One of lifes joys is buying a new car. The excitement of looking through those glossy brochures, choosing the brand, model, colour, plus the features is incredible. Ask most men and Im sure theyll tell you its one of the things they enjoy most in the world. And these days, with women reported to be involved in over 80% of all new car purchases, women are getting hooked fast on the pleasure of buying a new car.
However, if there is one thing that can detract from the enjoyment of buying a new car, it is the finances of the whole deal. This is not just speaking about the price of the new car, although this can be considerable. There is also the issue of all the hidden, and not so hidden extras that you have to pay for. For example, before you finalise the price of the car, you have to find out what features come as standard, and if you want to have any additional features, be they for safety, power, style or any other reason, you have to make sure that you calculate the extra cost of them into the price of the car.
Then, added to this is the delivery cost if there is one. Plus any other hidden dealer fees for whatever reason. Then you have to deal with financing charges. You may be one of the lucky people who can pay outright for their car, but most people will be using some style of financial product to cover the purchase price of the car. Either theyll be leasing it from the dealer, or theyll be relying on the dealers financing offers, or maybe you will have arranged a separate loan from your bank or other lender. Frequently there will be associated costs with the financing package and they should not be overlooked when calculating the cost of the car.
Add to this the cost of road tax. Road tax is calculated based on the size of the engine of the car. Then you will also need insurance. You should make sure you shop around and get the best possible price for your car insurance. You can choose between different levels of coverage depending on whether you want your own car to be covered or just third parties.
By the time you have added all of these extra expenses on to the purchase price of the vehicle you will be closer to knowing the true cost of the car. Make sure you can afford this figure and your car buying experience will be far more enjoyable.
Tags: Best Possible Price, Buying A New Car, Buying Car, Car Insurance, Car One, Car Purchases, Excitement, Extra, Finances, Financing Offers, Glossy Brochures, Insurance, People, Pleasure, Purchase CarRelated posts
I have notice that keep on changing new car has become a trend of todays life in city. People keep on switching to new car for no reason. It seems like car has become a way for people to express and show their status. Every year there are so many new car models coming up. So they keep on changing the car whenever they saw some new models that they like.
I had even heard people saying this: Since I need to pay for my installment every month, then why dont I switch to a better new car? It seems like paying car installment has become part of peoples routine life where if they dont pay for the installment, they dont know what to do with the money. Maybe people have forgot that they dont have to pay for car installment if they dont want to.
I know that I may offend a lot of people by saying that buying a new car is not necessary. However what I am saying is not that you cannot buy a new car. But when you wanted to buy a new car, think about why do you want to buy it. Is it neccesary? Do you want to buy it because you need it? Or you want to buy it simply because you wanted to show off to people that you are rich. Do you buy the car to boost up your ego?
For me, I only buy a car when it is needed. When I say needed, I mean that I really need the car. Not for no reason, not for showing off purpose. If my house is located at an area where I have no access to public transports, then I will consider to buy a car. If my old car has too many problems, then I will consider to switch to a new car.
Currently I have a car of 5++ years old. I have no intention to change a new car right now as my current car is still in good condition. I plan to use the car for at least 10 years if the conditions are ok. Actually the car is currently used by my wife to drive to work. For myself I am actually taking public transport (LRT). I have no intention to buy a second car although there is no problem in getting one financially.
With this I can save at least RM1000 per month. I would rather leverage this RM1000 per month for other purpose for example paying extra for my house loan. This way I can finish my house loan faster and reduce the interest. Why do I want to increase my expense to somewhere that I dont really need. I can even use the extra money to do some investment. This will improve my financial situation.
Tags: 10 Years, Buy A Car, Buy Car, Buying A New Car, Buying Car, Car Buy, Car Models, Current, Ego, Intention, Money, New Models, People Express, Public Transport, Public Transports, Reason, Routine Life, Second Car, Trend, Wanted To BuyRelated posts
Proper maintenance of a vehicle either new or old is the same. The engine has to be checked from time to time, the oil has to be changed and spark plugs need to be replaced. Any product wears down in time and the best thing to do if you are on a budget is to buy cheap, good quality used car parts.
Acquiring used car parts is the same as looking around for a second hand car. You can either look for it in the classified ads, go around the neighborhood checking out the various shops that do sell these parts or you can surf the net saving some time and effort and search for the parts that are needed.
