You open one car and love it. Then you see the price. You open another, love the price, then notice it is the wrong body type. By the tenth listing, you have forgotten what you came for.
There is a faster way. Tap the Filters button on Chat2Cars and let the site do the sorting. Here is what each filter does and how to use it well.
1. Search by make, model or colour
At the top is a search bar. Type a make, a model or even a colour. "Camry" or "black Lexus" works. It is the quickest route if you already know exactly what you want.
2. Choose the condition
Pick Any, Used or New. Under Used, you can narrow it further to Foreign Used or Nigerian Used.
Foreign Used cars, often called Tokunbo, come in from abroad. Nigerian Used cars have already been driven on local roads. Both have their place and their fans. The filter simply lets you decide which one you want to look at first.
3. Pick your make and model
Choose a make from the dropdown. The model list unlocks once you do, so you will see "Choose a make first" until then. Select Toyota and the model list fills with Toyota models. Simple.
4. Set your price
You have two ways to do this. Tap a ready-made range: Under ₦2m, ₦2m to ₦5m, ₦5m to ₦10m, ₦10m to ₦25m or Over ₦25m. Or type your own Min and Max if your budget sits somewhere in between.
A small tip. Do not spend your whole budget on the car. Registration, insurance and a first service all cost money too. Set your maximum a little below what you have.
5. Set the year range
Use From and To to choose the years you are happy with, say 2012 to 2016. A range shows you more options than searching one year at a time, and you will start to see how age affects price.
6. Check the location
The default is Anywhere in Nigeria. Choose your state or city if you want to see and inspect the car in person without a long trip.
One thing to know. This filter matches the location the seller entered on the listing. If your search looks thin, try a nearby state or switch back to Anywhere in Nigeria.
7. Choose a body type
Sedan, SUV, Hatchback, Coupe, Convertible, Pickup, Truck, Van/Minivan or Bus. Think about how the car will live your life. A family of five and a delivery business need very different vehicles. Picking a body type early clears away everything that would never suit you.
8. Select the transmission
Automatic, Manual or Semi-Automatic. If you have never driven manual in Lagos traffic, this filter may save you a lot of stress.
9. Choose your fuel type
Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid or Electric. Think about running costs and where you will fuel up, then let the filter narrow things down.
10. Stack them and tap Show results
The real power comes when you combine filters. Try this: Foreign Used, Toyota Camry, 2010 to 2014, Automatic, Petrol, ₦5m to ₦10m. Instead of hundreds of results, you may get a short list you can go through properly in ten minutes.
What if you get no results?
Do not panic. It usually means the search is too tight. Loosen one filter at a time. Widen the price first, then the year range, then the location.
After you filter
Open the listings that catch your eye and check the photos, specs and price carefully. When one stands out, message the seller. Ask for more photos, ask about the car's history, and arrange an inspection before you pay anything.
Buying a car is a big decision. The right filters will not make it for you, but they will make sure you are choosing from the right cars.
Ready to try it? Head to Chat2Cars, tap Filters and start your search.