Thinking of buying a new or used car?
Wishing you had more expertise in this field so when you’re on the car salesman’s turf you know you can still get a good buy? Want some of the hottest tips around for purchasing a car?
Here is a list of the BEST steps to take when thinking about purchasing a new or used car.
Firstly, dealing with a licensed motor vehicle is critical. The risks are reduced in doing so due to the fact that if you decide to purchase a vehicle privately through sales in your local papers for example, you never really know who the true owner of the car is or even if there is any monies owing on the car. Finding out later that the car you just paid your hard earned cash for is going to be repossessed would not be a nice outcome.
Do your homework! Research and then research some more about the exact type of vehicle you are wishing to purchase. Planning is the key to a happy you driving out of the car yard with the car you wished to purchase in the first place, but with the background knowledge that the car you are driving is a safe vehicle with a well known manufacturer behind the name.
It is only too easy to be seduced by the good looks of a car. Whether that is color, design or a specific piece on the vehicle that makes it all the more appealing to you. But ‘buyer be warned’, salesman in the car yard are there to make money and you should never appear ‘too interested’ or ‘too keen’ in one particular vehicle.
Thinking practical and being more interested and questioning the manufacturer, pricing and working out whether this particular vehicle is fuel efficient and suitable to your own personal lifestyle would be a more sensible approach. Use the internet or NRMA (free to members) technical advice hotline which will help you with more answers to your questions.
Gather as much information as you possibly can on the vehicle including reviews and manufacturer’s specifications.
Speak to people that own a car like the one you are looking to buy. Talking to local mechanics as well would be of great help. Friends or family members that own a vehicle like the one you are interested would be ideal to gather information about the make and model of the car and also they are the best people to give you cold hard and honest facts about the vehicle.
A test drive would also be useful. Speaking to everyday people in shopping centre’s about their cars is another good way to gather more facts about a car, however you are most likely to just gather small information from strangers.
When it comes to considering accessories and other ‘add ons’ you have to take in to consideration cost. How much extra will all of this cost me buying through the dealer? In some cases it may be cheaper to purchase accessories through an independent retailer instead of the dealer you are buying the car from.
Before stepping foot in the car yard and spotting the car of your dreams, be sure to have made up your mind if you are going to trade-in your existing vehicle or would it be a better option for you to sell it privately through your local paper? Remembering that trading your car in with the car salesman, they need to make their fair share on the car for re-sale value so you may or may not be best selling your car private yourself.
Key points to remember in selling your old car either way is to think about the mileage you have done, what condition the car is in and how much you originally paid for the car. Private sales have their down falls in some areas with bouncy cheques and people who don’t return the vehicle when they have taken it for a test drive. Although, these are your worst case scenario’s.
If your decision comes down to a trade-in with the dealers, be sure to concentrate on change over price, as that is what an upgrade will cost you in the end.
For buying and selling there are always auctions to choose from as well. Be cautious with auctions as you need to check the background of the vehicle you are in pursuit of. Ensure you don’t exceed the set amount you are wishing to spend also, as the ‘auction fever’ has you wanting to be a competitive soul when seeking out your new car. Make a budget- stick to it and you may even be surprised at how much of a bargain you can actually get by being persistent.
Setting a budget in any situation is a good thing. Tell yourself ‘I will not go over what I am prepared to pay for this car’. Don’t always be persuaded by the ‘nothing to pay until….’ schemes either. These sound good and they allow yourself to think you have more money to spend on buying a car of which you may also not be able to pay back. The interest is high when this happens and your car you were buying to enjoy life more, and then becomes a nagging burden to pay off.
Seeking out a good finance operator is another good way to gain money to buy your new set of wheels. If you have gone through a financer in the past, and have a good rating with them for loans you may wish to go back through the same company.
Going alone sometimes seems daunting when purchasing the second most expensive thing in your life, short of a house. Taking along a friend or someone ‘car knowledgeable’ can be very helpful in times like this. Someone to stop you making any mistakes and over spending your budget.
They say strength is in numbers and it’s a very smart and practical idea to take someone along with you when dealing with a salesperson. This also lets the salesperson know that there are two sets of ears listening and that one of you may be more knowledgeable compared to the other.