Buying Your Next New or Used Car: Three Important Things to Consider
Most car dealers are dedicated to helping you find the best new or used car to meet your needs and budget. Below are three steps that will help make sure the next car you buy will be the best car you’ve ever purchased.
1. Step outside of your comfort zone
When discussing the car buying process, you will frequently hear “I’m a Jeep guy” or “We’re a Ford family.” I’m not going to discourage brand loyalty but what I do believe in is brand awareness. If you’re not including a variety of makes and models as you consider buying a new or used car, you’re doing yourself an injustice. The auto industry has gone through a tremendous amount of change in the past few years. New models, styles and innovations are unveiled every day, so a quick review of your options is 100% to your benefit. Ford is not the only manufacturer with a full-sized sedan or a mid-sized SUV. Each car manufacturer will have their own way of executing a concept, but these differences are a good thing for consumers. If you’re a “Jeep guy” or “Ford family,” that’s fine, but step out of your car buying comfort zone a little to make sure you’re not missing out.
2. Compare Car Makes and Models
If you’re planning to buy a new or used car, do your research and try before you buy. There are a ton of car buying comparison websites out there. Thanks to the car manufacturer websites and other online car buying sites, you can easily do a side-by-side comparison of a variety of cars before you even get out of bed in the morning. Take advantage of these car buying online resources to help narrow down your search to a couple (two or three) car makes and models.
Once you’ve narrowed your search down to a couple of vehicles that fit your budget and family needs, go out and test drive each of them. Yes, test driving can be time consuming, but it’s totally worth it. When you are test driving during your search for your next new or used car, make sure you’re comparing like models between manufacturers. If you drive a premium model of one make, try to test drive a premium model of your other choices. This is especially helpful when you’re looking at the engine performance and drive train.
Also, don’t be afraid to try multiple models of a particular vehicle. You may find that you like a higher end model with more features. If fuel economy is important, make sure to try different engines and drive trains to make sure you like driving the car. On paper it might be nice to have 35 mpg instead of 30 mpg, but if you don’t enjoy driving the 35mpg car, what’s the point? Keep test driving until you find the car that best meets your taste, driving style and budget.
3. Work With A Car Dealer You Trust
At the end of the day, you should work with a new car or used car dealer or seller that you can trust. If you are trading in a vehicle, you want to know that the car dealer you go with will give you a good deal on the purchase of a new car and provide you with a good trade-in value of your existing car. Trust is also important because all vehicles at some point will have service costs — even the most well maintained vehicles can have unexpected service problems. Check out the car dealer’s service center. Talk with people you trust or check online reviews to make sure you’re choosing a dealership and/or person you can trust.
Buying a new or used vehicle can be fun – and stressful. Make your car buying experience a little better by following these tips. Enjoy your new vehicle!