There was time that such parts could only be found in dealerships and in the shops of local mechanics. This made it a challenge for those who needed it badly especially since there was no guarantee that the part if found, would fit the requirements and the seller would usually jack up the price giving the buyer no choice but to pay what was demanded.
Searching for cheap used car parts does not have to be that difficult anymore as long as you remember a few things before looking for it;
By knowing exactly what is needed depending on the make and model of the car you have, it will make it easier for the person to go around looking for the exact car part
After having the specific part in mind, you can then check how much you are willing to spend to acquire that item.
Some parts that are needed dont have to be the original. There are some parts that can be bought at surplus or a compatible part from another car make and model enabling can be used making a person save money for other things.
After getting the proper information, you can start by checking out either the local shops or dealers. If these people dont have it, perhaps another dealer can be recommended to assist in the procurement. Another place you can go to are the local junkyards since a lot of parts there can be reused. Asking the local auto club for help and browsing through the Internet are also other options a person has to help in the search for other hard to find parts which can be ordered and delivered in a few days time.
Tags: Auto Club, Budget, Buying Car, Buying Used Car, Car Maintenance, Car Part, Car Parts, Cheap Car, Classified Ads, Exact Car, Junkyards, Local Auto, Lot, Mechanics, Model Car, Neighborhood, Procurement, Proper Maintenance, Second Hand Car, Spark PlugsRelated posts
How To Buy A Car (Trust Me – I Used To Sell Them)
We Americans like to buy a car at the dealership in one afternoon, and the dealerships try very hard to make us think that is possible and even smart. But its not. Realize how big a purchase a car is. And it is complicated.
Buying a car is the second-largest purchase most people make after buying a home. When you buy a home, think about all the help you have: you have a broker to help you find the best home for you, and a mortgage broker to help you find the best financing. And an inspector to make sure the house is safe. Sometimes you also have an attorney to make sure the contract is fair, and a title company makes sure the title is clear before you pay for the home. But when you buy a car, there is not one person there to help you. And the dealers want you to THINK you can waltz in to the dealership and buy a car from start to finish in an afternoon and sure, you can, but you will pay much much more if you do it that way. Here are four tips to give you an advantage:
1. Make at least one trip to the dealership JUST to look around and drive the cars. Promise yourself you will not buy that first time, no matter what. Why? So that you can go home and look up information on the internet, including dealer cost, safety ratings, option prices, and any manufacturer to dealer incentives that the dealer has certainly not told you about!
2. Know what you can afford before you visit the dealership to buy! This means talk to your personal banker or credit union officer before going to the dealership. Why? Some dealerships might actually WANT you to sign on for a more expensive car than you can afford so that you will then default on your loan and they will repossess the car.
3. Whenever the finance manager calculates something, insist that he show you the calculation. Why? The easiest place for dealerships to take more money from you is in the monthly payment. It is VERY common for dealers to increase monthly payments by just a few dollars, even $20 per month, over about a five year period is like giving the dealership $500 extra on the spot.
E.G. If you tell the salesman you can afford a payment of $500 per month, he might find a deal for you in which the payment works out to $460 per month. But instead of telling you that, he might tell you that he has great news!! – - that your payment is down to $480. What happens to the $20 difference between the lender’ $460 per month and the $480 the dealer is charging you? It goes right into the dealers pocket, and you will never know it unless you Len how to run the calculation yourself, or at least run it by your banker. How much would a dealership make, taking in an extra $20 per month for five years, on a loan with an interest rate of 3.9%? About $500. It is next to impossible to figure this kind of thing out without a financial calculator, or a friend with a financial calculator. But its worth the trouble!
4. Write down everything you learn about the car, from the internet, magazines, and especially from the salesman. Why? Doing this keeps everybody honest, and literally on the same pageYOUR page! Your salesman will see that you are writing down everything he says, and he will be less inclined to lie, or to try to change information on you later on. This tip is all about staying in control.
