You are looking at cars, right? Okay, but you should understand some of the most common pitfalls of car shopping. The piece that follows offers terrific guidance for anyone interesting in buying a vehicle and making sure they are happy with what they get.
Always negotiate down the sticker price. If you don’t do this, then you are literally throwing money out the window. There is no reason to pay that much. They are purposely inflated in order to allow room to dicker with the customer, and you should take advantage of this fact.
Search online for some great deals. You can save thousands by doing an Internet search. When you locate the model you want, you can go to the dealer directly or have a local dealer bring the car to you. You can save money by just going to the dealership yourself, as long as it’s not that far away.
You need to know important information about the specific dealer before you give an offer. You will be able to get a better negotiating standpoint if you are aware of their trade in practices and financing options. Also, learn from others, by reading any rip off or scam alerts about that dealership.
Monthly Price
You want to stay focused on the total price, not monthly payments. Salesmen can virtually give you any monthly price you want; however, a very low monthly price will result in you paying this amount for many years. As a result, your final cost will be extremely high. Negotiate the best price total you can for the car. Then calculate what your monthly payments will be.
You should never pay a car’s sticker price. Sticker price is an over-inflated amount they don’t think anyone will pay. When you need help with negotiating, ask a loved one to come along. Make sure you research the car you are interested in first, however, so you have some idea of what to offer.
When you are shopping for cars, you should take a friend with you. This person can act as another set of ears, and they might be more reasonable about walking away from a deal if it isn’t in your best interest to accept it. They can be anyone from your Mom to a coworker.
Test Drive
Test drive any car before you purchase. Even if you’ve test driven something similar, make sure to test drive the car you’re looking at now. This is the best way to find out about mechanical problems and get an idea of how the car handles.
Try to avoid showing up at the dealership in an expensive car. If you do, the salesperson will not take any low offers you have.
Consider purchasing outside of a dealership. You have many options, including private sellers or smaller dealerships. So before heading out to a lot, go pick up some classifieds, read up on Craigslist, and check other venues to see if you can find a good deal.
Salespeople often have monthly quotas to reach. If you wait and do your car hunting during the last week of the month, you are quite likely to get a better deal. The sales staff will want to sell you a car to meet their goals. You can get a lower price as they’re more desperate than you are.
Tell the dealer that you want a mechanic to take a look at a prospective car. You should trust the mechanic. Avoid using mechanics that the dealer recommended. A good mechanic can help you determine whether or not the vehicle is priced reasonably and free of defects.
Research used cars thoroughly. There are very useful Internet resources to help you determine a car’s worth. Utilize NADA or Kelly Blue Book in order to figure out the value of a car. 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 extremely interested in a vehicle, spend time thoroughly checking it over. Look for scratches and dings on the exterior of the vehicle. In the interior, look for upholstery tears and carpet stains. As soon as you leave the dealership, any problems you find will be your problem. Any dents or stains found later will be your responsibility.
Dealers and salespeople are different. While salespeople have a reputation of being too pushy, this tactic is losing popularity. Forward-thinking dealerships now realize that customer satisfaction is the best way to build lifelong relationships with car buyers. If you get a pushy salesperson, ask for a different salesperson or walk away. Salespeople are a dime a dozen. There is a quality salesperson who will want to work with you.
As previously mentioned, there are various mistakes that can be made when car shopping. Don’t hesitate to use anything you’ve read here to secure a great deal on the perfect vehicle. With the right information, the process will be quick, painless and beneficial.