Prepare to buy in advance
Which car to choose, you probably already decided if you read this book. Of course, everything that will be written in this section applies to any other car.
Even before buying a car, you need to think about its storage. When stored in your garage «friend» need an area of at least 30 m2, and for storage in a guarded parking lot at least 15 m2.
Buying a car for the average Russian is one of the most serious. Most buyers first of all think about where to get the funds to buy it - an important factor. Experience suggests that the second factor should become more important: do I have the money for its storage and operation, maintenance, spare parts, and so on. And it also happens like this: they got money to buy a car, but they don’t have it anymore, not to mention service during pre-sale preparation.
Consider first the options «get money to buy a car». Options such as «withdrawn from bank account», «stole» and so on are not considered.
Borrow or save money to buy a car
If the buyer has the opportunity to borrow money and the person who borrowed it knows you and trusts you, then try to use this sponsor. For those who don't have people willing to lend you money, try to save it up. If you are unable to save on your own, try to use the services of non-banking organizations. Magazine «Behind the wheel» No. 9 of 2000 named several such organizations that exist in Russia.
Such organizations offer Russians certain savings schemes that facilitate the purchase of a car. The scheme is basically as follows: an organization gathers a group of participants who want to save up money for a new car. Members of this group monthly invest a certain amount of money in a common piggy bank, plus the organization's interest for services, and within a certain period of time (2 to 5 years) everyone gets a car. One or more participants receive a new car every month. By lot at the monthly meeting of the group, the participant or participants who will receive the car in the next month are determined. It may happen that in two months you can get a car or before the expiration of the accumulation period. Before receiving the car, the organization may require documents that guarantee subsequent payments of money by the group member. Yes, in a company «Life loan» in the city of Ryazan for a car VAZ-2109 worth 144,000 rubles for 4 years, the participant pays 2375 rubles.
Car loan
The banking lending system is struggling but gaining momentum in Russia. There are already groups of people who constantly use loans from various banks to buy household appliances, real estate, etc.
Loans for the purchase of cars in mass order have not yet found wide application, but such lending exists in many Russian cities. For example, in Naberezhnye Chelny «Oku» you can get a loan for 2 years, while the total cost to the lender will become more expensive by 5,000 rubles. Moscow has become the leader in credit programs, the procedures for drawing up an agreement are simple. The credited person fills out only a certain form of application. And the company itself finds out whether you are able to repay the loan or not. And then by phone calls you for a loan, but with 35%.
Purchase of a car with the replacement of an old car with a new one
Back in Soviet times, there was a system: if you hand over an old TV, you will get a new one, but at a lower price; VAZ has approximately the same scheme. A mechanism is being developed to allow official dealers of the plant to accept used cars, evaluate them, repair them and then sell already repaired ones. This system is starting to work, and it should take root. There are those who want to sell and buy a car. More precisely, they already exist, but in the private sector of the economy and at some maintenance enterprises.
Buying or selling cars through a computer
If you decide to buy a car, there is now a wide network of advertisements in newspapers and magazines, and especially in specialized automotive magazines.
After choosing the appropriate option, look for its address and phone number. The next day you go to watch or clarify your questions by phone. It can be long, and at first you do not see the object of bargaining.
All over the world there is an Internet car sales network, where you can sell or buy a car using a computer. Or you can just ask what cars are now and compare their technical characteristics. It is possible to inspect the car outside and inside, where video cameras are installed. In the journal «Behind the wheel» No. 1 for 1999 published the same way to offer cars for those who have a computer and an Internet connection.
The magazine offers to go to the website «Behind the wheel», a new section is opened in it «Dealer prices». In it you can choose the brand of car you are interested in and its price. Then a list of models of this brand is displayed with their complete set in color and now with a specific price for the selected.model. If you need to know the technical characteristics of the selected model, go to the technical section and get the technical characteristics of the model you have chosen. People who wish to post information about their cars for sale can do so for free.
A company or a private owner can put up for sale his car without leaving home, and the buyer will not spend too much time looking for a suitable car.
