When it is time to choose a new family car, the age-old debate arises about buying a brand new model versus purchasing one that is a few years old. While an older style car will be cheaper, it does not have the latest technology to help keep your family safe. There are choices you can make while buying your new car which will help you get a good resale price in the future, when it is time to upgrade once more. Keep these three tips in mind now, so you can choose the right vehicle options when you are down at a place like a Ford dealer.

Automatic vs Manual Transmission

When it comes to transmission choice, every driver has their own preference of automatic or manual transmission. Automatic transmissions suit those drivers who spend a lot of time in heavy traffic; while the manual transmission offers more control over gear changing. However, if you want to have a good resale value for your car in the future, an automatic transmission is the better choice to make.

The reason for this is because worldwide there is a higher demand for automatic transmission cars than there is for manual transmission cars. By buying an automatic, you already have a bigger market to sell the car to.

Colour Choice

Colour choice of your new vehicle does impact the resale value of your car in two different ways. Firstly, avoid buying a car in a fad colour. If the colour you are considering is brand new on the market, it is also untested against consumer reaction. Neon purple may look super funky today, but if the manufacturer does not make vehicles in that colour for a second year, that is a good indication that it was not popular in the market. If it is unpopular now, it is unlikely to be a popular choice when you sell the car in the future.

While white is not the most exciting colour, it has good resale appeal because of the way white reflects the sun's rays. This helps to keep cars cooler during the harsh heat of the summer months. White also continues to be the most popular colour choice on the market with close to one-third of Australians surveyed in a poll choosing it as their preference for cars.

Upgrade Options

When you are offered a choice of upgrade options past the standard model of car, you need to carefully think about which ones are worth the additional price you will pay. For example, options that increase the safety of your car are always worth the money as every future buyer is interested in a car that offers the best in driving protection. Reverse camera, lane drifting sensors and blind spot technology improve the way you drive and the safety of your car. Therefore, there will be interest in a car with these options in the future.

A top-of-the-line stereo on the other hand is not going to have universal appeal when the car is resold. Therefore, if you wish to choose upgrade options for your new car, make sure you only pay for ones that are going to appeal to every potential purchaser in the future.

Buying a new car is wonderful as you will get exactly the car you want. However, by keeping these points in mind, you can also get a car where you will make some of your money back at selling time. Of course, practicality should not always dictate the choices you make when buying a car, but making practical decisions does go a long way towards determining what price you will get for your car when it is time to upgrade once more.