Charlie Harvey

Before he could read, Charlie’s dad would buy him car magazines so he could look at pictures of supercars while sitting pitch-side at his brothers’ football matches – he soon became consumed with everything automotive. Charlie is a speaker of five languages and once lived in Chile, Siberia and the Czech Republic, returning to the UK to write about his life-long passion: cars. Having written for sister sites Auto Express, DrivingElectric, evo and Car Throttle, Charlie now writes and edits news, review and advice articles for Carbuyer, as well as publishing content to its social media platforms.

Charlie says…

“I believe any car has its place depending on what it aims to offer – it’s the humble hatchbacks, affordable sports cars, practical SUVs and saloons that make the biggest impact on consumers’ lives. At Carbuyer we aim to offer useful guidance around the immense choice available on the modern UK car market. We pitch it all in layman’s terms based on what buyers are looking for, and what we as car aficionados think give certain models the edge over others. That’s never been more relevant than now, given the scale of change happening in the automotive world at present.”

Charlie Harvey’s expertise and interests

Car ownership tips and advice
Affordable city cars and superminis
Hot hatchbacks
Bargain used cars
Car design

Charlie’s top tips for car buyers

As popular as SUVs might be at the moment, plenty of smaller, more traditional bodystyles such as hatchbacks and estate cars are spacious and practical enough for the majority of buyers. With modern buyers often overlooking these types of cars, you might find you can grab one for a more competitive price than that of a fashionable SUV.
When buying used, low mileage is less important than you might think. A consistent service history with documents to prove it is a better sign that a car has been looked after and less likely to give you trouble later down the line. Don’t take written stats and details as the last word to make your decision, make sure you test drive a used car and look for signs of wear and tear before committing to a purchase.
Don’t be a badge snob – as tempting as it can be to get drawn in by a car’s image and looks, the fact is that while many left-field brands may not have as much prestige, they can offer appeal in other ways. You might find they boast better practicality, reliability, or more equipment, not to mention competitive warranties and better value for money.

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