How long do you research a car before buying?

lordrobs

lordrobs

lordrobs

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Joined
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Ok sorry for a bit of a random thread but after sitting reading up on Octavia VRs' I started thinking how long before you actually plan to buy do you start reading up on your next purchase.

For me it will be a random cople of days where I think "yeah I'd really like a xxxxxxx for my next car" then I go off to parkers, autotrader etc etc. Then a couple of weeks later I'll do the same for another car... then a few weeks later I'd be back looking at the other one again :o

I'm about 60% sure this is what I'd like for my next car (which is good for me, I usually have about 3 possibles I like equally) and yet I don't plan (read- can't afford) to change my car until 2008 :o

So how is it for you in general? Just have a look, test drive then buy what you like? Or maybe narrow it down quite quickly then research like mad?
 
Research like mad. My problem is that i go through phases of really wanting a certain car, then i will decide that i cant justify a second car (have a company car), then i will want something else, then i want a house.

Goes round in circles. I am going to test drive something with a nice V8 on tuesday night though, might get it if its any good.
 
I just find something in a colour I like then sign up for a finance deal
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I went and bought my GTi pretty quickly, as a good example came up. Done a tiny bit research on the net before hand, but not loads.
Bike wise I done a fair bit of research before I bought my R6.
 
Plenty of research for me, though being fair, I'm now quite picky about what I want and how much I intend to spend.
Having said that, there's no substitute for actually test driving the motor in question to see if you get on with it or not. For example, the Leon Cupra has all of the right boxes ticked for performance, but I hated driving it.

I'd be looking for info on insurance costs, servicing, rough guestimates on probable future depreciation and potential reliability. For reliability, have a scan at the JD power award (only a very vague guideline), owner feedback on sites like Parkers and then comments on internet forum owners clubs. Generally I've found owners clubs to be a wealth of useful info on not only general issues, but also optimum tyre choices, and best options on upgrades and similar.
 
I like to do a fair bit of research, owner experiences etc. I also like to try and find out how much parts/servicing is going to cost ( tyres, oil filter etc etc ) I've known folks to buy with little research in the past and then get spanked with an unexpected cost. Dont want that happening to me or at least i want to reduce as much as possible the risk of it happening.
 
Jez said:
Research like mad. My problem is that i go through phases of really wanting a certain car, then i will decide that i cant justify a second car (have a company car), then i will want something else, then i want a house.
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Exactly like this ^^
 
i pretty much have decided in my mind what car will be on a short list for any particular budget (only going for either german or jap helps too lol)

the easy part is deciding on a car, then you have to research into the different models and what issues they may have, what changes are worthwhile to make and whether or not you then want one.

as for looking for the right one, as long as it takes
 
[TW]Fox said:
6-12 months :o
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Really I thought you bought the first one you saw :confused: ;)

Hmmm... if Nationwide don't pull their finger out I could find myself A) Living with my parents for the next god knows how long, B) Be single and C) have a nice new car on the drive.

...actually that doesn't sound like such a bad thing :o
 
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