Cars - Buying Guide

Buying a new car can be a big investment and a big pain as well. However, if you have the right tools and mindset before going into the dealership you could come out a lot better off. It’s easy to get frustrated and annoyed when making a large purchase, such as buying a car, but like I said before, being prepared ahead of time will really make a difference when making such a purchase as buying a new or used car.

General Information on Buying a Vehicle

Many factors go into buying a new or used car. Whether your going for the bargain used car or the straight-out-of-the-plant new car, a lot of your money is going to be invested into this car and taking the time to carefully consider all your options will be the best piece of advice you can take.

Buying a car, whether it is your first time or not, can be a daunting task none-the-less. First you need to decide if you want to purchase a new car or a used car. Like everything else, there are of course benefits and drawbacks to both used and new cars.

If you plan on buying a used car take into consideration a few things. Here’s a good fact for you to have in the back of your head: there are more than 2 million car accidents annually and chances are if you are in the market for a used car, you will come in contact with at least one automobile that was in an accident. Knowing this one important fact let’s you know what to find out about a used car before deciding to buy it. You should always find out the history of the car, because the dealership has no obligation to enlighten you on the details of the car’s past. Find out the number of previous owners, if the car was ever involved in an accident, if it had any previous mechanical problems and try to find out the maintenance history of the car. Knowing these few things will really help you to build a good understanding of what kind of car it will be in the future for you.

One large benefit of buying a used car is the great price you will get for it, more than likely and the car you buy can be fairly new as well. Generally, a successful used car buyer is often just as happy with their used car as a buyer who has just purchased a brand new car. However, remember that most horror stories about recently purchased cars are usually associated with used cars. Don’t let that scare you away though, because in some cases a used car can be just as good as and sometimes better than a new car. I am an owner of a used car and have never had any problems with it, other than general maintenance on the car. I have a relative who had a brand new 2005 truck and she is constantly having trouble with it. So keep that in mind too.

When you have decided on a car that will best suit your lifestyle and budget then you can begin your research on used cars. There are several places you can look for used cars at: a used car dealership, a superstore dealership that specializes in used cars (i.e. CarMax or Hertz), there are many new car dealerships that also sell used cars, used car Web sites like ConsumerGuide.com, or online and print classifieds. Keep in mind that classified listings are used by both dealers and individuals wanting to sell their used cars. Some dealers may even post their used cars on used car web sites. Person-to-person transactions through people you know, or via online and print classifieds can be a good option if you want to avoid a dealership and the hassle that is sometimes associated with them.

If you do decide on buying a used car there are a few things you can do to ensure good chances of success with your new used car. First, a very good idea is to have a mechanic take a good look at your car for any damage. Damage could indicate previous accident or possible flood damage or something of the sort. Basically, stuff you want to know before you spend your valuable money on it. Another thing you can do is run a Vehicle History Report (VHR). This will get you a full background on the car you want to purchase. ConsumerGuide.com offers VHR’s including valuable information such as if the car was ever salvaged, stolen or recalled; the number of previous owners the car had; if the car has ever failed inspection; or if someone tried to create a false odometer reading. Another tip to buying a new car is to never sign an “As Is” contract. A lot of car dealers will combine that in with your other paperwork and you be asked to sign it along with other things as well. Of course, as the golden rule follows, READ BEFORE YOU SIGN. Anything. You should be given at least 30 days to make sure the car is in a good state. If you do sign an “As Is” statement, once you have driven the vehicle off the premises, anything that goes wrong with the vehicle is then your problem, not theirs. Having your own financing and loan approvals ready before you even step foot onto a lot to buy a car will help you as well. This can also be a good strategy if you plan on buying a new car as well.

Following these simple steps will surely help you to have a good chance of success with your used car after purchasing it. Buying a used car should go smoothly, just as if you were purchasing a brand new one.

If you are armed with useful and relevant information when going to buy a used or new car it can help you more than anything. The Internet can become your best friend when it comes to this task of purchasing your new or used car. If you plan on getting a new car, you can do research on the kind of car you want, the options you need, the price of the car, and the price of any additional options you are interested in. If you’ve done this kind of research before going into a dealership, you can walk in there with an arm load of valuable information.

When you are just beginning, a good first footstep is to go to the manufacturer’s Web site of the car you are looking to purchase. This will help you to find out the additional options that are available to you. And who knows, maybe you might want that sunroof or that GPS system in your car; that is, if they are available. Doing basic research like this will greatly help you out. You can also usually find local dealers and request quotes from them or see the Manufacturer Suggestesd Retail Price (MSRP). Once you have finally narrowed down your choices you can look at an array of other Web sites that are very useful for pricing information. Here are a few to get you started: Car.com, CarsDirect.com, and ConsumerGuide.com. However, make sure you check out more than one of these pricing sites to get the best idea of an average price for the vehicles you are considering.

Not only is the Internet good for researching the car you want and all the accessories to go along with it, but you can also use it to figure out some of your finance options and a warranty for your car as well. There are a few sites out there like E-Loan and Lending Tree that offer online auto loans. Your warranty is pretty much a contract that guarantees maintenance if you car has any mechanical or other problems. Take into consideration though that warranties are also another way for dealerships to get more money out of you and your bank account, so know what kind of warranty you want and how much you are willing to pay for it before going to a dealership. This is just another part of the little extra homework you should do before heading to the local dealer.

There are many useful websites on the Internet that can be very helpful at a time like this. Make sure to do at least a little bit of research before going to the dealer because knowing the dealer’s agenda before you walk in the door will help you to spot if someone is trying to take advantage of you. I’m not saying that all car dealers are out to get every nickel and dime out of you, but you should always be prepared, just in case. Now that you know where to start in your used/new car search, be on your way now!