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You’re in the market for another car. Whether your current vehicle is on its last wheel or you are looking to expand your fleet you have many factors to consider. Consider yourself an opponent when entering the dealership lot (or virtual lot through the internet) and make yourself as formidable as possible by educating yourself in advance. Ok, that might be a bit of an exaggeration, but not by much. Buying a car is a major purchase, and it is best to be over informed than under informed.

 

  • Do your research. You know you need a car. Do you specifically know what you are looking for besides the color? It is important to take the time to examine what your needs and wants are. To reiterate- needs are what you MUST have in your next car while wants are things you would LIKE to have. There is no shortage of information available, take the time to read reviews, before you find out that your favorite car has a major flaw.
  • After you determine what type of features you are looking for and likely what specific model you are looking for, it is time to learn about the price. Again, you have a much better chance at securing a good deal if are familiar with the average price. You will want to spend a significant amount of time deciding if you want to buy new or used. A new car is all yours; however the price tag and depreciation is all yours as well. You might consider buying a “pre-owned” car that most major dealerships offer today, that would be much cheaper and in many cases – still in like-new condition.
  • You have a vehicle in mind, you have a price in mind…how are you going to pay for it? If you are trading in a vehicle, find out what you should expect for a trade-in offer. If you are financing this vehicle, now is a good time to check your credit report to make sure everything is in good order to expedite the process once you find your dream car.
  • You are fully armed now and ready to face the dealer. Good, because car salespeople are some of the most convincing salespeople on the planet. If you get a particularly good one, they can talk you out of your four door pre-owned family sedan, into a two-seat convertible sports car. This leads me to the point. If you have done your homework, you can get right to the task of weeding out vehicles you have no real desire to see and get to negotiations on the vehicle that suits your needs.
  • If you are not good at negotiations, perhaps you want to bring a brassy friend or older uncle along. Someone that can step up to the plate when the dirt starts to fly. This is because the dealer wants the most money and you want to spend the least money and you have to work out a plan to meet in the middle.

 When it is all said and done, you want to have survived the car buying experience with minimal damage to your pocketbook and have a vehicle that will make you happy for the next……60 months or so.



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