Purchasing a new vehicle is a stressful chore for many people. Ask the average person what they dread most and they will tell you that price haggling is the worst aspect of negotiating a price. Few people come away from the deal believing that they got a fair shake; a significant minority will admit that they got ripped off if you press the issue with them. Besides shopping at a no haggle dealer Saturn, for example how can you avoid an unpleasant experience? Better put, can you? Lets take a look at some ways you can gain better control over the car buying experience so that you can save yourself some time, money, and a whole lot of aggravation.
Stay away from the hot sellers. Many Japanese brands are sold at full price and bargains are hard to come by. Still, if you do a little bit of research you should be able to shave several hundred dollars off of the sticker price or secure a very low loan rate should you choose to finance your vehicle. If your dealer doesnt want to deal with you, go to another Toyota, Honda, Nissan, etc. dealer to find a better deal.
Buy a left over. On the other hand, not all cars are hot sellers and many models do not sell out when the model year ends. If there is a particular car that you want, you should be able to realize significant savings off of the sticker price. Dont be wowed by an already reduced price touted by the dealership. Likely, they are getting a secret rebate from the manufacturer; learn what that rebate is and get as much of it as you can. Remember: you are already buying a car that is a year old. If it is a discontinued model or the latest version of that model is significantly changed, you have additional leverage.
Arrange your own financing. When purchasing a car, negotiate the lowest possible price before financing is discussed. If you come into the negotiation with your financing already covered, then you have additional leverage. If you are paying cash for the vehicle, demand an even greater discount.
Go in equipped. Consumer Reports will sell to you a print out of exactly how much a car should sell for. Purchase a report on the model you want to find out what the dealer likely paid for your car. The price you pay should be much closer to that amount than to the sticker price.
Buy through a car club. Car clubs, including those through warehouse clubs such as BJs, can be an alternative way to buying a car at a discounted rate without paying full price. Each club has their own way operating, but in all cases you should be able to pay less and leave the haggling out of the equation.
If you are the type of person who enjoys haggling, then your experience is not likely to be as bad. You know how to play the game and winning for you is simply securing the lowest possible price. For everyone else, a little outside help can save you money. Do not let your emotions tell you, I must have this car, or you are likely to pay much more than you should. Remember: dealer sob stories are just that; if they cant figure out a way to make money off of a sale, then they shouldnt be in business.
Tags: Average Person, Bargains, Car Buying Tips, Dread, Fair Shake, Haggle, Honda, Japanese Brands, Leverage, Little Bit, Loan Rate, Lowest Possible Price, Negotiation, Nissan, Purchasing A Car, Saturn, Sticker Price, Time Money, Unpleasant Experience, Whole LotRelated posts
A person who cannot afford to buy a new car can always move ahead and buy a used car. Buying a car no doubts requires a lot of money but that does not mean that only rich can buy it. Always remember the success of buying a used car is to do your research before you buy it. You will have to prepare yourself for all the stress if you are looking for a perfect deal. Make sure that you are with the best used car dealer who will ensure you the best deal. You need to go through the following information before buying a used car.
1) Always decide the budget you can afford to buy the car. Since you are buying the used car always include price of the Car, repairs and maintenance cost of the car, Car insurance and so on.
2) Decide the Car you would like to buy. The best option would be to go for a mid-sized car as these cars are available at great bargains.
3) Used cars may be covered by a manufacturer’s warranty or a separately purchased service contract. However note that they may not be transferable. Always make sure to go through the warranty or service contract before you buy any used cars.
4) You can also take a test drive of the car and check its efficiency and comfort. It would be more preferable if you take a test drive on different types of roads. Have a drive for at least 10 to 15 miles to ensure the smoothness of the car.
5) Find out how old is the car you are going to buy. Try to buy a car which is two or three years older. Buying a two or three years older car would probably be a great deal as this will give you an opportunity to drive the latest model. It would be asking for trouble if you decide to go for a much older car.
6) If you are not 100% satisfied by the car avoid buying it. Don’t just buy a car since it is cheap as this might turn into a big expense in the long term.
7) It would be advisable to get the car inspected by the mechanic you hire. If you neglect it, you will have to pay everything for the maintenance once you buy the car. A mechanic can put the car on the lift and can immediately identify any previous damages, corrosions and so on.
If you are buying a 4 to 5 year old car it would be advisable to get the warranty period extended. Else you will have to bear the brunt of heavy losses.
9) Every dealer has a price in mind below which they will not sell you the car. The dealer is ready to reduce the price of the car till this price point and yet manages a decent profit. However if they find a particular buyer inexperienced they take advantage of such buyers and gladly make a very good profit. Hence it is very important to educate yourself thoroughly before going to a car dealer.
Tags: Bargains, Budget, Buy Cars, Buying A Used Car, Car Car, Car Dealer, Car Insurance, Car Maintenance, Car Mechanic, Car Repairs, Efficiency, Maintenance Cost, New Car, No Doubts, Service Contract, Sized Car, Smoothness, Stress, Test Drive, WarrantyRelated posts
Every year in the UK over 7 million used cars are purchased, with many of these cars being purchased privately direct from the owner. Whilst this can often be the route to achieving the best bargains it can also become very expensive in cases when it emerges that the car has a number of problems or a previously unknown history. In order to reduce the likelihood of being caught out weve put together the top tips when buying a car privately:
The first step is to do some research about your desired car. Check classified ads and trade guides to get a good idea of prices. Parkers.co.uk is an excellent site and contains a free used car valuation tool and thousands of reviews and ratings.
Once youve decided on which car youd like to buy and have found a possible seller always go and take a look at the car in daylight.
Take a friend along with you. If problems occur in the future its very useful to have a witness available to validate what was said.
Check that the car has not been clocked. The average mileage is 12,000 miles a year. Have a look at the tyres to see whether this looks right or if the car has new tyres ask the owner for details of its servicing history.
Always go for a test drive. However, make sure that you are insured to do so and if the seller says that he has cover ask to see his policy.
Carefully check the log book, officially known as the V5 or registration document. In particular look for the chassis number, known as the vehicle identification number (VIN). This will usually be located on a small plate on the drivers door or in the engine bay. The absence of a VIN number strongly suggests that the car has assumed the identity of someone else, probably because it has been stolen at some point in its past.
You could also consider purchasing an AA Car Data Check. Importantly this will include a full description of the car, including engine size and date of first registration, so you can be sure of what you are buying. It will also tell you whether the car has a finance agreement recorded against it, if the car has been written off, and whether the car has had any number plate or colour changes.
The chances are that at some point youll enter into negotiations over the price. Have a highest price and target price in mind before entering into negotiations. If your two offers are some way apart you try not to say anything. Car salesmen use this tactic all the time as people find silence uncomfortable. Try this and the seller will often suggest meeting half way, at which point you can propose meeting half way between your offer and the new offer, getting yourself a better deal.
Finally, if interested in the car consider having it independently checked by a reputable garage. Reputable sellers will understand this so be wary if the owner of the car is against having it checked.
Tags: Aa, Absence, Bargains, Buying A Used Car, Car Data, Car Tyres, Car Valuation, Cars Direct, Chassis, Chassis Number, Classified Ads, Likelihood, Mileage, Purchasing Car, Registration Document, Tool, V5, Vehicle Identification Number, Vin Number, Witness