New cars
What Makes the Perfect Car for a Daily Commute?
In the hustle and bustle of daily life, the significance of a reliable and comfortable vehicle for your daily commute should not be downplayed. As commuters spend a substantial amount of time on the road, the perfect car should seamlessly blend efficiency, comfort, and safety to transform the daily journey into a stress-free experience.
Efficiency
At the heart of the perfect daily commute vehicle is efficiency. A fuel-efficient engine is not only economical but also contributes to a greener environment. Cars with advanced hybrid or electric technology are gaining popularity as they provide an eco-friendly option while reducing fuel costs.
A smooth and responsive transmission system adds to the efficiency, ensuring a seamless transition through traffic without unnecessary fuel consumption.
Comfort
Comfort is a non-negotiable factor for a daily commuter. From the plushness of the seats to the interior space, the perfect car should cocoon its occupants in comfort. Ergonomically designed seats with ample lumbar support reduce fatigue during long drives.
A well-insulated cabin shields passengers from external noise, creating a serene environment.
Climate control systems that efficiently maintain a comfortable temperature, regardless of weather conditions, add an extra layer of convenience.
Connectivity and Infotainment
Modern life is intertwined with technology, and the ideal daily commute car should reflect this reality. Seamless connectivity features such as Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto allow drivers to stay connected while keeping their focus on the road.
An intuitive infotainment system with a user-friendly interface ensures that controlling navigation, music, and other functions is a breeze. USB ports and wireless charging options enhance the convenience of keeping devices powered up during the commute.
Safety
Safety is paramount, and the perfect daily commute car should be equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features. Advanced driver-assistance systems, including lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic emergency braking, enhance overall safety.
A solid, well-built structure and multiple airbags provide an added layer of protection in the event of an accident. Additionally, features like blind-spot monitoring and rearview cameras contribute to a safer driving experience, especially in crowded urban environments.
Practicality and Storage
A commuter’s life often involves carrying various items, from work essentials to groceries. The perfect daily commute car should offer practical storage solutions. Ample cargo space, cleverly designed compartments, and foldable rear seats contribute to a versatile interior. A compact yet spacious design allows for easy maneuverability in city traffic while ensuring there is enough room for passengers and belongings.
Cost of Ownership
The ideal daily commute car extends its appeal beyond the initial purchase price. A low cost of ownership, including maintenance and insurance, makes it a practical choice for long-term use.
Fuel efficiency, durability, and the availability of affordable replacement parts all contribute to minimising the overall cost of owning and operating the vehicle.
Crafting the perfect car for a daily commute involves a delicate balance of efficiency, comfort, safety, and practicality. As technology continues to evolve, the ideal daily commute companion should adapt to the changing needs of modern life.
Understanding Car Depreciation: How to Maintain the Value of Your Car
Buying a new car is an exciting time. It’s fun to wander up and down a dealership looking at all the new cars to find the perfect one.
Of course, when buying a new car, there are several cost factors to consider, such as:
- on-road costs
- fuel economy, as well as
- servicing and insurance costs for the vehicle.
What many people don’t consider, however, is the cost of car depreciation.
In this article, we’re going to take a deep dive into what car depreciation is, why it happens, how to calculate car depreciation and the steps you can take to help maintain the value of your car over time.
If you’re thinking of buying a new car soon, this article will help you to make a more informed buying decision.
What is car depreciation?
Car depreciation refers to the amount of value that your car loses over time.
Of course, while some cars can hold onto most of their value over their lifetime, others lose a significant amount in the first year alone.
For this reason, it’s important to understand the different factors that affect the rate at which a car depreciates.
Why do cars depreciate in value over time?
Here are some of the most common reasons why cars depreciate in value over time:
Age
Most things, unless they’re collectibles, tend to become less valuable as they get older.
Condition
Every car naturally suffers some form of wear and tear the older it gets and the more it gets used.
Mileage
The more you drive your car, the more likely it will need repairs – hence it depreciates in value.
As well as these, the mere fact that car manufacturers are always coming out with new cars every year means that, even if you buy a top-of-the-line model, it won’t stay top-of-the-line for long.
How much do cars depreciate in value over time?
As mentioned, each car depreciates at a different rate, but there are rough guides you can follow to help you understand the average rate of car depreciation and how to calculate car depreciation.
Generally, a new car will lose around 20% of its value in the first year of ownership. This includes the 10-15% it loses the moment it’s driven out of the dealership (yes, that’s a true fact!).
Over a five-year period, the average car loses around 40% of its original value.
Why do some cars depreciate more than others?
There are a few key reasons why some cars depreciate more or quicker than other cars do:
Make and Model
Popular cars, such as small SUVs and family cars driven by the masses, tend to hold onto their value longer than, say, luxury cars which are much more costly to run and maintain.