Tags: Buy A Car, Buy Car, Buying A Car, Buying A Home, Buying Car, Car Dealership, Cars, Dealer Incentives, Easiest Place, Expensive Car, Finance Manager, How To Buy A Car, Money, Mortgage Broker, Option Prices, Personal Banker, Purchase A Car, Safety Ratings, Title Company, WaltzRelated posts
With so many advances in technology and access to the Internet, buying car parts online is as easy as owning a credit card or having a paypal account. The Internet today is the most widely used mode of communication. It is also the cheapest and the fastest mode of communication. The Internet is used widely by people to order items online. From accessories for computers, to ipods and digital cameras, to car accessories and car parts, it seems almost everything is bought or sold over the Internet. The Internet has now become a global market where people from all around the world can order items of any kind whatsoever.
Buying car parts online forms the crux of the topic today. There are hundreds of car-part dealers that have their own professional web sites published on the Internet. These web sites have thousands of car parts on display for the customer to choose from. The online parts dealers deal in parts for cars like Audi, Mercedes, Chevrolet, Honda, Ford, Mazda and many more car brands. The best advantage of these online car dealers is that you can order car parts at the click of a button at reasonable and discounted rates. These parts dealers have direct contact with the car parts warehouses and are able to procure parts at wholesale rates. The dealers pass on the savings to the final consumer by selling car parts at discounted rates.
These online dealers have a nation wide network of supplying car parts. It does not matter which part of the country the customer is staying. Once the customer places an order for the parts, the parts are shipped to the customers address with a reasonable amount added as shipping charges. Most of the car dealers have eliminated some of the middlemen in their distribution chain and are able to sell the car parts at cheaper rates. The parts that the car dealers sell are genuine and may also carry a warranty. If any of the car parts are found to be damaged by the customer, he can easily get them replaced. The car parts are durable and reliable since they are bought directly from the manufacturers warehouse.
Once you place an order with the dealer, the car parts are packed and then sent to you by courier. The car dealers may also have their own delivery agents. Delivery agents can be afforded if the car parts dealership is done on a large scale throughout the country. The online catalogs have all the car parts stated under various categories to make it easy for the customer to find the car parts that he wants to purchase. Many parts dealers also deal in used and refurbished parts. Therefore you can purchase car parts for any vehicle under one roof. The best parts dealers believe in customer loyalty and ensure that only top quality parts are sent to the customer on time. They always strive to excel in their operations.
We should urge some caution before you purchase parts online. Buy car parts only from genuine, reliable and reputable parts dealers that are members of a Better Business Bureau. Use a credit card company that can and will reverse charges if something bad happens. Also ask for discount as most of the car parts dealers will oblige you. Insist on a warranty (if available) for all car parts that you wish to purchase. When you get the parts delivered, check that all the parts are there. Check the warranties accompanying the car parts and check the present date is printed on the warranty. Keep the warranty seal or documents with you until the term of the warranty expires.
Tags: Advances In Technology, Buying Car, Car Accessories, Car Brands, Car Dealers, Car Parts, Click Of A Button, Crux, Digital Cameras, Direct Contact, Distribution Chain, Global Market, Internet Today, Ipods, Middlemen, Paypal Account, Selling Car, Shipping Charges, Warehouses, Wholesale RatesRelated posts
Should I Buy From A Used Car Dealer Or Privately?
Buying a used car from a dealer or buying it privately, which is the best?
Both have their pros and cons and these should be weighed up against the other before any decision is made.
Firstly, going with a dealer you will have a wider choice over the cars on offer, certainly more than you would by going privately.
When buying from a dealer the car will have been cleaned and any faults will have been corrected and it will come with some sort of warranty. When purchasing privately you will be liable to fix any corrections and have to valet the vehicle yourself, plus you will have no comeback if something serious goes wrong within the first year.
Going with a dealer gives you plenty of time to check the car over in perfect lighting conditions; however you might feel rushed or pressured when looking a car over privately.
A dealer usually wont mind at all if you wish to bring in your own expert to look over the car as they will have nothing to hide. However when going privately it could be harder for you to get an expert to look over the car with you.
Dealers also can offer finance often with high interest charges but this still gives you the option of finance which may be beneficial to you. With a private seller, you will need to pay the money in full.
The downside to buying from a car dealer is that the car could cost you more than by buying privately. Also, you wont be able to interrogate the owner of the car through a dealer however when buying privately you have the opportunity to do so.
It really is all a matter of which you prefer as there are good and bad points either way, but the above tips will hopefully give you a better idea of which way to go when looking for your used car.
