Do plenty of research before committing to a car purchase
The market is full of attractive offers, giving you all the choice you could possibly want.
And here's the how you should negotiate the maze of cars and car-related options.
Start by working out how much you want to spend and where the money's coming from. Check out the various finance and loan schemes currently available from sources as diverse as supermarkets and car breakdown organisations.
Don't forget your own bank, too - it may have more competitive rates than those on offer from dealers. Most of all, make sure you can afford the repayments. There's nothing worse than overstretching your budget so always set a realistic limit.
Make sure you conduct a proper test drive on a wide variety of roads to get used to the car. Check that all the controls are easy to use and the seats are comfortable for more than just a quick trip to the shops.
And make sure the car will fit in your garage or on your drive, as not every dealer will be sympathetic after the sale has been agreed if you change your mind.
Read plenty of road tests and ask the opinions of friends and family. Chances are they'll be less biased than the salesperson, especially if they've first-hand experience of anything on your wish-list.
Scan the options list for anything of interest but don't get carried away. It's easy to rack up a hefty bill and don't expect the salesperson to be in a hurry to stop you.
If you're not too bothered about sat-nav, heated seats or metallic black paint and want to save some cash, you could ask whether the dealer has a similar model in stock. You're more likely to strike a favourable deal and not have to wait weeks for delivery.
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