| A new car sounds lovely doesn't it? Imagine the purr | | | | Have better things to spend my money on |
| of the new engine and the looks you will get as you | | | | - I do have a lot of other important items on my wish |
| drive down the road in the latest model of your | | | | list; a new fridge, high school fees, reduce mortgage, |
| chosen car. However, we also know that the new | | | | etc |
| model of today will be the old superseded model in the | | | | Work may provide a vehicle |
| not too distant future and that the value of the car will | | | | - Work may offer me a car as part of my package |
| go down very quickly. | | | | at my next salary review |
| So with this in mind we really need to be careful when | | | | 3. Then you need to carefully look at both lists and to |
| considering whether or not to buy a new car. | | | | analyse all of the reasons you have written down |
| Before rushing off to the car yard, you should grab out | | | | - How important is the reason you wrote down? |
| a large sheet of paper and write up the top "Do I really | | | | - Look through your list and decide which reasons you |
| need to buy a new vehicle?" Then let the brain cells | | | | have written down contain something that is a must |
| take a journey and come up with all of the reasons | | | | have - this might be for safety reasons or security |
| that you can to justify going out and getting a new car. | | | | - Be careful here and very honest with yourself with |
| Underneath this, write down all of the reasons to | | | | what you consider to be absolutely critical |
| justify why you shouldn't go out and buy a new car. | | | | - Look through your list and decide which items you |
| Here are some ideas to get you started and some | | | | have written down is a nice to have but something |
| common reasons that people write down: | | | | that you could do without - this might be a gadget or |
| 1. Reasons to buy a new car | | | | feature of the car that isn't absolutely critical |
| Car too small / big | | | | - Take the time to rank each item from 1 to 10 in level |
| - Starting a family and need more room | | | | of importance |
| - Can't fit in all of my gear | | | | - Look through your list of reasons not to buy a new |
| - Can't transport all of the kids and their friends around | | | | car. How strong and valid are these reasons? |
| - It is just us now so we don't need such a large car | | | | - It is important that you spend a decent amount of |
| - We are going away so we need more leg room and | | | | time doing this exercise and that you are somewhere |
| storage capacity | | | | nice and quiet where you can really think about |
| No air conditioning | | | | yourself very carefully. This exercise could save you |
| - It is just so hot each summer we bake in our car | | | | thousands of dollars! |
| No air bags | | | | 4. As part of your analysis you should now spend time |
| - The car has never been fitted with air bags | | | | looking for alternatives. Start with the items that are of |
| Lacking accessories (stereo / cd player / gps) | | | | highest importance to you. |
| - We need to have a cd player | | | | Car too small / big |
| - Some new vehicles have an in built GPS so we | | | | - Consider hiring a trailer |
| need one too | | | | - Consider hiring a car for the holidays |
| - The stereo is broken so we need to replace the car | | | | - Clean out your car and see what space you then |
| Costing too much money to run | | | | have |
| - I am always spending money on this car | | | | No air conditioning |
| - The car always seems to be at my mechanic | | | | - Check out the cost to have this fitted to your current |
| Need to look good at work | | | | car |
| - My car is a status symbol of my wealth | | | | No air bags |
| - My boss would look down on me if I didn't drive a | | | | - Check out the cost to have this fitted to your current |
| new car | | | | car |
| - Having a new car will portray a message to my | | | | Lacking accessories (stereo / cd player / gps) |
| clients that I am very successful | | | | - How much will it cost to have one fitted |
| Too old | | | | - Can you use a portable cd player / stereo |
| - My car is x years old so it needs to be replaced | | | | - How much is a portable GPS |
| - I have had this car x years so it is time for an | | | | - Can you make do with the radio |
| upgrade to a new model | | | | Costing too much money to run |
| - This model is old, I need the newer model | | | | - Work out how much your car has actually cost you |
| Petrol guzzler | | | | over 12 mths |
| - I am always putting fuel into this car | | | | - Seek a professional opinion on the vehicle from your |
| - I checked my credit card statement and boy my car | | | | mechanic or local automobile club |
| is thirsty | | | | - Look carefully at how you treat your vehicle. Are |
| - I used to put in $x of fuel a week and now I am | | | | you causing some of this cost? |
| putting in $y | | | | - What about your driving habits? Is this the cause of |
| Running too fast / slow | | | | costing you money? Ie heavy braking or is your foot |
| - I can't keep up with every one else on the road | | | | too heavy on the accelerator |
| - My foot is almost flat to the floor and yet we hardly | | | | Need to look good at work |
| seem to be moving | | | | - You can still look good in a later model vehicle |
| - If I don't sell this I am going to do damage to | | | | - Talk to your boss about being provided with a |
