September 2020 27 www.bahrainthismonth.com interview 10. Always take a friend along - preferably someone who knows a little bit about cars: A friend can spot things that you miss. A knowledgeable friend (or a car consultant) can even give you a verbal seal of approval which takes the guess work (and stress) out of the process. An extra pair of eyes is always the way to go. 11. Never carry cash: Once the deal is made, tell the seller that you›ll go to the bank to get the money. This offers you two strategic advantages - it allows you a breather for the deal to settle in (and for you to change your mind), and it also prevents any untoward incidents like losing the money or worst case - getting robbed. 12. Don›t be shy to ask for a longer test drive: The test drive is the most crucial part of the entire car buying process (and this applies to both new and used). On the test drive, make sure that the radio is switched off, the airconditioning blower speed is set to low, and that the seller (or your buddy) are staying quiet, thereby allowing you to focus on driving the car, listening for odd noises and paying attention to how the car runs. If you aren’t satisfied with the length of your test drive, or if the seller has a “route” marked out that he keeps guiding you through, make sure you state that you need more time behind the wheel. 13. Never borrow more than you can afford: My advice is that if you don’t have good credit, save up till you do. If you can swing it, always pay cash outright. Never agree to sub-prime or predatory lenders who don’t title the car jointly. Always keep in mind that the purchase price is the cheapest part of any car; the maintenance, fuel costs, insurance and repairs are the true costs of keeping any car on the road, so make sure that you always do your research before you sign on the dotted line. Better still, you can always email me on [email protected] with all your car-related queries or follow me on Instagram, @sangeeth911.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy Mjk0MTkxMQ==