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THIS WEEK maltatoday, SUNDAY, 27 APRIL 2014 39 MOTORING IF you are thinking of splashing out on a new car make sure you drive off with a good deal with these top tips 1 - Consider your choice Think about what you want from your new car - an environmentally friendly engine, fuel efficiency or just lots of room in the boot? 2 - Do your research Before you visit a showroom find out everything you can about the car you want, specifically the mod- el, engine and any other specifica- tions. Check out whatcar.com for everything you need to know. 3 - Don't budge from your budg- et Fix a maximum figure in your mind and stick to it. Remember that car prices are f lexible and there are usually discounts to be had. Visit priceanycar.com and don't forget to add running costs to your calculations. 4 - Take a test drive with some- one in the know Take someone who knows a bit about cars who can check for problems as you find out how it handles, how easy the controls are and how comfortable it feels while you're driving. 5 - Shop around for finance Most dealerships will offer some way of spreading the cost but it pays to explore all your options. Don't focus solely on the monthly payment, consider how much the car will cost in total by the end of the agreement. It's also helpful to shop around for finance. 6 - Consider part exchange In simple terms this means your car is taken off your hands at an agreed price, which is knocked off the cost of your new car. You are likely to get less from a dealer than you would from selling privately, but it may be worth it for a hassle free process. 7 - Trust your gut instinct Whether buying a new or used car, don't be sidetracked. Find the car you like, stick to your budget and if the deal doesn't feel right, just walk away. 8 - Try this sav v y saving trick Opt for an end of the line model rather than a new one. Look out for a car dealer's courtesy car too, which are often in good condition, come with great features and low mileage. Be mindful of the steering wheel THE steering wheel does a lot more than just steer a vehicle in the direc- tion the driver has chosen. Com- bined with the foot pedals it pro- vides that vital connection between vehicle and pilot and is suitably weighted, configured and sized to allow for driver comfort and control over various terrains and driving conditions. The "feel" and look of a steering wheel can also become the differ- ence for some buyers choosing be- tween one particular brand or mod- el over another. Housed within the steering wheel these days are a host of safety and driver aids including an airbag, audio, Bluetooth and cruise-control but- tons/switches plus access to in-dash information such as fuel consump- tion and trip distances. Some are even designed to allow for fingertip control of automatic gear changes. Is that all? No, not by a long stretch. The steering wheel is constantly pro- viding feedback to the driver which, at times, can help reduce repair bills or make the vehicle safer on the road. When a vehicle is assembled new, the steering wheel is mounted to the steering column in what is called the straight-ahead position. That means when the road wheels are pointed straight ahead so, too, is the steering wheel. If a driver notices any changes to this position it clearly indicates there is an alignment problem. May- be somebody has inflicted damage to one of the road wheels when park- ing, causing the steering geometry to change. One easy check is to look at the wheels for impact damage. Left too long, incorrect steering geometry will cause uneven and premature tyre wear. The steering wheel can also start to shake when road speeds increase, which normally is an in- dication the front wheels are out of balance. This can also be the result of the wheel and kerb coming to- gether and a balance weight being dislodged. Another tell-tale sign of a steering- related problem is when a vehicle starts to drift sharply to one side when the driver's hands are taken off the steering wheel for a short time on a flat and straight road surface. This can also be an indication of a deflat- ed front tyre. Suspension wear can also at times be detected by way of a rattle felt through the steering wheel when travelling over uneven or rough sur- faces. So let your steering wheel do the talking - it may help avoid un- wanted repairs or reduce the amount of work and money required to cor- rect a fault. Eight top tips for buying a new car