Tags: Buy Car, Buying A Used Car, Buying Car, Car Buy, Car Buying, Car Dealer, Car Dealers, Cars, Downside, Faults, Finance, High Interest, Interest Charges, Lighting Conditions, Money, Private Seller, Pros And Cons, Purchasing, Valet, WarrantyRelated posts
I had what I thought was an interesting question sent in to me the other day and that is the topic of this article. The question asked was essentially; out of all of the car buying tips, the car deal negotiating tips, and out of all the dos and dont dos when you are car shopping and ultimately buying, what is the single most important area to have under control as the buyer.
I had to preface my answer by saying that in order to get your best deal when buying a car, there are many pieces to the car buying puzzle. They are all individually important because when you put all the buying processes together they make up your deal. And all of these car buying puzzle pieces are what dealerships are all about. They each represent an opportunity to sell you something and therefore make a profit on that sale.
Having said that, this is a great question and you would probably get many different answers. But, since you asked and I have pondered Ill give you my thoughts.
I would have to say financing. You must take the time to do such things as:
Get and understand your credit report.
Shop around for your financing options and ultimately get yourself pre-approved so you will know the amount, the interest rate you qualify for, and the length of your loan.
If you dont get your financing questions answered and in order, you can literally cost yourself thousands of dollars. So, while all of the other aspects of buying a car are indeed important, such as the price of the new car, what you get for your trade, and all of the research that goes into these areas; you can literally give it all back and much more in the dealers finance department.
If I get all my financing lined up ahead of time, why would I even bother with the dealers finance department?
A Good question; and there are a couple of aspects to the answer. First, once you know what you qualify for (a bird in hand), you can then give the dealers finance manager the opportunity to do even better for you. Secondly, even if you have no intention of using the dealer financing option, youll still have to have a seat in the finance office just to sign all the paperwork. Which means the finance person will do their best to sell you their financing package. So being prepared is the best answer.
If you have your financing in hand and know all your numbers ahead of time, youll be able to fend off the monthly payment approach by the car dealers sales person. Buying a car based on monthly payments is good for the dealer; bad for you.
Also, your financing homework becomes even more important if your credit is less than grade A. Be mindful that just the difference in just a couple of percentage points on your interest rate can represent over a thousand dollars to you during the life of your loan. And if your credit score leaves a little to be desired by potential lenders, you will probably see a wider range of qualifying quotes that you get back. So it is even more important that you get your car financing house in order before you head out to the dealership.
Certainly, financing is but one piece of the car buying puzzle. But, its a big piece. And you can rest assured its a big piece (for potential profit) for the dealer. Many people dont realize that this is yet another area at the dealership that you can and should try to negotiate on the road to getting your best car deal.
If you have done your research and homework to give yourself the best possible chance on the front end of the car buying process (new car & trade-in), dont give it all back on the back end of the deal (financing & insurance F&I) by not knowing what your financing numbers and options are.
Tags: Bird In Hand, Buying A Car, Buying Car, Car Buying Tips, Car Deal, Car Shopping, Control, Credit Report, Dos, Finance Department, Finance Manager, Financing Options, Good Question, Interest Rate, Negotiating Tips, New Car, Opportunity, Preface, Puzzle Pieces, Thousands Of DollarsRelated posts
What To Do Before Buying That New Car Or Truck
Ahhhh, that new car smell…
It’s great isn’t it? But it comes at a premium. We all know that it’s cheaper to buy used instead of new, but if you still don’t think you can live without that fragrance of a new car (the real one, not the one you buy from Wal-Mart in the little spray can) – then at least think about following these steps first:
1. Research! If you absolutely have to have a new car, do yourself a favor and spend some time at Edmunds.com and research some of the cars that you are thinking about buying. If you have a specific car in mind already, be sure to research the other cars in its class as well. You might even find another one you like better and is rated higher from consumers, has higher crash test scores, better resale value, higher mpg’s, or whatever else floats your boat.
2. Once you have decided on a car, Edmunds has a great feature for pricing – it’s called True Market Value. That is basically how much other people are paying for that specific car. This can give you great leverage when negotiating the price on your new vehicle. But you also must keep in mind that it’s not a definite price level, but more of a guide for haggling with the salesman about the price.
