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Whenever we begin to learn to drive, it’s hard not to feel extremely excited. Not only are we earning our freedom (or as much freedom as is responsible in the midst of a pandemic), but we are also giving ourselves the chance to enjoy time with our friends, of determining our schedule, and of opening up the world to ourselves.
For this reason, taking the time to consider your first car and what it means is important. This is especially true if you’re not lucky enough to have a car simply purchased for you, which is a category most people fall into. So – how can you think of your first car in the most responsible manner? What priorities should you consider? And, most importantly, how much of an investment should you make into this first driving experience?
Well – following this process while learning to drive isn’t so much of a bad idea, because then it may be ready for you when you pass. With some of the following advice, we hope your first driving experience is enjoyable and safe:
Maintenance Potential
The maintenance potential of your first car is important to consider. It’s worth having a car you can easily understand the fundamentals of repairing and keeping up on. For instance, a Vauxhall Corsa E provides you with the means to repair the vehicle using non-proprietary parts. While it’s reliable, the engine is also accessible, and replacing a tire, checking the oil levels, inspecting for issues and more is quite easy are all tasks that are quite easy to understand and execute. For this reason, the maintenance potential is quite reliable. We’d do well to hold those standards for our first vehicle.
Upfront Cost
The upfront cost of your first car is also important to consider. Can you finance it, perhaps? Can you offer a bigger downpayment to make those payments more reliable? Might it be worth using websites like AutoTrader or even Facebook Marketplace to find a vehicle, rather than heading to a new showroom and being sold to by a professional? How can you ensure listings are legitimate? In our case, we’d recommend bringing someone along with you to help check and verify the car is worth buying. With this effort, you’ll be understanding just what the upfront costs may be.
Responsibility
Most would-be drivers look forward to enjoying time on the roads with their friends, but it’s also worth considering your dedication to responsibility and what ground rules you can set ahead of time. It might be that you set a few rules for those entering your vehicle – no smoking, no distracting me at the wheel, and behave yourself. If you’re the first one out of your peer group to drive, it’s worth ensuring that you’re not being taken advantage of simply because you have a car. Responsibility matters behind the wheel, no matter how old you are, so don’t let the excitement get in front of your safety.
With this advice, we hope you can more easily think about your first car, and how you may drive it.
Laura x