Too Many Driver Aids
Although they sound like they’d be useful, driver aids can get in the way - especially if they’re overly sensitive. Drivers often regret having this control taken from them by annoying and inaccurate systems.
Uncomfortable Seats
It’s tough to tell how comfortable a car is when you’re just looking at a picture of it. Those lush interiors might actually feel cheap, or the snug-looking seats lack the back support you were hoping for leading to second thoughts.
Regretting the Car’s Size
Many drivers regret buying a car that’s the wrong size for them. Whether it’s too big or too small, it’s an easy mistake to make, especially if you buy online! If you can, take a look at the vehicle before you commit to a purchase.
Overly Complex Tech
Whether you’re good with tech or not, no one wants a car that requires a degree to operate! Your future car might look perfect when you’re shopping, but when you get it and can’t get through the impenetrable infotainment system, for example? Regrets creep in.
Buyer’s Remorse Over the Price
This is the big one. Spending large sums of money is a stressful decision, especially when the bill comes through! You’re not on your own though; buyer’s remorse is super common, especially if you find a similar vehicle for a lower price shortly after.
Not Choosing a Better Fuel Economy
When it comes to buying vehicles, the cost of fuel isn’t always at the forethought of peoples’ decisions. Topping up can be quite costly if you don’t have a gas-efficient car though, and when the driver realizes it can be a point of regret.
Expensive Maintenance
In a related repair issue, the cost of repairs is a cause for concern. Even if your car breaks a lot, if repairs and parts are cheap it’s not always a deal-breaker. Expensive ones though? They can burn a hole in your bank account and torch your buyer satisfaction.
Going for the Base Model
Who’d have thought that one of the things drivers regret is not spending more money? It makes sense, though; if you splurge on a new vehicle and then see all the awesome trims or features you could have had for a little more, doubt seeps in.
Buyer’s Pressure
If you’ve ever been in a car showroom, you know how pushy sales staff can be. We get it, it’s a job, but on the other hand, some drivers cave under pressured sales and make choices under duress they wouldn’t do otherwise.
Not Getting the Color They Liked
Everyone has a color that they’re really drawn to, but why wait for a particular shade to hit the showroom when you can settle and drive away with a car there and then? Well, the answer to that is because you might regret not holding out! You could always repaint it, though.
Missing Basic Features
Considering they’re called “basic” features, it’s reasonable to assume that most cars come with them - you know, like heated seats or Apple CarPlay, for example. However, sometimes they’re only available on higher trims, and buyers kick themselves for not checking first.
Poor Visibility
Visibility is another factor that’s easy to overlook and even easier to miss when you’re buying online. If you buy a car without test driving it first, you won’t know whether it has some deal-breaking blind spots or challenging views. Cue many buyer regrets!
Noisy Cabin
Have you ever bought a car only to find out that the cabin lets in too much noise? Tire sounds, a roaring engine or even the whistling wind might cause distractions, and there are drivers who don’t realize how noisy it will be until they’re finally behind the steering wheel.
Lack of Cargo Space
Do you love camping, or have a big family? Maybe you buy a lot of groceries. Either way, you want to make sure you have a lot of storage space, because finding out that you can’t cram everything you want to in your vehicle is a common post-buy concern.
Taking a Loan That’s Too High
It’s common for drivers to get carried away with the excitement of buying a new car and aim for a bigger budget than they can afford. Only when the monthly payments eat away at their bank account do they realize they may have made a mistake.
The Ride Feels Wrong
There are times when a car’s ride feel doesn’t match its appearance. That sporty car you bought? It might feel lighter than you wanted, and not have enough grit. The opposite is also true, but either way it leads to sour grapes.
Regretting the Transmission Choice
Transmission is a large contributor when it comes to the driving experience, and some owners are more comfortable with one type than the other. If you settle for a manual when you had your heart set on an automatic or vice versa, buyer’s remorse will follow.
Vanity Regret
Showrooms have a habit of making all their cars look amazing - they’re trying to sell a product after all - but when the vehicle doesn’t have the same impact in your garage back home, you might realize you were dazzled by the show.
Too Much Attention From Thieves
Unfortunately, having a nice car means being a target of thieves, especially if you live in an area with a high crime rate. Drawing unwanted attention is another reason why drivers come to regret an extravagant purchase.
Disappointed With the Resale Value
When you buy a car, the last thing you’re thinking about is how much it will resell for! It pays to plan ahead though, because some drivers find that they’re super upset when they come to sell and get a worse deal than they expected.
Constantly Needing Repairs
Durability is another long-term consideration for new car buyers - it might even be a short-term one if your car breaks down shortly after purchase! Finding out your vehicle model is prone to needing repairs is a big blow.
Regretting the Brand
The vehicle market is in a constant state of flux, and buying a familiar brand only to discover it’s not what it used to be can be a real kick in the proverbial plums.
Confusing Controls
In the ideal world, all vehicle controls would be easy and intuitive, but ever-advancing technology is unpredictable. Confusing or complicated controls can really make you rethink your choice of ride.
Too Many Features to Use
Buying a car with too many features can bring its own regrets. For example, what’s the point of gesture controls if you don’t want to wave at your car like a magician or voice controls if you’re not willing to shout loudly at your car?
Not Opting for All-Wheel Drive
When you live in an area with rough roads, bad weather or even if you just like to go cross-country with your ride, overlooking all-wheel drive is a big mistake. Your car may be impractical for day-to-day living, so in a worst-case scenario, you might even have to trade it in for a new one.
A Small Backseat
Sure, the car is primarily for a driver, but are you expecting passengers? You may regret not considering space for the rest of your family. If they can’t all pile in comfortably they won’t let you forget it! This is especially important if you have - or if you’re expecting - kids. You need those children’s seats.
Technology That Requires Updates
Vehicle technology often needs regular updates to function. If you don’t know this, it might sting a little when you get the car back and have to schedule regular maintenance time, especially if said features become unusable until they’re updated.
Inconvenient Fuel Tank Location
In all the new car buzz, you might not notice if the fuel tank’s in a weird place, adding extra stress to topping up, particularly if you do so frequently. Dual side fillers are a particularly confusing one, especially if you forget which side you last filled!
Tiny or Unusable Cupholders
It may sound trivial, but did you buy a car with a cupholder that’s too small or shallow for a standard bottle? Or is it in a hard-to-reach place? Seemingly small details can really impact your daily commute and pile on the regrets.
Unreliable Automatic Parking Assist
Parking assists are great in theory, but if you’ve bought a vehicle expecting a game-changer, you might be disappointed - especially if it doesn’t read parking spaces properly, or ignores your driveway.
Touch-Sensitive Buttons
As cars become more modern, touch-sensitive buttons are getting more common. They can be sensitive to a fault - activating at the least brush-by - and their lack of tactility may give drivers second thoughts.
Complicated Key Fob Features
Newer high-tech cars sometimes have many features integrated into their keyfob, which sounds convenient but accidentally pressing the wrong button frequently and often can bring on severe buyer’s remorse.
Not Enough USB Ports
Let’s face it, every device needs a USB port now, and if you don’t have enough of them in your vehicle to power your digital collection of treasures you’ll probably wish you opted for the car that had them.
Missed Storage Compartments
So you’ve made sure your trunk has enough storage space, but what about the driving space? Having room in your glove box and center console to store your essentials is just as important, and overlooking them is a mistake. Think outside the box!
Curbing the Wheels
One thing you might not consider when purchasing your new vehicle is its profile. Get one too low to the ground and you could scrape the rims or hit parts of the car when you park, and you don’t want to have that regret weighing on your bank balance.