Factors such as colour and fuel efficiency also play a role in car depreciation and resale value as well.
Level of Demand
Some cars are just in much higher demand than others on the market.
If most people want an economic mid-sized SUV and they’re hard to come by right now, your SUV is going to be much easier to sell than a high-end two-seater car that chews through fuel.
Brand Reputation
A high-quality and popular branded car that doesn’t cost a lot to keep it running is going to hold its value far longer than a car built by a manufacturer you’ve never heard of with parts that are almost impossible to get replaced in Australia.
Now, we’re going to give you a few tips to help minimise your car’s depreciation as much as possible.
What are the best ways to maintain the value of your car?
There are several things you can do over the life of your car to help it maintain its value:
Do Your Research
First and foremost, when looking to buy a new car, spend some time researching the cars that hold their value better than others.
Look for cars that will still be in high demand as used cars, and remember factors such as colour and style when considering resale value too.
Keep Your Mileage Low
You want to enjoy your new car and use it as much as you need, but if you’re looking to sell it in a few years, try to keep those long drives on the open road to a minimum.
A 5-year-old car with only 60,000km on the odometer is going to sell for more than a similar car that’s already ticked over 100,000km.
Take Great Care of Your Car
This one is a no-brainer. Get your car serviced regularly, in line with the manufacturer’s recommendations. Keep it clean, inside and out. If there’s any damage, like small dents or paint chips, get it taken care of immediately.
Hopefully, by now you have a better understanding of how car depreciation works, and you can use what you’ve learned to help you make better decisions when buying and maintaining your new car.
Of course, if you’re looking for help when buying your new car, Private Fleet can help.
Find the right vehicle at the right price with Private Fleet
Private Fleet empowers you to gain all the benefits of a fleet purchase but as a private buyer.
Backed by decades of vehicle industry experience, fleet buying power and a network of car dealers across Australia, we are here to ensure that buying your next vehicle will be as straightforward as possible for you.
Shopping for a car is an enjoyable process – let us make it hassle-free, too.
Reach out to us today for a seamless and simple car-buying experience.
5 Exciting New Cars Coming in 2024 To Watch
The beginning of a new year is always such an exciting time.
It’s a chance for us to think about all the wonderful things that the next 12 months will bring.
For us, that means checking out all the new cars coming to Australia in 2024.
Of course, with the rise of hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles as well, there are now a plethora of options available or coming to the market soon to suit everyone’s tastes.
So, it’s only right that we kick this year off by bringing you a list of 5 exciting new cars coming in 2024 that we think you should be keeping your eye out for.
Who knows – maybe your next car will be one of these!
1. Ford Mustang – 2024 Sports Car to look out for
If you’re a sports car lover, then you’re going to love the new Ford Mustang arriving on Australian shores in early 2024.
We’ve waited a long time for this one to arrive, but it looks like it’s going to be worth the wait.
As part of the release, Ford will also be bringing a limited-edition Mustang to the market known as the Dark Horse. This top-of-the-line model has proven popular in the US, but with only 1000 of these cars being produced, you’ll have to be quick to get your hands on this beauty.
2. Mazda CX-80 – 2024 SUV to look out for
The Mazda CX-80 will be coming to market sometime in 2024 in a bid to provide a more affordable SUV option for Mazda enthusiasts.
It’s expected that the CX-80 will look and feel quite similar to its already available sister models in the CX-60 and CX-90 – and should prove strong competition for other reasonably priced SUVs that we’ve already seen from brands like Toyota.
If you’re looking for a reliable SUV in 2024, make sure you consider the new Mazda CX-80.
3. Audi Q4 e-tron – 2024 Electric Vehicle to look out for
Customers looking for an alternative to larger electric vehicles like the Tesla Model Y will be pleasantly surprised by the arrival of the Audi Q4 e-tron in Australia in 2024.
This sleek new SUV has been available in Europe for a couple of years now and boasts a driving range of up to 560km, which is quite impressive for an electric vehicle – and something that will definitely appeal to Australian audiences who enjoy the open road.
Perhaps the new Audi Q4 e-tron will become your new car in 2024.
4. Kia Sportage Hybrid – 2024 Hybrid Vehicle to look out for
Hybrid vehicles are gaining more and more traction with each passing year here in Australia, and Kia will be looking to capitalise on that when they release the new hybrid version of their popular Sportage model early in 2024.
Boasting many of the same features as the petrol and diesel variants already available here, the Kia Sportage Hybrid will offer a more eco-friendly alternative to their mid-sized line-up without compromising on the key details many Australians already love about the car.
This is definitely one hybrid to keep in mind if you’re looking to buy a new car in 2024.
