Buying A Used Car In Australia - Two Factors You Must Consider Carefully Before Buying A Used Car

If you are going to buy a used or second hand car, what will be your main concerns? What are the most important factors to consider if you wish to buy a used car?

I find myself asking these same type of questions when I was faced with a limited budget and a need to change to a newer, but used or second hand car to cut down on initial investment costs.

I have read from one car club for motoring enthusiasists that it should be the age of the car. Briefly, this car club recommended that I spend the most time to look out for a car that was about 3 years old to get the best value out of a used car which still looks good and has depreciation factored into it.

But essentially was that the main factor I should be concerned about when hunting for a good used second hand car?

Are there more important factors I should rightly spend more time to look at if I am looking for a used or second hand car?

Indeed, I was not too surprised when I read a report from the Monash University Traffic Research Centre and supported by the RACV, Traffic Accident Centre and several other motoring clubs that for anyone looking for a used car, the most important criteria in determining the selection of a used car is not its age, but is the safety the used car provides the driver and the people on the road!

In the world's largest crash study conducted in 2006 (and updated recently in mid July 2007), results assessed the performance of 305 vehicle models in more than 1.7 million crashes in Australia and New Zealand from 1987 to 2004.

From the study, it is now possible to have a good understanding of how each car model correlated to its age would perform with regards to its crashworthiness (how much protection the vehicle provides the driver in a crash) and aggressivity (how badly the vehicle is likely to harm other road users, including pedestrians and cyclists, in a crash).

By means of this study, if you are looking for a used car in Australia and New Zealand, it will be possible for you to have a general assessment of the protection the used car model will provide you as well as the potential harm it can cause to other road users in a crash.

Dr Newman who led the study reported that of the 305 vehicle models assessed, 87 provided an above average level of driver protection and 72 provided a below average level of driver protection in a crash.

With this report, it is now possible for you to check the make of your car and the model against the report to have a quick understanding of its car crashworthiness and aggressivity.

Further if you are in Australia and if you agree that the aspect of car safety is or paramount importance to you, then before you make a decision to buy any used car, check the make of your car and the model against this Used Car Safety Ratings (UCSR) report.

From this report there are clear indications of some superior makes and models that are standout cars, and where safety is your consideration, it will be wise to give a lot more consideration to these cars when you purchase your next used car.

Australia - A Place I Must Visit Before I Die

I have a few places on my list that I must visit before I die. Most of these places are located next to the ocean and have amazing beaches and ocean wildlife. I love the ocean and I really love surfing as well as swimming with different types of wildlife in the ocean. Another major reason to visit these locations is the truly amazing sites that can be visited which can not be duplicated anywhere else in the world. The places I must visit before I die are Italy, Hawaii, and probably the most important, Australia.

The main reason that I want to vacation in Australia is for the amazing surf that is created there. The Great Barrier Reef creates the best waves in the world for surfing. I have also been very intrigued about Australia ever since I saw the movie Point Break, and Patrick Swayze’s character dies while surfing during the “Fifty Year’s Storm”. I grew up thinking that dieing while surfing would be the best way to die, because you would die while doing something that you love. Not only does the Great Barrier Reef supply outstanding waves, it also is a habitat for an enormous amount of ocean wildlife. I could spend years snorkeling in this area trying to see all of the amazing ocean wildlife that Australia has to offer.

Australia also has amazing places to visit while you are vacationing there. The most famous building in Australia is located in Sydney, the Sydney Opera House. This famous landmark was shown in nearly every shot that was taken of the city during the 2000 Olympics. To me one of the best things about Australia, and Sydney in particular, is the tremendous amount of bed and breakfasts there are to stay in. I was looking online and I saw about twenty or thirty different bed and breakfasts, with all different types of amenities. Some of these bed and breakfasts had four star services, and others were more like apartments, where you took care of everything for yourself. I think that staying in one of these places could make your vacation in Australia that much more interesting. I'll see you in Australia!