|
Quick links:
It’s easy to be confused by some of the motoring jargon used by dealers, brokers and private sellers. Yet if you just nod your head politely and pretend to understand when you’re buying a new or used car, you could be inadvertently agreeing to something you’re far from happy with. With that in mind, here is a glossary so you can read through a contract and negotiate with confidence.
ABC – Stands for active body control which aims to keep the car as level as possible in all driving conditions.
ABS – Enables you to brake and steer at the same time and prevents the wheels from locking during ‘panic braking’.
APR – Annual percentage rate – the real cost of the loan you take out on your car.
BHP – Standing for brake horse power this refers to the engine’s power.
Biofuel – At the moment the availability of cars that can take biofuels is limited but expanding. Biofuels include corn-based ethanol and rapeseed-oil biodiesel.
CO2 – A waste product in the breathing process of both humans and cars, CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) contributes to global warming. A car’s carbon dioxide output determines the tax band in which it fits – the less the car pollutes the more money you will save on tax.
Contract hire – Instead of buying the car outright, with a contract hire deal you can lease it over a set period and then hand it back to the lease company.
Depreciation – Every car loses some of its value as you drive it. Those that depreciate the least make the best used cars. The lowest depreciating cars still lose around 50% of their value after three years.
Down-payment – The money you pay upfront for a car to reduce your monthly payments.
DVLA – The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency where you must record changes of vehicle ownership.
EBD – The electronic brakeforce distribution which spreads brake pressure evenly between the wheels and reduces the risk of skidding.
EuroNCAP – This stands for the European New Car Assessment Programme and is an independent scheme that assesses the safety of every new car. Ratings range from one to five with five being the best result.
Four-wheel drive – Sometimes referred to as ‘all wheel drive’ this is when power is supplied to both the front and rear axles, though this does not have to be at all times.
Grey import – A car that has been shipped in from another country without the approval of the manufacturer.
Hybrid cars – A vehicle that combines an electric motor with an engine – these are generally considered to be among the most fuel efficient and environmentally friendly vehicles available.
Independent suspension – A system where every wheel is sprung separately so that if you ride over a bump it does not affect the entire vehicle – this is now fairly standard on most new cars.
Kit car – A car assembled from a collection of parts.
Lease – This is a method of car finance where you take the car for a period of years and make payments based on the difference between the retail price and the car’s value at the end of the term. Once this predetermined term has passed, you must return the vehicle to the leasing company.
MoT – A reference to the Ministry of Transport – each car over three years old is required to pass an annual test to prove it is roadworthy.
MPG – Refers to the number of miles a car can travel for every gallon of petrol in the tank. Usually a manufacturer or dealer will quote these figures in urban and motorway driving conditions. Though you are unlikely to achieve these figures yourself (as they are carried out in ideal simulated conditions on a test track) it does give you a chance to compare the economy rate of similar models. The higher the MPG figure, the further you will be able to travel for your money.
MPV – Standing for multi-purpose vehicle, these are usually large family-based vehicles such as a Ford Galaxy or a Renault Espace.
PCP – An abbreviation for personal contract purchase, where the driver leases the vehicle over a set period with a mileage limit and has the option to buy or return the vehicle at the end of the term.
Residual value – The resale value of a used car, that it is what it is worth after it has depreciated in value. Those with the strongest residual values are the best to sell on at a later point.
Steering ratio – How far you have to turn the steering wheel compared to how far the wheels actually turn.
SUV – Standing for sports utility vehicle and nicknamed the Chelsea tractors, an SUV is a tall, high-riding four-wheel drive car that was meant to be used for off-road purposes and trekking through muddy conditions. These are among the most expensive vehicles to pay road tax on as they have high fuel consumption levels and are generally heavy pollutants.
Understeer – When a car pushes straight on rather than reacting to turn in the desired steering direction. This is usually a trait of two-wheel drive cars.
V5 – The logbook for all British cars that is used for registration purposes – you should not buy a car without it.
VIN Number – This is the vehicle identification number, which contains information on when and where the car was built. Always ensure that the VIN matches the number in the V5 before you buy.
ZEV – Standing for zero emissions vehicle, this is a car that produces no harmful emissions whatsoever such as an electric car.
In the final section of the car buying tips guide we’ll examine some frequently asked questions.
Move on to part six of the car buying tips guide…
|
