So, the time has come for you to purchase a new car. If you want to ensure that you get the best car for your money, there are some things you ought to know. In the following article, you will be provided with advice to help you get your ideal car.
Never buy a car on your first purchase to the showroom. Every car dealer will try to get you to walk out with a new set of keys in hand. While this may be tempting, understand that this is a big purchase. Take your time shopping around and make sure that the deal you’re being offered is really the best one for you.
Prior to even stepping foot in a dealership, you need to know what kind of car you want. If you have kids, maybe you should be looking for a van or large SUV. If it is just you, maybe you want something more sportier. Either way, knowing what you want will make the whole process of shopping for a car easier.
Shop around before you even go to the dealership. If you spend some time on local dealer’s websites, you can learn about incentives that are offered. If you know what one dealership is offering, you can use it as a negotiating point and may be able to get a better deal.
When negotiating, concentrate on the final price rather than the monthly payments. Dealers are able to get any car into a particular monthly payment level, but the terms of the financing end up making the overall cost quite a bit higher than you may have thought. Instead, focus on getting the price of your car as low as possible and then work with the financing. Then calculate what your monthly payments will be.
Prior to getting a used vehicle from a dealership, be sure to ask a third party mechanic to look at it. If they refuse, go elsewhere. An adequate mechanic can make an impartial opinion on any problems in the vehicle like signs of flood water submersion or car wreckage.
Be aggressive and assertive. You will inevitably end up negotiating the price of your vehicle, so don’t be afraid to push a little. Be prepared to walk away from the dealership if you aren’t making progress. Leave the offer alone for a day or two, and then contact the salesman again. If they know that you are willing to walk away, they will be more likely to accept your offer or to counter-offer with a more reasonable price.
Once you know how much you have to spend, find out about the cars within that range. Learn about the car itself, its miles per gallon, number of doors, trunk space, driver’s reviews, safety record and how frequently it needs repairs on average. Assign each a rating and go for those at the top of the list.
Make the right car purchase for yourself by deciding major things before entering a store. This includes things like mileage, make, model and even color. You can do a lot of research online to get an idea of prices and avoid the high pressure situations that come with a car salesman.
Don’t let the salesperson know you have a trade in until you have a firm sales price in hand. Some dealers will inflate the price if they think you’re trading in a car, so they can offer you a lot for the trade in, which is, then balanced by the new price they give on the car they’re selling.
While purchasing a used car often is a great deal, don’t forget that it carries some real risk. While you may be happy with the $5,000, you saved, if you need to buy a new engine in 6 months, you really haven’t saved anything. Always be cautious when buying used.
Research is key to a used car purchase. There are very useful Internet resources to help you determine a car’s worth. You can find out what a vehicle is worth by using the NADA or the Kelly Blue Book. If a car is selling at the dealership for much more than the price that these resources suggest, you should go somewhere else.
If you are looking for a particular model, call the dealership ahead of time to find out if they have one in stock. Whether you want a car or not, just going there may get you sucked into a car you’re not really sure of. When your heart is set on something in particular — a hatchback, for example — you will be wasting your time by showing up at a dealership that cannot meet your needs. Calling in advance can save you a lot of time and hassle.
If you’re purchasing a used car, don’t sign any as-is warranties. It can be a very bad choice. Dealers should offer no no less than 30-90 days of warranty coverage. If your engine or transmission is destroyed on the day that you buy the vehicle, then you are going to be the one responsible for fixing the repair.
Do not try negotiating unless you see the car that you want is available. He might tell you that he can get it in for you, but you do not know if it will be the exact one you want. You do not want to waste your time negotiating for a car that you do not really want.
Learn about how the service department works at those dealers you are considering. Do your best to check out different customer reviews via blogs, forums, friends and family. Another step you should take is asking someone in the service department for advice on a issue that you have already found the answer to. Doing this will help you to feel confident that the dealership knows what they are talking about and will be good at assisting your needs later.
In conclusion, you may be ready to get yourself a new car. Before you do so, however, there are things you need to know to make sure you’re money is getting you what you really want or need. Use the above tips to get the best car for your requirements.