A Woman's Guide to Buying a Car

We have been celebrating women’s rise to power and recognition for years now. We’ve seen them take the plunge and chase the career of their dreams and fight for a cause no matter what it takes. These days, there are so many opportunities for women to prove their worth, and with these come the power to earn as well as spend.
So now, we ask ourselves, having achieved that sense of financial freedom, could this be a better time to buy a new car? Unlike one of those spur-of-the-moment indulgences at the mall, buying a new car calls for a great deal of consideration, not to mention an awful lot of shopping money.

For women who don’t want to learn the hard way, help is finally here as luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz offers an easy, comprehensive guide to purchasing a car for women. The company has filled a pocketsize guidebook -- a very handy companion for women on the go - with tried and tested tips and insights from the company’s experts, from choosing the car model to covering the finances of owning your first automobile. Making the right decision on your dream ride has never been this easy.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
What drives you? Your lifestyle will certainly influence the kind of car you choose. Do you mostly zip around the city or go on off-road adventures on weekends? Do you need a regular-sized car or something larger for those family weekend picnics? What about power: do you feel the ’need for speed’ or simply want something to get you about? Determining your exact needs will bring you a step closer to finding that perfect ride.
Choosing between a new and pre-loved car is relatively simple. Deciding what kind of car best suits your requirements is another story. If image is everything, a sporty two-seater may be ideal: although you’ll have to pick which lucky friend accompanies you to the ball. While a coupé may complete your look, perhaps your ultimate accessory is a roadster - top-down, naturally. Many people enjoy the high, unobstructed view from an SUV. Others love to throw everything, including the kids and the dog, into a luxury estate (more commonly known as a station wagon). Compact cars are nippy around town, but well-appointed saloons provide wonderful long-distance comfort and room for far more designer luggage. Be realistic about your needs and enjoy the journey.

DO THE MATH
Unless you’re a millionaire, you’ll need to work out a budget and stick to it. Rather like having a baby, owning a car involves many upfront and ongoing costs: registration, insurance, road tax, fuel and maintenance bills - to name but a few. Also bear in mind that the trade-off for looking utterly sexy in that sleek roadster can mean higher insurance premiums and taxes.
Factoring in these costs will help you determine how much you can fork out for the monthly installments - and ultimately what kind of car you can afford.
Ultimately, the car you choose will depend on the way you feel after the test drive. Do you sense a connection with it, emotionally or instinctively? Does it live up to your expectations in terms of comfort, safety, equipment and after sales service? Does it offer easy maintenance - unlike that dreadful ’hand wash only in cold water’ sequined blouse? Only you know what suits you best. It may help to chart out the facts so your comparison is more objective.

BUYING YOUR CAR
Now that you’ve made up your mind to carry on with your major acquisition, the next step is to learn how to get a great deal when shopping around. Buying the right car depends on many things. Besides "drivability", suitability and the overall quality of the car, you should factor-in the complete package details. These include selling price, financing, after sales support, warranty coverage, running costs (including fuel, insurance, servicing and taxes) and the resale value of the car.

FINANCING
Unless you’ve got a huge trust fund, you’ll probably need an appropriate finance scheme to purchase your car.
Most dealers offer several options. If you own a car, you could trade it in and pay the difference for your new car. Always ensure the trade-in value is not too far from the market rate of your car before choosing this option. Alternatively, it may be wise to sell the car privately first.
The most common financing scheme involves a downpayment for the car, followed by monthly repayments for a period of seven to ten years. This option is usually offered by finance companies that are connected to the dealership, enabling quick and easy transactions. Cross-reference with other private companies or banks to get the best for your money. Some companies offer zero-downpayments, but this usually means higher monthly repayments, otherwise known as, "Play now, pay later."
There is also balloon financing which allows lower monthly payments that increase towards the end of the loan, giving you more disposable income for other investments in the short term.