MONEY COMMENT
Save Thousands By Buying The Right Car

By Jane Mack (TMFJane)
November 4, 2004

If you've ever bought or sold a car on the second-hand market, you'll have noticed something in recent years. Second-hand cars are getting cheaper - a trend that is good for those in the market for a used model but not so great for those wanting to sell.

According to the consumer group, Which?, car depreciation can cost motorists thousands of pounds but, choose the right car in the first place and you'll stand a better chance of cutting those costs.

With some cars plummeting in value by as much as 70% in the first three years, an obvious tip is to choose a car that depreciates slowly. But Which? has further advice  for motorists who want to attract the second-hand car buyer at a later date:

Choose a safe and popular colour such as metallic silver, blue or red. Dreary colours or bright, trendy colours which tend to date quickly can knock 10% a car's value. Avoid white, which is often associated with ambulances and vans.

Go for diesel engines rather than petrol. They may be more expensive initially but are usually more economical in the long run.

Buy a mid-range car rather than one at the very bottom or very top of the range. The former lacks features to tempt second-hand buyers while top-of-the-range models tend to depreciate in value more quickly.

Some former 'luxuries' are now so commonplace, they're virtually standard so choose accordingly. Remote/central locking, airbags, air conditioning and electric front windows are all popular features that second-hand car buyers will be looking for.

Talking of cars, do you trust the garage that services your car? I've been using the same mechanic for nearly 20 years so I have complete faith in him but Which? has bad news for some motorists. In an undercover investigation, they found that three quarters of garages that serviced cars didn't do a good job.

A widespread trick was carrying out work that didn't need doing and, even worse, 67% of garages failed to pick up basic faults with nearly 70% failing to spot faults purposely introduced by investigators such as split windscreen wipers.

Which? says that most motorists don't even realise they've been ripped off or that they might be driving an unsafe car (some mechanics failed to check even the most basic things such as brake fluid levels). As you might imagine, Which? has been campaigning for years for an independent scheme which would ensure mechanics are properly trained and that garages that take customers for a ride are shut down.

Apart from choosing a garage that has been recommended to you, there's not much you can do for the moment. But at least you now know how to choose a car that won't cost you so much in depreciation.

Read our Car Buying Guide and find out How To Save £5,000 On Your Car