subject: Tips On Buying A Car [print this page] My husband and I have been looking for a new car recently. I drive a Nissan Sentra that I love, and he drives an old Izuzu that we desperately need to replace. In searching for a car, I've learned some important things about car buying. Here are a few tips that have helped us make a decision that will impact our safety and convenience for (hopefully) years to come.
Do some preliminary research first before you head out to look Right down what you're looking for in a car and then find which make and model best fits your needs. If you need a larger SUV, write down all the features you need for an upgrade to a larger car. If you have a growing family, make sure to prioritize space and safety. Many large cars boast lots of features that in the end are unnecessary for what you really want. Look for a car that will suit your family for a while and won't have to be resold soon.
As basic as it sounds, never be in a rush when looking for a car. Not only can sells-people smell your desperation, but you may end up buying something that you'll regret days or weeks later. Take your time going from dealership to dealership and never be afraid to walk away from a car and come back to look at it later. Consider looking at private sales through online classifieds. Most private sellers won't be as pushy as a full time salesperson and you might find the situation to be much less pressure than that at a dealership. However, some people prefer buying a car at a dealership because they can get a good warrantee and have a place to take to car if there's a maintenance problem in the future.
Consider you're options as far as new and used cars goes. Buying used is a great way to save money on a car, but be careful to buy one that you know is in good shape. If you know you'll be driving the car for a long time, buying a new car is a good investment because it has almost no mileage on it and, if you buy it from a reputable dealership, can get free annual maintenance.
If you do want to buy a used car, make sure to compare prices and car quality. Every car is different and unique, and even if you think a particular make and model seems reliable the previous owner may not have taken idea car of the vehicle. Make sure to ask lots of questions when you are looking at a used car. Is the car on a salvaged title? How many miles are on the odometer? What kind of maintenance has been performed on the car? It's important to be as thorough as possible when looking at a used car because the vehicle's history can tell you loads about what kind of car you will be driving.
As far as our family is concerned, we need to trade in our Izuzuz Rodeo for a newer, but similarly sized, SUV, like a Honda CRV. The Rodeo is a good car and has had little maintenance problems in the year we've had it, but we need a car that we can drive on longer trips. We have friends and family in the Anaheim area and making the trek down to southern California from Utah in a car that has tons of mileage on it makes me nervous. We need an SUV because we're about to have a baby and already have a dog. The two can't both be in the back seat of our little Sentra so we need a reliable SUV with a large back area to put the dog in. As pathetic as it seems to have to upgrade out car just because of the dog, it would make things much easier for our driving situation.
When looking for a car, the most important thing most people have to take into consideration is cost. We've had to set a budget based on what we think we could get for our old car and put that toward the new one. Whether you want to buy a new car or a used one, cost is probably the one thing that will influence your purchase more than anything else. Sure, we'd like to buy a new, top of the line SUV but we just can't afford it right now. So we've had to make sure to do thorough research on what we can afford and what we need most in a car. If you have a really tight budget for your car purchase, don't just buy the first thing that fits into your price range.
There are so many cars out there that fall in the same pricing area. Some years and models of cars are much more reliable than others, so again, so lots of research before buying the car you think you want.
With these tips in mind, start your car buying process. It may take months to find just the car for you. Don't be in a rush and make sure you know the statistics on the car you are buying before driving it home. Ask the dealer or seller if you can have a mechanic look the car over before you buy it. Ask as many friends as you can about what they're experiences with various cars has been. Many people have very strong opinions about what kinds of cars to buy. Ask around and see what the general sentiment is toward the car you are looking at.
Above all else, never feel like you have to settle for a car just because its in your price range. Look long and hard and don't be afraid to talk a dealer down as much as possible. Dealers are used to being hassled about a price. You can usually get one for much cheaper than it says on the sticker when you walk in. Take your time and soon you'll be driving just what you want.
