subject: Tips For Finding Great Ford Dealers In Austin [print this page] Is it the right time for you to get a car? Only you know that, but in general, there are tremendous opportunities for car shoppers, particularly those interested in a Ford. The only US automaker to make it through the economic downturn without a government bailout, Ford instead relies on innovating and creating the cars that you want. Fuel efficient, reliable, feature-packed, and even a little sleek and sporty. Finding a Ford you love is easy; finding a great dealer to sell it to you is a little more difficult. How do you find a great Ford dealer in the Austin area?
The best thing you can do in order to get yourself a great car and a great deal is to do some preliminary research. Forget those daydreams of walking into a lot, falling in love with a brand new Fusion Hybrid, and driving off into the sunset. Instead, prepare yourself to spend some time online. There are so many resources out there that can help you make an informed decision. A very handy one is TrueCar.com.
At this site, you simply type in your zip code (tip: if you live in a smaller part of Austin, put in the zip for the nearest large area - this will give you more selection within driving range). You then select the make you'd like, and then the model. Say you've chosen a Ford Focus and you live in zip code 73301: TrueCar.com generates a graph showing you how much people paid on average for a 2010 Ford Focus in Austin. You can also get numbers for the region or entire country.
According to this source, the sticker price of the Focus - over $17,000 - is too high. If you pay the sticker price, you have grossly overpaid. People in your area pay an average of $13,983 for their new Focuses. This doesn't guarantee you a good deal, but it does let you know what other people have paid and how low you really can go. (These figures are for a standard Focus - you can switch the settings to see prices for the model and features you want.)
Finding the right Ford dealer is crucial because the deals and financing you are offered greatly impact how much you will actually end up paying for your car over the length of its life. Once you have an idea of what you will pay - or at least what you will be financing - you can start to look at specific dealers in the area. Ask around: word of mouth and real customer reviews are often the best way to find great products and services. Next, do the online equivalent of asking around. Go to consumer websites, look up reviews and ratings for the dealers in your area. For a city the size of Austin, you should find plenty of information to get you started.
Plan on visiting at least four or five dealers, and preferably more. This helps you not only find the best initial price, but the best financing. A car that is initially cheaper, for instance, may not be the best buy because of a higher interest rate. You can also use this time to gauge the salesmen: it is a buyers' market. If you're not treated with respect, go elsewhere. You can definitely find great Austin Ford dealers who will treat you fairly and get you the car you need.
