Car Shopping Without The Usual Stress |
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Aubry Ann Maquiling
8 January 2013
It is only natural that whenever you set out to buy a car you would intend to obtain the best value possible. You have to win advantage from car dealers in acquisition negotiations, of which the main sticking point would be the settling of the final selling price.
Car salesmen could not care less how much really your capacity to buy a car is. It is not their responsibility. Their responsibility is to close a deal and make a sale. It is then the responsibility of the buyer to negotiate a price that would minimize the strain on his personal finances while maximizing cost-effectiveness relative to car quality and functional usefulness upon acquisition.
It is imperative that you know your budget and overall financial status before going car shopping. You need to know what you can and what you can't buy. Determine the financial space you have in fulfilling the monthly installment payment of a particular car.
Always test drive a vehicle before you purchase it. Chances are some problems could appear while you're test-driving it. Good appearance is not always a good basis for good condition. Sometimes, a car with trace of car bumper repair can be in better condition than a polished looking one. Test everything you can from the standard car functions to the special features that come with the particular car model you are driving so there would be no surprises later.
Some dealers would hide fees in a car's price sheet, including advertising fees. Find out if this is so and make sure to have it removed. It is not the buyer's responsibility to pay for such fee. Otherwise, threaten to cancel negotiation with them.
Check the background of the dealers you intend to canvass for your car acquisition. Know their track record and how they deal with buyers like you. Screen the dealers you will visit based on the results of your background checking. Only go to those dealers you would be most comfortable dealing with.
Evidence of car bumper repair does not necessarily mean a bad thing. Sometimes they can even be a proof that the secondhand car you are considering is indeed well-maintained. Never settle for a car whose maintenance history is questionable. No matter how good-looking the car may appear, a careless owner will always take toll on the machine.
Do not arrive at a car dealership like a king. Hide your wealth especially if you intend to maximize your negotiating position in setting the final purchase price. If you're haggling and the dealer knows that you actually have the capacity to pay luxuriously, your negotiation is already doomed.
If you will employ the assistance of a financial institution, make sure that you sign it to a financing scheme that will truly be advantageous to you. Car loans can be your best option especially if need the car right away but your finances are not yet in the position to make the purchase. However, you should make sure you are not walking into a financial trap.
Car shopping is about establishing an advantage during negotiations. Otherwise you will end up settling for an acquisition price much higher than the car really is. The better informed you are about the car you intend to purchase and the dealers that you may do the transaction with, the less stressful will the acquisition process be.