Hello Mabs
I'm shopping for a new car and have narrowed it down to two. One is cheaper but the other has a longer warranty and service plan. I've always thought you buy what you can afford. What else should I be comparing?
Mabs answers:
The price tag is where we start, but after more than 20 years around cars, I can tell youit shouldn't be where the decision ends.
Ask what each car will cost you to live with. Compare insurance quotes, fuel consumption, service and maintenance costs, warranty and service-plan cover, tyre prices and even likely resale value.
Also consider how long you intend keeping the car and whether the vehicle genuinely suits your life. That enormous boot might matter more to you than a sunroof!
My advice is to work out a realistic monthly ownership figure for both cars, not just the instalment. Sometimes the more expensive car at the dealership can make better financial sense over four or five years.
Buy for your life, not simply for the deal.