5. Mitsubishi Triton – 2024 Ute to look out for
If you’re looking for all the grunt you can get from your new car in 2024, then it’s going to be hard to go past the new Mitsubishi Triton ute.
The next generation of Triton has been heavily redesigned in just about every way, with a fresh new body, a powerful new engine and a completely revamped 4WD system and features to make this the ideal choice for ute enthusiasts around the country.
Whether you’re towing the boat, pulling the caravan, or looking to head off-road for a bit of fun on the weekend, the new Mitsubishi Triton will have you covered.
Find the right new vehicle in 2024 at the right price with Private Fleet
Private Fleet empowers you to gain all the benefits of a fleet purchase but as a private buyer.
Backed by decades of vehicle industry experience, fleet buying power and a network of car dealers across Australia, we are here to ensure that buying your next vehicle in 2024 will be as straightforward as possible for you.
Shopping for a car is an enjoyable process – let us make it hassle-free, too.
Reach out to us today for a seamless and simple car-buying experience.
Finance Lease vs. Novated Lease: which option is right for you?
So, you’re getting a car – congratulations!
No doubt you’ve had many factors to consider along the way:
- Purpose of the car. Check!
- Car model. Check!
- To lease or to loan? To lease – Check!
But wait, if you’re planning to lease a car, we have a question for you.
What type of lease are you going to choose: a finance lease or a novated lease?
Since your wallet is on the line, this is one of the most important questions to ask when planning to lease a car.
In this article, we’ll break down the differences between a car finance lease versus a novated car lease to help you make an informed decision for your car lease.
What is a car lease?
Leasing is a great way to have full use of a car in your name without paying a large upfront cost. Instead of buying a car, leasing allows you to ‘rent’ a car for a longer period of time – typically 24-36 months – and make fixed monthly payments based on your leasing agreement.
As a general rule, the longer the lease is, the cheaper the monthly payments are and at the end of the lease period, you may have the option to buy out the vehicle should you decide to keep it. Otherwise, you can return it to the dealership and either start a new lease or buy a new car.
The benefits of both finance car leases and novated car leases
- Lower monthly paymentsSince you’re only paying for the car’s use during the specified lease term, rather than the full purchase price, leasing a car is often the ideal option for short-term savings, especially if your lease has fixed interest rates allowing repayments to be budgeted throughout the leasing term of the car.
- Maintenance and warranty coverageDepending on the supplier, lease agreements often include maintenance and warranty coverage, saving you from unexpected repair costs – after all, it isn’t you who owns the car.
- A chance to enjoy the latest car modelsIf you’re looking for a newer model that would otherwise not fit your budget or are looking to upgrade your car every few years or so, a car lease gives you this flexibility, even if you’re on a budget.
The difference between a Finance Car Lease and a Novated Car Lease
What is a car finance lease?
A car finance lease is one of the most straightforward financing options available when buying a car, and it works like a long-term rental agreement.
Basically, it allows you to drive a vehicle for an agreed-upon amount of time while you pay the dealership a monthly fixed price for the usage of the car.
What is a novated lease?
Another increasingly popular form of vehicle financing is the novated lease. It works the same way as a car finance lease, the only difference is that it’s a three-way agreement between you (the employee), your employer and the financier.
With a novated car lease agreement, the obligation to meet the repayments is with your employer. The repayments come from your income as a component of a salary sacrifice arrangement.
Take note: a car leased through a novated lease agreement is not considered a company vehicle, so you can use it for 100% private use without the need for logbooks. A novated lease can also have tax advantages since the financing of the vehicle is paid from your pre-tax remuneration package.
For more information about Novated Leases, check: Novated Leases with Private Fleet.
So, which one should you choose? Finance Lease Vs. Novated Lease
Ultimately, there is no right answer. Choosing how you pay for your car lease is still a matter of personal preference and your financial circumstances.
If you don’t want to worry about monthly repayments and you feel more secure knowing that your car lease is already taken care of every time you get your paycheck, then a novated lease may be for you.
On the other hand, if you have other sources of income that you’re using to pay for your car lease other than your monthly paycheck, then a finance lease can be a great option.
If you still have questions and want to make an informed decision about which option may be right for your unique circumstances, simply reach out to us for a chat.
Find the right car leasing option for your vehicle with Private Fleet.
Private Fleet empowers you to gain all the benefits of a fleet purchase, but as a private buyer.
Backed by decades of vehicle industry experience, fleet buying power and a network of car dealers across Australia, we are here to ensure that leasing a vehicle will be as straightforward as possible for you.
Leasing a car is a memorable experience – let us make it hassle-free, too.
Reach out to us today for a seamless and easy car leasing experience and all the guidance you need around your financing options.
Level 2, 9 Help Street