Owning a classic car is a dream many car lovers aspire to. Polishing it, touring the countryside, top down and up. It’s an idyllic image and one that often brings happiness to thousands of classical car owners every year.
Yet there are many classic car owners who regret the day they ever clapped eyes on their dream vehicle due to lack of research, experience or money.
We’ve put together 5 top tips on things to consider when purchasing a classic car to help drivers aspiring to this dream purchase the right classical car for them.
- 1. Do your research – Spend as much time as possible researching the car you want to buy. Find out what its strengths and weaknesses are so that you can be prepared and ensure your budget can stretch further if something goes wrong. Once you’ve done your research talk to owners, dealers and read reviews – most are more than happy to tell you about what owning a particular car is actually like. They also generally know the clever little tricks and tips you need to keep it running reliably and cost-effectively.
- 2. Breakdown Cover – Because older vehicles are more prone to breakdowns, classic car owners should make sure that their breakdown policies are specifically geared toward their vehicles. Classic cars are often considered as the pride and joy of any motoring enthusiast’s life, so protecting your vehicle against breakdown is essential. Lots of classic cars can be excluded from breakdown policies, so it’s important to check your terms and conditions carefully. Just because one type or model of vehicle is covered, it doesn’t mean that all are, so don’t assume anything.
- 3. Buy a car that has been used regularly – In the world of classic cars, low mileage is king. But it’s a myth. To be reliable a car has to be used. Inactivity kills cars, to be reliable cars need to be used regularly – not a lot, but regularly.
- 4. Drive it – However much you love a particular car, if you’ve never owned one before then the chances are that you’ve never driven one before either. Take some test drives at dealerships before you purchase the vehicle, you may find that the dream doesn’t quite live up to reality – if so, admit it and then move on, always try before you buy a classic vehicle.
- 5. Budget for failure – However well you research and buy the car of your dreams, the chances are it will not be plain sailing. Things always go wrong; you will discover things about the car you will want to improve. So budget accordingly!
For further information on purchasing a classical car and what to look out for or to enquire about the breakdown & recovery services Macadam’s has on offer visit: https://www.macadams.co.uk/ or give us a call today on 0370 4285191