MOTORING NEWS - To help making the right decision, Nissan SA has developed a handy 10-step guide to buying your first car.
It is particularly appropriate at the end of the academic year when youngsters end their school careers or students in their final year need to think about mobility to get to work.
Buying a first car can be a terrifying experience, but it can also be fun if you know what to do and what to look for.
By following the suggestions below, this process could be quite an adventure and you may just end up with a trendy little first car.
Why do you want a new car?
Scrutinise your motivation for wanting to buy a new car and establish exactly what it's going to be used for.
For example, if you have a new job as a sales representative, you might want an economical car that can easily do high mileage with high fuel efficiency.
Test drive and research
Take your time to consider all the options available. Don't rush into buying your first car, whether you're buying new or used.
Understand that you are spending quite a bit of money and you need to research everything about your potential new ride.
Affordability
This extends further than the monthly hire purchase payments you will make on your first car. It includes monthly fuel costs, insurance and maintenance.
Smart first-time car buyers will do well to consider the new Nissan Micra Active because it comes with a class-leading three year or 90 000km service plan and a six year or 150 000km warranty.
Interest rate fluctuations
Most first-time car buyers forget that there will be interest rate fluctuations during their finance period of three to six years. So don't forget to budget for possibly higher monthly repayments.
Insurance
Don't underestimate how high insurance payments are for first-time buyers.
Be sure to shop around for quotes from different companies, but scrutinise the finer details to ensure that you are comprehensively covered.
Safety
In the rush to buy a new car, some youngsters sacrifice safety features for cool optional extras.
Safety should be a priority and your new car should have certain basics.
The new Nissan Micra Active comes standard with a host of safety features that are absolutely necessary on a first new car.
Some of these basic essentials are anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD) with brake assist and two airbags.
Parts pricing
Often, cars that are competitively priced at the outset turn out to be more expensive in the long run because their parts pricing isn't as inexpensive as people assume it would be.
Do the research and understand how much you will be spending on parts when your service plan comes to an end.
Several Nissan vehicles, including the new Micra Active, are great value for money because their parts are very competitively priced.
Resale value
It seems strange to have to consider selling your car just as you're getting ready to buy it, but it pays to think long term and to have a fair understanding of whether your new ride is going to hold its value over the years.
Important features
It's a given that safety features are of utmost importance, but don't underestimate the importance of features such as ISOfix child seat anchorage, which is a standard feature in the second row of seats in the new Micra Active.
Remote central locking, speed sensitive auto door locks and an immobiliser are also standard on the new Micra Active.
Express yourself
When you've done all the grown-up stuff such as research, budgeting and reading through insurance quotes, you'll be pleased to know that there are quite a few cool Nissan approved accessories that are covered by the warranty.
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