If you missed that great big President’s Day sale for buying a new car, you probably don’t have too much to worry about. This year just happens to be a leap year. We all get one extra day on February 29th to either get some things done, treat it as a regular day or even go out and buy a new car. There are sure to be plenty of marketing strategies and good deals waiting for you to “leap into savings” somewhere.
Car shopping these days is not what it used to be. Back in the day it was pretty straightforward and simple. You went to the dealer, drove around the block, kicked a few tires and off you went in your brand new car; but not without haggling a bit with the car dealer. Now, however, there are so many options, it can get confusing real fast.
Do Your Research
The reality of the internet, technology, and cars is that you have to do the research before you leave the house. When it comes to buying a new car these days, you have to do your homework.
That means you have to ask yourself the right questions and have some pretty solid answers before you even head out to the dealer. Online shopping for a car may sound unusual, but it really is something you would benefit from if you do.
Ask Yourself Some Questions and Make a List
When buying a new car, know your must-haves beforehand and know what you are willing to let go of.
For example, if you’re shopping for a new car for your teen, then you know automatically, safety is a major concern. What else do you want to have?
• Is all-wheel drive an essential? Will your son or daughter be driving around in inclement weather a lot of the time or will they only be driving a minimal distance?
• Do you feel that an infotainment system is more of a help or a hindrance? Think about all those bells and whistles – are they a must have or negotiable to you. Sometimes the more technology a new teen driver has to get used to and touch might be more of a distraction than a bonus.
• Would a certified pre-owned be in your best interest?
• What about a lease; would that suit your needs best?
Don’t go into a dealership not knowing what your must-haves are and where you are willing to be flexible. If you go in not knowing what your must-haves are, you are not a full buying power.
Be Aware of Your Deal-Breakers Beforehand
If you’re buying a new car, does the fact that it doesn’t have the latest and greatest infotainment system make it a deal breaker for you no matter how good the fuel economy and price are? For some drivers, a car that doesn’t have leather seats is their deal breaker while for others it’s a top of the line navigation system because they spend more time on the road than the average driver.
If the absence of keyless entry or heated seats is your deal breaker, know this ahead of time. If you live in a bitterly cold part of the states and having your seat warmed up for you is an absolute must-have, don’t feel you have to explain yourself at the dealer.
Is it the lack of sunroof, remote start or the power train that will make or break your deal? Know before you go into it what your must-haves are, where you are willing to be flexible and what your deal breakers are. This will give you more power when you’re standing face-to-face with the car salesperson in the showroom.
Buying and old car? There are plenty of deal breakers to be aware of when buying an older, used car.
• If you get into a used car and you put the key in the engine without starting it and don’t see the check engine light pop up, you might want to seriously consider this as a red flag and a deal breaker. The check engine light tells the owner/driver that there may be a number of possible issues.
• If there’s any kind of odor, event faint, be careful. This car may have been a flood vehicle. With so many issues of flooding over the past year, there are loads of cars out there that have been caught in these storms.
• If any of the panels are a shade off in color, you can assume there has been an accident. Inspect with a careful eye.
These are only a few deal breakers for buying a used car. For more tips on what to look for test driving a new or used car check out this article here:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/brian-moody/test-drive-tips-that-coul_b_5591999.html