subject: Be Prepared When You Go To Buy Your New Car [print this page] American citizens love to buy cars, and in many cases, they want to enter a dealership and after 30 minutes be driving out with their brand new car. This isn't always a good thing to try and do, because a car purchase is usually the second largest purchase you are going to make in your life. You want your vehicle puchase to be as quick as 1-2-3 while in contrast you are prepared to go through a lengthy process before buying a house.
You have plenty of help when buying a home, such as a broker to locate a house that is best for you. You might have a legal professional confirm that the contract is not prejudicial, and then there's the title company which checks that you will get clear title before allowing you to pay for the house. When you elect to buy a car you will be all on your own, with no-one to assist you. You can complete the entire process of buying a new car in a few hours flat, and drive off with your new car. There's a price, though, and usually it is that you spend more than you usually would.
The one thing you want to do is go to one dealership with the firm intention that you will under no circumstances buy a car while you are there. Make the commitment that you're only planning to view cars and do test drives, whereafter you will return home for more research. On the internet, explore dealers' prices, safety ratings and option prices - also check for manufacturer to dealer incentives that you weren't told about. Before you go to the dealership you must decide the amount you can afford, and be resolved to resist any attempt at upselling to something more expensive. You are the individual who can lose the car, and have it reclaimed when you can't make the payments.
Any time a calculation is done by the finance supervisor, make him show you the calculations. Only a couple of dollars a month added on your monthly payments, and you blissfully unaware, can make a lot of extra money for dealerships. You may for example point out that you can afford $600 monthly, and the salesman, knowing full well that he could give it to you for $570, tells you he has a deal for $590. The news he provides you with pleases you, but at the same time the dealership is taking an extra $20 per month of your money. Keep these people truthful and don't let them take your money. What works well is usually to write down notes about everything that you learn, even the salesman's talk. That way there's no question and hopefully integrity can prevail.
You should help make buying a car an enjoyable experience, so keep the upper hand, and remember it is your new car. When you've got misgivings about a deal, or feelings that you are being had, go away at once and try somewhere else. It is your money and your decision, after all.