3. Dare I say the “L” word? Loan! There I said it, whew. Once you have settled on a fair price for the vehicle you are buying, it’s time to think about how you’re going to pay for it. Since most of us don’t pay cash for new cars, most likely you’ll need to obtain a loan for your new ride. If so, then you need to pay close attention to the interest rate on the loan. This is not something that can normally be negotiated, but you still need to be aware of what your interest rate will be – even 1 percentage point lower can save you over $700 on an average priced new vehicle, over the life of the loan.
My advice on this would be to go after those low APR loan offers that the dealerships sometimes have. You know, the “buy now and receive 2.9% apr for up to 60 months” type of offers. That can save you some big bucks, lets take a closer look…
How much money can lower interest save?
Ok, lets use an interest rate comparison loan calculator and plug in some numbers, and see what we get.
Example 1 – lets say it’s for a Chevy Impala:
Loan amount: $25,000
Regular interest rate: 6.9%
Special low interest rate: 3.9%
Loan length: 5 years
Total savings with lower rate: $2,073.94
That’s right, for this example the lower interest rate would save you more than $2k over the 5 year length of the loan. That money would be much better off sitting in an interest bearing bank account, don’t you think? Just for kicks, lets do a higher priced vehicle with the same comparison criteria…
Example 2 – Let’s say you want a Tahoe instead:
Loan amount: $45,000
Regular interest rate: 6.9%
Special low interest rate: 3.9%
Loan length: 5 years
Total savings with lower rate: $3,733.08
With example 2, you would save almost $4k in interest over the life of the loan. That would be a nice down payment on your next vehicle don’t you think?
There are many different things that factor in to what vehicle you actually end up purchasing – comfort, resale value, safety, style etc. Just make sure you add “research” and “interest rate” to that list, and stay informed!
Tags: Buying Car, Consumers, Crash Test, Definite Price, Edmunds, Fragrance, Interest Rate, L Word, Leverage, Low Apr Loan, Mpg, New Car, New Cars, Percentage Point, Resale Value, T Pay, Test Scores, True Market Value, True Value, Wal MartRelated posts
When It Comes To Buying Car Finance Look Online First
When it comes to buying car finance your first port of call should be online. By going online with a specialist car finance website you are able to access some of the top UK car loan providers to determine which would be the cheapest option for your particular circumstances. Car finance comes in many different forms and it is imperative that you understand your options and what each option entails so when it comes to comparing you know which is better for your personal needs.
The most popular type of car finance is hire purchase, this is simply a loan which you take out after paying a deposit against the car and then pay for the remainder over a certain period of time. The monthly repayments will depend on how much you wish to borrow, how long you wish to take the loan over and the deposit you are willing to put down. Of course your credit rating will be taken into account as well and you will be putting the car up as security against the money you are borrowing in case you find you cannot afford to keep up the repayments.
An alternative method when it comes to buying car finance is to go for a popular choice called personal contract purchase. Again you will put a deposit down to reduce the amount left to borrow on the car and then take out an agreement which will last for a specified term during which very low monthly repayments are made, after this there will be a lump sum left which will mean you have choices to make. If you decide to pay off the balance left owing then the car is yours, if you want to part exchange for a new car you can or you can give the car back and you owe nothing more.
A lease or credit purchase is very similar to the personal contract purchase method of buying car finance but you do not have the option of changing cars or of giving it back, you have to find the money for the balance left owing. All finance options suit different circumstances and information and advice can be found with a specialist website regarding all options. Understanding what you are taking on is essential so you have to not only compare the rates of interest and deals but also unearth any hidden charges, these are usually found in the key facts which should come with the loan.
Buying car finance is never easy and it is not something which should be rushed into, never be tempted by what seems to be very low interest rates without first reading the small print. Hidden costs could be associated with the finance option which could boost up the cost considerably. By reading the small print you can determine how much interest will be added onto the loan, the total amount you will pay and the rate of interest, also how much would be left to pay up at the end of a personal contract purchase or lease purchase.
Tags: Buying Car, Car Finance, Car Hire, Car Loan, Cars, Choices, Circumstances, Credit Rating, Finance Options, Finance Website, Loan Providers, Lump Sum, New Car, Period Of Time, Personal Contract Purchase, Personal Needs, Port Of Call, Remainder, Repayments, Uk Car