Deciding on a new car for a professional will take time and effort. Let’s look at some of the issues you need to consider

 First the practical stuff to consider in choosing a car

• Are you likely to do a high mileage? 
• Will you be travelling a lot on business? 
• Do you have a family? 
• Do you have pets?
• Do you need to tow something?

Then the emotional stuff in choosing a car

• Are you a keen driver?
• Do you like sporty handling?
• Do you need economy?
• Do you want to ‘go green’?

 Lots of questions and in truth, most are the same questions that anybody would ask no matter what sort of day job they had.

 But you’re a professional right! – I mean; you work in a specific profession. You might be an architect, or a lawyer, a chartered surveyor, an engineer maybe… or a farmer… you get the picture.

 The point is, being in a specific profession may have an influence over the type, brand and model of any vehicle you choose to drive. Example; a farmer will most probably have different professional and private needs from his car than say a lawyer… (unless the lawyer also owns a farm of course!)

There are other questions (I know, ‘more questions’) that also come in to play like:

• Will you buy it outright?
• Will you finance it?
• What sort of finance?
• Will you lease it?

 For many people a car is as much of an emotional purchase as it is practical. After all, if you are a successful professional, maybe you should project that success to the world and one way of doing that is by driving a nice set of wheels.

 Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying you pick a car that shouts how rich or famous you are, (unless you are rich or famous of course) I am simply saying that it can be subtly important to be seen to be driving a nice vehicle.

 Why?

 Because it kind of says ‘I’m good at my job’.

 And that’s important because people always buy from people, and whilst word of mouth and personal recommendation is undoubtedly the best sort of promotion, it needs to be backed up by some visible, tangible evidence of success.

 Not shouty, ‘in your face’ look at me stuff… rather, ‘you are safe giving me your business because I am good at what I do’.

(Although everything has a time and place).

 The point is that nobody knows what you earn, but people can see what you drive. It is part of your professional image. And it’s important.

 So, once you have answered all the practical and emotional questions, you will probably end up with a shortlist of a few models you think fit the bill.

 You ought to now be thinking about how to get the best deal.

 A word to the wise here, you should think about leveraging the fact that you are a professional person during any price negotiations.

 Car dealers simply love selling to the professions.

 Why?

 Because you appreciate service and want to be treated accordingly. It is an ironic truth that you may not have to do as much haggling as ‘john down the street’ to get the right deal because they want to sell to you.

 You are an A1 customer.

 Leverage it!

 Some professions have trade bodies that offer advantageous deals to members. Do you belong to one? If so, find out what deals they can point you at.

 Examples include:

 The RICS, BASC, IMechE, RIBA, NFU, Aspatria Farmers, Fram Farmers, ICAEW, Marks & Spencer, Suffolk Agricultural Association and XEXEC. 

 If you are a member of any of them, go and check it out.

 Always remember, professionals are A1 customers. And cars for professional people is a big deal for car dealers and finance companies.

 Learn how to use your leverage as a professional.

 And have fun!

If you want help and advice about your choices, please contact us at Tyson Cooper and we will get you a great deal on the car you want.