When you get ready to buy a car, not only will you feel excited, but you will probably feel dread and fear as well. Buying a car is not always an enjoyable experience, and it can actually create a lot of anxiety. To help you get through your next car buying experience without a lot of stress, here are six essential points to consider when shopping for a car.
Needs and Wants
Before you even start your search, make a list of your needs. This should include mechanical specifications, storage capacity, towing capacity, and fuel mileage. Then you can make a list of wants like heated seats, a sunroof, a nice sound system, and a backup camera.
A good way to search for a car is to look at vehicles that are grouped by categories like commuter cars, work trucks, luxury vehicles, and family-friendly. If you have a target type of vehicle you are already considering, looking at these groupings will help you narrow down the vehicles that you like, and see which ones fit your needs and wants to list the best. You can also get a good model overview, find out the vehicles technical specifications, and also view some photo galleries to help you get a better visual of what’s out there.
Monthly Budget
Next, you need to consider what your budget is to start to narrow down the vehicles that fall into your wants and needs categories. It is also important to consider what the operating costs of the vehicle will be long term as well as the monthly payment or final price. It’s not a bad idea to also consider the benefits of lease offers and see if that option is a tax and cost-effective option for you.
When negotiating, make sure your car payment leaves you enough room in your budget that you can also afford maintenance on the vehicle like tires, car insurance, and fuel. These days, you will find that the average car loan lasts seven to eight years, which is often longer than the warranty on the car. Plus, you also want to consider other large expenses on the horizon, your job security, and your current housing costs before making a final decision.
Comparison Shop
Always find a couple of different brands in the same vehicle category so you can comparison shop. Check the features of all the vehicles against each other as well as your needs and wants list. Some vehicles will often add features that you want to their overall package at no charge which can be a nice cost-saving.
Also, look up vehicle rating to see how the vehicles scored overall on different tests and observations. You can also check out owner satisfaction scores, reliability reports, and recall notifications to get a better idea of what vehicle has in store for you. Remember to compare trim level to trim level when looking at competing cars to get the most competitive comparison.
Research the Dealership
The reputation of a dealership is pretty important when buying a car. You will find most brands of cars in a decent-sized city, so if your preferred dealership doesn’t have the car you would like to test drive, they can probably find one nearby. So, don’t count them out if you aren’t finding a certain car on their website.
Another way to shop is at an Auto Mall which has become a more popular car shopping option over the years since they offer many brands all grouped in one location. This is a more convenient car shopping experience than having to drive all over town. Overall, you want to consider price, but also keep in mind that having a relationship with a dealership you trust that gives you great customer service is also worth the price.
Test Drive
Always test drive any vehicle you are interested in. Spend time sitting in the car, try out the features, and get the experience of driving it so you can see how it handles. Make sure to request a test drive on both highways and city streets so you can check out braking, acceleration, wind noise, and blind spots.
Also, ask the salesperson to give you a walk-around demo of the car to give you an overall picture of the vehicle’s features. This way you can see how much trunk space it has, how easy it is to put the back seat down for extra storage, and you’ll get a good view of the engine compartment which can give you an idea of how easy routine maintenance will be.
Price
When negotiating on the price of a car, keep in mind that the dealer wants to sell you a car, but they also want to make money. A good dealership wants to create a long term relationship with you so you will come back. Be honest about your needs and your budget so your salesperson can find the right car to fit within your budget.
Before you even go into the dealership, you should have already done your homework so you know the value of the vehicle. And remember, if they throw in extras, not only will that increase your car payment, but the extra amount of money will also accrue more interest over the loan’s term. What may seem like $20 a month more can end up become a few thousand more over seven years when you add in interest. That’s when you have to ask yourself if those added features are worth it.
As long as you arm yourself with enough research before you enter a dealership, you should be able to start the car buying process without anxiety. Being prepared can take the fear out of the buying process and make it a little bit fun.