What do you like about your present car?

This is an important question if you're considering changing your car. The reason being we tend to forget about what we have in life - that we wanted - and direct our focus to things we want to have, do or be that we don't have.

I once read happiness is having the things you want in your life and not having the things you don't want. Freud said the only things worth thinking about are problems.

A problem is something you want to have, be or do which is not immediately available. It's a thwarted goal. If what you want is immediately available then it's not worth thinking about.

Right now I can hear my long gone old Gran going on about being grateful.

The problem with buying a car these days is most of the research and shopping is done online before you walk into a dealer and ask for their best deal. It's a solitary activity and our thoughts are not challenged by others. Then we act on our ideas. If you make a car buying mistake based on mistaken ideas then you make a huge financial mistake.

Last year my sister-in-law wrote off her much loved 3-year old top model Renault Laguna. She decided she needed an MPV as she was to be a grandmother. She thought what she liked about her car was the cruise control, blue tooth and sat nav. She didn't particularly like the fuel consumption of her Laguna's 2.0L petrol engine.

She bought a diesel Vauxhall Zafira - which is a great car - and had cruise control, blue tooth and sat nav fitted. She isn't very happy with the car but all she'll say is it isn't a Laguna. If she were to change the Zafira early she would lose a fortune in depreciation.

Talking of depreciation, the price of the Laguna brand-new was over £21,000.00. It was a very old stock car which was registered and discounted to £12,999.00. Two years later the insurance company gave her £6,000.00. Her plan - before she wrote it off - was to keep the car to dilute the depreciation.

Anyway, here are her mistakes and why it's important to write down what you like about your present car before you replace it.

• She loved the performance of the 2.0L petrol engine and the way the Laguna handled and held the hold.
• The family felt the Laguna was extremely comfortable and spacious.
• The Laguna was a top model with added options which she liked.
• She was grateful for the way the Laguna protected her in a high speed crash.

However my sister-in-law forgot about these points as her mind was on the life changing event of her first grandchild. She imagined excursions with her family in an MPV - perfect for the job.

The problem is performance and comfort are two of a number of fundamental features in a car which can't be changed and MPVs can't match a luxury conventional car which has the advantage of a lower centre of gravity.

So it's important to think about what you have in your present car that you like in terms of size, style, space, comfort, performance, economy and safety. It might be worth going over to carbuyersinfo, finding your present car and copying the data and putting a big tick next to what you like about your present car.

Equipment like sat nav and cruise control can be retro-fitted often at less than the manufacturers list price - so equipment doesn't matter.

If my sister-in-law had been more aware of her liking for performance and handling she might have considered an estate car which would have given her the added versatility she thought she wanted and now be happily driving a Laguna Sport Tourer.

Regards
Ralph
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