For many students, owning a car, whether new or used, is as much a sign of maturity and independence as it is intimidating. With the right knowledge and tools, students can make the experience of purchasing and maintaining a car stress-free.
Shaun Seufert, a public affairs assistant with the American Automobile Association (AAA) of Western and Central New York, is helping students debunk the daunting task of buying and maintaining a car. Seufert aids students in choosing vehicles through careful inspection and research.
"Doing your research is going to be a key to driving your own reliable car," Seufert said. "You'll really have an advantage if you know your stuff before you walk onto a lot."
According to Seufert, the first step to buying a new or used vehicle is deciding what kind of car fits both the buyer's needs and budget. Then the shopper should do background research on everything from the car's maintenance history to its gas mileage.
Students should consider not only what kind of car they can afford right now but also later costs such as gas costs and the need for repairs, explained Libby Morsheimer, a student adviser from Student Advising Services.
Students should think twice about whether they really need a gas-guzzling SUV or an automatic vehicle rather than a money-saving manual vehicle, Morsheimer said.
Kelley Blue Book provides fair market value for vehicles based on their model, condition, mileage, and a number of other factors. Seufert said that in addition to visiting the Kelley Blue Book Web site, students should check out carfax.com, a Web site that provides vehicle history reports from dealerships and large automotive repair shops such as Midas and Michelin.
Qianqian Zhu, a graduate student studying biostatistics, is looking to replace her Mazda 626 with something a little bit more reliable.
"I'm trying to get a new car because my car is in pretty bad shape. I've already spent more than $2000 on it," Zhu said. "You want to spend as little as possible and still get a good car."
Whether buying from a private seller or dealership, it's important for new buyers to know their rights and telltale signs of fraud, according to Seufert.
"It's one of the worst feelings in the world to buy a vehicle and then have it break down only two days later," Seufert said.
To ensure the quality of a vehicle, especially a used vehicle being sold between private citizens, Seufert suggests taking a test drive and hiring a knowledgeable mechanic to conduct a visual inspection.
"When doing these inspections, don't be afraid to get down and dirty," Seufert said. "It's perfectly acceptable to go through every detail of a car you are looking to purchase."
Seufert recommends that students read up on the Lemon Law and know their rights. The law, which protects consumers from fraud and buying defective cars, can be found on the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles Web site.
Once students have secured a reliable vehicle, it's important to perform regular maintenance, especially to avoid value depreciation and to prevent larger, more expensive maintenance problems down the road.
According to Morsheimer, just by keeping tires inflated and checking tire pressure on a regular basis, students can save themselves $100 to $300 a year in tire maintenance costs.
Little things like getting regular oil changes every 3,000 miles are cheap and easy repairs that students can make that help avoid larger problems, Morsheimer said.
As for Zhu, basic information on insurance and the law's auto insurance requirements gave her insight on more than just her next set of wheels.
"I know many things that I didn't know before," Zhu said. "[For instance] what happens if I forget to pay my insurance bill and to always call the police if I get into an accident."
Additional Reporting by Shannon White, Arts & Life Editor, and Amanda Shettleton, Asst. Arts & Life Editor
Photo: Breadchastick / Wikimedia Commons
