrol and diesel. Now, with concern about global warming and rising oil prices no more can you ignore the important question of what kind of fuel you want to be burning.

The main options are E10, E20, CNG (compressed natural gas), LPG (liquefied petroleum gas), B5, petrol and diesel.

The government has also announced plans to introduce E85 by the end of the year.

The first question you have to ask yourself is how much you plan to drive.

If the majority of your driving is in the city, then you might want to consider petrol, CNG or LPG.

On the other hand if you plan to drive upcountry very often, then diesel engines that provide better mileage could be your pick.

A small petrol engine needs higher revs at highway speeds and tires you more easily over long distances.

Currently only Chevrolet and Mercedes-Benz provide factory-fitted CNG-capable vehicles which come with a full warranty.

Toyota and Mitsubishi are soon to release such products.

Chevrolet is the only auto-maker in Thailand that provides a biofuel option, which means a mixture of 35-per-cent diesel and 65-per-cent CNG.

As for ethanol-based fuel, which Thailand also plans to develop, E20 is already available at some stations and most mass-market sedans are E20-capable, although it's important to check this with the dealer. Biodiesel is also now readily available nationwide and auto-makers have stated that all diesel engines are B5-compatible.

Your choice?

Finding the right answers is about asking the right questions. Don't depend on your neighbour or the car dealership to tell you what you need.

Doing proper research and thinking things through before you put your money down will not just save you money but will make life easier on the move.

Happy shopping!

Unquote

Good, basic advice IMHO

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