Buying a new car can be quite the process and can take a great deal of time. Check out our recommendations that can help you through this process.
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My 2003 Durango has been a great car and still looks fabulous. It only has 65,000 miles on it and rides as smooth as the day that we brought it home. I love the car for many reasons BUT I do miss having all the bells and whistles that the newer cars have. I am retired and my husband will be retiring soon and we plan on doing some traveling on the road when that happens. So for that reason, we will be buying a new car. Finding the right car can be quite the process and can take a great deal of time. I have some recommendations to share with you that I have found handy and helped me through this process.
Research
My husband and I have bought many cars over the years and one of the most time consuming aspects of making a car purchase is the hours wasted going from dealership to dealership trying to figure it all out. Now you can do a lot of your research from the comfort of your home and your couch by using your computer or tablet. Cars.com is an excellent resource that allows you to access all kinds of information and to make an informed decision. It is a proven resource to help you navigate all the different paths in purchasing a car. They have informative videos and the largest database of consumer reviews in the industry.
Determine Your Budget
Although we all would probably love to have one of the many fabulous luxury vehicles out there, we know we won’t be able to take a car home unless we can really afford it. I have read that you should spend anywhere from 10 to 20 percent of your income on your vehicles. If you are one that is frugal and keeps on a strict budget, 10 percent is probably the area you are looking at. For many of you, 20 percent is probably more realistic. The important thing is to sit down and figure out what you can afford and stick to your guns! You are the one that will be making that payment and it will be you that will find yourself answering the door to the repo man and not the cars salesman if you default on the loan. Don’t forget to factor in gas, insurance and repairs when doing your budget.
Don’t Limit Yourself
It is important to look at more than one dealership and be open to both new and used cars. Although dealers can stock huge selections at different prices, it doesn’t mean their prices are industry competitive. By checking out different dealers you can really get a feel for competitive prices. Invoice pricing on third party sites is not 100 percent accurate but it is a good indicator and a great place to start your negotiation. So again, researching all the information of a site like Cars.com cannot be stressed enough.
Take Your Time Test Driving
After you have completed all of your research, it is time to take a test drive. Try to establish not only a friendly rapport with your salesman but a relationship where you let them know they will not be able to strong-arm you into a deal. Take your time test driving the car to make sure that it is really the one that you want to spend the next five to 10 years with. Breaking up with a car is often not that financially easy to do once you sign on the dotted line. If you need more time behind the wheel, be assertive and ask for it. Make sure you go over all the bells and whistles and that the car will comfortably fit you and your family.
Smart Negotiating
This is where all of your research will come in handy. Your knowledge base will help you negotiate a fair price. Be prepared to say no to all of the extras offered to you if they are something you have researched and have determined are not necessary. Go over the sales contract with a fine tooth comb to make sure you are not paying any unnecessary fees that were not already negotiated in.
Hopefully you will find the right car for you at the right price. Just remember to do your research in advance from the comfort of your home and utilize all the tools that a site like Cars.com provides. Also, if you have young children or grandchildren, check out their helpful information on car seat safety.
I agree with all of these. My dad is in the car business so I know more about it than a lot of people and ALWAYS negotiate!!!
And don’t forget that new car smell 🙂 These are great tips! Especially taking your time. Sometimes we feel undue pressure at the dealer to make decisions when we’re not ready but really getting to know the car is so important!
I dread the car buying process. Fortunately, I haven’t had to do it in a very long time, but there will come a day…
This is great tips! Wish I saw this earlier. We just got our new car last week from the car dealer and were happy to get the deal we wanted.
Buy in a new vehicle can be such a stressful experience. Cars.com sounds like a great resource for finding information to help you make your purchase!
I think I’ll have to do plenty of research before buying my next car. It really is a big commitment so it’s good know as much about the car as possible.
always take your carseats with you! I regret my last purchase because my carseats blocked the vents. It was really hot in the back seat!
Buying a car is such a huge decision to make! These are great recommendations! Ones we follow when we get a new car!
Ha ha ha … you drive even less than I do! My 2007 has about 65K miles on it, and I’m not yet thinking about replacing it. The thought of car shopping, though, does make my stomach churn, so thank you for the tips.
Buying a car is so much easier today than just a couple decades ago. So much information at our fingertips!
Cars.com has the best tips. They are so informative about car seats, too!
Cars.com always has the best info and tips! I will begin the market soon and I know I will turn to them for any questions I may have!
I hate car shopping! It is such a long process! We do our research on each and every car… Make a list… go test drive them…scratch them off and research more… It is my least favorite thing of all our major purchases. I know that taking the time is good but it is still a lot of work. These are some really great tips.
Great tips. Im actually going through this process right now! Researching vehicles on multiples sites is a must so you don’t limit yourself. This can also save a lot of money! I can’t wait to find something.
Car buying is definitely not my favorite activity but these are great tips! Hopefully they’ll make my next experience easier!
We recently bought a new car. These are fantastic tips to follow. You are so right when you say that your research will come in handy when negotiating. We got a great deal and that wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t done my homework first!
Hmm. Bells & whistles? I was just glad to go from my older car to a newish 2002 model that had intermittent wipers. I’ll have to get another car pretty soon and I’m leaning toward a certified used one.
Oh how I wish I could buy a new car!
We aren’t in the market or a new car, but these are good tips.
The one thing I hate is car shopping, and hate negotiating. Car dealers would sell so many more cars if they weren’t so hard to deal with. This is good information, it will help me buck up to the task, as I’m hoping to get a car next year – unless I can put it off again!!!!
Your comment about factoring in gas, insurance and repairs is spot on. It’s “easy” to look at the obvious costs but I was surprised when my “new” car required oil changes at the dealership (or need to get “pre-auth” if i go elsewhere – basically cutting off myself from doing it :/) if i wanted to keep my warranty.
Thank you for the information, we hope to buy a new car soon. Happy Holidays.
I’ve done my research thanks to this article and plan to get a top rated SUV.