Buy the
wrong car and you have just made a mistake that could cost you
thousands of dollars. It’s much more expensive to fix the mistake of
choosing the wrong car than it is to buy the right car to start
with. The alternative is living with a car that is not what you want
or need.
Whether you’re buying new or used it pays to do some advance
research at auto buying sites like
Edmunds and buying the car that’s right for you.
Don’t rely on a car salesman to help you choose which car is
right. You have to live with the decision. The salesman doesn’t. Car
salesmen are more interested in a fast sale. Selling you the car
that will pay the highest commission is more important than helping
you choose a car that will meet your needs now and in the future.
When it comes to deciding on the best car you have to assume the
ultimate responsibility for choosing a vehicle. Look for a car that
will meet your needs today, and for the next 2 to 3 years.
Things to consider when deciding which car is best.
Tip: See the Lowest True Cost To Own list at Edmunds.com.
Who’s going to be spending the most time behind the wheel. Focus
on the needs of the primary driver when buying.
What is the main use of the car? How important are other uses? If
you have kids and your main use for the car is to haul the kids to
school, Little League or other activities then your needs in a car
will be extremely different from someone who needs a car to commute
long distances to work every day. Use your head and consider exactly
how you will use the car before you decide which one to buy.
Choose a brand that has a good reputation for building reliable,
high-quality cars. A quality car may cost a little more up front,
but you will spend less on repairs, maintenance and insurance if you
buy a well made car. You’ll also get more back at the end in the
form of higher resale value. Research cars at
Edmunds now.
What safety features are important to you? Some things that make
cars safer are side curtain airbags, anti-lock brakes, traction
control, vehicle dynamic control, crumple zones and overall
structural integrity.
Gas mileage has been a huge reason why so many people have been
ditching trucks and sport utility vehicles lately. Just take a look
at any used car lot. People are trading SUVs in record numbers.
Consider what your costs for fuel are going to be up front. With gas
prices heading back toward $3.00 per gallon your fuel costs can be a
major expanse. Are you willing to pay that price? Consider it before
you buy.
Insurance costs. Insurance rates are determined not only by your
driving record, but by the car’s safety record and costs to repair.
A car can be safe, but still have high repair cost records. This can
increase your premium, so be sure to get an insurance quote up
front.
Unless you plan to keep your car until the wheels literally fall
off you should consider resale value up front. This can make a huge
difference when it comes time to trade your vehicle.
Consider costs for routine maintenance and repairs. It costs more
to have the oil changed on a BMW than a Honda. There can be a huge
difference in costs for a major repair. If you plan to buy a premium
car like an Acura, Lexus or BMW be sure to check how much routine
maintenance will cost you.
Research vehicle pricing and financing up front. You should
decide how much you can spend before you decide on a car. That way
you can shop for cars that fit into your price range, rather than
try to stretch your budget to buy a car that is too much money.
Your monthly payment should be no more than 35% of your income,
but only you can decide what is comfortable. Don’t overload yourself
with debt just to get a new car.
A great place to start is Capital One Auto Finance. You can use
their auto loan calculator to determine your monthly payment. Once
you know what price range and payment works you can start
researching cars. At Edmunds you can easily compare cars by price
range.
It’s important to buy a car you like. One that presents an image
of you. It’s okay to be practical, but it’s much easier to make
payments on a car you really like. Cars are an extension of our
personality, so it’s important to buy a car you feel comfortable in.
Begin your research online at sites like Edmunds and Yahoo Autos.
There you’ll find clear, unbiased product information. By
researching online you can get the facts without the sales pitch. If
you do your research at the dealership do you think you’ll get
unbiased information?
A car salesman will only want to sell you a car that needs to be
moved out of inventory, or one that will result in the highest sales
commission. You should buy the car you want, and not one that the
salesman is pushing.
By researching online in advance you can read car reviews,
compare various models, check loan payments, get a price quote,
check your trade in value, even locate a dealer. All this before
ever visiting an auto showroom.
Read independent reviews and road test articles on any car you
are considering. Find out what others are saying.
The best advertising is word of mouth. That’s also the best way
to spot a potential problem. See what other car buyers are saying
about a particular car at
Edmunds .
Before you buy find out what’s new on the market. If you don’t
plan to buy right away you can research upcoming models. There may
be something on the horizon that’s worth the wait.
