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Buying a new car can be an exciting experience, especially if you’ve saved up and planned for the expense. However, if this is your first foray into shopping pre-owned cars in Anchorage Alaska, here are a few things to consider as you make the purchase. Needs Thanks to healthy competition, there is an endless array of vehicles available for purchase at just about every price point. This can make winnowing the field of possibilities seem overwhelming. Consider first what you’ll be using the vehicle for. Will you only be driving to and from work? How far is the commute? For a long daily commute, you may place a high value on fuel economy and comfort. For a shorter commute, you may place higher importance on how quickly the heater kicks into high gear. Will you be carting several people or things in your travels? If you will be using your vehicle to take family members to events and practices, an SUV may be more your speed. But if you’ll be helping your mother-in-law move each winter to the warmer parts of Alaska, you may require a truck How are the roads where you typically drive? In some of the vast wilderness of the Last Frontier, many roads remain unpaved. Even Alaska highways have portions with gravel breaks. Keep where you’ll be driving in mind as you consider your purchasing options. Wants The heart wants what the heart wants, and if that’s a snazzy sports car or a giant truck, you may have to make other concessions to find a vehicle in your price range. Carefully consider which vehicle amenities are wants and which are actual needs. Be honest with yourself. The vast majority of drivers say they intend to drive their vehicles for 10 years or more, so it’s important that you choose a car that does the things you need it to do. As you consider different options like heated seats, tinted windows, a banging stereo system, or leather seats, remember that you can always buy a slightly older car or one with a few more miles to get some of those amenities should you decide they are critical for you to enjoy your new set of wheels. Budget There’s more to buying a car than just the cost of the vehicle. You’ll need to tag it and insure it, and those things cost money. You’ll also need to maintain it and pay for fuel. On average, people spend about $1,200 per year on vehicle maintenance, or approximately $100 per month. Of course, that can vary dramatically based on the age of the vehicle and the required repairs. This is a major reason that experts recommend buying a car with the least amount of wear and tear and the fewest miles possible. Experts recommend spending no more than 10 percent of your budget on a car. So if you earn $40,000 per year, look for a car that costs no more than $4,000. If you view your car as a luxury, there are experts who recommend spending up to 20 percent of your income on a car purchase. The idea is a more expensive car will cost less in maintenance, and if you spend a lot of time in your vehicle, the additional cost may be well worth it. Finding your dream car and paying it off is a rite of passage. Follow these tips as you consider pre-owned cars in Anchorage, Alaska, and you’re sure to find a car that will work for you and one that you can afford.
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