Choosing your first car can be intimidating. There are lots of questions to grapple with. What is your budget? Which makes do you prefer? Which models might suit your needs best within your price range? New drivers can also be overwhelmed by having to get to grips with financing, car insurance and vehicle tax.
So, first, let’s have a think about the things you might be looking for in your vehicle, as a young female professional.
What do you want from your first car?
Affordability
Studies have shown that everyone’s top priority when looking into getting a new car is affordability – everyone wants to try and get just what they need within their budget. Well, you might be in luck, because the last few years has seen a huge growth in the development of affordable vehicles.
If you are looking for something great with a lower price tag, we recommend looking in the direction of brilliantly affordable options like Volkswagen Up! – the ultimate city car – and great value compacts like the Ford Fiesta.
Manoeuvrability
More and more of us are living in urban areas, or just looking for something that is light on its feet and easy to fit into any parking space! Most first-time buyers also don’t want anything too complex to drive, or anything to heavy-weight weighing them down.
In this arena, sifting through the great range of super-minis on the market available at the moment, like the stylish Citreon C3 or the uber-practical Hyundai i10.
Versatility
For those first-time car-owners looking for something perhaps a little flashier, or that they can stay proud of no matter where their life takes them, the market is really opening up to wild card cars and top-of-the-range electric vehicles.
New electric vehicles like the Nissan Leaf are proving especially popular with the environmentally conscious, as our fuel-efficient but more spacious hybrids like the Hyundai Tucson. You could certainly take these anywhere proudly.
You can also read more about which practical, affordable and top-notch cars are the most popular with women here.
Car Leasing
Car leasing, an arrangement in which you lease your vehicle without having to pay to keep it at the end of your hire term, is increasingly becoming the ideal choice for many young professionals picking out their first vehicle.
One of the main reasons behind this is that it allows you to make shorter-term decisions when it comes to your first vehicle. None of us can see into the future (as much as we’d like to) so for some it can provide great peace of mind to know that in two or three years, when their lease ends, they will be able to choose a brand-new vehicle – that may suit a completely different set of needs – without having to front any of the value the vehicle may have lost or go through the hassle of re-selling it.
You can also get lease deals which include troublesome payments like maintenance costs and car insurance, meaning only one payment leaves your account per month. That’s pretty nifty!
Could leasing provide you with the flexibility and security you need?
If this seems like something that might interest you, you can read more about the pros and cons of leasing vs. buying in our comprehensive piece on the topic, or learn more on purchasing here, in our guide to buying your first car.
Either way, you can always give our customer services a call for a chat and they can explain more. We will always help you come to the right decision for you.
Best of luck choosing your car – and happy driving!
