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Top 10 rules for buying a car

1. First decide what kind of car you need (e.g: station wagon,sportscar,minivan) , then figure out how much you are looking to spend and only then see if you're going for a used car or a new one. Never start by saying "I want me a new car".
   
   
2. If you want a used car, get it from an individual -not from a dealership. A dealership is just as likely to cheat you and more, and will charge you more money. Why should you pay for the salesman's suit?
   
   
3. Around the summertime, new models arrive at the dealerships'/importers' office. They usually still have a lot of last years models, and will probably offload them pretty cheap. Those deals are always worth checking - You'll be buying a brand new year old car.
   
   
4. Forget about horsepower. In most cases, it is not a good indicator of a car's abilities. A better one is the 0-60 miles (or 0-100 km) figure.Anotehr useful number is the horsepower per pound ratio.
   
   
5. It's always better to buy a cheaper car and replace it often than to spend a fortune on a car, hoping it will serve you forever.
   
   
6. I like the roar of a sportscar as much as the other guy, but most of us drive mainly in the city. Therefore it is probably wiser to give up a fast car as they tend to consume large amounts of fuel.
   
   
7. Buy local if your country taxes cars.
   
   
8. Before buying a used car always, ALWAYS, take it to a mechanic to makes sure you don't have to spend thousands on repairing your "new" car.
   
   
9. Unless you absolutely cannot live without the wind in your hair and the sun over your head, don't buy a convertible car. They're impossible to cool and will provide poor protection in case of a turnover.
   
   
10. An automatic gear is conveniant, but it costs you dearly, as a car with manual gear uses less gas. As a rule, I recommend manual, mainly since it also gives the driver more control over his car.