Used Car or Buy New ? . If purchasing a used car you can save a lot of money. You could buy a loaded model with all the bells and whistles that you might not be able to afford had you bought a new car. A new car depreciates quickly in the first few years and after 4 years it is worth only about 65-75% of the original price. In fact, as soon as you leave the dealership, your vehicle is suddenly worth $1500-$2500 less. You can find many types of used car at SingaporeMotors.net When purchasing a new car you basically are paying for its freshness "new" and warranty This makes Singapore car CHEAPEST in the world market. However, buying a new car does not always mean the buyer will get perfection. A new car may come with problems associated with poor design or manufacturing defects that may have been already repaired during the warranty coverage period if it's a used car. The same is true for all kinds of recalls and campaigns. We often see cars are called back for services like break fault or battery defects etc by the most reputed manufacturers. Especially one should be more careful with the latest models until you get full reviews. Buying the used car is a gamble as well however you can take several precautionary measures. There is no guarantee that the car is accident-free, has real mileage, and was properly maintained. There may be some hidden problems like a worn out automatic transmission, or engine problems that may not have been obvious when you test-drove the car. Buying a used car from SingaporeMotors.net with extra cost for STA Inspection can be a good advise as you get the detailed report for the used car buying from SingaporeMotors.net Remember one thing while buying a used car, there is always risk of wear and tear even if the car was well maintained and well taken care off. Truly its gamble in that sense! Before you start shopping for a car, you'll need to do some homework. Spending time now may save you serious money later. Think about your driving habits, your needs, and your budget. You can learn about car models, options, and prices by reading newspaper ads, both display and classified. There is a wealth of information about used cars on the Internet: enter "used car" as the key words and you'll find additional information on how to buy a used car, detailed instructions for conducting a pre-purchase inspection, and ads for cars available for sale, among other information. Libraries and book stores also have publications that compare car models, options, and costs, and offer information about frequency-of-repair records, safety tests, and mileage. Many of these publications have details on the do's and don'ts of buying a used car. PRIVATE SALES An alternative to buying from a dealer or Internet is buying from an individual. You may see ads in newspapers, on bulletin boards, or on a car. Buying a car from a private party is very different from buying a car from a dealer. Private sellers generally are not covered by the Used Car Rule and don't have to use the Buyers Guide. However, you can use the Guide's list of an auto's major systems as a shopping tool. You also can ask the seller if you can have the vehicle inspected by your mechanic. Private sales usually are not covered by the "implied warranties" of state law. That means a private sale probably will be on an "as is" basis, unless your purchase agreement with the seller specifically states otherwise. If you have a written contract, the seller must live up to the promises stated in the contract. The car also may be covered by a manufacturer's warranty or a separately purchased service contract. However, warranties and service contracts may not be transferable, and other limits or costs may apply. Before you buy the car, ask to review its warranty or service contract. Many states do not require individuals to ensure that their vehicles will pass state inspection or carry a minimum warranty before they offer them for sale. Safety Standards and Accident Related There is no perfectly safe car, but certain models can protect you better in case of a crash. Some vehicles offer features that may help you to avoid an accident in the first place. You can compare crash test ratings and find other car safety related information online at: What To Do In Case Of Traffic Accident A. With Injuries: 1. STOP and render aid to victim. 2. NOTIFY the Police. 3. DON'T remove vehicle unless it is absolutely necessary to extricate victim, or to convey a seriously injured person to hospital and no suitable means of conveyance is at hand. 4. REMAIN at the scene if you are not injured. 5. NOTE the following: a. Date/Time of Accident b. Place of Accident c. Weather Condition/Visibility d. Road Surface: Wet/Dry/Sandy/Oily/etc. e. Particulars of witnesses: (Name/address/phone) f . Damage to vehicle g. Particulars of other vehicle: Reg. No./Make Driver's Phone No. Insurance Co./Policy No h. Name of Investigating Officer Reliability Aspect: Reliability is one of the most important factors to consider if you decided to go for a used car. Not all cars are the same. Some models are proven to be very reliable, others are known for constant problems. Since it is a used car, the original warranty coverage is probably over and you want the model that is more reliable. There is a number of resources where you can check reliability ratings of certain models: MSN Autos Yahoo Autos Fuel economy With so much hype about the gas prices, choosing more fuel-efficient vehicle can help you to save money at the pump. Do you know that the difference in annual fuel costs between different cars could be as high as $1200 - $1800? Plus, more fuel-efficient vehicles pollute less, which is good for the environment. You can compare fuel economy of different cars following links below: For Singapore: Visit Singapore Environment Council Website - www.neec.gov.sg For US: Fuel Economy Make or Model It is often being asked what kind of make or models I'd recommend? Every ones preference is different. Japanese cars although offer fuel efficiency, the Korean makes are cheaper and US makes are often more warranted. I don't think there is a certain make or model that is just perfect for everyone. It really depends on what exactly you expecting from your next vehicle and how much money you want to spend. For example, talking about SUVs: if all you need is reliable, and not so expensive MPV, I'd recommend Toyota Picnic. You want your SUV to have luxury interior, smooth ride and you ready to pay more for it, European brands like Volvo, Mercedese or BMW. You can find several listing for SUV , MPV or sedans type of cars at SingaporeMotors.net However, considering general terms, such as reliability, fuel economy, quality and maintenance costs, I'd highlight such models as Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry, Honda Odyssey, Honda CR-V, Nissan Pathfinder and Toyota 4Runner. There is an excellent decision-making tool at MSN Autos. Follow the link "My Research" on the left bar where you can pick few different models and compare their ratings for reliability, fuel consumption, price, etc. (registration required). Automatic or Manual transmission? Cars with manual transmission are cheaper, however it depends on supply and demand situation. At SingaporeMotors.net you can often find that manual cars such as Nissan sunny are more expensive sometimes due to short supply as the demand for manual transmission cars from countries like Mauritius soars. However as the general rule, the auto cars are more expensive. The manual are more powerful and more economical. A manual transmission is also more reliable than an automatic. Experienced drivers of manual transmissions will tell you they like how it allows the driver to feel "closer" to the car. It's just more fun! However, it is more work to drive such a car, and can be especially difficult for the beginner. But don't be scared. You can learn how to drive such a car in just a few days. It's not as difficult as it seems. Ladies often prefer Auto driven cars. It is much easier to drive cars with automatic transmission. Automatic transmission is more convenient in a city, in traffic jams, etc. But it involves a more complicated device and breaks more often. The repair of an automatic transmission is complicated and tends to be quite expensive. Regarding fuel efficiency, a car with an automatic transmission consumes an average of 1.3 times more fuel than the same kind of car with a manual transmission.