ON FOUR WHEELS

It is often said that, after the home, the car is a family’s most treasured procession. The care and attention that most owners lavish on their cars suggest that they have become more than just a way of getting from point A to B. Even the most used and bettered veterans seem to become almost family friends. And cars aren’t the only vehicles to find their way into our hearts, taxis, trucks and buses often do, too

Your Favorite Car and Why

Some of the car brands I know are Toyota, Nissan, Jaguar, Lexus, Opel, BMW, VW, Honda, KIA, Mercedes, Golf, Range Rover, Rolls Royce and the list goes on and on.

Going through the whole day with nothing on my mind but cars, I decided to ask my friends on social media what their thoughts are about them, the specific types and reason:

“I don’t have a specific one I’ll love to drive in but I intend to add the 1963 Chevrolet Impala to my vintage collection, because it has  a 4.7L, fast like light,(actually, that’s subjective) it goes from 0 to 100 kilometers in 5.5 seconds.” How fast!!! – Kofi Montana 

“I love the Mercedes for no reason” – Teddy

“I am just a Golf freak I don’t mind whether it’s the Golf 1,2,3,4,5,6,7, I love it because it’s sexy” - Charlie

“The Range Rover Autobiography is classy, robust, strong and it provides utmost comfort and security. Which is one of the outmost things I look out for in a car and it serves its purpose just like the V8.” - Leo

 "For my kind of style and life i want to lead in a few years from now. a range rover is for a corporate woman like me. It's comfortable, classy and spacious" - A'djwuaah

Wiredu and Sugar said their choice was the Bayerische Moteron Werke popularly known as BMW or “Be My Wife” in the Ghanaian setting. They confessed they will say “YES” to any German automobile because of their engines, the strength of the car, the fact that its fuel consumption is balanced, and their parts are not hard to come by.

 I figured out that some people are naturally car freaks and they know and find every information about any car. In such cases once they step out to buy a car they already have in mind what they are going in for (Are u that kind of person?). On the other hand there are people with little or no idea about cars and anytime they decide on getting one, it can really be tough for them.

The next question that crossed my mind was “What do u look out for before getting a car” this was what some friends had to say:

“Manufacturer matters a lot, it gives a statement. Then the aesthetics, mileage, interior..........” – Beatrice Batt-Cobbah

“The engine is the first thing you should look out for……. The mileage can be 100.000 just get a new engine and the car becomes new again. The engine is the character of the car” – Ali Maiga

“Engine and petrol consumption” – Maame Konadu

“The year it was manufactured, the mileage, the fuel type and cost of the parts” – Peter Amenowode

 Some things I think you need to consider before buying a car

1.   What can you afford:

Budget is needed in buying anything. The luckiest car buyers don’t have any problem picking out what they want, and paying for it. The rest of us have to do some budgeting. This is very important because its not just about buying a car, but also about how you’ll maintain and service and so on.

2.  How long do you want to pay for it:

If you don’t want a car loan hanging around until the next president is elected, you can put more money down or pay cash. But remember that dealers love it if you finance vehicles. You might think you’ll get the best deal if you roll up with a suitcase of money. However, it’s best to save that information until you’ve transacted the deal. Am sure you have been saving enough in order to get that dream car, in as much as you want that car, you have to consider whether you will pay at hand or within a period of time

3.  Don’t fail to test drive:

Taking a new car out for a spin can be an exciting experience, but don't get too giddy. stay calm, ask questions and pay attention to the behavior of the car. Take your time and inspect the environment of the vehicle, make sure that it's comfortable and that the controls make sense to you. You're going to spend a lot of time in this car, so it's ok to criticize. During a test drive pay particular attention to its performance and aesthetics

4.   Fuel Consumption:

Petrol prices have started to fall but still remain high enough to influence the actions of consumers.  It is the amount of fuel used per unit distance; for example, litres per 100 kilometres (L/100 km). In this case, the lower the value, the more economic a vehicle is (the less fuel it needs to travel a certain distance). Trust me a lot of car freaks consider this before getting a car.

5.  Availability of parts

If you plan on using your car for a very long time, eventually some parts would wear out and would need to be replaced. If there are only a few parts dealers, chances are the prices are steep. Basic law of supply and demand.

6. Research

With the availability of the internet, the world is awash with so much information. You need to put in a lot of work in this part before you go get that car. You have to get some information about the specs, what went into manufacturing that car and so on. Try to get views from friends as to their thoughts on that car and am sure by the end of the day you will make a decision.

These are some of the things I think one should consider before getting a car. You can share your experiences by commenting on this post and I will be so glad you did. Let me know your thoughts.

With Love,

Lydy :-)