Choosing a car in the store
you decide to buy «top ten», opted for this car, discussed at home what color to buy a car. Fortunately for you, the store turned out to have at least 20-30 shades of the color characteristic of the paintwork «dozen». There are various theories on the choice of color for the regions of the country, and for practicality and safety. For all regions, black is the most slow-moving color, the more south the region, the more desirable it is to have a lighter color. For practicality: on a black and white car, dust and dirt are very visible, on a white car, all defects in the body and paint are visible. For safety: the safest are white, yellow, orange, red, and the most dangerous blue and green. Conclusion based on the experience of many motorists: the car you bought has the best color. Take the car of the color you like, and in two weeks it will be the best for you.
You have already decided which body style to choose: a sedan, wagon or hatchback - you read about it at the beginning of the book. Well, Russian market researchers say that the most popular car in our country is a station wagon.
The engine was also chosen. Here the advice can be this: for the city, any engine is good based on your capabilities and character, for the countryside - simpler, without bells and whistles, but more powerful.
Inspection of the car should begin with the body, the most expensive part. An imperceptible scratch, dent, or broken gap between parts will not be repaired under warranty. The gaps should be the same and the smaller, the better. The joint between the bumper and the body must not have gaps. Pay attention to the location of the headlight and taillight blocks, they must be installed evenly and not failed. Check the condition of the glasses. See how the doors, hood, trunk lid close, the gaps between them and the body, check the operation of the locks.
After inspecting the body, we check the interior. On external examination, there should be no scratches or irregularities. Check the operation of the windows, lighting and signaling devices. If the windshield wiper arms are installed, move them back and check the operation of the wiper. Move and fold out both the front and rear seats.
Pay attention to the tires, they must be inflated. Check steering wheel angle adjustment. Raise the hood and check for fluids: coolant, brake (bad if they are not normal), oil level and battery condition. When opening the trunk lid, check the operation of the lock, the condition of the spare wheel and the necessary stock of tools.
Specify which brake fluid and which oil is filled. It is best if the body is processed immediately in the store, if this is not possible, do it yourself. And to issue documents and get numbers - it all costs a lot of money, but in another place you will spend a lot of time.
Buying a car at VAZ
If you have courageous friends or relatives and only have money to buy a car, you can buy a car in the city of Togliatti. The car will cost you 10,000 rubles cheaper. There is a very large network of shops in the city and even in front of the city. When driving to Tolyatti, and especially from there, you must be vigilant. Therefore, your friend or friends, if you have agreed to travel in a group, must take precautions. In the press and among those who are constantly involved in driving cars from VAZ, there is no information about the complex criminal situation in this area. Of course, you must have good driving skills, or your friend must have them, or better, if both. You must be able to drive in unfamiliar terrain if you have never been there.
Documents that must be with you are essential, these are:
- personal passport - Russian or an insert to it;
- new driver's license;
- temporary driving license;
- car passport;
- certificate-invoice issued at the time of sale, with a clear seal and with car numbers personally verified by you and matching your car numbers;
- receipt or invoice for payment for the car;
- a copy of the seller's license to sell (should not be out of date);
- service book with print «Pre-sales preparation completed»;
- two transit numbers issued by the traffic police.
On the way home
The first kilometers are the most responsible. After you have read about the wonderful qualities of your «friend», don't forget about it «childhood illnesses». Please check your documents before leaving. Pay attention to the order of gear shifting. You need to drive carefully, smoothly, listening and looking closely at the car. Smoothly shift gears and engage the clutch. If this is your first car, then you should have taken with you a friend who knows the car and knows how to drive it well. When driving, check the operation of the brakes, how the car holds the road, whether it leads to the side, which means whether the camber and toe are set correctly. As you turn the steering wheel, feel whether it is tight or not.
Retrofitting a new car after purchasing it is often referred to as zero maintenance. It makes your car safer. The driver is personally convinced of its reliability. Provides him with favorable conditions for long-term operation. Consider the main work that needs to be done.