| someone as it just zips off so fast I can't keep in | | | | company car when you need to entertain clients |
| control | | | | - Talk to your boss about hiring cars / taxis when you |
| Want security of a new vehicle warranty | | | | need to entertain clients or travel |
| - I do a lot of travel for work and I want peace of | | | | - It seems pointless trying to look wealthy by owning a |
| mind if something was to happen | | | | new vehicle if it is causing you financial grief and |
| - If the car is under a warranty I won't have to spend | | | | hardship. You will not be successful in your career if |
| any money on it | | | | you spend all day worrying about how to pay your bills |
| No longer road worthy | | | | - Consider that a new car may put some clients off - |
| - The mechanic said the car isn't road worthy | | | | your services may appear too expensive or that you |
| - I don't think the car would pass a road worthy test | | | | don't value money as you spend it on unnecessary |
| Want to keep up with the Jones | | | | items that decrease in value |
| - My friend has just purchased one of these new cars | | | | Too old |
| so I want one | | | | - How old is too old? There are some decent vehicles |
| - The neighbours have just purchased a new car so | | | | on the road that are 7-10 years old that are still running |
| we should also buy one | | | | perfectly |
| I have been offered a good trade in | | | | - Who states that there is a set time frame that you |
| - The new car sales man has offered me a good | | | | need to replace your vehicle |
| trade in | | | | - What will the newer model provide you with that |
| - I want to trade now whilst I can get good value for | | | | your current car doesn't provide you with |
| my current car | | | | Petrol guzzler |
| I want a diesel vehicle | | | | - Look at how much running around you are doing and |
| - I want to change from petrol to diesel as I heard it is | | | | whether or not you can seek alternatives such as car |
| more fuel efficient | | | | pooling, doing multiple tasks whilst out |
| I need a ute / 4wd / sedan | | | | - Has your car been serviced recently? You might |
| - I want to change from a sedan to a ute | | | | have a problem with your car that is easy to fix that is |
| - I need to trade the ute for a 4wd | | | | causing the extra fuel consumption |
| - I need a 4wd for my upcoming holiday | | | | - Consider how much the price of fuel has risen |
| - I need a ute so I can shift houses | | | | recently. Is this the real reason your petrol has |
| 2. Reasons not to buy a new car | | | | increased |
| Can't afford it | | | | - How much of the fuel bill on the credit card contains |
| - The repayments will be too high | | | | other items such as food and drink that you bought at |
| - It is a lot of money for me to spend on a car | | | | the petrol station? |
| - The loan will take me 7 years+ to pay back | | | | Running too fast / slow |
| Don't really need a new car | | | | - Has your car been serviced recently? You might |
| - I am being silly, I don't really need a new car | | | | have a problem with your car that is easy to fix that is |
| - There are other things I need ahead of getting a new | | | | causing this to happen |
| car | | | | Want security of a new vehicle warranty |
| Old car is going well | | | | - Understand what is offered under the warranty |
| - My old car works just fine | | | | - Consider having road side assistance from your local |
| - I can always get from A to B so what else do I need | | | | automobile club in case of break down |
| Too expensive | | | | - Keep your vehicle regularly serviced |
| - Although it is new, I feel it is still very expensive | | | | - Travel with a mobile phone so you can call for help in |
| - There is a big gap between 2nd hand cars of 2-3 | | | | the case of an emergency |
| years to the price on these new cars | | | | No longer road worthy |
| Will drop in value too quickly | | | | - Get a couple of opinions on the road worthy status |
| - I have heard as soon as you drive a new car out of | | | | of your vehicle from a mechanic or your local |
| the show room they drop significantly in value | | | | automobile club |
| - 2nd hand cars seem like a much better alternative, I | | | | - Establish how much it will cost to get the vehicle road |
| have seen they are much lower in value | | | | worthy |
| Expensive on-road costs and stamp duties | | | | - Seek a professional's opinion on this matter |
| - When I buy a new car I will have to incur extra fees | | | | Want to keep up with the Jones |
| such as on-road costs and stamp duties. Aren't these | | | | - Why why why, do you need to keep up with what |
| costs in the thousands? | | | | someone else is doing? |
| Insurance will increase | | | | - Be an individual and live your own life and not those |
| - When I get a new car, I know my insurance premium | | | | of others |
| will increase significantly | | | | I have been offered a good trade in |
| Young family | | | | - A trick / marketing strategy for selling new cars is to |
| - I don't know if my kids will look after a new car or | | | | lure people in by offering a high trade in |
| treat it well; they are always banging the car doors into | | | | - You either get a high trade in or low purchase price - |
| things | | | | it generally doesn't happen that you get both |
| - I know that kids are kids and it is hard to keep a car | | | | - Is the salesman playing around with figures? |
| nice with them around | | | | |