Nov 15 2010
Shopping For A New Car?
Next to buying a house, buying a car will be the biggest purchase a consumer has to make in their lifetime. It is important to know what to look for and ask before you go for that big purchase.
First, decide the intentions for the car. Is it for daily commuting? Recreation? Weekends and evenings out? Who will it be transporting, yourself? Or more people? Decide a realistic price range and stick to your budget. Decide whether or not you want to finance your car, if so, how. Consider what are the most important aspects of a car to you? Good mileage? 4 doors or 2 doors? Environmentally friendly? If you are considering a trade-in, check the Kelly Blue Book value of your current vehicle and add this to your budget. Add up the total budget and look over carefully.
Locate dealerships in your area through newspaper ads or word of mouth. Go out preferably on a weekday with your driver’s license ready.
Go to the sales lot, not the showroom. Tell any sales representative that tries to approach you that you are just looking around. Move away from the sales representative and towards the car. Be pleasant but don’t show how excited you are about one car.
Browse independently until you identify a car that looks interesting. Check the sticker on the window for the car’s features, fuel-efficiency rating and price.
If the door is unlocked, open it and sit down to check the car’s interior. The sales representative will probably come by to see what you’re doing if they haven’t already. If the car is locked, ask the representative if you could look inside.
To test the car, sit in the driver’s seat with both feet in the car as if you’re driving. Close the door and place your hands on the wheel. Adjust the mirrors and blind spots. If it is a manual transmission, check the clutch pedal’s stiffness and run through the gears. Sit in the passenger seat. Move the seat all the way forward to check leg room. Sit in the back seat and check leg room as well. Ask the sales representative to arrange a test drive. Drive the car yourself instead of having the representative drive. Drive city streets first. Check for steering ease and response. Adjust the mirrors and radio. Go on the highway, listen for engine performance and noise. Open the windows to check for buffeting. Return the car to the dealership and thank the dealer. If you like the car, say that you will come back later. Ask for a business card and head to the next dealership.
Good times to find deals on a car are between July through August and around Christmas time. Dealers slash prices at this time to get rid of old models a cut inventory during the slow holiday period. After the 25th of the month, you can negotiate better deals because they have quotas to meet.
Timing is everything, wait for the right time to buy can save you just as much as haggling over the invoice price. Let timing work for you and wait for the dealer to feel the pressure of unloading his inventory.
| Mary Singleton regularly writes for TIR Massage Stone, the leading hot stone massage supplies provider. They carry products such as hot stones, as well as many other many other oYtl accessories for hot and cold stone therapy. |
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