A Guide For The Novice Car Buyer There are many options you're faced with when purchasing a vehicle, so it can seem quite overwhelming. Who really knows what things you need and what things are just extra. This article will give you things to consider while out searching for your next car.
Sticker Price
Don't pay the sticker price on a car. The sticker price isn't set in stone. If you do not feel comfortable with your negotiating techniques, bring a friend with you who is. You must know what the fair market value of the vehicle you want is before you set foot in the dealership. Try to stay in control of the negotiations with your salesperson. Don't let them talk you into a vehicle that is out of your price range. A lot of current sports car owners were smoothly talked into one by a salesman who convinced them that they would look great driving it. Remember that salespeople are motivated by the commissions they will make if they sell you an expensive vehicle. Bring along a friend. This person can provide another perspective, which can help you make the best decision. The person could be your spouse, a good friend or even a parent. Car shopping will take many hours. You don't want to feel like you're rushed when trying to get comfortable about a deal. If you can, use the entire afternoon. If you are pressed for time, you should leave and return the following day. Safety features are a must when car shopping. Anti-lock braking systems, or ABS, are a top priority. You need to think about a vehicle with airbags, because the more there are, the better. Safety is key when you'll be driving a lot. If you are the type of person who can't resist the pressure of buying a car, then don't go shopping by yourself. Ask a loved one to help you stay strong. Let the adviser know what you need in order to budget prior to going to a lot. Avoid shopping for a car by yourself if you feel like a pushover. Take someone you trust to help facilitate negotiations and ask key questions. Let the person with you know what you want out of a vehicle before going to a car lot. Get the price settled before looking into additional incentives or trade-ins. Smaller things like down payments, and incentives are items that should be subtracted from the bottom line. You will end up with a better price if you negotiate the deal first, then discuss these "extras". Most salespeople are expected to meet monthly quotas. That's why it pays to shop for cars at the end of the month. Salesmen who haven't yet met their quote will be more willing to negotiate. This gives you a bit more leverage in your bargaining. You should not mention trade-ins, incentives or down payments until you have negotiated and received the price you wanted on your ideal vehicle. This will be taken care of after the fact. This ensures you get a real deal. Shopping for a new automobile can be an exciting, but exhausting, experience. It is possible to save a lot of time, and money, by shopping at home. Many websites aggregate pricing and availability information from all over the Internet, which means you don't have to. You can find detailed information about features, specifications and market values. This will help you narrow your choices, saving you time and money. Search the Internet to find great used car deals. There isn't a reason to go to a dealer anymore. You should look on Craigslist.com and eBay, or look in the newspaper. You will avoid high-pressure tactics from dealerships, and you may be able to save a lot more money. Make sure that you read all the fine print before purchasing a car. Prior to putting your signature on a contract, carefully inspect the whole thing from beginning to end. Your signature binds you legally, meaning you'll have to pay or suffer severe consequences. If reading this contract while at the dealership is uncomfortable for you, then ask if you can take it home with you so that you can look over it during any time that is convenient for you. If you can't, get yourself a copy to study. A test drive needs to be taken. Be sure to test drive any vehicle. It doesn't matter if it seems perfect. You can't know without driving it. There is no substitute for the actual experience of driving the car. It could be that the car doesn't ride as smoothly as you like or doesn't handle as you were expecting. Now you will be educated as to some do's and don'ts of car shopping. All you have to do now is go out there and do your research. Don't make deals you're not comfortable with, and enjoy your new car when you find it.
