What is a good car for a P-plate driver?
Congratulations! You finally have your P-Plates and are ready to buy your first car. Before you dive in, though, it pays to be aware of what you can and can’t have, what would be the best size car for your needs and budget, and how to get the car fully checked before purchasing. Let’s take a look at what options you do have.
What do you need in an ideal P-plate car?
Above all else, these key factors should be your guiding light when choosing a car: affordability, safety, reliability, low running costs and possible resale value. After this, you need to ensure that the vehicle you choose doesn’t contravene any of the restrictions that are imposed on P-Plate drivers, such as having a turbo-charged engine.
The next thing to consider is how you will be using the car. Do you need to move a lot of equipment around, or would you prefer a zippy number for city streets? Determining the best model car will really come down to what you do with it. Start off by writing a list of what you will need the car for. There’s no point buying a five-seater car that churns through a lot of fuel if you never have more than two people in it. Likewise, a two-door hatchback is probably not the best choice if you have a baby on the way.
Once you have the size of car in mind, you have automatically narrowed your list, and this makes things easier. From here, you will need to consider how economically the various models stack up against one another, and this comes down to fuel efficiency, not merely the price tag.
The Australian Government’s Green Vehicle Guide is a great place to start, and all new cars have to have fuel efficiency labelling by law. For older cars, the Fuel Consumption Database is the place to go.
The safety of a particular model can also be assessed online, well before you even step foot into a car yard. Once you have a few car models in mind, you can compare them by visiting the TAC website.
Making sure the car is good to go:
Once you have spotted your perfect car, you need to also consider a few more points. Firstly, never trust a salesman. Always get the car independently assessed, either by a mechanic you know or through an NRMA inspection (or your state’s roadside service provider).
Always take down the chassis and engine number and have these checked through REVs. This will make sure that the two add up to the same car and that there’s no outstanding warrants or fines attached to the car. It will also ensure it’s not stolen.
Make sure the car is within the budget you set for yourself, and that you are not being talked into spending an extra couple of grand for features you don’t really need. Always get written quotes and never accept the first price given. You might also be able to negotiate an extended maintenance warranty into the deal, if not a price reduction.
Lastly, try to take an experienced car owner with you when shopping around. Knowing what you want is one thing, but having some experience come along for the ride will also help get you the best deal possible.