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Let’s face it, everybody is going to buy a car at some point in their life. For those living downtown in major centres it is not as pressing as it is for those of us lost in the urban sprawl but it will eventually happen. Here are some tips from someone who has purchased a few cars in his time:

• Don’t buy new. Unless your car purchase price costs less than 25% of your annual income, you cannot afford the depreciation hit on a new vehicle. And I’m not talking down payment, I’m talking the full meal deal. Look for 1-3 year old lease backs with some warranty remaining and decent mileage. When I bought my car (brand new) I was one of the first in town to have that specific trim, let alone that model, and that was appealing. Six months later, everyone is driving the same car.
• Don’t buy old. Forget the cost, do you really have the time to put into restoring that ‘69 Chevelle? Or in my case, the ‘76 Alfa Romeo? The answer is no. Of course you will try to convince yourself that you do while picturing yourself cruising down the freeway with the top down and a fresh paint job. The answer, after all that daydreaming, is still no. Buying old is fine as a hobby car or a third vehicle but it shouldn’t be your first.
• Get the best engine you can. Though I purchased new, this is one thing I did right. I bought the best engine that was available in the model of car I chose. This doesn’t always mean the most powerful engine, either. In some cases you’ll gain very few horsepower at the cost of several mpg and consequently end up spending more in the long run on fuel.
• Avoid domestics. You might call this one subjective, and it is to some extent. Except for a small portion of manufacturers, domestic vehicles feel like they were all built on a Monday. The quality coming out of Japan-built vehicles is not even on the same scale. Korean build quality is on the rise, so be sure to include them in your search. This does not apply if you happen to live in Germany.

Do you readers out there have any tips for buying a first vehicle? Let’s hear them!