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Finding a Make & Model (continued)
2. Resist the urge to only visit dealerships that are close to home, thereby limiting your selection. Remember, once you buy the vehicle, proximity of the dealership to your home or work is usually not very important. While you may choose to use the dealer for vehicle service and repair, that is not either necessary or required (even during the warranty period) unless repairs are being made at no cost to you under the vehicle’s warranty provisions.
3. If you become interested in a model, ask what options are available, and if the dealer has any models in inventory that are a close match to your needs.
4. Ask the dealer to allow you to conduct a test drive of the specific make and model you are considering purchasing. This test drive should include both interstate and local road conditions at different speeds, and require different braking scenarios. The test drive should be at least fifteen minutes, or until you understand just how well the vehicle drives and how much you like the vehicle. Make sure the vehicle will meet your needs.
5. If, after the test drive, the vehicle is still on your short list, ask the
dealer to give you their best cash price without a trade-
6. During these dealership visits, resist the urge to do anything other than become familiar with the makes and models and get an initial price quote, no matter how great the proposed “deal” might be.
Once you have located a few vehicles that meet your needs, do the following prior to going back to the dealerships to “negotiate” either a cash purchase, or a purchase including financing or leasing. Make sure to review the “Vehicle Financing” section.
1. Reexamine your budget and set a firm price (or monthly payment amount and duration) that you will not exceed. Do not “fall in love” with a car that is a budget buster.
2. Research the cost of the vehicle to the dealer. Use an Internet site such
as Edmunds.com, Kelley Blue Book (KBB.com) or one of the many other sites available
to learn the dealer’s invoice cost for the vehicle, as well as what people are actually
paying for the vehicle in your general geographical area. If you plan on trading
in your present vehicle, also research what the actual retail and trade-
3. Use the Internet to research vehicle reviews by actual users of the vehicles you have chosen, to see what they think about the vehicle, and whether they have had problems with the vehicle.
4. Write down all the questions you have about the vehicle and any trade-
Deciding When to Buy a New Car
When buying a vehicle time is on your side, so use it wisely. Good timing of a vehicle’s purchase can reduce its price considerably. If you can afford to wait, a better deal may be just around the corner. Make the salesman do his very best to get your business now, or risk losing the sale.
1. Purchasing a car at the end of a model year (usually around September or October) can result in significant savings.
2. Better pricing is often available between Christmas and New Years, as dealers try to finish their year strong.
3. If you cannot take advantage of model or calendar year-
4. Consider doing your final negotiations and completing the purchase in the last week of any month, when salesmen are trying to meet their monthly quotas.
5. If weather has been poor for several days and business has been slow, sometimes dealerships will try to improve sales by making better deals.
BUYING NEW CARS -
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