world automotive

As you'll no doubt be more than aware, the current global economic climate is hardly a burgeoning system of promise and capitalistic venture. In fact it currently resembles a dour-faced Merchant Banker who has found himself sinking irretrievably beneath the gloomy waters of the Adriatic, never to be seen again. I could speculate further as to why I believe the world seems to have run out of money and even offer my opinion on how to get out of it (has no one thought of just printing more money? Or doesn't it work like that?), but I am no financial expert. All I can be sure of is that the world will keep turning for the foreseeable future and ordinary people like you and me have to carry on regardless whether our bank manager is happy or not. We still have to do the weekly shop, do the school run and of course; run a car. Which brings me to the crux of my point; how can any of us afford to buy new cars when we can barely afford tea bags?

Fortunately for those who are savvy enough, there are ways around this conundrum. Used cars have garnered varying reputations over the years, often leaving the general public feeling over-anxious about investing. However, with the current economic climate putting the automotive industry under a comparable pressure to that of being 100,000 leagues under the sea, maybe now would be a great time to take advantage of them. My point being, they can't afford to fob you off with a lesser-quality vehicle at a jacked up price. They need your business. They need to have a good reputation. They need your money.

So now you know you can probably find a great used car at a great price, as the dealerships simply have to shift these cars otherwise they'll just gather rust on the forecourt and eventually be repossessed. The question now is; what car to buy?

From personal experience I have always found used Ford cars to be impeccable investments, combining the practicality I need for transporting the shopping from supermarket to my fridge, to the style and performance that I need for...erm...well I don't need per se, but it's nice to put a smile on my face now and then. I personally chose a Ford Focus; the best-selling car on the UK's roads at the moment and a perennial favourite amongst the family-minded petrol head. The spacious and comfortable interior makes the Focus a pleasant place to be even on long, protracted journeys, regardless of whether I'm in the car on my own or with 4 passengers (family dog included).

I chose the Zetec 1.6 petrol model, which only had slightly over 1,000 miles on the clock and came with a bargain price of being £5 shy of 10 grand. I, due to an inheritance cheque, had the money to buy the car up front, but all dealerships offer finance deals that can be altered to better suit the amount of income you earn. Obviously with these deals you end up paying slightly over the initial asking price due to Interest (check those APRs, people), but as I mentioned before, the car dealerships can't really afford to rip you off.

With relatively no effort, I found a great performing used car, with hardly any miles on the clock, at a heavily discounted price. It definitely pays to shop around, but my recommendation of a nearly new used Ford can be trusted. The amount of Focus' you see on the roads every day can be a testament to that.

About the Author:
Pete J Ridgard is a writer and a car enthusiast. He currently writes for the automotive industry. He he discusses the intricacies of buying a car during a global recession. See if you can find a great deal here.