Useful Knowledge Will Empower You When Shopping For A Car |
|---|
|
Steven Magill
13 January 2013
Like in anything you do carelessly, buying cars can get you into serious problematic situation when approached carelessly. This problem could mean thousands of dollars if you make the mistake of stumbling into it. To avoid such a nightmare, you need to approach car shopping armed with useful knowledge relative to the transaction you are about to make.
Cars are only useful when you supply it with fuel. It is then only logical to take its rate of fuel consumption as a major consideration when you buy one. This is the rationale behind the "competitive pricing" of economical green cars. They may be a bit more expensive than regular cars but their efficiency and lesser fuel consumption will ultimately mean more savings in the long term.
Act like you are still doing a random inquiry when you approach a dealership. This will lessen the pressure you will get from car salesmen when you enter their premises. Unless you are seriously considering on buying a particular unit in front of you, ask only general exploratory questions, as if you are collection data for someone else. This way you will be able to establish your own negotiating position first before hard bargaining takes place.
Once you have decided on what car to purchase, try to have it checked by your own mechanic, especially if you are buying a secondhand with car bumper repair marks. Professional mechanics have a way of spotting something wrong with a machine even if it looks perfectly okay to an ordinary eye. If possible, have your mechanic with you when you do a test drive.
Car dealers train their personnel to be good salesmen. The moment you talk to them, they will have no other goal but to get you buy their product. They will be good at manipulating you towards a closing a purchase deal. Your antidote to that will be good, useful and updated information. You have to know in advance about the cars you are considering to buy including the science behind them. You also have to at least have a good sense of relevant market information relative to the units you are interested in. Moreover, you also need to have background knowledge of the dealerships you plan on visiting as you look for the best car that will suit your personal criteria of consideration.
There is no telling that a brand new car is better than secondhand one. How can a brand new car be better if it means you will be broke for the rest of your life? Sometimes a rough secondhand unit needing little bumper repair is the more practical and cost-effective choice. What is important is you will be able to obtain the best option under fairly favorable terms that you can have under your present circumstances.
When acquiring a used car, do not be lured into accepting a supposedly generous warranty terms that will compel you to accept a unit "as is". Such terms could only indicate that the dealership itself is not sure about the overall working condition of the vehicle. Or worse, it may be hiding something that if known can drive the price far down. You should have at least 30 days grace period guaranteed to be able to withdraw or modify your purchase in order to make sure that you have really acquired a car that will be able to serve you long.
The money involved in shopping for a car is not a joke. It is then only reasonable that any buyer should take car shopping seriously. As demonstrated above, that should mean actively seeking to empower yourself with strategic information that will help you arrive at a most favorable terms of acquisition.