You should take the car-buying process very seriously. Many
people are so happy about the prospect of buying a car that they do not think
of the seriousness of the task. Buying a car is a serious financial investment,
and you should do all you can to remain businesslike.
Go into the dealership with a bottom line price in mind. The
salesman might try to focus on the monthly payments or financing terms, but
your goal should be to get the price you want on the car you want. You can
always negotiate the financing terms later, or even finance with your own bank
outside of the dealership.
When shopping for a new vehicle, consider all of your
options. There are many used cars that have extremely low miles and rock bottom
prices. The ones to look for are the ones that have been leased and returned.
These cars have been serviced at the dealership and usually have plenty of
factory warranty protection left.
Read all of the fine print that is on the contract for the
car you want to purchase. Even if you think the car salesman is being perfectly
honest with you about everything involved, you need to make sure you are not
signing anything that you will have regrets about later.
Refrain from bringing up incentives or down payments before
negotiating. You want these extras to reduce the price. This will help you get
a better deal.
If the price of a car is non-negotiable, see if you can
negotiate on other terms. Some dealerships will agree to provide several months'
worth of free gasoline or a year of free oil changes, for instance. It never
hurts to ask if a salesman can sweeten the deal.
Make sure to take your time. Even if you are really excited
about buying a car, don't run out and buy it on the same day. Make sure that
you have taken the time to do research on safety, repairs and other factors
before doing something you might end up regretting.
Be firm in what extras you want. Almost every salesperson is
going to at least attempt to "upsell" you in an effort to get a
bigger sale. Don't let them pressure you into the next model up or features you
don't need. If they claim not to have the model you are looking for in stock,
only the "better" one, ask if they can locate one at another dealer.
Look online for prices nearby as well as in the city where
you live. You may be able to find a cheaper price in another city because
often, different zip codes have different prices. Look at the trends in prices
online so you can figure out who has the best deal.
Never buy a car without test driving it first. That even
includes brand new cars and trucks. Not only do you want to make sure the car
is mechanically sound, you also want to see how the car fits you. Decide if the
car "feels" right. Some cars are not designed for taller people, for
instance.
Check your credit score before you head to the dealership to
make a car purchase. Even if you are doing well financially at this time, you
may not be able to afford the high finance charges that are associated with
less than stellar credit. It would be difficult to go to a dealer, fall in love
with a car and then fond out you cannot afford the finance charges.
Really think about the bells and whistles you will need on
your car. Many trim options are only available with certain packages. For
example, if you want heated seats, you may be required to buy a package that
includes leather seats. You may have to make a few concessions in what you get
or how much you'll have to pay to move up to higher trim levels.
After you have settled on a price you find attractive,
discuss the trade-in you have. You might not get a great deal on your trade in,
but do not be stern and do make compromises. You've already put in a lot of
time and effort, so closing the deal is essential.
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