Here are 10 things to think about as you prepare for and execute a new #car# buy:
1. Do the research: Of course this is a hoary bit of advice, but it holds true every time. Decide on the type of vehicle you need, narrow the list to three, any one of which you could live with, and then get your facts straight on everything from pricing to horsepower.
2. Let the salesperson do most of the talking: Treat car sellers like border guards. Let them ask the questions and only answer those questions. Don’t say you love the car and don’t share anything about how much you can pay – both in terms of the total price and monthly payment. You should know the latter before you set foot in a dealership. Research.
3. Leasing, or stretching out financing payments to seven or eight years because you’re tight for the down payment and even tighter when it comes to the monthly payment: Really think these issues right through to the end of eight years. That is, if you lease, it makes the most sense if you’re swapping out for a new ride every three or four years. If you’re financing over eight, be sure you’re going to love that ride six years from now. Think these things through.
4. Dealer financing: Lots of car makers and their dealers are offering 0.0 per cent AND cash discounts. So look for those. But for other buyers, it may make the most sense to borrow from a low-interest credit line. Do the research.
5. First-of-the month purchases: Sometimes this can be the right call, sometimes not. Just know that as the month winds down and sales targets look tough to meet for certain dealers and manufacturers, richer deals often come out to play.
6. New-year purchases: We discussed this already. There are January exceptions and Deals covered many of them last month.
7. Do the new deal before saying anything about trade-ins: This seems obvious, but many buyers make the mistake of lumping in their trade-in with the new deal. Don’t. Treat both as individual transactions.
8. Going green: Really, is a hybrid what you want? Yes, you’ll save at the pump, but you’re not likely to save enough to recover the hybrid price premium. The marketplace is awash in very good, very fuel-thrifty cars that cost half as much as any hybrid. And diesels? Great torque and terrific fuel economy and range. But diesel pump prices are up a lot this year. That cuts into your fuel economy savings.
9. Play the game: Look, car dealers are very competitive. Visit several and play one against the other. Also dig into the dealer’s reputation for service. That will matter for the next four years of that new-car warranty.
10. Control your emotions: Of course it’s exciting to buy a new car. Enjoy it. Revel it after you’ve done the deal. Treat car buying like I treat emails that really aggravate me. I write my reply, then sit on it for 24 hours. Do the same with a new-car offer. Take it away and sit on it for 24 hours before you pull the trigger. You’ll thank yourself
Courtesy: #Motomark #Automobile #Ltd